R.A. the Rugged Man Biography: Height, Children, Age, Net Worth, Parents, Albums, Career, Wife, Songs

Richard Andrew Thorburn also known as R.A. the Rugged Man, born Richard Andrew Thorburn, is an acclaimed American rapper, producer, screenwriter, and journalist whose razor-sharp lyricism, battle rap prowess, and unflinching storytelling have cemented his underground hip-hop legacy over three decades.

Profile

• Full Name: Richard Andrew Thorburn
• Stage Name: R.A. the Rugged Man
• Born: January 10, 1974
• Age: 52 years old
• Birthplace: Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Rapper, Producer, Screenwriter, Journalist
• Height: 189 cm
• Religion: None
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Thorburn
• Siblings: Maxx, Dee Ann, Niki Lee
• Spouse: None
• Children: Ella, John A.
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $1 million to $5 million

Early Life And Education

R.A. the Rugged Man was born on January 10, 1974, in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. He was raised by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thorburn—his father a Vietnam veteran exposed to Agent Orange—in a turbulent household marked by family tragedies, including his brother Maxx’s death at age 10 from related defects and sister Dee Ann’s passing at 26 in 2007.

His ethnicity is German-Scottish-Sicilian. His religion is not publicly disclosed.

Amid these hardships, he found solace in hip-hop at age 12, freestyling locally without formal higher education, as music became his escape from a broken home.

Career

Thorburn ignited his career at 12 with local battles, signing to Jive Records at 18 for an unreleased album, Night of the Bloody Apes. Dropped for his controversial style, he joined Rawkus for Soundbombing features and collaborated with Biggie and Mobb Deep.

Independent since 2004 with Nature Sounds, he released Die, Rugged Man, Die (2004), Legends Never Die (2013), and All My Heroes Are Dead (2023, feat. Chuck D, Ghostface Killah). A horror film enthusiast, he co-wrote Bad Biology (2008) and contributes to Vibe and XXL as a critic and boxing commentator.

Social Media

• Instagram: @ruggedman
• YouTube: R.A. The Rugged Man

Personal Life

R.A. the Rugged Man, 51, keeps his romantic life private and is currently single with no spouse. He is a devoted father to two children, daughter Ella (born 2016) and son John A. (born 2017), often drawing from fatherhood’s joys and pains in his introspective tracks.

Residing in New York, he honors his late father’s legacy through a planned documentary and mentors young artists amid ongoing mental health advocacy. His height is 189 centimeters.

Net Worth

R.A. the Rugged Man’s estimated net worth ranges from $1 million to $5 million. It derives from album royalties, independent label ventures, film production credits, journalism gigs, and touring over 30 years.