Ghetto Ruff
GHETTO RUFF is an independent South African recording label specializing in kwaito, hip hop, soul, house, gospel and rhythm and blues. Having been formed around the need to have a voice against apartheid GR released Prophets of da City who had tracks banned by the government of the day. Currently, Ghetto Ruff Records known as Mlominent artists including Prophets of Da City (POC), Ishmael, Skeem, OdaMeesta, ASHAAN, Brickz, Zola 7, Pitch Black Afro, Mapaputsi, DJ Cleo, Bravo, Brown Dash, Mzekezeke, DJ What What, Skomplazi, Amu, Brassie Vannie Kaap, Tuks, Morafe, Jozi, Da Les, Bongani Fassie, Vusi NOVA, Nathi, NANCY G, BISHOP LOUIS, RUFF X, RJ Bejamin, Drenko, Kyllex, Malik, MCHANGANI, Gumshev, Metswako, Slice, SpyKos were just some of the releases.
Ghetto Ruff
- Name
- GHETTO RUFF
- Headquarters
- South Africa
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
GHETTO RUFF is an independent South African recording label specializing in kwaito, hip hop, soul, house, gospel and rhythm and blues. Having been formed around the need to have a voice against apartheid GR released Prophets of da City who had tracks banned by the government of the day. Currently, Ghetto Ruff Records known as Mlominent artists including Prophets of Da City (POC), Ishmael, Skeem, OdaMeesta, ASHAAN, Brickz, Zola 7, Pitch Black Afro, Mapaputsi, DJ Cleo, Bravo, Brown Dash, Mzekezeke, DJ What What, Skomplazi, Amu, Brassie Vannie Kaap, Tuks, Morafe, Jozi, Da Les, Bongani Fassie, Vusi NOVA, Nathi, NANCY G, BISHOP LOUIS, RUFF X, RJ Bejamin, Drenko, Kyllex, Malik, MCHANGANI, Gumshev, Metswako, Slice, SpyKos were just some of the releases.
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wikidata · Q5556569 · wikipedia · Ghetto Ruff
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — GHETTO RUFF • Founded — 1980s • Founder — Lance Stehr • Status — Active • Genre — Various • Country — South Africa
History
History
Ghetto Ruff came to be in the late 1980s when Lance Stehr (current managing director of the label) formed the Cape Town-based hip hop group, Prophets of Da City. POC did extremely well in South Africa as well as internationally. In many ways POC enabled Stehr to expand and grow the label into the premiere kwaito label in South Africa today. South Africa's R&B star Ishmael was born out of POC and in 1996 he helped Ghetto Ruff Records enter the kwaito genre when the group Skeem was formed, another splinter group of POC was the acclaimed Afrikaans hip hop group Brasse Vannie Kaap. With this foundation, Stehr was able to discover and nurture most probably the most artists from an independent label resulting in hundreds of thousands of record sales over the year. Stehr also produced the sound track for YIZO YIZO, TSOTSI (OSCAR WINNER), and went on to TV to do JOZI - MOVING THE CITY, FLY CHIX and SKYROOM LIVE.
Artists
Artists
• Kaybee (legendary music producer/artist) • Amu (rapper) • Bishop Louis • Bongani Fassie • Bravo • Zola • Brickz • BVK: Brasse Vannie Kaap • DJ Cleo • Drencko • FIESTA BLACK • Gumshev • Ishmael • Jozi • Kyllex • Malik • Mchangani • Metswako • Mgarimbe • Morafe • NATHI • POC: Prophets Of Da City • RJ Benjamin • RUFF X • Skomplazi • Spykos • Slice • Vusi Nova • Tuks • Zola • 37MPH aka Mpho Pholo (Music Producer/Artist) • D Low • Skeem • Cream • Ashaan • Ghetto Luv • O Da Meesta • Boomaratcy • DJs Revolution • DJ Killa and DJ Murder • DJ What What • Mapaputsi • Tandoor • Ms Mash • Kofifi • Mavusana & Mizchif • Jobe • Jabu (The Weatherman) • Jay (Gospel) • Notende • Ntjapedi • Pitch Black Afro (PBA) • Dj Mthakathi • Mzekezeke • Brown Dash • Unathi Nkayi (Idols Judge) • Jub Jub • Shluda • DJ Nkoh • Keith Murray (US Rapper) • Puff Johnson (US Artist) • da L.E.S • Cooke • Maggz • Ricky Rick • Mzansi Strings • Fly Chix • Nancy G • Veezo • Wanda • Dj Sneja • Vusi Nova • Chanel • Moneoa • ShoutOut • Makizar • Tarajika • Young & Dirty • Joelle Xo • Nasrene • Amanda Mankayi • Bongani Radebe • Ntando • Mega Drum • Sho Madjozi • PS Djz • Bekazela • Dear Zwicky • Dj Vitoto • Skara Teka • Hush-SA • 047 • Onesimus • Ntsika • Ntando
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- South Africa
Named but not plotted · 1
Ghetto Ruff is associated with South Africa.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Ghetto Ruff”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q5556569: Ghetto Ruff
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
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References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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