See No Competition
No Competition (2025) is the latest release from the Akron-born producer featuring artists Shug Da Trappa, 2.5 Bino and the recently repopularized Yung L.A.
No Competition is Ruff showcasing his unique beat selection and varying style.
“No Competition is me being in my own lane and not competing with nobody, tunnel vision focus,” Ruff said.
Early Music Career
Ruff began mixing beats almost a decade ago on a friends borrowed laptop. He didn’t own his own producing device until 22, but he was always hungry to create.
“The first full beat I made was like five minutes- I asked my mom could I use her laptop while she was at work,” Ruff said. “Eighth grade I made my first beat tape for my brother.”
His first official project With Me or Against Me (2019) features Maxo, Nino Buxx, AyoGz, and J. Nicole among others. The release pays homage to all of Ruff's childhood musical influences. R&B, trap and hip-hop are heard throughout the piece.
The album was Ruff taking the leap with his music and stepping out as a certified producer.
“I felt it was time to really step out and showcase my beats and the artists I work with,” Ruff said. “The project is timeless especially considering it being my earlier work, it shows versatility, and my sound as whole.”
Before the Beats
In his early years, Ruff was always being creative though he never thought it would manifest into producing.
He auditioned for Miller South School for The Visual and Performing Arts in Akron, Ohio. This developed his skill in visual art that he uses to design his album covers.
“It was special for real, everybody in there had a talent or even multiple," Ruff said.
After some years, Ruff's mother decided it was time to give the family more opportunity and moved the family to High Point, North Carolina. Ruff landed at Southwest Guilford High School and graduated in 2013.
He decided to pass on college and begin working.
“I had to make money cause I knew I wasn’t going straight to college," Ruff said. “Finding a job at the time was tough, it was somethin’ out there better for me though.”
Dreams of College Basketball
Ruff was doing well for himself. He purchased a car, an apartment, and had steady income. Then a chance meeting with a former overseas basketball player revived old dreams.
Former University of North Carolina Greensboro Player, Tizzo Johnson, was working as a financial consultant when he met Ruff. The pair began talking about their love of basketball and Johnson's college basketball career. The financial meeting turned into Johnson offering Ruff an opportunity to try out for college programs.
Ruff respected Johnson’s focus on business and his commitment to supporting others, so he followed through.
“He genuinely wants his people to win and most importantly keeps his word,” Ruff said. “I always respected that about him.”
Ruff was sold on college ball and added weekly basketball workouts, tryouts, and gym runs into his hectic work schedule. He was bouncing from state to state trying out for programs, some nights driving eight hours to tryouts.
His dedication paid off when he got a call from Richard Bland College in Petersburg, Virginia. The coaching staff let him know he earned a roster spot at the program.
“Through all the going to work everyday, I’m in the gym, I’m hooping, I’m working nonstop,” Ruff said. “Once I got the opportunity to be close to playing college basketball, I immediately locked in.”
Ruff spent a year at Richard Bland playing college basketball. He used the time in college to take a break from the hustle of working multiple jobs.
“Off the court I was coolin’ for real, I brought my TV from home the 40 inch and my game,” he said.
After college ball, Ruff returned to working jobs and the grind started to take a toll on his freedom to pursue his passion.
“I knew I was going back to work after I left school, being a student athlete in college wasn’t the easiest,” he said. “Wasn’t no money flowing in, so I needed to get back to the money for sure.”
In 2018, Ruff decided to bet on his talent and began producing full-time.
“I felt like I had to make something happen. I knew I couldn’t go back so I had to figure things out,” Ruff said. “It took about a year before I put this music on the line and over everything.”
Can't Stop Cooking
Ruff has not stopped making beats and his creativity always stays high.
He’s released Extravagant Trap Shit (2020) with a sequel Extravagant Trap Shit 2: Double the Load (2021) , The Influencer (2021) , Who TF is Ruff Beatz (2024), Vette Pressure-Volume 1 (2024), The Reason (2025) and recently No Competition.
"My catalog is whatever you make it to be; music is a feeling," Ruff said. "It's nothing but frequencies going around, however you're feeling it's there made with love, you can love it, hate it or can't stop playing it."
Ruff has no plans of stopping. He continues producing beats and uploading content to his YouTube channel Ruff Beatz giving fans an inside look on his process.
Producing is more than a career- it's a lifestyle to Ruff and a commitment to working on his passion over working for someone else.
“I just know that I don’t want to have to work for somebody, I want to be able to put that time into myself, ”Ruff said. “Its just something that I really love for real, and I have to do it, because I know what I don’t want to do.”
Ruff wants his listeners to know he appreciates every stream, every message, and everyone that took the time to press play.
Listeners can find @Ruff Beatz on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and all streaming platforms and visit his website.