Ruff Ryders Ryde Or Die Vol. 3 CD

Additional personnel includes: Petey Pablo, Bubba Sparxxx, Yung Wun, Ludacris, Tha Eastsidaz.

The Dirty South collective known as the Ruff Ryders brings its third collection of bangin' and ballin' rhymes, from the lightning quick raps of Drag-On and Petey Pablo's "Dirty" through Jadakiss and Bubba Sparxxxs' "They Ain't Ready." While others reach for respectability, the Ryders remain devoted to their prime directive of keeping it real, which they do here with the aid of sophisticated and imaginative arrangements, all bubbling synths and smooth backing vocals, which spread a smooth sheen over these slices of thug life. The one-dimensional subject matter notwithstanding (thugging, thug-related activities, superlative skills of the Ryders over all rivals and haters in same), the Ryders' mix of ingenious bragging raps, grinding Dirty South rhythms, and exceptional production values all serve to make RYDE OR DIE VOL.III yet another milestone in the North Carolina outfit's tumultuous, street battle-scarred career.

Parental Advisory-Ludacris/Eve Ja Rule/Trick Daddy/Dmx/Lox

Ruff Ryders include: Eve, Infa-Red, Drag-On, Aja, Holiday Styles, Parle, Fiend, DMX, The Lox, Jadakiss.

Producers include: Swizz Beats, Timbaland, Trackmasters, Scott Storch, Irv Gotti.

Engineers include: Larry Phillabaum, Ralph Cacciurri, Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic.

Ruff Ryders include: Eve, Infa-Red, Cross, Drag-On, Aja, Holiday Styles, Parle, Fiend, DMX, The Lox, Jadakiss.

Engineers include: Larry Phillabaum, Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic, Ralph Cacciurri.

Audio Mixers: Dragan "Chach" Cacinovic; Michael D.; Jimmy Douglas; Larry Phillabaum; Rich Keller.

Recording information: Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA; Doppler tudios, Atlanta, GA; Enterprise Studios; Hiit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; sony Music Studios; Soundtrack Studios; Soundtracks Studio.

Photographers: Don Morris; Ted Hopkins.