A decade ago, despite being considered one of underground hip-hop’s most prodigious talents, the safe money said R.A. the Rugged Man would never eat the proverbial lunch in this or any other town again.

But after surviving years of frustrating label politics, not to mention his own personal issues, R.A. has reinvented himself in an unlikely new role: well-connected industry player. He’s a budding film producer, director and author, yet still rugged as ever.