by SCOTT C

Any Montreal head who’s been paying attention over the years will recognize the name Rugged Intellect, a local MC whose raw, lyrical rushes have got him where he is today.

Rugged is finishing up his new LP, The Renaissance, a collection of material recorded with his good friend, the well-known hip hop producer Domingo. “Domingo is like my mentor,” says Rugged Intellect. “He really helped me out a lot as far as giving me advice about how to work in this industry, as well as helping me meet and work with people I admire and respect.”

Rugged insists that the line-up of guests on the upcoming LP might read like it was paid for with some trust-fund money, but was really just orchestrated by Domingo. Expect to hear Rugged spitting on beats from Da Beatminerz’ Buckwild, Memo from the Molemen and the aforementioned Domingo, not to mention his sharing the mic with cats like Kool G Rap, AG from D.I.T.C., RA the Rugged Man and Heltah Skeltah.

“The collaborations literally happened over a two-week period, where Domingo would call me from the studio and say, ‘You want Sean Price on a track?’ Or, ‘How’d you like to work with Kool G Rap?’ So it’s really thanks to him that I was able to hook up with those guys.”

There were also two songs from Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs that got caught in some red tape, but I think he’ll be okay in the end. Look for the Rugged Intellect 12-inch vinyl in January, featuring “All Fair” with Kool G Rap, “Life I Love” with Buckwild and “By Any Means” with Domingo—and The Renaissance LP soon thereafter.