The label went on to launch the careers of several successful artists such as DMX, Eve, The LOX (Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and Styles P), Drag-On, MC Jin, producers Dame Grease and the Deans' nephew, Swizz Beatz among others.

The Ruff Ryders namesake also referred to a loose-knit hip hop collective composed of the core signees of the label.

The album featured a guest appearance from DMX and production from Ruff Ryders producer Dame Grease.

The album featured guest appearances from fellow Ruff Ryders artists Loose and Big Stan, as well as a then 17-year old Drag-On, who signed in 1997.

It's Dark And Hell Is Hot debuted at number 1 on the Billboard top 200 and sold over 250,000 copies in its first week.

The strong success of It's Dark and Hell Is Hot catapulted Ruff Ryders and DMX into mainstream superstardom and prompted Def Jam's leader Lyor Cohen to challenge DMX to record another album quickly to have another album released within the same calendar year.

The LOX and its solo members greatly contributed to the album, through the group was still signed to Bad Boy Records at the time.

Supported by the moderately successful lead single Spit These Bars, the album debuted and peaked in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold in America.

One of the members of Larsiny, Cassidy, would go on to achieve success as a solo rapper signed to Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records label in the 2000s.

Ruff Ryders had hopes of releasing a film titled My Brother's Keeper with an accompanying soundtrack.

In 2002, Ruff Ryders signed Jin, a Miami, Florida born Chinese rapper who rose to prominence through winning many Freestyle Fridays rap battles on BET's 106 & Park.

On July 14, 2003, it was announced and confirmed that Ruff Ryders signed a joint venture deal with Virgin Records.

The album featured guest appearances from Swizz Beatz, Styles P, Infa-Red & Cross, Drag-On, Eve, Jadakiss, Sheek, and former Ruff Ryders artist Big Stan, who left the label to sign to DMX's Bloodline Records.

Eve, at this time, became more involved in acting and signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment in a joint deal with Ruff Ryders; Drag-On hadn't released an album since 2000's Opposite of H2O, and Sheek Louch had released his album, 2003's Walk Witt Me through D-Block instead of Ruff Ryders.

As a result of low promotion, Hell and Back was a commercial failure, only peaking at number 47 on the Billboard top 200 and failing to achieve gold status in America.

Upon release, the album was also a commercial failure, only selling 20,000 units in its first week and peaking at number 54 on the Billboard top 200.

Contributing factors to the album failing were lack of promotion from Virgin Records and the online music piracy crisis of the 2000s.

The album, now titled Year of the Dog... Again, was released in August 2006 through Ruff Ryders, Sony Urban Music and Columbia Records.

In April 2021, Ruff Ryders' first artist, DMX, collapsed and died of a cocaine induced heart attack.

The album was released in May 2021 through Ruff Ryders, with primary production from Swizz Beatz and guest appearances by The LOX.