The Birth of Rude Tymz Entertainment and Apparel

The Birth of Rude Tymz Entertainment and Apparel

In 1983, while attending Near North Career Magnet High School on Chicago’s Northside, an early defining moment occurred. During a conversation in the school cafeteria, a classmate, Tommy Williams, remarked upon my forthright expression, stating, “I’m going to stop calling you ‘B’—I’m going to call you ‘B Rude’.

” That moniker resonated with me and became a cornerstone of my identity, eventually adopted as part of my DJ name, Byron “B Rude” Burke. By the age of 16, I had begun using “B Rude Inc.” as the name for my musical ventures, which led to a recording contract with DJ International Records at 17, alongside colleagues DJ Shaun Robinson, Tony Nash, and Tommy Williams forming the group called “B Rude Inc”.

A few months before our scheduled performance at the Whitney Young High School Prom, I met Byron Stingily, who graciously agreed to serve as the lead vocalist for that event. This collaboration marked the beginning of a deeper musical partnership that, despite evolving dynamics, laid the groundwork for future endeavors.

As I progressed in composing music and producing records for independent labels in Chicago, I established a music publishing company named Rude Tymes Music. This development soon coincided with my signing a contract with Atlantic Records for the group Ten City in 1987—a partnership that remains active today.

In 1999, I expanded my business acumen by attending Stanford University’s “Bus 16: Startups – From Idea To IPO” course. This program provided a framework for transforming innovative ideas into scalable, publicly traded ventures. With experience as a DJ from Chicago’s Westside, a recording contract at 17, and a major record deal with Ten City at 19—resulting in the production of albums for Atlantic Records, East/West Records, and Columbia Records—I was well-positioned to leverage these insights. My goal was to synthesize my lifelong experiences with the knowledge acquired at Stanford to launch a new startup: Rude Tymz Entertainment.

After one and a half years of comprehensive research, I began developing Rude Tymz Entertainment in Manhattan in 2001. Operating from an office at 145 West 45th Street, 6th Floor—leased from

 Jody Gray of Gray Noise Music, noted for creating music and sound effects for Cartoon Network’s “Courage The Cowardly Dog”—I embarked on this ambitious venture. 

The company’s inaugural project, “The Rude Tymz Arkestra,” featured a single titled “Keep On.” Despite limited funding, I produced several promotional CDs with unique printing codes (e.g., RT-001) that ultimately enabled me to secure additional remixes for inclusion on a Universal Records compilation in Japan called “Club Soul”, courtesy of promoter Tarco Onou and renowned New York DJ Timmy Regisford.

Following the profound changes in the business landscape after September 11, 2001, I was compelled to temporarily set aside my vision.

In November 2024, due to financial hardships that resulted in homelessness, I began documenting my life’s journey in an autobiography. Reflecting on pivotal events—including the genesis of Rude Tymz Entertainment—sparked a renewed interest in revisiting and revitalizing my earlier business model. This exploration led to the rediscovery of the domain www.rudetymz.com, originally acquired in 2001, which I successfully reclaimed.

Subsequent research introduced me to AliveShoes, Italian company specializing in handmade Italian leather products. On February 6, 2025, I submitted an application to be recognized as a designer for Rude Tymz Apparel. The application was approved the following day by Luca Botticelli, Founder and CEO of AliveShoes, who expressed confidence in my ability to leverage my extensive business experience and creative passion.

Key milestones that followed include:

• February 8, 2025: Initiation of the first concept designs for Rude Tymz.
  
  
• February 18, 2025: Submission and approval of the RT Purple Earth 1 High Top Street Runner design as a STAFF PICK; purchase of the first prototype; and acquisition of design protection, ensuring the model’s exclusivity (limited edition code #NJ2211, Order ID: 1754300).
  
• February 21, 2025: The RT Purple Earth 1 High Top Street Runner was launched for pre-orders and entered production in Italy, alongside an upgrade of the Rude Tymz Apparel account to the Pro level at AliveShoes.com.
  
• February 22, 2025: Presentation and approval of the RT Black Earth 1 High Top Street Runner for pre-sale orders (design protection code #EU8456, Order ID: 1758272).
  
• February 25, 2025: Submission, approval, and live launch of the RT Purple Earth 1 Low Top Street Runner on AliveShoes.com.
  
• March 10, 2025: The first business development meeting for Rude Tymz Apparel was held at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago with Byron “B Rude” Burke aka Popa Ur Maa and Matthew Macon.
  
• March 12, 2025: The RT Purple Earth 1 High Top Street Runner prototype was shipped.
  
• March 14, 2025: Delivery confirmation of the RT Purple Earth 1 High Top Street Runner prototype.
  
• March 29, 2025: I attended SnkrFest at the Schaumburg Convention Center, where the Rude Tymz Purple Earth 1 High-Top Street Runner made its debut.
  

These milestones represent the evolution of Rude Tymz Entertainment and Apparel—from its humble beginnings to its current status as an innovative force at the intersection of music, fashion, and culture. This journey underscores a commitment to excellence, resilience, and the transformative power of creative vision.