13irthmark (Birthmark)
HIP HOP SOUL performer/songwriter/recording artist 13irthmark (Birthmark) was born Curtis Lamar Ruffin Jr. in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA, in 1984. The descendant of David Ruffin from the Temptations, 13irthMark grew up listening to old-school R&B, pop, and classic rock.
He later on moved to Sylvania, Georgia, and fell in love with “Gangster” rap, (though it’s been more so reality rap for 13irthmark) from artist like Ice Cube, Scarface, Snoop Dogg and other artist that he classifies in his genre of Hip Hop Soul like Outkast, Goodie Mob, 2 Pac 8ball and MJG, while playing percussion in the SCREVEN COUNTY school’s band.
As an artist, 13irthmark started writing music at age 13 and later recorded his first song at age 17 with WAND DAWG RECORDS.
After he graduated from High school, he went back to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and recorded his first album, “Diary On Tapes” which sold over 3000 physical copies himself.
He is currently booking and performing at live venues throughout the Southeast region, doing local media runs, and has been collaborating with many artists throughout the Southeast region. His motto is to bring quality music back to the industry while not having a dated sound, without compromising his deliberate delivery while dropping everlasting music and putting together classic albums.
I am a Rap/Hip Hop artist who blends multiple genres into what I call Hip Hop Soul. I’m a writer, performing artist, self-publisher and administrator, recording engineer, marketer, and customer service representative of my works.
Over the years, wearing these many hats has become a part of my everyday uniform when I wake up. The arts and I have become one, and it feels great to have developed this rhythm with my passion, one of the things I’m most proud of about this journey: building work-life balance and being able to perform my work live to the world, physically or on streaming platforms.
What sets me apart is my Everyday Citizen music that connects with so many different people in all walks of life. To be able to corner the market with my Mother’s Day song “HAPPY MOTHERS DAY”, Father’s Day song “RAISED BY MY HERO”, Veteran’s Day song “WELCOME HOME”, New Year song “NEW YEAR RESOLUTION”, Black history month and Juneteenth song “3LACK SKINNED”, Thanksgiving and Family Reunion song “NOTHIN’ LIKE FAMILY”, Back to school song “STUDY BUDDY” and my Spring and Summer Break song “ROAD TRIP” has secured my place in not only RAP/HIP HOP but Music in general as the first and only artist so far that has songs that is embed in not only American Culture, but the Cultures of Humanity and I am honored to say that these songs wasn’t forced or preplanned this way, it naturally came out over the years and I was blessed with the insight to line them up with these celebrated days.
