Whatever Happened to Ruff Endz — The R&B Duo Behind “No More”?

#NOLAZINE - If you were listening to R&B in the early 2000s, there’s a good chance you remember Ruff Endz and their breakout hit “No More.” The Baltimore duo arrived during an era packed with memorable R&B acts, but one record was enough to make their name part of the soundtrack of the period.

Ruff Endz consisted of David “Davinch” Chance and Dante “Chi” Jordan, two singers from Baltimore, Maryland. Before landing a major record deal, the pair spent years trying to break into the music business. According to a Billboard feature from 2000, Chance and Jordan had struggled from roughly 1994 through 1998 to secure a deal before eventually getting the attention of Epic Records. They signed with Epic in 1999.

“No More” Changed Everything

In 2000, Ruff Endz released the song that would define their career: “No More.”

Produced by Eddie F and Darren Lighty, the record was built around a breakup theme that immediately connected with listeners. Instead of begging for a relationship to continue, Ruff Endz delivered a song about reaching the end of the road and cutting off the extras that came with the relationship.

The record became a major crossover success.

“No More” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and climbed all the way to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard's year-end rankings also placed it at No. 7 among R&B/Hip-Hop singles and tracks for 2000.

At a time when R&B was filled with artists like Jagged Edge, Joe, Sisqó, Donell Jones, Avant and Destiny’s Child, Ruff Endz had managed to create a record that could compete with some of the biggest names in music.

The “Love Crimes” Album

The success of “No More” helped introduce Ruff Endz's debut album, “Love Crimes,” released through Epic Records in August 2000.

The project showcased more than just their breakout single. Ruff Endz built much of their sound around relationships, heartbreak and the realities of love going wrong. David Chance's smoother tenor paired with Dante Jordan's rougher baritone gave the duo a distinctive vocal combination.

“Love Crimes” reached No. 52 on the Billboard 200 and No. 19 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart.

But following a huge record like “No More” was never going to be easy.

Ruff Endz Had Another R&B Hit

One misconception is that Ruff Endz completely disappeared after “No More.”

They didn't.

The duo returned with their second album, “Someone to Love You,” in 2002. Its title track became another significant R&B record. “Someone to Love You” reached No. 12 on the R&B chart and No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album reached No. 8 on the R&B albums chart and No. 27 on the Billboard 200.

While it didn't duplicate the massive crossover success of “No More,” it proved Ruff Endz wasn't simply a group with one popular song.

Still, their mainstream momentum eventually slowed.

So What Happened to Ruff Endz?

After their run with Epic Records, Ruff Endz stepped away from the major-label spotlight. A greatest-hits collection arrived in 2003, and the duo went through a period where they weren't as visible to mainstream audiences.

But Ruff Endz didn't simply vanish.

The duo eventually reunited and continued making music independently. They released additional projects in the years that followed, including “Rebirth” in 2021, and were touring in support of the album as recently as 2022.

That makes the Ruff Endz story different from many acts remembered primarily for one turn-of-the-century hit. David “Davinch” Chance and Dante “Chi” Jordan continued working together long after their biggest mainstream moment.

“No More” Still Represents an Era

More than two decades later, “No More” remains the record most closely associated with Ruff Endz.

Its success came during a particularly competitive period for R&B. Billboard's 2000 year-end R&B/Hip-Hop songs list included records from Jagged Edge, Joe, TLC, Donell Jones, Montell Jordan, Avant, Destiny’s Child, Toni Braxton and D’Angelo—yet Ruff Endz's “No More” finished among the year's biggest R&B records.

For listeners who grew up during that period, hearing the opening moments of “No More” can instantly bring back memories of early-2000s radio, BET and an era when male R&B groups and duos had a major presence in popular music.

So, whatever happened to Ruff Endz?

They never completely went away.

Their time at the very top of mainstream R&B may have been relatively brief, but Ruff Endz continued making music beyond the hit that introduced them to millions. And even if casual listeners remember them primarily for “No More,” the duo's catalog—and their continued work together—shows there was more to their story than one unforgettable record.

For Ruff Endz, “No More” may have been the song that made them famous, but more than 25 years later, it remains a lasting piece of early-2000s R&B history.