rick rubin Archives

I Used to Love HER…Rick Rubin Speaks on How Hip-Hop Has Changed.

Rick Rubin, along with Russell Simmons, started what is arguably the most important Hip-Hop record label ever created in Def Jam Recordings. So, who better to commentate on the state of the culture today? Rubin gave a rare interview to Vulture and spoke about the early days of Def Jam,... Read more

March 29, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

What Do Nas, Rick Rubin & Fab 5 Freddy Think Of Hip-Hop & Race? Watch Part One Of The Tanning Of America (Video)

Yesterday (February 24) kicked off Vh1's five-part series on The Tanning Of America: One Nation Under Hip-Hop. The title, concept and vision is based on Steve Stoute's recent book, which looked at the cultural and racial diaspora that's happened in the United States, in large part, due to Hip-Hop. The... Read more

February 25, 2014 Fresh, TV/Film, Video

Def Jam Records Started With A Smash. 30 Years Ago Today T La Rock Declared It’s Yours

The same week that LL Cool J hosted the Grammy Awards, there is another important memory milestone for Def Jam Records. Thirty years ago today (January 28), the label started by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin (in a New York University dorm room), released blockbuster single "It's Yours" by Manhattan/Bronx... Read more

January 28, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

The Top 10 Most Compelling Hip-Hop Photographs Of 2013 (Food For Thought)

The old adage, "a picture's worth a thousand words" often proves to be true. Let's hope so for 2013, which by way of Instagram, Twipic, and some inner-circle released photos, told Heads plenty of stories. From unlikely reunions to time-pieces, to first steps for Hip-Hop kind, what a year... Here... Read more

December 24, 2013 Food for Thought, Fresh

Q-Tip & Rick Rubin Will Reportedly Produce Bulk Of Kanye West’s Yeezus Follow-Up

Kanye West has said next to nothing about the specifics regarding his seventh album, and will-be follow-up to Yeezus. There's been talk of Cruel Winter from G.O.O.D. Music's clique, as well as a possible Watch The Throne 2 as well, given Jay Z's propensity for series. Q-Tip dropped a bit... Read more

December 3, 2013 Fresh, Video

The “Ultimate” Exit That Was Jay Z’s Black Album (Food For Thought)

Hip-Hop celebrates a grand entrance. Since the days of receiving Bad Boy Records promo-packs of The Notorious B.I.G. & Craig Mack in a McDonald’s "Big Mac" container, the dog-and-pony show known as the music industry has embraced the infinite possibilities of the new over the challenges of re-purposing the old.... Read more

November 14, 2013 Food for Thought, Fresh

Eminem Unloads Groundhog Day The Same Weekend He Performs Rap God (Video)

In less than 24 hours, one of the biggest Rap release dates of 2013 takes place care of Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP 2 (aka #MMLP2). The follow-up to Em's 2000 classic includes a revived sound and style in the lyrics, with production inspired by the sample-heavy Rock/Rap synergy of the... Read more

November 4, 2013 Audio, Fresh, Video

Eminem Unveils The Marshall Mathers LP 2 On iTunes (Album Stream)

In a strange year for Hip-Hop, Eminem's 8th studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 has had a cycle less than 10 weeks from its MTV Video Music Awards announcement. #MMLP2 as it could seemingly also be known pairs Em with Rick Rubin, a Rap production pioneer who shaped the... Read more

November 1, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Rick Rubin Explains the Making of Eminem’s Berzerk Record (Video)

During the video shoot for Eminem's Berzerk, Rick Rubin sat down to explain the concept behind the record and how it evolved into the final product. He talks about both he and Em wanted to do something that was a throwback to the early days of Hip-Hop. Check out the... Read more

October 3, 2013 Video

Eminem – Berzerk (Video)

As if you expected any different, the visual to "Berzerk" lives up to its name. Slaughterhouse, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Rock, Rick Rubin, and what appears to be Paul Rosenberg and Alchemist all make cameos. Additionally, Em not only included some Billy Squier live archival footage, he deliberately paid homage to... Read more

September 9, 2013 Fresh, Video

Billy Squier – The Big Beat (Video)

In light of Eminem's "Berzerk," I keep referencing this song. The truth is, the record has an amazing time-piece video. While it might seem cheesy, or a callback to big hair, tight Lee's, and t-top Camaros, this is a break that stays in the arsenal of your favorite producer/DJ. The... Read more

August 27, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Eminem – Berzerk (Prod. Rick Rubin)

After confirming he will be releasing a new album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, in November, Eminem releases the first single. It's a return to Slim Shady mode over a heavy sample from Billy Squier's The Stroke. Check out Berzerk.... Read more

August 26, 2013 Throwback

Eminem Announces “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” (Video)

While Justin Timberlake tore down the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards with his medley of hits, old and new, and reuniting that group we all pretended we didn't like (N*Sync), the biggest story may have happened between the breaks. Beats By Dre announced Eminem's upcoming album, in a very "All... Read more

August 26, 2013 Fresh, Video

Jay-Z Decodes His New Songs Oceans, Heaven & Jay Z Blue for Rick Rubin, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz & Pharrell (Video)

Here are videos of Jay-Z decoding the concepts behind Oceans featuring Frank Ocean, Heaven and Jay Z Blue (3 songs from Magna Carta Holy Grail) for Rick Rubin, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and Pharrell. You can check out the videos and the full lyrics to Oceans below. Related: Swizz Beatz Speaks... Read more

June 28, 2013 Video

Kanye West Plays Send It Up at His Yeezus Listening Session (Video)

So it turns out Rick Rubin executive produced Kanye West's Yeezus album. Here's a 7+ minute clip from Kanye's listening session last night that includes a song called Send It Up featuring King Louie, as well as Kanye thanking those who helped him with the album. Check out the video.... Read more

June 11, 2013 Video

Was there ever any question that Def Jam Recordings would be the #1 most important hip-hop record label of all time??? Here’s a 30-song playlist of music from some of the legendary Def Jam artists: LL, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, Redman, Method Man and more.

Before record labels were considered “the enemy” their brands actually meant something. Artists dreamed of being on the same label as the MCs they grew up idolizing and some labels had such credibility fans would buy the record just because it was on that label. We decided to look at... Read more

December 19, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists, Throwback, Video

Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin – Def Jam’s First 25 Years (Audio Interview)

Here's an interview of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin on the founding and legacy of Def Jam. The intro is a bit stiff (the interview is from NPR...) but it's very cool to hear the story of Def Jam from the voices of the founders, themselves. Click here to hear... Read more

October 9, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought

Here’s a cool video of Russell Simmons talking about what led him to Rick Rubin.

Check out the video below and click here to listen to our playlist of Rick Rubin hip-hop productions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPodlw6YdJw&feature=player_embedded... Read more

July 25, 2011 Video

All the recent heat around The Beastie Boys has gotten me thinking about Def Jam of old. You can’t talk about the original Def Jam sound without mentioning Rick Rubin. He is the subject of our latest Producer Series playlist.

Rick Rubin was a purist. He liked BIG thumping 808 drums, hard snares, hard rhymes and not much else on his songs. At the time, when rap was still being recorded mostly over disco and R&B covers, his sound was revolutionary. He was among the first to capture the rawness... Read more

April 29, 2011 Audio, Playlists, Throwback