He was also a part of the hip-hop supergroup La Coka Nostra, which consists of his former House of Pain mates, Danny Boy and DJ Lethal along with underground rap veteran Ill Bill and Irish-American rapper Slaine. On July 14, 2009, they released their debut album, 'A Brand You Can Trust', through Uncle Howie Records and Suburban Noize Records.
Everlast was born in Valley Stream, New York of Irish descent. His grandfather was of German descent. Emerging as a member of the Rhyme Syndicate, Everlast's first solo album Forever Everlasting (1990), largely made possible by MC Ice T, was a disappointment both critically and commercially. Following the album's failure, Everlast teamed up with DJ Lethal and high school friend Danny Boy to form House of Pain. The group was signed to Tommy Boy Records, and their eponymous debut album, House of Pain (1992), went multi-platinum, spawning the successful DJ Muggs produced single Jump Around. This song was also remixed twice by Pete Rock, one version featuring a verse from him and one without. The album also featured Cypress Hill member, B-Real, on the song Put Your Head Out.
Fashioning themselves as rowdy Irish American hooligans (Lethal is actually of Latvian heritage), they toured with various rap and alternative-rock bands after their breakthrough. They participated together with Helmet, along with several other rap acts, on the influential 1993 rock-rap collaborative Judgment Night movie soundtrack. The group eventually disbanded in 1996, with Everlast pursuing a solo career.
Everlast's second solo album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues (1998)-- which was released a full eight years after his solo debut and after he had a major heart attack – was both a commercial and critical success (selling more than 3 million copies). Whitey Ford Sings the Blues was hailed for its blend of rap with acoustic and electric guitars, developed by Everlast together with producers Dante Ross and John Gamble. The album's lead single What It's Like proved to be his most popular and successful song, although the follow up single, Ends, also reached the rock top 10.
Everlast followed-up this success by collaborating with Santana on the track Put Your Lights On on Santana's 1999 album Supernatural. It charted at #118 on the pop chart, but did considerably better with rock radio airplay, peaking at #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Put Your Lights On" won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 2000 Grammy Awards.
Despite the success of Whitey Ford Sings the Blues and his success with Santana, Everlast's follow-up album, Eat at Whitey's (2000), stumbled commercially at first in the United States. However, it was eventually certified gold. The album was also embraced critically, especially by Rolling Stone Magazine, which reviewed the album between "good" and "great" and focused on it as that month's most important release.
Shortly after both artists contributed tracks to the End of Days soundtrack, a feud erupted between Everlast and Eminem. Eminem and Everlast crossed paths before a concert in early 1999. Eminem says he didn't greet Everlast because he didn't recognize him right away, and said Everlast didn't acknowledge him. Everlast's version is that he tried to congratulate Eminem on his success, and Eminem blew him off. Either way, Everlast's verse from the Dilated Peoples all star track Ear Drums Pop (Remix) contained a thinly veiled reference to Eminem "I buck a .380 on ones that act shady", and went on to warn "You might catch a beatdown now where I come from" in his recounting of the incident.
Eminem, in turn, ripped Everlast several times in public and with the song I Remember (Dedication To Whitey Ford) released as the b-side to his group D12's 12" vinyl single Shit On You. In it, Eminem talks about how he remembered Everlast's music, however, "Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit came along now / Don't nobody wanna hear your old ass sing no more."
Everlast responded with the track Whitey's Revenge, released only on his official website. Whereas the song contained references to Eminem's strained relationships with his wife and mother, it was "Better run and check your kid for your DNA", again referring to Eminem's daughter, Hailie Jade Mathers, that set Eminem off.
Eminem & D12 responded with Quitter, the first half uses the backing of Eminem's own song Marshall Mathers, the second half of which is a take off on 2Pac's Hit Em Up (a diss song aimed at The Notorious B.I.G.). In it, he warns Everlast, "If you talk about my little girl in a song again, I’ma kill you." The track ends with the spoken words, "Fuck him, that’s it, I’m done, I promise, I’m done, that’s it," and again warning, "Mention my daughter’s name in a song again you fucking punk."
Everlast echoed similar sentiment on the status of this feud, stating in various interviews that he felt everything had been said and he would now refrain from further responses.
After the sale of the Tommy Boy Records' catalog of master tapes to Warner Bros. Records and its metamorphosis to a dance music label in 2002, Everlast was without a label, but in 2003 he signed with Island Def Jam. His fourth solo album, White Trash Beautiful (2004), was subsequently released after almost a four-year hiatus. The album, which had an almost country-rap feel, received mixed reviews and was a commercial failure. Eventually, Everlast was released from his contract.
In early 2006, Everlast teamed up with his former House of Pain mates DJ Lethal and Danny Boy to join the hip-hop group La Coka Nostra.The group first came to be due to the former House of Pain Hype man Danny Boy starting the group as a collective with rappers Slaine and Big Left (who has since left the group). Soon after the group started, Ill Bill of a now disbanded Non Phixion and Everlast joined the group. Their first known song was Fuck Tony Montana, which features Cypress Hill's MC B Real and Sick Jacken. Due to the popularity of the song online, the group released several more online for free. The group's debut album, A Brand You Can Trust, was released on July 14. The album features guests like Snoop Dogg, B Real, Bun B, Immortal Technique, Sick Jacken and Q-Unique. La Coka Nostra recently joined the likes of Nas and Ill Bill's brother, Necro on Rock The Bells.
In 2007, Everlast was chosen to do the theme song for the TV show Saving Grace. The song,Saving Grace, plays during the show's main title sequence, and was originally released to digital outlets only, however, it was also included on Everlast's fifth solo album, Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford. The album was released on September 23, 2008, on Everlast's own record label Martyr Inc, with distribution by Hickory Records/Sony/ATV Music Publishing (It was revealed through diditleak.co.uk that the album leaked out early on Friday, August 29). A second single and video, Letters Home From The Garden Of Stone, was released for free download from martyr-inc.com in December 2007. The third single, a cover of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, was released to download on August 19. The Video for Stone in My Hand debuted on the martyr-inc website on October 28, 2008, making it the fourth video for the album.
Discography
Forever Everlasting
* Released: March 27, 1990
* Label: Warner Bros. Records
* Singles: "Never Missin' a Beat", "The Rhythm", "I Got the Knack"
Whitey Ford Sings the Blues
* Released: September 8, 1998 (2× Multi-Platinum)
* Label: Tommy Boy Records
* Singles: "What It's Like", "Ends", "Painkillers"
Today (EP)
* Released: 1999
* Label: Tommy Boy Records
* Singles: -
Eat at Whitey's
* Released: October 17, 2000 (Gold)
* Label: Tommy Boy Records
* Singles: "Black Jesus", "Deadly Assassins", "I Can't Move"
White Trash Beautiful
* Released: May 25, 2004
* Label: Island Def Jam
* Singles: "White Trash Beautiful", "Sleepin' Alone", "Blinded By The Sun", "Sad Girl", "Lonely Road"
Love, War and The Ghost of Whitey Ford
* Release Date: September 23, 2008
* Label: Martyr Inc.
* U.S. sales: 6,500+ in its first week.
* Singles: "Letters Home from the Garden of Stone", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Stone In My Hand"
Selected Guest Appearances
* Ice-T - What Ya Wanna Do? (]The Iceberg, 1989)
* Bronx Style Bob - Ode II Junior (Grandma's Ghost, 1992)
* The Whooliganz - Hit the Deck (Put Your Handz Up (Single), 1993)
* Madonna/artist] - Waiting (Remix) (Rain (Maxi-Single), 1993)
* Nice & Smooth - Save the Children (Jewel of the Nile, 1993)
* Lordz of Brooklyn - Gravesend (Lake Of Fire) (Gravesend (Soundtrack), 1997)
* Carlos Santana - Put Your Lights On (Supernatural, 1999)
* Swollen Members - Bottle Rocket (Balance, 1999)
* SX-10 - Rhyme in the Chamber (Mad Dog American, 2000)
* Dilated Peoples - Ear Drums Pop (Remix) (The Platform, 2000)
* DJ Muggs - Razor to Your Throat (Soul Assassins II, 2000)
* Run DMC - Take the Money and Run (Crown Royal, 2001)
* Kurupt - Kuruption! (Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey, 2001)
* Limp Bizkit - Faith/Fame Remix (New Old Songs, 2001)
* Hesher - Whose Generation (Hesher, 2001)
* X-Ecutioners - B-Boy Punk Rock 2001 (Built From Scratch, 2002)
* DJ Muggs - Gone for Good (Dust, 2003)
* Danny Diablo - Rise Above (Street CD Vol 2, 2005)
* The Lordz - "The Brooklyn Way" (The Brooklyn Way, 2006)
* Swollen Members - Put Me On (Black Magic, 2006)
* Snoop Dogg - My Medicine (Ego Trippin', 2008)
* Ill Bill - Only Time Will Tell "Pain Gang"(The Hour of Reprisal, 2008)
* Swollen Members - Dumb (Armed to the Teeth, 2009)
Soundtracks
* Judgment Night (1993) -- "Just Another Victim" Helmet & House of Pain
* Gravesend (1997) -- "Gravesend (Lake of Fire)" w/ Lordz of Brooklyn; "Some Nights (Are Better Than Others)"
* End of Days (1999) -- "So Long"
* Big Daddy (1999) -- "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
* Black & White (2000) -- "Life's A Bitch"
* King of the Jungle (2000) --"Love for Real (Remix)" feat. N'Dea Davenport
* Ali (2001) -- "The Greatest"
* Saving Grace (TV series) (2007) -- Saving Grace
Birth Name: Erik Schrody
Also Known As: Whitey Ford, Mr. White, Whitey Farad
Born: August 18, 1969 (1969-08-18) (age 40)
Origins: Valley Stream, New York
Genres: Blues, Hip hop, Rock, Alternative, Country-rap
Instruments: Vocals, Emceeing, Guitar
Years Active: 1988–Present
Labels: Martyr Inc. Records. Warner Bros. Records, Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records, Island/ IDJMG/ Universal Records, PIAS Recordings
Associated Acts: House of Pain, La Coka Nostra, Soul Assassins, Cypress Hill, Rhyme Syndicate, B-Real, Carlos Santana
Blinded By The Sun
Everlast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said her name was Alabama
She from a little town outside Savannah
Where everybody talk that country grammar
She said she killed a man down in Atlanta
He beat her and he drank till he couldn't stand up
He told her that he loved her but he couldn't stand her
She caught him in his sleep, hit him with a hammger
Johnny Law got her on the run
Another broken bottle and the damage done
We've all been blinded by the sun, blinded by the sun
Her breathe was sweet, her eyes were pretty
She said her Zodiac sign was Cancer
She was on her way to New York City
Trying to get a job there as a dancer
Then she asked if she could ride home with me
Now I'm still thinking on the answer
She pulled on love, she won't take pity
She'll break your heart if you give her the chance to
This time I've got an Uzi and it weights a ton
Johnny Law got her on the run
Another broken bottle and the damage done
We've all been blinded by the sun, blinded by the sun
Lord have mercy on me for all the things I've done
I lost my mind, my eyes were blinded by the sun
Don't forsake me Lord, I'm not the only one
I lost my mind, my eyes were blinded by the sun
Blinded by the sun
This time I've got an Uzi and it weighs a ton
Johnny Law got her on the run
Another broken bottle and the damage done
We've all been blinded by the sun, blinded by the sun
The lyrics in Everlast's song Blinded by the Sun tell a story of a woman the singer met in West Virginia named Alabama. She was originally from a small town outside Savannah and had killed a man in Atlanta who had beaten and abused her. She sold her car to buy a gun and was on the run from the law. The singer describes her as having a sweet breath and pretty eyes, but warns that she will break your heart if given the chance. He also mentions that he has an Uzi this time and feels like he has lost his mind and been blinded by the sun. The chorus repeats the line "we've all been blinded by the sun" as a metaphor for being blinded by life's experiences and hardships.
The verses of the song give specific details about the woman the singer meets, but there is an underlying theme of violence and desperation throughout. The chorus ties these themes together by suggesting that we have all been blinded by the sun, meaning that we have all experienced struggles and emotional pain. The metaphor of the sun suggests that these struggles are unavoidable, like the glare of the sun on a bright day.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a woman in West Virginia
The singer met a woman in West Virginia.
She said her name was Alabama
The woman introduced herself as Alabama.
She from a little town outside Savannah
Alabama is from a small town near Savannah.
Where everybody talk that country grammar
The people there speak with a dialect typical of rural areas.
She said she killed a man down in Atlanta
Alabama claims to have murdered someone in Atlanta.
He beat her and he drank till he couldn't stand up
The man she killed was abusive and an alcoholic.
He told her that he loved her but he couldn't stand her
Although he professed love for her, he didn't actually like her.
She caught him in his sleep, hit him with a hammer
Alabama killed him while he was sleeping by hitting him with a hammer.
Then she sold her car and she bought a gun
After the murder, she sold her vehicle and bought a firearm.
Johnny Law got her on the run
The police are chasing Alabama for the murder.
Another broken bottle and the damage done
The singer has likely broken a bottle and is upset by what has happened.
We've all been blinded by the sun, blinded by the sun
Everyone has been blinded by something in their life.
Her breathe was sweet, her eyes were pretty
The woman had an attractive appearance and smelled good.
She said her Zodiac sign was Cancer
Alabama divulged her astrological sign as Cancer.
She was on her way to New York City
Alabama was on her way to New York City.
Trying to get a job there as a dancer
Her goal was to work as a dancer in New York City.
Then she asked if she could ride home with me
Alabama requested a ride from the artist.
Now I'm still thinking on the answer
The singer is still undecided about giving her a ride.
She pulled on love, she won't take pity
Alabama loves strongly and isn't merciful or forgiving.
She'll break your heart if you give her the chance to
Alabama is capable of causing heartbreak if given the opportunity.
Lord have mercy on me for all the things I've done
The artist is asking for forgiveness for their past actions.
I lost my mind, my eyes were blinded by the sun
The artist has been overwhelmed and made poor decisions due to a difficult circumstance.
Don't forsake me Lord, I'm not the only one
The singer is not the only person who has made mistakes.
Blinded by the sun
The sun is a metaphor for something that has caused the artist to lose perspective.
This time I've got an Uzi and it weighs a ton
The singer is heavily armed and prepared to defend themselves.
Johnny Law got her on the run
The police are still pursuing Alabama.
Another broken bottle and the damage done
The situation has escalated, and there may be more violence or brokenness.
We've all been blinded by the sun, blinded by the sun
Everyone has experienced situations that have clouded their judgment or impacted their well-being.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Lawrence Smith, Eric Barrier, William Griffin, Erik Schrody
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind