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
Letters Home from the Garden of Stone
Everlast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I'm getting ready to kill
They say we're going in with the day light
I don't want to but I will
Cause I won't know the man that kills me
And I don't know these men I kill
I thank God for my salvation
I try not to think about my family
Cause it's a little too much to take
Out here I got me and I got my buddy
We can't afford even one mistake
I started writing on dirty card boards,
It's the only paper I could find
Tell everyone I got their letters,
Tell everyone I'm doing fine
Late at night when I can dream I,
I think about life back in the world
I miss you and dad, I miss sister Sarah
I miss my wife and my baby girl
Pray for me, pray for my soul Ma
Pray for me and all my sins
They say I got a job to do now
I'll be back when it finally ends
Do you think I should be fighting?
Ma, are you proud are you ashamed?
Really I'm trying to do the right thing
I hope my Government can say the same thing
Cause I won't know the man that kills me
And I don't know these men I kill
We all wind upon the same side
Cause ain't none of us doin' God's Will
The lyrics to Everlast's song 'Letters Home from the Garden of Stone' are from the perspective of a soldier who is preparing to go into combat. The soldier is sitting restless under the moonlight and knows that he is getting ready to kill. The soldier is conflicted about his mission but knows he has to go through with it. He is aware that he won't know the person who kills him or the people he has to kill. He thanks God for his salvation and hopes that the blood he spills can be washed away.
The soldier tries not to think about his family because it is too much to handle emotionally. He started writing on dirty cardboards and tells everyone that he got their letters and he is doing fine. At night, he thinks about his old life before joining the army and misses his family. He asks his mother to pray for his soul and all of his sins. The soldier is trying to do the right thing, but he questions whether his government feels the same way. In the end, the soldier reflects on the fact that despite being on different sides of the battlefield, they all wind up in the same place doing things that are not God's will.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' restless under the moonlight
Feeling uneasy and unable to sleep in the presence of the moonlight
I know I'm getting ready to kill
Being aware of one's intention to take another person's life
They say we're going in with the day light
Being informed that the mission is scheduled to take place during the daytime
I don't want to but I will
Not wanting to perform the task but eventually agreeing to do so
Cause I won't know the man that kills me
Being aware that one might not recognize the person who would end their life
And I don't know these men I kill
Not having any knowledge or connection with the individuals who one has to take down
I thank God for my salvation
Being grateful to God for being saved from danger despite the circumstances
Wash away the blood I spill
Asking God to forgive the sins committed while on the mission
I try not to think about my family
Attempting to avoid thoughts about one's family back home as it becomes emotionally overwhelming
Cause it's a little too much to take
Feeling emotionally vulnerable and fragile when thoughts of one's loved ones arise in this intense environment
Out here I got me and I got my buddy
Having only oneself and one's companion as support in this situation
We can't afford even one mistake
Realizing that even one small error could lead to severe consequences
I started writing on dirty card boards,
Using whatever writing material is available, like dirty cardboards
It's the only paper I could find
Having limited resources for writing messages to loved ones back home
Tell everyone I got their letters,
Assuring loved ones that their messages have been received and read
Tell everyone I'm doing fine
Assuring the family that the person is safe and sound despite the dangerous circumstances
Late at night when I can dream I,
Having rare moments of rest when one can dream and sleep
I think about life back in the world
Recollecting and longing for life and memories from the past
I miss you and dad, I miss sister Sarah
Longing for the company and presence of one's parents and siblings, especially sister Sarah
I miss my wife and my baby girl
Yearning for the company of one's wife and infant daughter
Pray for me, pray for my soul Ma
Requesting one's mother to pray for one's well-being and spiritual welfare
Pray for me and all my sins
Requesting one's mother to pray for forgiveness for one's sins on this mission
They say I got a job to do now
Being told that one has a duty and obligation to perform in this situation
I'll be back when it finally ends
Promising to return home once the mission is accomplished and over
Do you think I should be fighting?
Asking one's mother if she thinks the person should be fighting in this mission
Ma, are you proud are you ashamed?
Inquiring from one's mother if she is proud or disappointed about the person's involvement in this mission
Really I'm trying to do the right thing
Making an honest attempt to perform one's duty and mission with the best intentions
I hope my Government can say the same thing
Wishing that the government's intentions and decisions are also good and righteous
We all wind upon the same side
Realizing that everyone involved in this mission is on the same side despite the circumstances
Cause ain't none of us doin' God's Will
Acknowledging that nobody is carrying out God's will in this situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIK SCHRODY, KEEFUS CIANCIA, KEITH CIANCIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rick rickj
This is a soldiers song, no doubt about that. Pass this around if you want to know how we feel
John Mincey
amen rick
amira gabriela
When I listen to this, it reminds me of all who served ,then and now. Mainly my father, who served in Afghanistan. What a proud daughter I am. And my grandfather who served Vietnam. I live within a blessed family of True Warriors. xx ❤
Nathan Childs
I love this song! I especially love the parts with that background voice.
Eric Bedford
This song reminds me of writing my last letter home before going into Iraq. I gave that letter to a friend in case I did not make it. When I made it into Kuwait after our mission I burned the letter. I did not want my family to know I was prepared to die.
aries2talk2
What a great song!
Kyle Kumjian
"And we all wind up on the same side, 'cause ain't none of us doin' God's will"
Kasandra Campbell
The line about writing on dirty cardboard will always remind me of the postcards my dad would send home. He'd use the cardboard from his MREs. I was 8 when he first went to war. I would try to guess what he was eating based off of the ingredient list.
Why?
my brother died in afghanistan a few months ago everytime i hear this song i think about him
Bam Bam
Im so sorry sweetheart ...if it helps Legends never die