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
Long Time
Everlast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She hit him from the side that's blind
She never gave a warning, he woke up in the mornin'
Layin' there next to his pride
He got a little crazy when she had a little baby
'Cause it filled him with a fatherly pride
But a couple years later when their love started fadin'
He hurt so bad he nearly died
[Chorus]
It's been a long time, since I was faithful
It's been a long time, since I was grateful
It's been a long time, since I could look you in the eye
It's been a long time, since I was grateful
She's a mother with a daughter, sittin' by the water
'Cause it's better for her baby to breathe
She got a man that's in prison cause he didn't wanna listen
Now he's sittin' waitin' on a reprieve
And she loves her lil' baby but she get a lil' crazy
'Cause it's harder than she ever conceived
He left her on her own, but she's doin' it alone
Cause she loves him like he wouldn't believe
[Chorus]
He's a friend and a lover, husband and a brother
He's always been a prodigal son
He gets a lot of drama when he go to see his momma
'Cause he curses like a son of a gun
He's beggin' to his lady, let him see his baby
He swears that she's the only one
He's got a heart full of sorrow, he's livin for tomorrow
And he's sorry for the damage he's done
[Chorus x2]
The lyrics of Everlast's song "Long Time" describe a story of a man who was taken aback by a woman who hit him with love unexpectedly. He had never imagined falling for her, but she became the woman who gave birth to his child, bringing him a sense of pride in fatherhood. However, the relationship began to weaken, causing him immense pain to the point where he almost died. The man confesses that it has been a long time since he was faithful, grateful, and able to look her in the eye with sincerity. The man's story continues as he becomes apologetic for the pain he has caused and asks for forgiveness.
The lyrics further reveal two other characters. One is a mother with a daughter who sits by the water, away from the chaos, in an attempt to provide a healthy environment for the child. She is currently struggling because her man is in prison for not adhering to the law, and she is hoping for his pardon. Despite the tough time, she is alone but coping because she loves him deeply. The other character is a man who is a friend, lover, husband, and brother. He is a wild child who uses profanity frequently and causes drama when he visits his mother. He is consumed with grief for the wrongs he has done and pleads with his lady to let him see his baby.
Line by Line Meaning
She was a hot blooded women, he never saw it comin'
He underestimated her passion and energy, and was caught off guard.
She hit him from the side that's blind
She attacked him unexpectedly, catching him off guard.
She never gave a warning, he woke up in the mornin'
She didn't give him any signs of what was coming, and he was surprised when he woke up.
Layin' there next to his pride
He woke up feeling embarrassed and defeated.
He got a little crazy when she had a little baby
He was overly excited about becoming a father, and it affected him emotionally.
'Cause it filled him with a fatherly pride
Having a child made him very proud and emotional.
But a couple years later when their love started fadin'
As time passed, their love for each other began to decrease and fade away.
He hurt so bad he nearly died
The pain of losing her was so intense that he felt like he was dying.
It's been a long time, since I was faithful
It's been a while since he's been faithful to anyone.
It's been a long time, since I was grateful
It's been a while since he's felt grateful for anything in his life.
It's been a long time, since I could look you in the eye
It's been a while since he's been able to be honest about his feelings and look someone in the eye.
She's a mother with a daughter, sittin' by the water
She's a mother who is taking care of her daughter and spending time with her by the water.
'Cause it's better for her baby to breathe
She's somewhere with fresh air, because it's better for her baby's health.
She got a man that's in prison cause he didn't wanna listen
Her significant other is in jail because he refused to listen to authority.
Now he's sittin' waitin' on a reprieve
He's now waiting for a pardon or a chance to be released.
And she loves her lil' baby but she get a lil' crazy
She loves her child, but sometimes it's overwhelming and drives her a bit crazy.
'Cause it's harder than she ever conceived
Being a parent is more difficult than she ever imagined.
He left her on her own, but she's doin' it alone
He abandoned her, but she's now taking care of everything on her own.
Cause she loves him like he wouldn't believe
She still has strong feelings for him, despite his absence and mistakes.
He's a friend and a lover, husband and a brother
He plays many roles in his relationships: friend, lover, husband, and brother.
He's always been a prodigal son
He's always been a bit of a wild child, and often makes mistakes.
He gets a lot of drama when he go to see his momma
His visits to his mother are often filled with drama and conflict.
'Cause he curses like a son of a gun
He has a tendency to curse and use inappropriate language.
He's beggin' to his lady, let him see his baby
He's pleading with his significant other to let him see his child.
He swears that she's the only one
He promises that he's only interested in being with her.
He's got a heart full of sorrow, he's livin for tomorrow
He's filled with sadness and regret, but is still hopeful about the future.
And he's sorry for the damage he's done
He feels remorseful for the harm he's caused in his relationships and life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DARIUS ANTHONY HOLBERT, ERIK SCHRODY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brett Granger
Some people sing songs, Everlast sings life...always has been one of my favorite artists.
Bua Oktapus
Brett granger
Rafael Nogueira
Me too, I wish this band could make more success! This world is so crazy at this times. You see fucking idiots singing bullshiits and making huge quantity ofmoney
G L
Word!!!
Dave T
hell yeah he does no matter who it offends the truth hurts but he puts it out there
Dok Auk
that first verse hit hard sums up the past 4 years of my life! u rock Everlast truly an inspirational artsist!!!
Laurn Vuillier
Lessons can be learned from this man
Marjory Rainey
Oh my this is great. Thank you Everlast!
Jason carper
So much of his music makes me think of my late wife. Its torture and pure joy at the same time
DustyNothing
+Jason carper Same mate.