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
Soul Music
Everlast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel it all in my soul
It's soul music, it's deep down in my soul, feel the burn
I can see I got a good foundation, deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul, it's soul music
I feel the need for contemplation deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul
Born American, ancestry from Ireland
You ain't knowin' me, you better stop smilin'
Ain't nothin' funny once my dummies start whilin'
You talkin' loud now all a sudden it's silent
Your premenitions say it's about to get violent
You want permission just to blink your own eyelid
I got my soldiers, everywhere they go, I win
No stick moves, ain't no cap peeling
Where I come from real men don't catch feelings
We don't rhyme about fake jacks or drug dealin'
The shit I drop will leave all your brains on the ceiling
Mass appealin', done it since the 80's
Rock rhymes for my dogs, sing songs for my ladies
Spend money like crazy, ain't got no babies
If I don't make it in Heaven I'll run shit in Hades
Now I can see I got a good foundation deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul, it's soul music
I feel the need for contemplation deep down in my soul
It's in my soul, soul music
And I can feel a dark sensation deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul, soul music
Tryin' to find an explanation deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul
Yo I shit on competition, spit on percussion
Beats are bone crushin', one deep I'm bum rushin'
Guns they get stuck in, someone starts buckin'
The jewels that I'm truckin' got pimps upchuckin'
You can't hold me down, you can't hold my hand
A full grown man with the one God plan
I represent the colors that never run
God bless DMC, God bless Reverend Run
R.I.P. for the JMJ
Tell BIG and Scott LaRock that we all say hey
Be like 2Pac or be like Kid N Play
Do you want to burn out or just fade away
And I can rock the mic without no delay
With my head to the ground everytime I pray
You can catch a heart attack or get blown away
Cause this type of shit happens everyday
Feel the burn, I can feel it in my soul
It's soul music, it's deep down in my soul
Feel the burn, it's in my soul
It's soul music, it's deep down in my soul, feel the burn
Now I can see I got a good foundation deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul, it's soul music
I feel the need for contemplation deep down in my soul
It's in my soul, soul music
And I can feel a dark sensation deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul, soul music
Tryin' to find an explanation deep down in my soul
It's deep down in my soul, feel the burn
The lyrics of Everlast's song "Soul Music" explore the theme of personal growth and self-discovery, emphasized through the use of soul music as a metaphor for the deep emotions and reflections that we experience in our lives. In the opening lines, the singer acknowledges the profound effect that someone has had on his life, stating that he no longer needs to wonder as he has found what he was searching for, and can feel it all in his soul. The use of the repetition of the phrase "it's deep down in my soul," and the imagery of feeling the burn, reinforce the idea of a deep, emotional experience.
Moreover, the lyrics also touch upon the idea that personal growth and self-discovery require a strong foundation, as the singer can see that he has a good foundation deep down in his soul, which is represented by the soul music he sings about. He also feels the need for contemplation, and his search for an explanation suggests that he is seeking a deeper understanding of himself and his experiences.
Through describing the hardships he faced growing up, the singer highlights the importance of self-reliance and the power of his words to inspire and effect change. He pays tribute to other influential musicians such as DMC, Reverend Run, and Scott LaRock, suggesting that their work and legacy formed an important backdrop to his own.
Line by Line Meaning
You came into my life, I don't have to wonder no more
I have found a great sense of clarity and purpose now that you're in my life.
I can feel it all in my soul
I am deeply connected to my emotions and the world around me.
It's soul music, it's deep down in my soul, feel the burn
The music speaks to the depths of my soul and fills me with passion and fire.
I can see I got a good foundation, deep down in my soul
I have a solid and trustworthy foundation within my inner being.
I feel the need for contemplation deep down in my soul
I require moments of introspection and reflection to truly connect with my soul.
Yo, first took breath in Hemstead, Long Island
I was born in Hemstead, Long Island.
Born American, ancestry from Ireland
I am an American citizen with Irish heritage.
You ain't knowin' me, you better stop smilin'
If you think you know me, you better think twice.
Ain't nothin' funny once my dummies start whilin'
Things can take a serious turn once my entourage gets involved.
You talkin' loud now all a sudden it's silent
You were just talking tough, but now you're silent in fear.
Your premenitions say it's about to get violent
Your intuition is telling you that things are about to take a turn for the worse.
You want permission just to blink your own eyelid
You're asking for permission to do something as simple as blinking.
I got my soldiers, everywhere they go, I win
I have a dedicated and loyal team who help me succeed in all aspects of life.
No stick moves, ain't no cap peeling
I don't deal with fake or fraudulent people or situations.
Where I come from real men don't catch feelings
In my community, having emotions or showing vulnerability is seen as weak.
We don't rhyme about fake jacks or drug dealin'
We don't glorify or promote illicit or criminal behavior through our music.
The shit I drop will leave all your brains on the ceiling
My lyrics and rhymes are so impactful that they'll leave you in awe and wonderment.
Mass appealin', done it since the 80's
My music has connected with a wide and diverse audience since the 1980s.
Rock rhymes for my dogs, sing songs for my ladies
I craft different styles of music to cater to different audiences, from hardcore rap fans to my female fans.
Spend money like crazy, ain't got no babies
I enjoy spending my hard-earned money to live life to the fullest, without the added responsibility of children.
If I don't make it in Heaven I'll run shit in Hades
Even if I don't make it to the afterlife, I'll still hold significant power and influence in the underworld.
And I can feel a dark sensation deep down in my soul
There is a feeling of darkness and foreboding that runs deep within my being.
Tryin' to find an explanation deep down in my soul
I am attempting to make sense of these intense emotions within me.
I shit on competition, spit on percussion
I dominate and crush all forms of competition with ease, whether it be in music or other realms.
Beats are bone crushin', one deep I'm bum rushin'
My beats are so powerful and intense that they can cause physical reactions, and I attack my solo career with striking force and determination.
Guns they get stuck in, someone starts buckin'
Weapons have no effect on me, and anyone who tries to challenge me will quickly regret it.
The jewels that I'm truckin' got pimps upchuckin'
Even the most successful and hardened individuals are taken aback by the immense value and significance of what I possess.
You can't hold me down, you can't hold my hand
No one can restrict or control me or my actions.
A full grown man with the one God plan
I am a grown man with a clear sense of purpose and direction, guided by my faith in God.
I represent the colors that never run
I embody and promote a sense of pride and defiance that never submits or retreats.
God bless DMC, God bless Reverend Run
I pay homage and respect to influential and successful figures in my field and in the world of faith.
R.I.P. for the JMJ
I honor and mourn the passing of legendary hip hop figure Jam Master Jay.
Tell BIG and Scott LaRock that we all say hey
I send my regards and respect to other iconic and influential hip hop figures who have passed away.
Be like 2Pac or be like Kid N Play
You can choose to follow in the footsteps of legendary but very different hip hop figures, either through more rebellious means or through more lighthearted, fun music.
Do you want to burn out or just fade away
You can either go out in a blaze of glory and passion, or you can slowly and quietly fade away.
And I can rock the mic without no delay
I can perform and succeed without any hesitation or delay.
With my head to the ground everytime I pray
I maintain a humble and reverent spirit, even in the face of success and power.
You can catch a heart attack or get blown away
You can easily be taken aback or overwhelmed by the strength and intensity of my presence and performance.
Feel the burn, it's in my soul
I feel an intense passion and drive deep within my being.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: DON ROBEY, EMILE HAYNIE, ERIK SCHRODY, GILBERT G. CAPLE, JOSEPH W. SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind