The band's history starts with a failed short solo career, 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 self-titled debut album (1992) went multi-platinum, spawning the successful DJ Muggs produced single Jump Around.
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 Judgement Night movie soundtrack.
Sophomore album and decline in popularity
Their follow-up effort, 1994's Same As It Ever Was, went gold despite minimal airplay and no major hits. The first single, "On Point," is noted for taking a swipe at another American rapper with a strong Irish heritage, Mark Wahlberg ("Calvin Klein's no friend of mine/So I don't like Marky"). Like Cypress Hill, who, with House of Pain, were a part of the loosely-affiliated Soul Assassins posse, they found urban radio airplay an increasingly closed path, which affected album sales.
Third album
House of Pain abruptly broke up in 1996 after the release of their third album, Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again, which featured guest appearances by rappers Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Guru of Gang Starr, producer/rapper Divine Styler and reggae singjay Cockni O'Dire (credited as the Scheme Team). On the release date of the album, Everlast announced his departure from the group.
Split, solo and current affairs
From this point on, the status of the group would seem to be in the past tense, though the members would continue their careers separately. Danny Boy would found an art company, DJ Lethal became a member of nu metal band Limp Bizkit, and Everlast would finally get multi-platinum solo fame in 1998. In that year his acoustic rock/blues-inflected Whitey Ford Sings the Blues album hit the charts, together with the single "What It's Like". In 2000, a feud between Everlast and rapper Eminem coincided with the gold-selling Eat at Whitey's, which had minor hits like "Black Jesus" and "Black Coffee", and featured a collaboration with Carlos Santana. After the sale of the Tommy Boy Records catalogue of master tapes to Warner Bros. Music, Everlast signed with Island/Def Jam, and released the solo LP White Trash Beautiful in 2004.
Later the same year Rhino Records, a subdivision of Warner Music, has released a hit collection, Shamrocks & Shenanigans, with singles from Everlast's early solo days, the House of Pain and his post-group solo efforts. Prior to the release, Everlast announced on his official message board that he was not endorsing the compilation album.
Founded by Danny Boy in early 2006, La Coka Nostra is a new project that has reunited him, Everlast and DJ Lethal for the first time since House of Pain's split. Other group members include Ill Bill of Non Phixion, and newcomers Slaine and Big Left.
Members
* Everlast
* Danny Boy
* DJ Lethal
Albums
House of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics)
* Released: July 21, 1992
* Billboard 200 chart position: #14
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #16
* Singles: "Jump Around" & "Shamrocks and Shenanigans"
Same As It Ever Was
* Released: June 28, 1994
* Billboard 200 chart position: #12
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #12
* Singles: "On Point", "Who's The Man?" & "Word Is Bond"
Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again
* Released: October 10, 1996
* Billboard 200 chart position: #47
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #31
* Singles: "Pass The Jinn" & "Fed Up"
Shamrocks & Shenanigans
* Released: February 10, 2004
* Billboard 200 chart position: #
* R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #
* Singles: -
Singles
* Jump Around / HOP Anthem (1992)
* Shamrocks & Shenanigans (US) (1992)
* Shamrocks & Shenanigans / Who's The Man (UK) (1992)
* Top O' The Morning To Ya (Remix) (1992)
* Who's The Man? (1993)
* Legend EP (US) (1994)
* On Point (1994)
* Over There (I Don't Care) (1994)
* It Ain't Crime / Word Is Bond (UK, CD 1/2) (1994)
* Legend / It Ain't A Crime (UK, CD 2/2) (1994)
* Word Is Bond / Legend 12" (1995)
* Pass The Jinn (1996)
* Fed Up / Heart Full Of Sorrow feat. Sadat X (1996)
* Fed Up (Remix feat. Guru) (1996)
Exclusive Soundtrack Contributions
* Judgment Night (1993) -- song with Helmet "Just Another Victim"
* Who's the Man (1993) -- song "Who's the Man"
* Eddie (1996) -- song "Punch Drunk"
* Jerky Boys (1996) -- song "Beef Jerky"
Legend
House of Pain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like a diamond watch me shine,bright like the sun,make you want to pull
a gun
and buck 2 shots for the Peckerwood rockin' Put down your glock or your block
I'll be knockin' dead off your shoulders,heads'll roll,the Peckerwood P-funk
assasin
of soul is in control so have no fear,I'm in this for real,make it crystal
clear
bowel movement,I'm taking you back to McClarin,My whole family stole but
there aint one sharin,So watcha' lookin' at,huh,why you starin'?Just take a
picture
before I have to hit ya Ease back kid give me some space or whoomp there it
is
upside your face
Cause a hero aint nothing but a sandwich
and a legend aint nothing but a car
So shoot dope in your veins and get some fame and maybe one day you'll be a
star
You know a hero aint nothing but a sandwich
and a legend aint nothing but a car
So go blow out your brains to get some fame and maybe one day you'll be a
star
I live in a house and it's full of pain
But still I refrain from goin' insane,I stay on point like a sniper
Chilliin' at the Viper Room before it became a tomb
Take the low road and you hit rock bottom and keep low riding
all the way to Sodom and back to Gamorrah
Now your senora is a pillar of salt and it's all your fault,Get the S&M
downtown at the vault,Dirty little f**kup,raisin' hell,but next year we'll
all talk about how you fell
Cause you're judged on how your records sell
A hero aint nothin' but a sandwich
and a legend aint nothin' but a car
So get locked up in chains to get some fame and maybe one day you'll be a
star
A hero aint nothin' but a sandwich
and a legend aint noyhin' but a car
So go blow out your brains to get some fame and maybe one day you'llbe a star
maybe one day you'll be a star
maybe one day you'll be a star
Lets break it down to the bare root essence
Count your fingers,then count your blessings
True confessions
Ask the questions
Substitute your answers with your obsessions
I take it to the break of dawn at times,I do it all the time
But Yo it don't come easy,cause I turn on the T.V.
and see more and more pain and less and less glory
and it's the same old story,You see year after year the programs fear
But I aint subscribin' till theres live executions on pay-per-view
Word to Donahue,put on Melrose Place
Whoomp there it is upside your face!
A hero aint nothin' but a sandwich
and a legend aint nothin' but a car
So shoot dope in your veins to get that fame tenmaybe one day you'll be a
star
A hero aint nothin' but a sandwich
and a legend aint nothin' but a car
So go blow out your brains like Kurt Cobain and maybe one day you'll be a
star
Maybe one day you'll be a star
Maybe one day you'll be a star
The lyrics of House of Pain's song "Legend" is about the struggles and challenges faced by the rapper as he walks through the valley of death. He claims to be in control and not scared, and each year he grows stronger and better. He is taking his listeners back to McClarin, a place where his family had once stolen but no one shared. The rapper asks his listeners why they are staring and suggests that they take a picture before he hits them. He urges them to give him some space, or he'll whack them upside their face. He speaks of a hero being nothing but a sandwich, and a legend being nothing but a car. And how people are judged based on how their records sell.
The chorus repeats the idea that heroes and legends are not what they seem, and that one could become a star by shooting dope in their veins or blowing out their brains. The rapper talks about living in a house full of pain but still refrains from going insane. He stays on point like a sniper, hanging out at the Viper Room before it became a tomb. He warns people that if they take the low road, they'll hit rock bottom, and it will be all their fault. He mentions Sodom and Gomorrah, relates it to a woman becoming a pillar of salt and again warns people about their actions.
Overall, the song speaks of struggles, challenges, and the desire for fame and recognition. It highlights that being a hero or legend is just an illusion and that people are judged by superficial things like record sales. The song also makes a subtle reference to Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide by blowing his brains out.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk through the valley of death 600 deep,waking up dead from the sleep
I am constantly surrounded by the risk of death, and sometimes it feels as though I am already dead.
Just like a diamond watch me shine,bright like the sun,make you want to pull a gun and buck 2 shots for the Peckerwood rockin' Put down your glock or your block I'll be knockin' dead off your shoulders,heads'll roll,the Peckerwood P-funk assasin of soul is in control so have no fear,I'm in this for real,make it crystal clear
I am so impressive and confident that it may inspire some people to try and attack me. But they shouldn't be afraid, because I'm not to be messed with and I have control over any situation.
I get a little better each and every year,its called improvement,your styles bowel movement,I'm taking you back to McClarin,My whole family stole but there aint one sharin,So watcha' lookin' at,huh,why you starin'?Just take a picture before I have to hit ya Ease back kid give me some space or whoomp there it is upside your face
I am constantly improving and growing, unlike others whose styles are like excrement. I come from a family of thieves, but I am not like them. Stop staring at me or taking pictures, because it may not end well for you.
Cause a hero aint nothing but a sandwich and a legend aint nothing but a car So shoot dope in your veins and get some fame and maybe one day you'll be a star
Being a hero or legend means nothing. It's better to engage in dangerous, reckless behavior in order to achieve fame and become a star.
I live in a house and it's full of pain But still I refrain from goin' insane,I stay on point like a sniper Chilliin' at the Viper Room before it became a tomb Take the low road and you hit rock bottom and keep low riding all the way to Sodom and back to Gamorrah Now your senora is a pillar of salt and it's all your fault,Get the S&M downtown at the vault,Dirty little f**kup,raisin' hell,but next year we'll all talk about how you fell
My life is full of pain, but I try to remain sane and alert. I hang out at a famous club in Hollywood, even though it has become dangerous. If you make bad choices, you will end up in a terrible place. If you lead others down that path, you will be responsible for their downfall. You can find some pleasure in dirty deeds, but eventually you will pay the price for your actions.
Cause you're judged on how your records sell A hero aint nothin' but a sandwich and a legend aint nothin' but a car So get locked up in chains to get some fame and maybe one day you'll be a star
Your worth is determined by how successful you are in selling records. Being a hero or legend does not mean anything. You should even be willing to go to prison in order to gain fame and achieve your goal of becoming a star.
Lets break it down to the bare root essence Count your fingers,then count your blessings True confessions Ask the questions Substitute your answers with your obsessions I take it to the break of dawn at times,I do it all the time But Yo it don't come easy,cause I turn on the T.V. and see more and more pain and less and less glory and it's the same old story,You see year after year the programs fear But I aint subscribin' till theres live executions on pay-per-view Word to Donahue,put on Melrose Place Whoomp there it is upside your face!
We should examine ourselves and our blessings, and be honest with ourselves. I work tirelessly and push myself to my limit. Unfortunately, I see too much negativity on television, and it seems like nothing ever changes. I won't watch anything until they start broadcasting live executions. Shout-out to Donahue, let's watch some light-hearted TV before I beat you up.
So go blow out your brains like Kurt Cobain and maybe one day you'll be a star Maybe one day you'll be a star Maybe one day you'll be a star
If you really want to become a star, just kill yourself like Kurt Cobain and maybe people will finally notice and remember you. Who knows, maybe one day you'll be a star.
A hero aint nothin' but a sandwich and a legend aint nothin' but a car
Being a hero or a legend is not as important as people make it out to be.
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pinkfox
90s really was the last decade of great music!
Orphan Of Orbit
@Mz. You need to stop listening to whatever that shit is. Who said it's "cool" to abuse women?
Orphan Of Orbit
Definitely.
Mรญchele Cobrรฉ
@Sebastian P ?
Sebastian P
@Mรญchele Cobrรฉ por pppppppp
Massmurder22011
Cant argue that logic
Barton Yerger
Iโm glad I got to experience Hip Hop in the 90โs cause it blows away Hip Hop in 2018.
uncharted7again black king
Well I'm born in 1989 but still growing up I listened too all funny how Everlast had beef with eminem
G. Chapin Jr
House of pain and das efx are my two favorite groups
Nevenka Lovric
@ะะธะบะพะปะฐะน ะะพะปะตะฒ actually not on the "kids".... Zeitgeist a.k.a the Ghost of times... Fucked up. ๐