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"
Same As It Ever Was
House of Pain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just call it in one time for me real heavy
Back in black
Who's the mack
Sittin' on the back
Of a Cadillac
It's the D motherfucker
Better pass me the mic
And drop the styles I write
I like hip-hop
Ya don't stop
And all that
I rock the freak styles
And neat styles
That are crazy fat
It's making me sick
Punk get off my dick
chorus
'Cause I'm the same motherfucker
That I ever was
Same motherfucker
But I can't pay attention
'Cause I'm on that dust
My head's not swell
Kid I'm not sell
Don't feed me soup
Just give me the funky loop
I'll rock it to the best of my ability
Runnin' mad styles and showin' flexibility
'Cause I'm the man that's on point
When I jam a funky joint
I want some other over there
Yo, I just don't care shit
Pass the mic
Then I'm gonna' tear shit
Up like a piece of paper
Your girl caught the vapor
When I ran the caper
I ain't rearranged
So don't look strange
I'm the same motherfucker
Ain't a damn thing changed
chorus
'Cause I'm hard like stone
Don't play me soft
And I rock rhymes frequently
I drop it off and
I'm off in space
I remember your face
But don't remember your name
'Cause it's all the same
As it ever was
That's what it is money grip
Don't trip
Or I'm gonna' bust that lip
chorus
Bust it, flip it, skip it
Just like a stone on a river
Ya know I'm gonna' give her
Whole lotta' flavor
Criminal behavior
Used to be how I made it
But that shit's over rated
Now I rock rhymes over funky beats
I fuck fine hookers between satin sheets
They say money changes people
But I won't 'cause
I'm the same motherfucker that I ever was
chorus
And ya don't quit
'Cause I'm on that dust
Soul assassins are on that dust[ha ha...]
My man J. Disco is on that dust
Cypress Hill is on that dust
FunkDoobiest is on that dust
The song "Same As It Ever Was" by House of Pain starts with a request to "shoot 'em all baby" and call it in one time for me real heavy. It talks about being back in black and who's the mack sitting on the back of a Cadillac while referring to themselves as the D motherfucker. The vocalist then requests the mic to rock on and drop the styles they write which are hip-hop, freaky, neat, and crazy fat. They do not like the punk getting off their dick and making them sick.
The chorus talks about being the same motherfucker but not being able to pay attention because they are on that dust. The vocalist's head is not swelling, and they are not sellouts. Just give them the funky loop, and they will rock it to the best of their ability. The song further praises their styles and flexibilities, mentioning they are always on point, and they don't care about their affects on others. They are the same as they ever were, and they will tear shit up like a piece of paper.
The song makes references to funky beats, criminal behavior, and money changing people. However, the vocalist explains that they will not change since they are the same motherfucker that they ever were. They conclude with saying they are on that dust, and the soul assassins are on that dust. The man J. Disco is already on that dust, and Cypress Hill and FunkDoobiest are also on that dust.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh shoot 'em all baby
Let's get it started!
Just call it in one time for me real heavy
Give me that beat and let's get this party started with some heavy rhymes
Back in black
I'm back and ready to rock this joint
Who's the mack
Who's the coolest cat in town?
Sittin' on the back
Riding in style and feeling cool
Of a Cadillac
In a Cadillac, the ultimate statement of cool
It's the D motherfucker
I'm the D, but you can call me the man
Better pass me the mic
Get ready to hear some rhymes
So I can rock on
I'm about to light this place up
And drop the styles I write
I'm about to freestyle and show off my sick rhymes
I like hip-hop
I'm all about that real rap music
Ya don't stop
Keep the beat going, don't ever stop
And all that
And everything that goes with it
I rock the freak styles
I've got some unique rhymes
And neat styles
And some clever lyrics
That are crazy fat
That are so amazing, they blow the roof off the place
It's making me sick
I'm so good, it's sickening
Punk get off my dick
Stop hating and just appreciate my skills
Cause I'm the same motherfucker
I'm still the coolest cat in town
That I ever was
And I've still got it going on
But I can't pay attention
I'm too busy rocking the mic
'Cause I'm on that dust
I'm high as a kite
My head's not swell
I'm not full of myself
Kid I'm not sell
I'm not a sellout
Don't feed me soup
I don't need anyone's help
Just give me the funky loop
Just give me a good beat and let me do my thing
I'll rock it to the best of my ability
I'll give it my all and show you what I'm capable of
Runnin' mad styles and showin' flexibility
I can rap in any style, any time
'Cause I'm the man that's on point
I'm always on top of my game
When I jam a funky joint
When I get going, the whole room will be rocking
I want some other over there
I see you checking me out and I want you to know I see you too
Yo, I just don't care shit
I'm too cool to care what anyone else thinks
Then I'm gonna' tear shit
I'm about to blow up the stage
Up like a piece of paper
I'm about to shred this beat like a piece of paper
Your girl caught the vapor
I'm so good, even your girl can't resist
When I ran the caper
When I was ruling the game
I ain't rearranged
I haven't changed a bit
So don't look strange
Don't act like you're surprised to see me still on top
Ain't a damn thing changed
I've still got it going on
Cause I'm hard like stone
I'm tough and nothing can break me down
Don't play me soft
Don't think you can take advantage of me
And I rock rhymes frequently
And I can rap with the best of them
I drop it off and
I'm killing it with every verse
I'm off in space
I'm in my own world and nothing else matters
I remember your face
I may have met a lot of people, but I remember your face
But don't remember your name
But I don't necessarily remember your name
'Cause it's all the same
Because nothing really matters except this music
That's what it is money grip
That's what it is, this is the real deal
Don't trip
Don't worry about anything
Or I'm gonna' bust that lip
Or I'll show you who's boss
Bust it, flip it, skip it
Let's mix it up and keep things fresh
Just like a stone on a river
Smooth and easy, like a stone in a river
Ya know I'm gonna' give her
You know I'm going to give it my all
Whole lotta' flavor
It's going to be amazing
Criminal behavior
This music is wild and crazy
Used to be how I made it
This is how I used to make a name for myself
But that shit's over rated
But that lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be
Now I rock rhymes over funky beats
Now I'm all about the music and that funky beat
I fuck fine hookers between satin sheets
I'm living the life and enjoying every minute of it
They say money changes people
They say that becoming successful changes people
But I won't 'cause
But I'm still the same person I've always been
And ya don't quit
And the beat goes on
'Cause I'm on that dust
I'm still high as a kite
Soul assassins are on that dust[ha ha...]
We're all feeling it and enjoying every minute of it
My man J. Disco is on that dust
Even my friends can't resist
Cypress Hill is on that dust
Even the biggest names in the game are feeling it too
FunkDoobiest is on that dust
And even the new kids on the block are getting in on the action
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIK SCHRODY, LARRY MUGGERUD, DANNY O'CONNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yonamarsupialist3904
Severely underrated record, a gem from start to finish
@PastorinoOlivier
The great House of Pain's Jump Around finally got a rock cover keeping the Hip Hop flame going. We tried with my friend from R&O to review this great song. Maybe we succeeded, maybe not, we let you be the judge if you have two or three minutes to spare and a thumb up or down to add, come listen and judge us here :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5O0AOs1G70: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5O0AOs1G70
@yonamarsupialist3904
@Fraser Mcdonald look at the sales compared to the previous one
@elFonzZz
Underrated group, period. 👍
@JB-zh1bo
Underrated band.
@civil.rights.8026
Back in 1998, when I was 23, I was listening to this DOPE album over and over again...I still believe this is one of the best hip hop album in history...No Doubt!
@PaniniMattGFC1893
17 IN 1994 love this motherfucking album
@jamieliss5892
Yup
@thalastkg
14 in 94 was one of my fav
@Mark-xw2rx
I'm born in 94 and i've listen to it so many time. Fuckin good album