Rick Rubin

Frederick Jay Rubin (born 1963) is a record producer and record label owner, best known for his work in the rap and heavy metal genres, and his combination of the two.

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Together with Russell Simmons he founded the Def Jam record label while attending New York University in 1984. Their early records included LL Cool J's "I Need a Beat". They went on to release Public Enemy's records, starting with their Rubin-produced debut Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987). Rubin also produced records by the Beastie Boys and Run DMC, both of them characterised by fusing rap with heavy rock. His work on Slayer's Reign in Blood saw him in a purer rock context.

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In 1988, Simmons and Rubin went their separate ways, Simmons remaining in New York at the helm of Def Jam, and Rubin leaving to Los Angeles to found the Def American label. There he signed a number of heavy rock acts, including Slayer, Danzig, Masters of Reality, The Cult and Wolfsbane, as well as the indie rockers The Jesus & Mary Chain and controversial stand up comedian Andrew Dice Clay, and he produced the Red Hot Chili Peppers' break-through album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. He retained a close association with rap also, signing the Geto Boys and continuing to work with Public Enemy, LL Cool J and Run DMC among others.

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In 1993, Rubin held an actual funeral (complete with grave) for the word "Def" and Def American became American Recordings. The first major project on the renamed label was Johnny Cash's American Recordings (1994), a record including several covers by artists more closely associated with Rubin than Cash (such as Danzig) and which did much to revive Cash's career following a fallow period. The formula was repeated for Cash's Unchained, also produced by Rubin, and Rubin also made a number of records with other older artists, including Mick Jagger's 1993 "Wandering Spirit" album, Tom Petty (Wildflowers) and Donovan (Sutras), and currently is working on a new Neil Diamond album.

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He recently produced De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003) by The Mars Volta, a progressive rock group with roots in the punk band At the Drive-In. Collaboration with Flea and John Frusciante for parts of the album was thought to be a result of Rick's long standing friendship with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He also produced the track "99 Problems" by Jay-Z for The Black Album (2003) and appeared in the video. The same year, Rubin produced nu metal band Slipknot's 3rd album, Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses), to platinum success. Rubin recently produced the System of a Down number one album Mezmerize with Daron Malakian, years after taking on the group's acclaimed multi-platinum sophomore effort, Toxicity. He also worked on Weezer's 2005 album, Make Believe, and produced Audioslave's second release, Out of Exile. He is also currently producing the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, currently titled "Love of the Wrong Kind", and set for release in early 2006. This album was recorded in the same mansion in Hollywood as "Blood Sugar Sex Magik".

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1963: 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar)....

Record producer: In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) is (among many other tasks) primarily responsible for completing a 'master' recording so that it is fit for mass production and commercial release. He or she controls the recording sessions, coaches and guides the performers, and supervis...

Record label: A record label is a brand created by companies that specialize in manufacturing, distributing and promoting audio and video recordings, on various formats including compact discs, LPs, DVD-Audio, SACDs, and cassettes. The name derives from the paper label at the center of a gramophone record (what i...

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