Historical Figure
Rick Rubin
b. 1963
American record producer (born 1963)
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"Lex Fridman Podcast #275: Music, Creativity, Zen" — April 10, 2022
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Biography
Frederick Jay Rubin is an American record producer. He is a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records.
Timeline
The story of Rick Rubin, told in moments.
Co-founded Def Jam Recordings with Russell Simmons in his dorm room. Produced LL Cool J's debut. Then Run-DMC's "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith, which broke hip-hop into the mainstream.
Produced the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill, the first hip-hop album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. He was 23.
Left Def Jam and founded American Recordings. Produced Johnny Cash's comeback album, also called American Recordings. It was just Cash and his guitar. The album won a Grammy and revived Cash's career.
Named co-president of Columbia Records. He's produced albums for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jay-Z, Metallica, Adele, and dozens of others. His approach: strip everything down to the essentials.
In Their Own Words (8)
"The Beatles are proof of the existence of God."
"If you’re holding a center puzzle piece in your hand and staring at an empty tabletop, it’s difficult to determine where to place it. If all of the puzzle is complete except for that one piece, then you know exactly where it goes. The same is generally true of art. The more of the work you can see, the easier it becomes to gracefully place the final details clearly where they belong."
"There’s great wisdom in transitional realms between wakefulness and sleep. Right before you fall asleep, what thoughts and ideas come to you? How do you feel when you wake from a dream? [...] Keeping a dream journal might be of use. Place a pen and paper next to the bed, and as soon as you wake up, begin writing immediately with as much detail as possible before doing anything else."
"Wrestling's real, and the world is fake."
"I guess edgy things tend to get my attention."
Artifacts (15)
King is one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll and rhythm a...
Resources Award. King performed "Stand by Me" on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2007. Ahmet Ertegun said, "King is one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll and rhythm and...
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