Rick Rubin is a legend in the world of Hip-Hop, co-founding Def Jam Records with Russell Simmons in the 1980s. Rubin discussed his career, being white and Jewish in Hip-Hop, working with Eminem and more in a recent Shade 45 chat with DJ Whoo Kid.
During what was dubbed as “Hanukkah Radio,” Lord Sear, Stretch Armstrong and Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg played the back while Whoo Kid interviewed the producer, who also won the fictional “Jew Of The Year” award as well.
Rubin spoke a bit about being the only white man in Hip-Hop and how it shocked LL Cool J and Simmons when they crossed paths.
“Both LL and Russell couldn’t believe that I was white when I first met them,” said Rubin. Having produced the T La Rock classic track “It’s Yours,” Simmons, a party promoter and manager at the time, didn’t believe Rubin was responsible for the song.
Rubin’s return to Hip-Hop after making a splash in the Rock world came by way of connecting with Jay-Z to produce “99 Problems” for The Black Album. Rubin’s work with Kanye West’s Yeezus album also caused much discussion earlier this year. But it was his recent work with Slim Shady on the Detroit MC’s latest, The Marshall Mathers LP, that has him back in the conversation.
“I was always a fan of Em and I always thought that if the opportunity to do something with Em would come up, I would wanna do it,” said Rubin.
Check out the entire DJ Whoo Kid Shade 45 interview with Rick Rubin below.
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Photo: YouTube
