Though Rick Rubin has been connected with Kanye West’s Yeezus and Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail, the legendary producer hasn’t worked on many Hip Hop records in recent years.
In an interview with XXLMag.com, Rubin reflected on a number of Hip Hop albums in his production discography, many of them going back to Def Jam’s early days.
One album that stood out was Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, in that Rubin claims he was more removed from the project than others.
“I played more of an advisory role with Public Enemy,” he explained. “I really trusted them to make the music that they wanted to make, and the way The Bomb Squad worked with them…they created their whole own world of music. They would always ask me to come to the studio and I would check in on things and I’d make suggestions and stuff, but for the most part, the closer it was to [Chuck D’s] vision, the better.”
Rubin heaped praise onto Chuck D in particular, whose distinctive style and subject matter separated him from other emcees at the time. “[Chuck] didn’t really sound like anyone else. He had authority in his voice, and maybe some anger that not many emcees had at that time. He seemed more literate, and more angry, and it was a very interesting combination at a time when there were not many great Hip Hop artists. Even though he wasn’t making records when I met him, I could tell he was a special one and he needed to be heard. I think Chuck’s always had a great point of view and interesting things to say, which kind of separated him from all the other emcees.”
Rick drew comparisons between It Takes a Nation and the group’s debut, Yo! Bum Rush the Show. “They really stepped up [with Nation], but with that said, I really loved their first album too. I loved their first album. But there’s a reference on the second album where Chuck says, ‘Last time you played the music, this time you play the lyrics.’ What he’s talking about is that when the first Public Enemy album came out, on the mix shows—which was the only place that played Hip Hop in those days—they would only play the instrumental versions of the songs. They wouldn’t play Chuck, because it was too different.”
Ultimately, Rubin explained that Nation put PE on the map. “At the time Public Enemy came out, they were the least successful group on Def Jam, and it wasn’t until the second album when people started accepting him and got used to it. It was just so radical at first that when people heard it, they didn’t want that. Nation was important in that Public Enemy was the first group to really talk about serious political stuff, so that’s an exciting and important thing.”
Throughout his career, Rick Rubin contributed to early projects by LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, The Geto Boys, and more.
RELATED: Rick Rubin Details “Magna Carta Holy Grail” Specifics
I’m surprised why nobody asked him then why they dropped them from their label. I’m guessing that’s standard procedure when you don’t sell.
NOBODY ASKED THEM BECAUSE IT’S WELL DOCUMENTED STORY..DO SOME RESEARCH..AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SALES..TIMES CHANGE..
Show me, then. Your capslock is hilariously bad
dumbass, he didn’t get dropped from a label that was his to begin with. He left to start Def American
See? Was that so difficult?
Rick Rubin will never be at the level of producers like Mike Will, DJ Khaled and Noah 40 until he works with some legendary artists like Drake, Future and Lil Wayne.
I heard of crack babies, but you’re a molly baby
Crack is a dangerous drug Drake or none of the other new wave roodie poos you mentioned can’t a hold the rappers he produced jock strap. He started Def Jam along with Russell Simmons . Left to start his own record label plus he’s produced rock and country western albums so legendary he’s all that compared to the producers you just named
Rubin couldn’t save Magna Carta, which is Gay Z’s worst album yet.
J Dilla is the GOAT producer (the best of a handful of amazing producers i.e. RZA, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, etc), no debate about that. If you even attempt to argue that, you are a fuckin idiot.
J Dilla is shit.
you have the worst taste dentaldamboy.. get your granola eating ass back to whole foods your til’s backin up..
Mike will is dope.. dj khaled never made a beat in his life
hahhaa youre awfully stupid
You niggas miss me ??? UUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHU
the real beavin dont use the n-word nigga
Download Jay-Z Magana Carta Holy Grail at www. hiphopgood .com get it
santas back
this nigga needs to get a shave, go to a rave, almost die from an overdose, then teach kids how to behave.
GIVE ME A CHANCE
Youtube is all about finding new artist, & though I been rapping for a while im still consider a new artist. I just want my music heard thats all, im not looking for no record deal, getting famous ‘r anything like that.! so please just spare a few sec. to check me out, & if you like what you heard please SUBSCRIBE so ill know you actually listen & support http://soundcloud.com/sonnytheartistickid
i thought that his santa was producing Christmas On Death Row album
PE was dope, we need more people like them. instead we ambush Lupe Fiasco and others
I’d cut my dick off to hear a Public Enemy album produced by Rick Rubin
START CUTTING LIL NIGGAA
Pubic enemy was wack and chuck d was overrated on the mic. the only semi decent rapper was Flava Flav and even he can’t hold a torch to the god mc Drizzy Drake!! Young Money We Winnin!!!
lame
disgusting troll
what Jeffrey explained I am stunned that people can profit ($)9411 in a few weeks on the computer. have you read this site link… http://www.ca99com
I love Rubins work on Sabbaths 13 (and of course It Takes A Nation is a straight classic).