Everlast

Everlast is the stage name of Erik Schrody, a US rapper, singer and songwriter from Valley Stream, New York. He is active from 1988 and is associated with hip hop, rock, blues, alternative and country-rap. He also uses the names Whitey Ford, Mr. White and Whitey Farad.

Career

Everlast emerges as a member of the Rhyme Syndicate and releases his first solo album, Forever Everlasting, in 1990. The album appears on Warner Bros. Records and is followed by singles including “Never Missin’ a Beat”, “The Rhythm” and “I Got the Knack”. His early solo work does not achieve major commercial success.

He then forms House of Pain with DJ Lethal and his high school friend Danny Boy. Signed to Tommy Boy Records, the group releases its self-titled debut album in 1992 and goes multi-platinum. The album includes “Jump Around”, produced by DJ Muggs, and also features B-Real on “Put Your Head Out”. House of Pain also records “Just Another Victim” with Helmet for the Judgment Night soundtrack in 1993. The group later disbands in 1996.

After House of Pain, Everlast develops a solo career. Whitey Ford Sings the Blues arrives in 1998 on Tommy Boy Records and becomes a major commercial and critical success, selling more than 3 million copies. The album blends rap with acoustic and electric guitars, with production by Dante Ross and John Gamble. Its lead single, “What It’s Like”, becomes his best-known song, and “Ends” also reaches the rock top 10. He has a major heart attack before the album’s release.

He collaborates with Santana on “Put Your Lights On”, from Santana’s Supernatural in 1999. The song reaches the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and wins Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Other guest appearances include work with Ice-T, Madonna, Nice & Smooth, Lordz of Brooklyn, Swollen Members, Run DMC, Kurupt, Limp Bizkit, X-Ecutioners, Snoop Dogg and others.

His follow-up album, Eat at Whitey’s in 2000, is released through Tommy Boy Records. It is initially less successful in the United States but later becomes gold. In 2003 he signs with Island Def Jam and releases White Trash Beautiful in 2004. That album has a country-rap feel and receives mixed reviews. He later releases Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford in 2008 on his own label, Martyr Inc., with distribution by Hickory Records and Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The album includes the TV theme “Saving Grace”, the single “Letters Home From The Garden Of Stone”, a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”, and “Stone in My Hand”.

La Coka Nostra and related work

Everlast joins the hip-hop group La Coka Nostra in 2006 with former House of Pain members DJ Lethal and Danny Boy, alongside Ill Bill, Slaine and other contributors linked to the project’s earlier formation. The group’s first known song is “Fuck Tony Montana”, and its debut album, A Brand You Can Trust, is released through Uncle Howie Records and Suburban Noize Records. Guests on the album include Snoop Dogg, B-Real, Bun B, Immortal Technique, Sick Jacken and Q-Unique.

He also appears on the End of Days, Big Daddy, Black & White, King of the Jungle and Ali soundtracks, among others, and contributes to numerous collaborative tracks across hip hop and rock projects.

Style and recognition

Everlast is known for combining rap with blues-, rock- and country-influenced songwriting, often using acoustic and electric guitars alongside emceeing and vocals. His work spans solo releases, group projects and collaborations, and he receives a Grammy Award for “Put Your Lights On”.