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Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Everlast (born Erik Schrody, August 18, 1969 in Valley Stream, New York) is an Irish-American rapper and singer-songwriter, known for his genre-crossing mix of rap and acoustic-based rock music. He was the frontman for rap group House of Pain until 1996. In 2000, he won a Grammy (with Santana) for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for the song "Put Your Lights On".

Music career

Emerging as a member of the Rhyme Syndicate, Everlast's first solo album Forever Everlasting (1990) – which was largely made possible by rapper Ice T – failed both critically and commercially. Following the album's flop, Everlast formed House of Pain with friends DJ Lethal and Danny Boy. Signed to Tommy Boy Records, the group's 1992 self-titled debut album went multi-platinum off the hit single "Jump Around". The group subsequently disbanded in 1996, and Everlast once again pursued a solo career.

Everlast's second solo album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues (1998) – which was released a full eight years since his solo debut and after Everlast had a major heart attack – was both a commercial and critical success (selling more than 3 million copies). Whitey Ford Sings the Blues was hailed for its blend of rap with acoustic and electric guitars, developed by Everlast together with producers Dante Ross and John Gamble (aka SD50). The album's lead single "What It's Like" proved to be his most popular and successful song, although the follow up single, "Ends", also reached the rock top 10.

Despite the success of Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, Everlast's follow-up album, Eat at Whitey's (2000), failed commercially at first in the United States. However, it was eventually certified platinum. The album was also embraced critically, especially by Rolling Stone which reviewed the album between "good" and "great" and focused on it as that month's most important release.

After the sale of the Tommy Boy Records catalog of master tapes to Warner Bros. Records and its metamorphosis to a dance music label, Everlast signed with Island/Def Jam. His fourth solo album, White Trash Beautiful (2004), was subsequently released after almost a four-year hiatus. The album, which had an almost Country-esque feel, was a commercial failure and received mixed reviews; poor promotion was also blamed for the album's commercial underperformance. Eventually, Everlast was released from his contract and is currently unsigned.

He has worked with numerous artists, including Divine Styler, Lordz Of Brooklyn, Run DMC, The X-Ecutioners, Xzibit, Carlos Santana, Swollen Members, Cypress Hill (including members DJ Muggs and B-Real solo projects), Dilated Peoples, Helmet, Madonna, Sadat X, Bronx Style Bob, Casual, Cee-Lo, Prince Paul, N'Dea Davenport, Fredwreck, Kurupt and others.

Everlast is currently a member of and working on the debut album of La Coka Nostra, a new group and internet/myspace phenomenon, together with his former House of Pain mates DJ Lethal and Danny Boy, Ill Bill (ex-Non Phixion) and newcomers Big Left and Slaine.

Discography

For Everlast's releases with House of Pain, please see their article.

Singles

• Syndication (1988)
• Never Missin' A Beat (1989)
• The Rhythm (1990)
• I Got The Knack (1990)
• What It's Like (1999)
• Ends (1999)
• Painkillers (1999)
• Black Jesus (2000)
• Deadly Assassins (2001)
• I Can't Move (2001)
• White Trash Beautiful (2004)
• Broken (2004)

Singles (Selected Guest Appearances)

• The Whooliganz - Put Your Handz Up, Song: Hit The Deck (1993)
• Lordz Of Brooklyn - Gravesend (Lake Of Fire) (1997)
• Santana - Put Your Lights On (1999)
• Swollen Members - Put Me On (2006)

Albums

• Forever Everlasting (1990)
• Whitey Ford Sings the Blues (1998)
• Today EP (1999)
• Eat at Whitey's (2000)
• White Trash Beautiful (2004)

Soundtracks

• Gravesend (1997) -- Lordz of Brooklyn feat. Everlast song "Gravesend (Lake Of Fire)"
• End of Days (1999) -- song "So Long"
• Big Daddy (1999) -- song (cover) "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
• Black & White (2000) -- song "Life's A Bitch"
• King Of The Jungle (2000) -- song "Love For Real (Remix)" feat. N'Dea Davenport
• Ali (2001) -- song "The Greatest"

Trivia

• Everlast spent three months under house arrest in 1994 for possession of an illegal weapon.
• His nearly fatal heart attack in 1998 was caused by a congenital heart defect. Everlast was only 29 at the time.
• His alias, Whitey Ford, was named after Edward "Whitey" Ford, a New York Yankees baseball player from the 1950s.
• In 2000, a feud erupted between Everlast and rapper Eminem. The two artists traded various insults through singles released on the Internet, with Everlast penning the track "Whitey's Revenge" in response to Eminem's lyrical barbs. The track contained the lyric "Better run and check your kid for your DNA," referring to Eminem's daughter, Hailie.
• Everlast converted to Islam in late 90s. For example, at the end of the song "Put Your Lights On", he sings "La ilaha illa Allah" ("there is no god except God") which is the first part of the Islamic creed, the Shahadah.
• The album Eat at Whitey's was originally intended to be titled "The Salty Cracker."

External links

• myspace.com/theofficialeverlast Everlast's music MySpace page
• myspace.com/yt4d Everlast's personal MySpace page
• Everlast World huge Everlast/House of Pain fansite
• Everlast Lyrics (including House of Pain and other Featurings)
• MTV.com - Everlast
• Erik Schrody at IMDb
• Everlast: Untitled ("The Nightmare") song lyrics and mp3

• 1969 births
• American rappers
• American rock musicians
• American singer-songwriters
• Converts to Islam
• Irish-American singers
• Living people
• American Muslims
• Muslim musicians
• New York musicians
• People from Long Island