timster
08-05-2003, 05:42 AM
Some of these artists are outside the decade, but for better or worse here are some artists who shed some "white-light" on the rap scene.
EMINEM -- First white rapper to gain wide acceptance within the hip-hop community on the basis of his talent.
RICK RUBIN -- Co-founder with Russell Simmons of the groundbreaking Def Jam record label; producer of early Run-DMC hits like "King of Rock."
THE BEASTIE BOYS -- Brought middle America to the rap table with frat-boy attitude and wacky humor on their 1986 debut, "Licensed to Ill." Their music, and audience, has since become more rock than rap.
3RD BASS -- Never huge, but had a minor hit with 1989's "The Gas Face" and plenty of love from the rap community. Came across as white boys who wished they were black -- even going so far as the denounce whites as devils in their lyrics.
VANILLA ICE -- "Ice Ice Baby" shot to the top of the charts and remains a guilty pleasure to this day. But Ice was ridiculed by fellow rappers and critics, especially after falsely claiming to be from the ghetto. Still, his 1990 debut "To the Extreme" sold more than six million copies.
EVERLAST -- Though he's gone through a few incarnations, including blues singer Whitey Ford, Everlast is most remembered for the 1992 party jam "Jump Around" with the group House of Pain.
BUBBA SPARXXX -- There was nothing ugly about this Georgia rapper's success. A great farm-friendly video helped make "Ugly" one of the hottest rap songs of 2001.
LYOR COHEN -- After starting as road manager for Run-DMC, Cohen quickly became a top executive and eventually co-owner of Def Jam Records. Is now arguably the most powerful executive in rap as chairman and CEO of the combined Island-Def Jam Records.
EMINEM -- First white rapper to gain wide acceptance within the hip-hop community on the basis of his talent.
RICK RUBIN -- Co-founder with Russell Simmons of the groundbreaking Def Jam record label; producer of early Run-DMC hits like "King of Rock."
THE BEASTIE BOYS -- Brought middle America to the rap table with frat-boy attitude and wacky humor on their 1986 debut, "Licensed to Ill." Their music, and audience, has since become more rock than rap.
3RD BASS -- Never huge, but had a minor hit with 1989's "The Gas Face" and plenty of love from the rap community. Came across as white boys who wished they were black -- even going so far as the denounce whites as devils in their lyrics.
VANILLA ICE -- "Ice Ice Baby" shot to the top of the charts and remains a guilty pleasure to this day. But Ice was ridiculed by fellow rappers and critics, especially after falsely claiming to be from the ghetto. Still, his 1990 debut "To the Extreme" sold more than six million copies.
EVERLAST -- Though he's gone through a few incarnations, including blues singer Whitey Ford, Everlast is most remembered for the 1992 party jam "Jump Around" with the group House of Pain.
BUBBA SPARXXX -- There was nothing ugly about this Georgia rapper's success. A great farm-friendly video helped make "Ugly" one of the hottest rap songs of 2001.
LYOR COHEN -- After starting as road manager for Run-DMC, Cohen quickly became a top executive and eventually co-owner of Def Jam Records. Is now arguably the most powerful executive in rap as chairman and CEO of the combined Island-Def Jam Records.