T La Rock

Last updated
T La Rock
Birth nameTerrence Ronnie Keaton
Also known asThe Lyrical King
Born (1961-09-16) September 16, 1961 (age 62)
Origin Bronx, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, record producer
Instrument Microphone
Years active1984–2018, 2019–present
Labels Def Jam / Partytime/Streetwise Records
Fresh / Sleeping Bag Records
Virgin / EMI Records (Europe)

Terrence Ronnie Keaton known by the stage name T La Rock, (born September 16, 1961) is an American old-school emcee best known for his collaboration with Def Jam Recordings co-founder Rick Rubin and the 1984 single "It's Yours."

Contents

Biography

Early years

Keaton was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx borough of New York City. [1] A former break dancer, he is the older brother of fellow old-school MC Special K of the Treacherous Three as well as rapper T.O.N.E.-z also known as Style or Tony Tone. [1] Keaton stands 6'4" tall and began in the 1970s a DJ, a break dancer and an emcee. [2]

Hip-hop career

In 1984, Rick Rubin released "It's Yours" 12-inch single (Cat. PT-104/DJ000), which was the very first release on Def Jam Recordings. [3] Although some might argue that LL Cool J's "I Need a Beat" 12-inch single was the first[ citation needed ], this is not exactly true. The "It's Yours" recording was something that Rick Rubin put out a few months before joining forces with Russell Simmons. The song was the first single to feature a Def Jam logo, but it was released through producer Arthur Baker's independent label Partytime, [3] which was the hip hop division of his dance music label Streetwise Records. [4] The recording was never part of Def Jam’s collection of master recordings. [1] For its 30th anniversary, however, the track was licensed back to Def Jam/Universal, which pressed it on 180-gram vinyl.

In a 1996 interview with The New York Times , Def Jam co-founder Simmons commented about the effect T La Rock and "It's Yours" had on the early hip hop scene:

["It's Yours"] was big; big in the underground. T [La Rock] started the trend and a new direction in hip-hop. He used 40-letter words. He created a special poetry. LL Cool J was the second release on the label. He borrowed ideas and attitude from T. LL would agree. [2]

The influence of Keaton's "It's Yours" was significant. The song was sampled by countless artists, including hip-hop group Public Enemy in "Louder than a Bomb" from its 1988 release It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back ; Nas in "The World is Yours" from his 1994 album, Illmatic ; by many sample-based house-music tracks by Todd Terry. The song was later in the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto IV , on the old school hip hop radio station "The Classics 104.1." Later, in 2020, it appeared in Grand Theft Auto V's in-game radio station known as "KULT 99.1 FM" once The Cayo Perico Heist update was added.

"It's Yours" was also used by the Beastie Boys on its song "Paul Revere" off the 1986 album, Licensed to Ill , [5] an album also produced by Rick Rubin and released on Def Jam Recordings. On the Sirius XM show "Sway In The Morning," Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys pointed out that he can be heard on the backing vocals of "It's Yours." [6]

Wu-Tang Clan did not sample Keaton in the track "It's Yourz" on its album Wu-Tang Forever , but the chorus of that song clearly emulated him.[ citation needed ] Southern emcee Mystikal did a remake of "It's Yours" on his 1997 album Unpredictable. The song sampled the original drums and had a similar hook, but it had a southern twist to it as it was titled "It Yearns."

On the strength of "It's Yours," Keaton was signed by Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records and released two albums: Lyrical King (From the Boogie Down Bronx in 1987, and On a Warpath in 1989. [3] Lyrical King was produced by Keaton and DJ Louie Lou (La Rock's original DJ) Kurtis Mantronik also produced two songs on the album ("Back to Burn" and "Base Machine), while Hollywood & T Ka Rock produced On a Warpath. [3] The title song "On a Warpath" was produced by [T La Rock & DJ Hollywood- Hollywood Impact. At present 2022 T La Rock Is set to have a movie produced which will be based on his life story. Currently in negotiations with Hulu/Disney

1994 injury and recovery

In 1994, Keaton suffered a traumatic brain injury while breaking up a fight in front of his brother's Bronx apartment building. [2] Initially treated at the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, he was subsequently treated at the Staten Island University Hospital in April 1995, then, between October 1995 and November 1996, lived at the Haym Salomon Home for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, where he recovered from memory loss and a loss of motor skills. [2]

In 2021, Keaton was working on a film project about his life, written by Virgil Williams. He also began to record new music. Keaton is currently back on stage performing all of his hits, both in the United States and internationally. [7] He performed in Brazil in August 2008.[ citation needed ]

Discography

Albums

Album information
Lyrical King (From the Boogie Down Bronx)
  • Released: 1987
  • Chart positions: #64 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Tudy Fruity Judy," "It's Time to Chill," "Back to Burn," "Big Beat in London" (UK only)
On a Warpath
The Lost Tapes

Related Research Articles

The new school of hip hop was a movement in hip hop music, beginning in 1983–84 with the early records of Run–D.M.C., Whodini, and LL Cool J. Predominantly from Queens and Brooklyn, it was characterized by Drum Machine-led minimalism, often tinged with elements of Rock; rapped taunts, boasts, and socio-political commentary; and aggressive, self-assertive delivery. In song and image, its artists projected a tough, cool, street B-boy attitude. These elements contrasted sharply with Funk and Disco, Novelty hits, live bands, synthesizers, and party rhymes of artists prevalent in the early 1980s. Compared to their older hip hop counterparts, new school artists crafted more cohesive LPs and shorter songs more amenable to airplay. By 1986, their releases began to establish hip hop in the mainstream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Recordings (record label)</span> American record label

American Recordings is an American record label headed by producer Rick Rubin. The label has featured artists such as Slayer, the Black Crowes, ZZ Top, Danzig, Trouble, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, The Mother Hips, and System of a Down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LL Cool J</span> American rapper (born 1968)

James Todd Smith, known professionally as LL Cool J, is an American rapper and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slick Rick</span> English-American rapper and record producer (born 1965)

Richard Martin Lloyd Walters, better known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence as part of Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew in the mid-1980s. Their songs "The Show" and "La Di Da Di" are considered early hip hop classics. "La Di Da Di" is one of the most sampled songs in history.

<i>Licensed to Ill</i> 1986 studio album by Beastie Boys

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys. It was released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States. The album received critical acclaim for its unique musical style, chemistry between the group members, and their stylized rapping. Since its release, Licensed to Ill has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop and debut albums of all time.

<i>Radio</i> (LL Cool J album) 1985 studio album by LL Cool J

Radio is the debut studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released on November 18, 1985, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. It was also Def Jam's first full-length album release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Rubin</span> American music producer (born 1963)

Frederick Jay Rubin is an American record executive and record producer. He is a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Def Jam Recordings</span> American record label

Def Jam Recordings is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyor Cohen</span> American music industry executive

Lyor Cohen is an American music industry executive and entrepreneur. He has been actively involved in hip hop at various record labels for more than 30 years. He started by managing rappers for Rush Productions, then led Def Jam. After Def Jam, Cohen took on a leadership role at Warner Music Group. In September 2012, Cohen resigned from Warner and started his own independent label, 300 Entertainment. On September 28, 2016, Cohen was named YouTube's Global Head of Music.

<i>Krush Groove</i> 1985 American film by Michael Schultz

Krush Groove is a 1985 American musical comedy-drama film distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures that was written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz. This film is loosely based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons, portrayed by Blair Underwood in his feature film debut. Simmons was the film's co-producer and story consultant; he also had a cameo in the film as a club owner named Crocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip hop production</span> Creation of hip hop music in a recording studio

Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music in a recording studio. While the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music creation, including recording the rapping of an MC, a turntablist or DJ providing a beat, playing samples and "scratching" using record players and the creation of a rhythmic backing track, using a drum machine or sequencer, it is most commonly used to refer to recording the instrumental, non-lyrical and non-vocal aspects of hip hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazzy Jay</span> Musical artist

John Byas, also known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay, is an American hip hop DJ and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock the Bells (song)</span> 1986 single by LL Cool J

"Rock the Bells" is the third single from LL Cool J's debut album, Radio. It was released in 1985 for Def Jam Recordings, was written by LL Cool J and produced by Rick Rubin. It was the follow-up to "I Can Give You More". "Rock the Bells" peaked at #17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Despite the song's title, no bells can be heard in the album recording. The original version of the song, riddled with bells of various types including a cowbell, is 7 minutes and 11 seconds long and was only released on 12 inch vinyl. It was based on the 1982 song "Breaking Bells" by Crash Crew.

<i>Lyrical King</i> (From the Boogie Down Bronx) 1987 studio album by T La Rock

Lyrical King (From the Boogie Down Bronx), from 1987, is the debut album of hip-hop emcee T La Rock. It was released after the EP He's Incredible, and none of the tracks from that record were on the original release of the album. Singles released were "Back to Burn," "Tudy Fruity Judy," "It's Time to Chill," and, in the UK, "Big Beat in London." Kurtis Mantronik produced several tracks, and Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth contributed human beat boxing. When the album was rereleased in digital form by Traffic Entertainment Group in 2006, two of the tracks from He's Incredible and two non-album tracks produced by Kurtis Mantronik were added. In addition, the Rick Rubin-produced classic "It's Yours," which was originally released on a different label, was also included because of its common ownership in the present day.

<i>Oasis</i> (O.C. and A.G. album) 2009 studio album by O.C. & A.G.

Oasis is the collaborative studio album by American rappers and Diggin' in the Crates Crew members O.C. and A.G. It was released on November 24, 2009, through D.I.T.C. Records/Nature Sounds, after several pushbacks dating as far back as the spring of 2008. The album was first premiered in its entirety on the duo's Myspace page a week before the official release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sucker M.C.'s</span> 1983 single by Run-D.M.C.

"Sucker M.C.'s" is a song by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C. It was first released in 1983 as B-side to "It's Like That". The two-sided release marked the start of Run-D.M.C.'s career as their first single, and it is widely regarded as ushering in a new school of hip hop artists with a street image and an abrasive, minimalist sound that marked them out from their predecessors. Both tracks were collected on the trio's self-titled debut album in 1984. WBAU was the first station to play the two songs.

Dante Ross is an American music industry executive, artists and repertoire representative, and record producer. He was named one of the top-25 greatest A&R representatives in hip-hop by Complex magazine. Ross has been in his career an office messenger, a tour manager, an A&R person, a record producer, a notable songwriter, and artist manager.

<i>Hip Hop Family Tree</i> 2015–2016 comic book limited series by Ed Piskor

Hip Hop Family Tree is a series of educational and historical comic books by Ed Piskor that documents the early history of hip hop culture. Originating online with Boing Boing, the series was published in print form by Fantagraphics. The first collection was a 2014 New York Times Graphic Books Best Seller (#7) and was listed in The Washington Post Top 10 graphic novels of 2013. The second collection won the Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run-DMC</span> American hip hop group

Run-DMC was an American hip hop group from Hollis, Queens New York City, formed in 1983 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-DMC is regarded as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture and especially one of the most famous hip hop acts of the 1980s. Along with Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, and Public Enemy, the group pioneered new-school hip hop music and helped usher in the golden age of hip hop. The group was among the first to highlight the importance of the MC and DJ relationship.

References

  1. 1 2 3 JayQuan (2001-09-23). "T La Rock Interview". Magnetic Soundworx/JayQuan.com. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Radomsky, Rosalie R. (1996-10-13). "T La Rock and His New Posse". The New York Times . Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 332/3. ISBN   0-7535-0252-6.
  4. ↑ Guerasava, Stacy (2005). Def Jam Inc.: Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, and the Extraordinary Story of the World's Most Influential Hip-Hop Label . One World. pp.  28–29. ISBN   978-0-345-46804-8.
  5. ↑ Ettelson, Robbie; Drake, David; Ahmed, Insanul (July 23, 2015). "The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All Time". Complex. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "AD Rock of the Beastie Boys Reveals Why He Doesn't Listen to New Music | Sway's Universe". YouTube. 2015-04-10. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  7. ↑ Bearman, Joshuah. "The Man Who Forgot He Was a Rap Legend". Gq.com. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.