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Rick Rubin is arguably the most sought after, and successful record producer in the world. His production credits read like a who's who of the music business, including such wildly diverse artists as the Beastie Boys, the Dixie Chicks, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, and Metallica. How's that for a resume?
Rick Rubin got his start as a hip hop DJ—DJ Double R—for the Beastie Boys, going on to produce their breakthrough multi-platinum debut album, Licensed To Ill, for Def Jam Recordings, the label he co-founded with Russell Simmons. He later split from Simmons and formed his own label, Def American, where he produced albums for artists ranging from Slayer to Sir Mix-A-Lot. By the time the label changed its name to American Recordings, Rubin was producing a series of critically acclaimed comeback albums, also called American Recordings, for Johnny Cash.
Today Rick Rubin doubles as a music executive for Sony—who also distributes his American label—and as arguably the top record producer in music, with current projects including Kid Rock and Crosby Stills & Nash. You'll find bloggers talking about Rick Rubin at sites like the MySpace Rick Rubin Fanclub.
