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“Make it yours”: Rick Rubin takes us back to school (Video)

“I never met anyone that focused”, says Rick Rubin‘s former NYU-Rommate Adam Dubin in the Rolling Stone film Dawn of Def Jam. In the ten minute film Rubin visits his old Dorm Room, the place where it all started. The first Def Jam record actually had the adress of that room on it, which made LL Cool J send his first Demos there. So Rick Rubin was literally taking folks to school.

Listen closely, as the legend basically gives you the secret to his success: going against what was established at the time and not being afraid to fail. “It really was about the DJ’s place in Hip-Hop, being in a way equal to that of the MC”, says Rubin. And he continues: “Noting that happened was intentional. Nothig. Everything was trying to make something cool to play for our friends that they would like. That’s all it ever was.” 

From left to right: The Beasty Boys with Rick Rubin and Russel Simmons

From left to right: The Beasty Boys with Rick Rubin and Russel Simmons

Co-founder Russel Simmons, who according to Rubin was the missing piece to make Def Jam a real record company, has his say, too: “We did it effortlessly. You know, with love and appreciation for the music, and that’s it.”

And Rubin concludes: “Make it yours. That’s the thing that can change the world.” Thank you Rick, we’ll stick to that advice.

Written By: ggottfried