Rick Rubin in History of Rock & Roll
Rick Rubin (1963–) is a punk-rock musician and record producer best known for producing Licensed to Ill (1986), the Beastie Boys' groundbreaking debut album.
Rick Rubin's responsible for giving early hip-hop pioneers, the Beastie Boys, their signature sound. His production on the group's debut album Licensed to Ill is chock full of heavy guitar licks, thumping bass lines, and rock bravado. The record put the Beasties on the map.
Rubin is also the man behind the "Walk This Way" collaboration between hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. and rock band Aerosmith. Rubin continues to produce hit records for some of the biggest names in the industry, including rap superstar Jay-Z, who scored a major hit with "99 Problems," a track produced entirely by Rubin.