Everlast has signed
with the Island Def Jam Music Group and will drop his third studio album next
year.
The rapper is currently
recording the yet-to-be titled album in Los Angeles and New York City. He will
co-executive produce the album along with long time hip-hop A&R man, Dante
Ross.
"I am excited
to be part of the Island Def Jam family," Everlast said. "I look forward
to a long lasting relationship with Island Def Jam that will result in much
success over the years to come."
The rapper penned
Santana’s "Put Your Lights On," which he performed with Carlos Santana
on his legendary comeback album, Supernatural. The song snagged a Grammy
for Best Rock Performance in 1999.
"Everlast
is an incredible artist that writes really important songs," Lyor Cohen,
Chairman and CEO of the Island Def Jam Music Group said. "Any label that
listens to music would be so proud to have Everlast as part of their family
of artists; I am thrilled to welcome him to ours."
As a performer,
Everlast has been relatively low key since he dropped his Whitey Ford Sings
The Blues
album for Tommy Boy.The signing to
Island Def Jam, which is a unit of Universal/Vivendi, puts the rapper in the
same company as his one time nemesis, Eminem.
The two had a well
publicized beef and both recorded several songs aimed at each other.
Everlast started
his career as a member of Ice T’s Rhyme Syndicate, before heading up House Of
Pain, who released a self titled platinum debut in 1992.