Everlast, born Erik Schrody, was introduced to the L.A. hip-hop scene as part of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate Cartel. In 1990, Ice-T served as executive producer for Everlast's first solo album, Forever Everlasting, released on Warner Bros. Shortly thereafter, Everlast joined forces with Danny Boy and DJ Lethal to form House of Pain. The group's 1992 single "Jump Around" and eponymous debut album, on Tommy Boy Records, were both huge crossover hits, making Everlast a pop star. However, subsequent House of Pain albums Same as It Ever Was (1994) and Truth Crushed to Earth Shall Rise Again (1996) failed to duplicate the group's initial success, though the former did achieve gold sales. House of Pain called it quits in 1996, but Everlast remained on Tommy Boy Records to record another solo album, 1998's Whitey Ford Sings the Blues.
