Rick Rubin is an acclaimed American author and record producer, best known for his influential work in the music industry. He was born in 1963 in Long Beach, New York, to Michael Rubin, a shoe wholesaler, and Linda, a housewife. Rubin grew up in Lido Beach and developed an early interest in music during his time at Long Beach High School. He received guitar and songwriting lessons from the school's audiovisual department director and formed his first band with friends, performing at garages and school events. Later, he started a punk band called The Pricks, which gained notoriety after a staged fight with hecklers at the famous CBGB club created a buzz for the group.
As a record executive and producer, Rubin has had a profound impact on the music industry. He is the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records. Rubin has been instrumental in popularizing hip hop, producing records for acts such as the Beastie Boys, Geto Boys, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, and LL Cool J. His production work extends beyond hip hop, with hit records for acts from a variety of genres including heavy metal, alternative rock, hard rock, nu-metal, and country. In 2007, Rubin was named one of Time's "100 Most Influential People in the World" and was called "the most important producer of the last 20 years" by MTV. His debut book, "The Creative Act: A Way of Being," was published in January 2023.