VH1’s 6th annual Hip Hop Honors aired tonight, which included recent Twitter inductee Tracy Morgan’s third time hosting (in a row?), a few poignant Adam “MCA” Yauch shout-outs, an Eminem appearance, and a Ja Rule/DMX reconciliation (awww). The real star of the show, however, was Rick Metallica-resurrecting-Johnny-Cash-Eucharistin’-Avett-Brother-boostin’ Rubin.
Rubin founded hip-hop trailblazer Def Jam records with Russell Simmons, you see, out of their NYU dorm room exactly 25 years ago. Throughout tonight’s program, Rubin and Simmons discussed the early days in video segments, cementing their status in the canon of hip-hop and music history in general.
Well, that’s not all Rick Rubin can boast about tomorrow morning (over a cross-legged pow-wow with Simmons perhaps): MOG, the Berkeley-based social music and blog network (we’re partners), just announced their upcoming music streaming service with all four major labels on board. So what does Rubin have to do with that? He’s a Board Director at MOG. So look the eff out, kids. Rubin & company have just pwned Oct. 14th.