Rick Rubin Is Basically DJ Khaled 

loved when rick just yelled "RUUUUBIN" at the start of every song he ever had a part of.

I think he's like a musical therapist. he is there to bring music out of people that was already in there

Rick Rubin is the ultimate "I think that sounds good" guy

Rick is definitely just being extremely humble here. He has worked with the likes of Tom Petty, Kanye West, Johnny Cash, and Black Sabbath. You don't get there without actually knowing what your'e doing. Also, Rick loves the art, Khaled loves the money. There's a difference here in their approach to music.

I've always thought Rick was kind of just an ideas guy. Like I thought Rick gave his input as a music fan and gave ideas for things like "maybe you should do this *makes sound with mouth* at that part" whereas someone like Khaled just sorta paid people to make music and then yelled on it

I think the real difference between Rubin and Khaled is that Rick Rubin likes making music, DJ Khaled likes making money. Edit: okay, i think my opinion on them needs a lil bit more clarity. This is based on the way each of them has presented themselves and their attitude in general to their music. Of course Rick Rubin does this in part for money, i mean it is his job for, but what i mean is that his main focus isn't necessarily the sales figures of the records. I say this because he never talks about his music in terms of chart position or record sales, he feels like a guy who cares more about the process of producing the album than having it sell well. Khaled time and time again has shown that his main goal is for an album to be popular and to be top of the charts, and if he doesn't get his way he'll complain like a petulant child. Yes Khaled obviously enjoys what he does, if not he'd be doing something else for a living, but after all of these years DJ Khaled's music has become fast food music. It's just very homogeneous and samey cause it sold well in the past and he seems unwilling to really experiment much in his craft. Rubin is more flexible, he adds his own flair and ideas to an album he works on but he still follows the vision of the artists he's working with and is willing to take more chances.

i think ricks just incredibly humble. With all the history he has in studios working with legendary artists of all genres, i dont believe for a second that he hasnt picked up plenty of knowledge on music production and composition. Like his ear is certainly his main thing, and he may not be a wizard with a soundboard but hes just been in the business of making music way way too long lol

I think Rick is just very humble, he's with the idea that "the more you know, the more you don't know". His standards are different from everyone else's. He's good at listening and bringing the best from artists.

Rick Rubin is a meme for his consistency at producing legends. DJ Khaled is a legend for his consistency at producing memes.

I swear Rick has been saying this for his entire career yet people are only now shocked

I remember when Corey Taylor said Rick Rubin just sits around and eats food in the studio and says “turn that down”

Some years ago I took part in a one-off music production class with Jacob Hellner (Producer of Rammstein and Clawfinger). It was mostly him giving a talk, but it was very interesting. The most memorable thing was this: He asked us what our most important tool is as a producer. Some answers came, you know, arranging skills, studio monitors, songwriting etc. The answer he was looking for was: our taste. Hence why a Rick Rubin, without any notable musical or production skills, can still greatly contribute to a recording

Fascinating, in my opinion. If all Rick knows how to do is use Pro-Tools, that's still production in my mind. If he doesn't even know how to use that, then he truly is just an idea god with an ear for hits.

Engineers run the board. Musicians know music. Producers have the ear, and the vision. You gotta have all those people.

The director analogy works great. They have DPs shooting the actual film, gaffers lighting the set, talent acting in the film and on the postproduction side editors and sound designers and musicians writing the score, all with the technical ability to meet the vision of the director!

Here's a list of artists Rubin has worked with - System of a Down - Slayer - Slipknot - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Black Sabbath - Metallica - Linkin Park - Eminem - Jay-Z - Adele - Johnny Cash - Imagine Dragons (yeah this too) - Wu-Tang Clan - LL Cool J - Beastie Boys - Lady Gaga - Mac Miller - Kanye West - Rage Against The Machine - Sir Mix-a-Lot - Aerosmith - AC/DC - Audioslave - U2 - Shakira There are many more, but the point is Rick's worked with a diverse group of musicians all throughout his life. He knows what works and doesn't. Khaled cares about printing money. To him, music is secondary.

There’s a reason why Rick can facilitate profound results from every type of artist, band, and genre under the sun… It’s because his skill set is not at all based in the typical wheel house of a producer. He is first and foremost a coach throughout the creative process, and a therapist to the artist/s.Both of these roles transcend the technical world and lie in the realm of spirituality, interpersonal skills, philosophy, sensitivity, and many more. After this Rick’s other great talent is music curation. Once he’s drawn out the best in the artist, he’s great at looking back over everything and deciding what will or won’t make the final cut. To sit here and debate the pros and cons of Rick v Khalid is a bit disrespectful in my opinion, because a “producer” is a big umbrella term for crediting purposes. You can aptly compare cats who play similar roles as a “producer,” but equating Rick to Khalid through their mutual lack of technical ability grossly undervalues what Rick brings to the table.

I think he knows his stuff. He knows what sells and what it's needed. And he probably knows more than he said because he's been doing that since the 80s, so he knows things naturally at this point.

Art is the culmination of technical abilities, ideas, and passion.

Isn’t it true that RZA didn’t know music theory when he made all of Wu Tang’s Albums. A lot of hip hop producers don’t have the budget or education for learning music and playing instruments, but they still put out loads of dope projects.

It's all in the term 'reducer'. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Rick helps artist focus on what matters to reach the best result. He's working with creative geniuses who's minds run wild so he has a very important role to play in helping to make them work at their peak.

He doesn't pretend to be more than a businessman I don't think. He's also humble.

Rick rubins job as a producer is to help turn the windy road of ideas and thoughts someone has into a clear straight path forward. His job is to clean up the creative process and to give direction when things feel lost. His job on yeezus was to reduce a messy album into a minimalist peace of art with clear intentions and direction which is one of the hardest things to do as a creative

A lot of people don't realize that "producer' doesn't always mean "mixing engineer". Many producers know how to mix, that isn't what makes them a producer. Producers are there to make the band comfortable, or to push them towards better ideas. They're like studio managers/mentors. Rick is known for getting good performances out of the musicians he works with.

Marc Maron has a really good interview with Rick Rubin on WTF pod a few years ago. It was really interesting, Rubin went out and found Johnny Cash after fell off and got him to make some of the best music of his life.

rick rubins said this in a bunch of his interviews, dont know why everyones shocked. Its more of the less I know and am thinking the more im in touch with the reality of the music

I feel like Rick can actually give some input as to what could elevate a track, however Khaled seems like he would say stuff like “Drake you should add more pizazz to your verse”

I was surprised DJ Khalid can actually DJ.

This is as good a time as any to shout out Andy Wallace, the legendary recording engineer/mixer who had his fingers on many albums that Rick Rubin produced (e.g., Reign in Blood, Toxicity)

You can't hate on Rick Rubin and ignore his legendary work just because he produced Make Believe.

BOLD STATEMENT but im intrigued

This video really spoke to the two sides of performance I've been on - playing more uptight orchestras, and playing rowdy house shows. I feel like each group could really gain artistically from finding a happier middle ground. There are so many wonderful, technical musicians in my orchestras that practice theory and scales until their hands bleed, but you ask them to play an original idea and there's this giant fear of sounding bad, like they'll never be Beethoven, and they look down on the sloppier punk bands for playing out of time or not knowing theory. Then there's my friends in the house show scene. They're so creative, so expressive, but they talk down on people that practice with a metronome or want to learn theory, like learning the fundamentals will somehow kill their creativity. I feel like each group has a fear of being exposed to new ideas, and thus, a lot of the orchestra kids will never be more than a puppet for composers, and a lot of the punk kids will never be technically skilled enough to take their art to the next level. As for me, this isn't my profession, and going between the two kind of just gives me whiplash. Hopefully more conversations like these will unite the communities, and help both of them create the best art they're capable of.

What a lot of people miss about Rick Rubin is that his skills aren’t primarily musical. Rick Rubin is more of a counselor or therapist bands and artists that he works with. He does help them work through ideas and provides a lot of ideas to tweak production. However if you watch his interviews or that Shangrila doc you’ll see he’s mainly helping the artists get oriented to themselves so they can get out of their own way and relax into the process. Fame brings a lot of distractions. Rick has talked about guitarists playing to impress the groupies they dragged along into the studio which can hurt the process. Sometimes it’s approaching your sophomore EP with a paralyzing fear of fucking up. Often he’s best at taking old acts that have lost their way and helping them rediscover what they’re good at. But he also helped Mac Miller deal with addiction for a time, and got pulled Slipknot from the edge of a breakup by facilitating communication that had died and gone toxic.

I was surprised you named Revival when it came to your top legendary rock albums produced by Rubin.

He's literally the Steve Jobs of music

I think the difference is Rick Rubin actually has good ears and does offer ideas when working with artists while DJ Khaled just says a bunch of shit hoping people take whatever he says at face value

"Producing" can take shape in many forms. You can be a composer and the person who actually develops those ideas as a backdrop to a song, you can be a person who executes technically on others compositions, or you can be just a person in the room making decisions that serve, in your taste, the song. Ultimately a producer is the one responsible for turning a song or an idea of a song into a product. Sitting on a sofa and saying 'no, this is like this, and let's move this part here and take out the guitar here' is definitely still producing.

Rick Rubin is the perfect example of the psychological side of music production. It’s one of the most important sides of it, getting the absolute best out of an artist that’s already in there

The movie analogy is extremely apt. Albums are way closer in personal and production to movies, but the fantasy of albums being made by several dudes in a studio has an absolute chokehold on people's romantic vision of music creation.

Rick Rubin is responsible for the Run dmc version of walk this way. The group was very familiar with the opening drums because it was a frequent sample in the hip-hop scene. Rick had the foresight to see that them actually covering the song would be huge

Intuition. Vibrations. Frequency. Down to earth. This is why Ruben is successful with artists

Guys like this are valuable in all artistic industries, people with great ideas and no technical ability are worth more than technical masters who only know how to make technically proficient yet undesirable garbage.

I think there’s a place for people who don’t necessarily have technical knowledge, but have a far reaching understanding of the music scene. They might not front the next huge band, but a music nerd in the right place might just point the right people in the right direction.

The best way to look at him is that Rick Rubin is a COACH

I'll always be grateful to Rick for giving Barkmarket free reign to release whatever they wanted back in the 90s.

I think thinking of a music producer as something more akin to a movie producer or other media producer gives light to this. Music "production" has a very technical connotation now, but some artists and engineers have all the talent already and just need the person who can help them get it all out there.

The most controversial Fantano Title ever. And that's saying A LOT.

he is so chill he takes the pressure of the artists and helps them to relax in the studio and he loves all forms of music, so he knows what sounds cool and what doesn't. He produced the best Chili Peppers album of all time Blood Sugar Sex Magik and there is a great documentary of the recording sessions and in one part he tells Flea to play fewer notes. This shows he has musicality even if he doesn't know music. He knows how to arrange.

As for musician, who has some struggles with being not good enough technically, but having ideas in mind which seem really great, this rant is kinda inspirational. In a way, that sometimes feeling yourself not skillful or advanced enough cuts out the performance of an idea, like you believe that it won't work out. But in the end if you are really into it, don't stop or overthink it and do it as you can. And more experience will definitely come after that.

I think Rick knows a lot about recording and production, he just came up in a time where music production was very different and i don't think he ever adapted his technical skill to the modern era of music production, so instead he just out sourced that side of it

your editing is superb! those cuts, damn!

In regards to the bit about an idea being better than being technical, I completely agree with this. I know musicians that are insanely talented but can’t write songs to save their life. Whenever I write music now I start with my ear, music theory can just help to neaten it all up really. As for Rick Rubin, there’s definitely an ora to him in them clips where you can tell there’s just something special there that can’t be duplicated. I don’t think even he knows what his secrets are. Would love to get in a room for even a day with someone like that.

I don't know why this is surprising at all, he has said in the past theat he doesn't even like being labelled a producer and considers himself a "reducer", where he comes in and helps artists cut down ideas and focus the process, not necessarily create something new for them. It would seem his whole process is about letting artists go through their ideas and then guide them with his own, which has clearly shown to be a very successful way of retaining the artists vision while helping them actually get that work out there.

Corgan called him the best listener in the world. It seems he can listen to rough-as-guts demos, even just poetry without any music, and pick out the next single, often to the artist’s surprise, like “Really? You like THAT one??!” And he ends up being right.

Specifically your last line, yes! To just make something they don't quite know how to create sound so much better, or harmonious, is an amazing talent to have. Having the ability to hear something, and then provide useful or extremely effective feedback with no technical knowledge of the instrument is impressive. Conveying your idea with no basis of reference and still yielding great results is like a skilled art in itself.

Jesus Christ Melon, it was too insane to not be a joke but titles like that is how ya get mellon balled through the screen damnit lol!

Anthony, I think the world would love to hear an album that you produce in the DJ Khaled sense. You are so passionate about music, have connections to various producers and artists, and know what it takes to make a solid record. It could be your next evolution (or just at least a good time and interesting content). Cheers brotha

The movie director analogy is probably perfect. His thing is making a vision a reality, using the tools at hand. We don't give Scorsese shit just because he doesn't act in his own movies. Rubin has a proven track record. Whatever it is that he DOES do, it clearly works. Khaled is more like Tommy Wiseau. Even with money, he can't hide the fact he sucks and doesn't know what he's doing. And is also incredibly self-absorbed, to boot.

Loved this one. Ideas come first, feel, purpose, meaning in your music.

Keep up the great edits whoever edits these

My grandma makes a mean pot of gumbo but if I asked her how to make it she would say I don’t know cause she just makes it from feeling. Same thing

How is this a revelation? This has been well documented for pretty much the guy's entire career. He's said a thousand times he doesn't use the board, and he hires engineers, and that he can't play an instrument. This isn't news, idk. Very surprised this is news to Melon especially, given that's he the internet's busiest music nerd.

I think a lot of people tend to forget that a huge job of producers is to be that person that is helping someone (even some of the greatest creatives of all time) pull something out of themselves that they didnt know was possible. Getting into the mind of someone you are tracking and writing with can be difficult and its often an overlooked part of the process. With that being said him having a ton of resources helps! But there are people who have A LOT of resources but have no idea how to use them to create something timeless. Crazy topic could talk about it all day! Big up Rick Rubin

Thank you didnt know how to say it but this is what ive been feeling. He's been around for so long and its never been a secret on how he handles anything, He's simple thee GOAT.

In regards to the guitar analogy, I think the main takeaway is that, regardless of his talent, Rick would never be stupid enough to do what Khaled did. Not only because Rick is considerably more humble, but also because Khaled is immeasurably stupid and overestimates his own worth. DJ Khaled's faults cannot be overstated.

never thought I would here a title like Rick Rubin Is Basically DJ Khaled

There was a section in a book I purchased years ago about mixing music that tried to define the term “producer” as it relates to music. The term can have many different meanings. When describing the producers who don’t actually compose music and rather just assist in the direction of the project, they used Rubin as the classic example. He was known to lay on a couch, listen, and sometimes give nothing more than a thumbs up or down when it came to input.

Did my first studio session 2 days ago. Crazy how underappreciated producers and sound engineers are. Rick is the GOAT

Andy Warhol's was like this, too. He didn't do any of the art himself, his team did. But the ideas were dictated by him.

YES!!! Except Rick Rubin has an actual good ear.

As someone who has set in a studio and record music, a producer is just as important as your instruments.

I love the interview with Rick and Mac Miller. You can tell Rubin is a musical genius just from youtube clips

This situation is the epitome of “Let him cook!”

That’s crazy I made this comparison in my head last week and now Fantano is echoing it. Whats Next, he’s going to take my place inside his walls???

the music producer's main job in the days when Rick Rubin started working were simpler: make sure an album is completed by the artist/band according to the schedule & the budget allocated by the record label. from what i see, it looks like he often plays the role of the psychologist / therapist for his artists. these days the lines between production, engineering & writing roles are more intertwined. A producer (like myself) today is usually expected to be more of a jack of all trades.

Rick is about knowing the culture of music and assisting artist on how people will respond to the music,at least how I remember it from another interview

The difference is Rick's output has been much better than DJ Khaled lol and he doesn't release the music under his own name like Khaled does but I'd enjoy it if the next Strokes song was released by Rick Rubin and featured him screaming his own name

I’m a beat producer, and I have a partner who has no technical abilities. However, some of my best beats come from us working together and having him guide me with his ideas. I think working with others is just part of the creative process.

Rick has been saying this for years Btw, he's the idea guy. I remember Kenny beats (him and rick have a great podcast episode together) talking about producer vs beat maker once. Beat makers are "replacebel" they just make YOUR idea, producers come with there own ideas and knowledge of what they think will make you sound great. I think Most of the time people go to Rick's Shangri-La studio to make music with him. Were he sets the whole vibe of the recordings. He talked about Working hours not working past eight, because that's not when you make your best work. Help a guy like Mac Miller to meditate, and make faces and swimming. I don't think people would work with him if it didn't work.

I think another key difference is that DJ Khalid brings in a team to make a DJ Khalid record, whereas Rick Rubin mainly brings in a team to assist artists in making THEIR records. The tonal difference is a big deal, where DJ Khalid starts with himself as the focus, and Rubin goes to (or more often is approached by) other artists to help focus and distill the ideas that they have into a realized vision. Similar to how it seems Pharrell Williams works (although Pharrell has a more obvious sound/style), artists value their advice because it has proven to be good advice time and again. Many artists have talked about this and Rubin himself has made a point of it in all his interviews. He is like the super fan that reads a book and says "It would be better if this was the ending..." but he is actually right.

Rick's always been more of a coach, a kind of project manager. His biggest talent is his ability to nurture the talent of other artists.

Here's the thing. The definition of the term "producer" has changed and evolved over the years and means different things to different people. The role of the producer was basically the equivalent of a film director. They helped guide the direction of a project and had some creative input, but the technical guys were the engineers. Now, more often we see the merging of the roles of producer, composer and engineer into one, and producer means something completely different to a newer generation of people (i.e. one who the makes a beat or instrumental.) That definition of the term producer I think is causing a lot of disconnect here. Also, Rubin doesn't put his name on the front of the album.

Getting the best out of an artist and pushing them is an art.

Not even forty seconds in and you really think that it was a bombshell that Rick Rubin doesn't know or play music? He just knows what he's doing in music and entertainment. He made Andrew Dice clay stand up special where hes bombing go double platinum

Seems like Rick has the respect of a lot of great artists so he's clearly helpful to them in some way

That was too kind of you to say that DJ Khaled is a busier music nerd. I don't believe it.

honestly rubin is one of the modern production goats. hes prob got a few more classics in him too

>i have no technical ability and i know nothing about music he's listened to revival, i see

I get the point but "Rick Rubin is basically DJ Khaled" is what a 17 year old types on twitter. DJ Khaled is out for clout, regardless of his intentions and admiration of the artists he works with or the culture as a whole. Rick works closely with the artists, helps them develope the music and creates a vibe with his presence. Rick doesn't scream his name and puts himself over the projects. In short the title is mad reductive.

I’ll take working with Rubin over Khaled on my best and worst day

The best conductor of orchestras may only have a rudimentary knowledge of the instruments he/she is conducting. yet the ability to inspire and to direct those amazing musicians into one cohesive vision/sound. Rubin, is one such conductor.

Agreed. I like to say there are many instrumentalists who are not producers and many producers who are not instrumentalists. And then a whole spectrum in between. Ideas rule. I love the director analogy and have had similar conversations with my director friend. Rick is the goat.

So you’re telling me the man who shortened Yeezus knew nothing about how Yeezus became Yeezus

This is a top ten anime betrayal.

I was thinking about this at work today you read my mind Melon

Never really been a Strokes fan til The New Abnormal. I played that album to death, but each time I would find new little details. Also absolutely love the stereo separation on the record.

Rick Rubin is actually involved in the music tho.

I bet Rick seriously undersells his musical ability.

i got a homie like rick rubin. he dont really make music. he dont necessarily contribute to my beats or my bars. but he knows every band member of every band since the 70s and has every rapper from 95 up's albums memorized. hes a music librarian bro. and when hes in the studio with me just chilling, i always make better shit. he might tell me im doin too much, maybe somethin i said was corny, whatever. sometimes i dont listen. but he be making my music better n hes jus sittin there. which is what i believe rubin does.

Be they a great video! My favourite part was the CGI mouth on Rick and Anderson. High quality. 4K. Love.