When most people remember Everlast they remember him as the 40-drinking, blunt-smoking, Irish-American rapper from the multi-platinum rap group House of Pain. Since his days of jumpin' around, he has suffered a near-fatal heart attack and converted to Islam. "Eat at Whitey's" is the follow up to the triple-platinum "Whitey Ford Sings the Blues," and he comes back with an attack straight from his heart. On "Eat at Whitey's" he sticks to the same type of blues-inspired music he recorded for his previous solo album. The guitar riff from the song "I Can't Move" actually is almost identical to the riff from "What It's Like." Other than that, the album shows a great deal of growth, both musically and spiritually.
Everlast delivers an extremely powerful, positive message of love and religion, which should be surprising to many hardcore House of Pain fans. However, it is a pleasant surprise since he says more than just rhyming about sex, drugs, violence and malt liquor.
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"Eat at Whitey's" is one of the most diverse albums I've ever heard. He incorporates everything from rap to ballads and even a hint of classical music into his songs; each one has a bluesy feel.
The album begins with a song, appropriately named "Whitey," about his journey from the thug he once was to the soulful man he is today. It's safe to say this is one of the only rap songs that successfully can be driven with a beat composed solely with a cello. On this track, Everlast shows that even though he has changed musical styles, his rap style is still "the same as it ever was."
Arguably the best song on the album is "Black Jesus," with its catchy, poetic lyrics and simple guitar riff. The lyrics sum up the attitude of the new Everlast. He says the world keeps going on, and he wants a shot at a new life away from his old self. "If you're diggin' the mix / if you're feeling the drugs / If you're livin' like thugs / I spit kisses and hugs like 45 slugs."
He even hints that he may want to settle down and find a wife: "Gotta look that will kill / a voice that will carry / half a dozen women I think I wanna marry." Everlast, the man of the household of pain? Now this I've got to see.
Everlast features an extensive number of other artists on "Eat at Whitey's" -- B-Real from Cypress Hill, N'Dea Davenport, Rahzel from the Roots, Cee-Lo, Kurupt, Carlos Santana and Warren Haynes, to name a few. His cover of Slick Rick's "Children's Story" is the best of his collaborations. Rahzel's beat-boxing is absolutely amazing; practically the entire beat is courtesy of Rahzel's mouth. Not many other artists can successfully make a blues song out of an old-school Slick Rick tune.
Everlast's willingness to experiment and collaborate with so many different artists is evidence of his new perspective on music. The new album further proves Everlast's openness to a variety of musical styles and wide-ranging ability. While he remains true to his roots, Everlast still manages to evolve as a musician.
There is a recurring theme of love on "Eat at Whitey's." The best example is "Babylon Feeling..." featuring Carlos Santana. His heartfelt lyrics about a girl who doesn't care for him, along with some amazing guitar licks, create a very somber, sincere song. "My spirit's weak / my lust will thrive / got a thing for this bitch /... she controls me with her fear / my prayers fall on her cold deaf ear."
"Eat at Whitey's" secures a great solo career for the one-time king of "white rap." Everlast has been around for a while, and his experience is evident on his newest album. "Black Jesus" is already creating quite a buzz on the radio, and you can be sure there will be a few more songs to do the same. Back in the days of House of Pain Everlast said: "I'm the Cream of the Crop / I rise to the top." Well, you are the cream of the crop, and you did rise to the top.
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