T La Rock facts for kids

Terrence Ronnie Keaton, known as T La Rock, is an American hip-hop artist. He was born on September 16, 1961. He is famous for his song "It's Yours" released in 1984. This song was made with Rick Rubin, who helped start Def Jam Recordings.

About T La Rock

Early Life and Start in Music

Terrence Keaton was born in Manhattan, New York. He grew up in the Bronx, another part of New York City. In the 1970s, he started his music journey. He was a DJ, a break dancer, and an emcee (rapper).

He is the older brother of Special K, who was also a famous old-school rapper. His other brother, T.O.N.E.-z, is also a rapper.

His Hip-Hop Career

In 1984, T La Rock released his song "It's Yours." This song was very important because it was the first release with the Def Jam Recordings logo. Rick Rubin, who later co-founded Def Jam, put out this song. It was released through a label called Partytime.

Many people thought "It's Yours" was a big deal in the early hip-hop scene. Russell Simmons, another co-founder of Def Jam, said the song started a new trend. He mentioned that T La Rock used many complex words. He created a special kind of poetry in his lyrics.

The song "It's Yours" had a huge impact on other artists. Many musicians used parts of it in their own songs. For example, the hip-hop group Public Enemy sampled it in their song "Louder than a Bomb." Nas also used it in his song "The World is Yours."

The song also appeared in video games. It was part of the soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto IV. Later, it was added to Grand Theft Auto V in 2020.

The Beastie Boys also used "It's Yours" in their song "Paul Revere." This song was on their 1986 album Licensed to Ill. Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys even said he sang backing vocals on "It's Yours."

After the success of "It's Yours," T La Rock signed with Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records. He released two albums with them. These were Lyrical King (From the Boogie Down Bronx) in 1987 and On a Warpath in 1989.

Injury and Return to Music

In 1994, T La Rock was hurt while trying to stop a fight. He had a serious head injury. He spent time recovering in different hospitals and rehabilitation centers. He worked hard to get better from memory loss and problems with his movement.

By 2021, T La Rock was working on a movie about his life. He also started recording new music. Today, he is back on stage. He performs his famous songs in the United States and other countries. He performed in Brazil in 2008.

Music Albums

Here are some of T La Rock's albums: