Author/musician Ben Merlis is a native of Los Angeles, where he was raised on oldies, hip-hop, and punk, in that order. He has written for HeartattaCk, Talkhouse, uDiscover Music, Rock The Bells, and Please Kill Me, and also works in public relations for Experience Hendrix, ABKCO, and ZZ Top, among many others. His book Goin’ Off: The Story of the Juice Crew & Cold Chillin’ Records (BMG Books, 2019) chronicles the rise and fall of the pivotal label during hip-hop’s golden era by combining traditional writing with an oral history constructed from unique interviews of MCs, DJs, producers, and industry players. Beastie Boys and Licensed to Ill: 40 Years is his second book.
