With valuable assistance from producer Rick Rubin, the Peppers find just the right blend of punk, funk, and hip-hop. Even with a running time of 74 minutes, this breakthrough has continuity and cohesion both within and across the 17 cuts. Riding Flea's surging bass, Anthony Kiedis delivers his explicit lyrics with a rapper's flair, extolling the virtues and outlining the dangers of sex and drugs. Arrives: Oct 20 - Nov 4.

Produced by Rick Rubin , its musical style differed notably from the band's previous album Mother's Milk , reducing the use of heavy metal guitar riffs and accentuating the melodic songwriting contributions of guitarist John Frusciante. The album's subject matter incorporates sexual innuendos and references to drugs and death, as well as themes of lust and exuberance. The album propelled the Red Hot Chili Peppers into worldwide popularity and critical acclaim, although guitarist John Frusciante quit the band mid-tour in returning in due to his inability to cope with the band's newly-found superstardom.

In , the Red Hot Chili Peppers were a long shot to make it to the 21st century. They were a party band back then—too funky for hair metal, too cock-obsessed for college rock. They wrote songs about their dicks ; they then stretched cotton socks over those same dicks and jumped around on stage without fear of gravity. In the music world, they were definitely not a big deal.