[1][2] Countless notable hip hop acts recorded music at Chung King Studios over the years, including Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Busta Rhymes, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill, Outkast, ODB, Method Man, Nas, Jay-Z, Hell Razah, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West.
[1][6] Beyond hip hop, notable groups like Aerosmith, Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé, Blondie, David Bowie, Depeche Mode, Destiny's Child, Fergie, Lady Gaga, Maxwell, Moby and Phish also recorded there.
[7] They garnered attention by producing iconic 1980s rap albums like Radio by LL Cool J in 1984–85, Raising Hell by Run-DMC in 1985–1986, Licensed to Ill by the Beastie Boys in 1986, and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy in 1987–88.
[8][1][9][6] In 1993, now in high demand among rap artists, Chung King Studios moved 10 blocks west to a penthouse on the twelfth floor of 170 Varick Street in the Hudson Square neighborhood.
[5] He cited reasons for the closure that included rent that was no longer affordable at $25,000 a month, the difficulty of moving equipment through New York City, and a changing music business in which record companies were unwilling to pay the going rate for a large studio.
[1][6] The studio was recognized as one of the most successful audio recording and production facilities in the world, nominated by Mix magazine's Tech Awards for Outstanding Acoustic Design on several occasions.