In 1981, three Queens, New Yorkers got together to unknowingly change the course of music history. RUN-DMC is inarguably one of the greatest music groups of all time, and most definitely in the upper echelon of contributors to the hip-hop culture. It's safe to say that Hot New Hip-Hop would not exist without the contribution of these men: Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels and Jam Master Jay (RIP).
RUN-DMC grinded from a busking act in Queens parks to the very people who crossed hip-hop over to the mainstream. They did this by embracing a strong rock 'n' roll influence. The song "Walk This Way" is widely regarded as a breakthrough moment in fusing rap with rock, but also in launching rap in to the mainstream. Along with their pals in the Beastie Boys, this new generation of musicians were blurring the lines of race and setting the stage for a less prejudiced music industry.
Their influence can never be overstated, but we won't talk your ear off on it. We're here to throw it back to some classic RUN-DMC cuts on this Thanksgiving Thursday. Enjoy while you feast on turkey!
RUN-DMC - It's Tricky
When a swindler in a business suit takes the chain of Rev Run's girl, it's on! With their signature rock-meets-rap style, the trio comes to the rescue and takes the conmen for all their cash. This is all while rappin' and getting the entire neighborhood to dance. However, the swindlers get last laugh when they perform on stage as Run DMC.
They just don't make 'em like they used to.
RUN-DMC & Aerosmith - Walk This Way
The song largely credited with crossing hip-hop and rock is "Walk This Way." A clever music video accompanies a revolutionary song that changed the game for good. The tune was originally on Aerosmith's 1975 album and helped to revitalize the rockers' careers in the '80s when RUN-DMC picked it up for their 1986 album Raisin Hell.
...and nothing was ever the same.
RUN-DMC - King of Rock
Did this nerdy dude really think laughing in the face of RUN-DMC was going to deter them for parading around the museum for their "King of Rock" music video? He was sorely mistaken!
It all came full circle when Eminem inducted the trio in to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
RUN-DMC - Rock Box
Keeping the rock theme moving, "Rock Box" is another step to legitimizing the art of rap and appealing it to the more mainstream, rock 'n' roll listening masses. Taken from their self-titled debut album, the beat is the product of Jam Master Jay's programming and Eddie Martinez's shredding guitar squeals.
RUN-DMC - Sucker MCs
"Two years ago, a friend of mine
Asked me to say some MC rhymes
So I said this rhyme I'm about to say
The rhyme was Def a-then it went this way"
Some classic bars. "Sucker MCs" might even be more relevant now than it was back then.
RUN-DMC featuring C.L. Smooth & Pete Rock - Down With The King
Jam Master Jay is so missed! The chops on this track's introduction are so hard, and it just doesn't seem like hip-hop has it like that anymore. On one of the harder tracks RUN-DMC released in their tenure, "Down With The King" was hip-hop through and through, leaving the rock 'n' roll crossover at the studio gates. But hey, that's what happens when Pete Rock laces you with the beat!
RUN-DMC - The Ave.
The gang went Public Enemy on this one, describing the hardships of the hood and the crooked police you're constantly dealing with. The black & white video gives this one a real gangster feel, and the racy content definitely attributes to that sentiment.
RUN-DMC - Mary, Mary
Rappers always have so many naysayers. "Haters," as they're called these days, have been around since the beginning of the art form, and "Mary, Mary" is about those people. The cross-dressed man gives the anti-sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll speech at the beginning of this video, declaring war on the rap group. Mary's buggin'.
RUN-DMC
Raising Hell was RUN-DMC's breakthrough album, and it started with "Peter Piper." The tongue-twisted, r-rated tack on a nursery rhyme turned in to one of the illest rap songs of all time. Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin produced it, it blew up, and the rest is history.
RUN-DMC - Christmas In Hollis
The Hollis neighborhood of Queens got put on the map with this holiday jingle. "Christmas In Hollis" is the perfect way to get a break from the tired, traditional Christmas songs, so be sure to give this one a spin this holiday season.