Condition: Used
Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C.
Label: Profile Records
Catalog#: PRO-1202
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Record: VG+ few light scuffs
Laminated Cover: VG+ VG++ slight ringwear, slight bending front cover bottom right (see our pic)
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Hip Hop
Tracklist
A1 Hard Times
Written-By – W. Warring 3:53
A2 Rock Box
Mixed By – DJ Starchild 5:28
A3 Jam-Master Jay 3:21
A4 Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) 3:12
A5 Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1) 3:15
B1 It's Like That 4:45
B2 Wake Up
Written-By – D. Hayden 5:30
B3 30 Days
Written-By – D. Simmons, J.B. Moore 5:45
B4 Jay's Game
This is one of those rare albums that not only started a true music revolution, but has stood the test of time as one of the greatest albums ever recorded. That is a bold statement, and I don't make it lightly given all the great music (both rap and otherwise) that has been recorded over the last 100 years.
What makes this album so great? Let me see if I can help you understand that.
First, of course, there is the pure genius of innovation. Sure, there was the Sugarhill Gang, and even that Blondie song before "Run-DMC," but they were just preparing the way for the true "Kings of Rock." From the first cut ("Hard Times,") with it's spare, unadorned beats and lyrical flow, in such contrast to the full disco/band rapping of the Sugarhill Gang and others of that time, through the live, powerful guitar of "Rock Box," through the scratching wizardry of "Jam-Master Jay" and "Jay's Game" (an underappreciated mix,) and the urban story songs "It's Like That" and "Wake Up," to the suble comedy of "30 Days," we see innovation in every cut. Before "scratching" and "DJ-ing" became "MTV Beach Party" staples, these guys were doing it/inventing it on the streets of Hollis, Queens. If you listen to any current MTV fare, you can hear straight flow from this album appropriated by such artists as Kid Rock and Everclear; if you ever see kids wearing shell-toe Adidas, you can thank Run-DMC. They started a music revolution and a cultural revolution with this album.
Besides the technical innovations, though, the MESSAGES on the album are as innovative as the flow, and, for me, make this one of the truly great albums. They rap about the grit of the streets, but always in a way that provides hope to the listener. From "Hard Times": "Hard Times are coming to your town, stay alert, don't let them get you down... B-B-B Beatin' Hard Times, that is my theme. Hard Times in life, hard times in death, I'm gonna keep on fighting til my very last breath." From "It's Like That": "When you really think about it, times aren't that bad... stop playing, start praying, you won't be sad."
RUN DMC - It's Like That (Krush Groove 1985)
Run DMC - Rock Box
Run DMC - Sucker MCs
Don't know if anyone noticed but JMJ is not merely playing an instrumental of the song. He is actually Cutting and Scratching the break. When was the last time u seen a performer do that?
RUN-DMC - Sucker MC's
Music video by RUN-DMC performing Sucker MC's. (C) 1984 Arista Records, Inc.
Run-D.M.C. - It's Like That
An excerpt from the documentary "The Show" featuring Run-D.M.C.'s performance of "It's Like That."
This song was a hit in 1983 and will be a great hit in 2050.
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