Run-D.M.C. Album: “Run-D.M.C.”

There were three records that changed hip-hop forever. Those records were Public Enemy's "It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back", NWA's "Straight Outta Compton" and Run-DMC's self-entitled debut. The 12-inch "Sucker MC's" was a revolutionary song and a major breakthrough. Before Run-DMC, hip-hop had only been straight party-music, but when "Sucker MC's" arrived, all you heard was two voices and a drum, squashing wack rappers at the spot. Run-DMC was hip-hop's first supergroup, and they were straight ripping it. If there was only three records that deserved 5 stars, then it would be the three mentioned above.

CLASSIC!

Okay, first let me say that I don't even listen to rap. I'm a dorky suburban white kid who spends his spare time chilling to Miles Davis, writing crappy poems, sharing said poems with friends, who show me poems of their own, which are usually much better, and setting those poems to a piano melody. I don't get out much. I couldn't tell Jay-Z from Snoop Dogg. As my entire school learned at Homecoming, I cannot dance, and I cannot get funky. And here I am telling you to buy this as soon as possible. It's just that good! Part of the reason why I like this so much is because it's got rock in it. "Rock Box" and "Hard Times" mix Run and DMC's deft rap skills with blazing riffs. And the just plain rap songs are just as good: "Sucker M.C.'s", loaded with clever rhymes, ties with the socially conscience "It's Like That" (almost an '80s "Inner City Blues") as my favorite rap ever. And DJ Jam-Master Jay provides fascinating rhythms and turntable stuff ("Hollis Crew"; "Jam-Master Jay"; "Jay's Game"). By the way, Jam-Master Jay's murder embodies everything I don't like about the modern hip-hop culture: it's descended into petty record company feuding taken to the extreme, and sadly embodied on many of today's rap hits - part of the reason why I don't really listen to the genre. Dr. Dre's influence was a very bad one. So, right, no more soapboxing. For the record, the late Jam Master played bass, drums, and keyboards on this one - live drums too, not your stupid fake drum-machine crap. I hate drum machines! Except for Prince drum machines, that is. Anyway, a lot of other songs have plenty to say, including the funky, idealistic "Wake Up", an ode to peace that blows the living crap out of today's "gang-banger" hits and is one of the weaker songs on this album. Can you believe that? 50 Cent could never dream of writing a song that good, and this is one of my least favorite cuts on the record. Does that give you any idea of how essential this album is, even if you don't like rap? "Thirty Days" is probably the worst cut overall, and even then it's got a great keyboard part. I just love this album and then some. I've heard maybe seven rap albums (and two were atrocious Eminem efforts), and this is the best of them.

"Run-D.M.C." was essentially the first straight-up rap album ever and thus it's the most influential - it's very very creative. The production is extremely minimalistic but still manages to be very effective, hard-sounding and well done. The other key component here is Run and D.M.C. who, though they aren't the fastest rappers ever, are definitely very charismatic and fun to listen to. They work well together in a very Beastie Boys-esque way (you can tell that group was influenced by Run-D.M.C.) Their lyrics are always interesting, brutally honest and effective. Unless all you want to listen to is fast-paced rap, nothing here will bore you. Every track is oldschool rap gold, and those who can appreciate its slightly dated and very minimalistic style will love this oldschool gem. Highly recommended! If you liked this I would also highly recommend Nas' "Illmatic", Ice Cube's "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted", Ice Cube's "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" and Digable Planets' "Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space)".

Highlights include:

the entire album!

Run DMC may not have had that mucn in common with the Beatles musically but they were both pioneers for creating album music for their respective genres. Beatles for Rock in the 1960's and Run DMC for Hip Hop in the 80's when they released this album in 1984, which was the first real Hip Hop album with a coherant theme and songs with some substance. Before this, Hip Hop was mostly abouting having fun and dancing and as fun as Sugar Hill Gang had been it just wasn't something you wanted to hear throughout an entire album. Run DMC's sound was much harder and relied on hard hitting sparse electronic beats kind of like Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" from two years prior and tough, confident sometimes daring rhymes. They also mixed alot of Rock in their music instead of Disco or Soul that had been the thing before this. Simply put, Run DMC's debut album was vastly important for the develoment of Rap Music and has often been praised as one of the best albums in the genre.

Formed in New York, Run DMC was Joe "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels and their DJ Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell 1965-2002. Run being the brother of Def Jam Co founder Russell Simmons who also had a hand in this album. Thir first single was "It's Like That" which set the tone for the rest of the album. Although the song is one of their alltime best and very good to dance to, it's actually political and deals with wars and poverty. "Hard Times" is simular in both sound and meaning, even if it's less obvious while "Rock Box" with it's fierce guitar riffs and rough lyrics is about respect and self praise which was quite new at the time. On the next song, "Jam Master Jay" we get plenty of scratching and more street smart lyrics. "Hollis Crew" (Krush Groove 2) and "Sucker Mc's" (Krush Groove 1) later gave it's name to the cult flick Krush Groove about the early days of Def Jam and Rusell Simmons struggling to promote it's music. If you like old skool Hip Hop, check it out cause there's alot of music in it. "Wake Up" is a really good peace song. "30 Days" seems to be a song for the ladies when they talk about what they can offer while the closer "Jay's Game" is another song where their DJ have the spotlight.

Overall, Run DMC's eponymous debut album is a classic and it had a huge effect on the evolution of Hip Hop, without this album who knows what would have happened?. The album is full of memorable old skool hits and for anyone interested in classic hip hop this is a good way to start the collection and getting a better knowledge how things used to sound back in the heyday. It may sound dated by now but it's a very fascinating and important album in every possible way. Further interested? Also check, "King of Rock" and "Raising Hell" where "Walk This Way" became their biggest hit.

We all know that Run-D.M.C. didn't originate hip-hop music. But they did completely reinvent it. In the early 80s, hip-hop was all about the party, and that definitely wasn't the theme on the duo's quintessential debut. Adapting the hard rock attitude and edge with hip-hop, changed the way hip-hop was perceived for all time. Their style was raw, rough and tough, and hit much harder than anything that came before it. In comparison, they are a lot like The Beatles of hip-hop. If rap and rock were on a level playing field, Run-D.M.C. was arguably just as influential as The Beatles.

The thing that could possibly date this record, is the production. It's very minimal, built on drum machines and Jam Master Jay's relentless scratching. Every once and awhile they throw in a guitar riff, or a keyboard hit, but overall, it's pretty skeletal. But that almost seems to be part of the strategy. The record was supposed to sound raw and stripped down, and the production reflects that nicely, retaining it's full-fledged impact. This was the first of many Run-D.M.C. records that Russell Simmons produced. He also went on to produce records for other artists, such as LL Cool J and Slick Rick. The music, lyrics, themes, delivery, and attitude on their debut marked a turning point for rap music.

I first listened to Run-D.M.C. after picking up their greatest hits album (2002). After listening to it, most of my favorite tracks are off of this album. It's shocking at how good the track listing is for this debut. My favorites are "Hard Times," "Rock Box," "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1)," "It's Like That," and "30 Days".

Run-D.M.C. have influenced countless acts to follow. Such as The Beastie Boys, Boogie Down Productions, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Eric B. & Rakim and many, many more. Rappers built on Run-D.M.C.'s style, just like rock bands built on The Beatles' style. This stunning debut may not be their most cohesive or popular album. But it's undoubtedly the most copied formula in rap and hip-hop.