Run-D.M.C. (album)  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

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Run–D.M.C. is the eponymous debut album of the influential hip hop group Run–D.M.C.. Produced in 1984, it was considered groundbreaking for its time, presenting a harder, more aggressive form of hip hop.

The album's stark electronic beats and aggressive rhymes were in sharp contrast with the light, funky sound that was popular in hip hop at the time. The album was reissued as a "Deluxe Edition" in 2005 with four bonus tracks.

Reception

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums, and is the earliest hip-hop album to be a classic, having many top reviews from professional music reviewers, including the earliest hip-hop album to have a 5-mic rating from The Source.

In 1989, the album was ranked #51 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 greatest albums of the 1980s". In 2003, the album was ranked number 240 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Uncut (11/03, p.130) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Run–DMC made everything else in the Live Aid era sound lame and tame."

Track listing

Original release

1. "Hard Times" – 3:52
2. "Rock Box" – 5:30
3. "Jam-Master Jay" – 3:11
   • Samples:
     • "Scratchin'" by Magic Disco Machine
4. "Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2)" – 3:12
5. "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1)" – 3:09
   • Samples:
     • "Live at the Disco Fever" by Lovebug Starski
6. "It's like That" – 4:50
7. "Wake Up" – 5:31
8. "30 Days" – 5:47
9. "Jay's Game" – 4:25

Deluxe Edition bonus tracks

1. "Rock Box (B-Boy Mix)" – 5:52
2. "Here We Go [Live at the Funhouse]" – 4:06
3. "Sucker M.C.'s (Live at Graffiti Rock)" – 3:25
4. "Russell & Larry Running at the Mouth" – 4:37

Credits

Group

• Jam Master Jay - Percussion, Keyboards
• Darryl McDaniels "D.M.C." - Vocals
• Joseph Simmons "Run" or "Rev Run" - Vocals

Additional musicians

• Eddie Martinez - Guitar

Technical Staff

• Orange Krush - Composer
• Russell Simmons - Producer
• Larry Smith - Producer
• Rod Hui - Producer/Engineer

Later samples

• "Rock Box"
  • "Justify My Thug" by Jay-Z from the album The Black Album
  • "Champagne" by Chris Rock from the album Roll with the New
  • "Runnin'" by The Pharcyde from the album Labcabincalifornia
• "Jam-Master Jay"
  • "Let's Get Crazy" by Slick Rick from the album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
  • "You Know My Style" by Nas from the album Street's Disciple
• "Hollis Crew"
  • "It's Like That" by Mariah Carey from the album The Emancipation of Mimi (uncredited)
• "Here We Go" (Live at The Funhouse)
  • "Let's Rock" by Chrisette Michele from the album I Am
  • "Fastest Rhyme" by Young MC from the album Stone Cold Rhymin'
  • "Pump Up the Volume" by MARRS from the album Pump Up the Volume