Run‐D.M.C. | ||
| Allmusic Biography : More than any other hip-hop group, Run-D.M.C. are responsible for the sound and style of the music. As the first hardcore rap outfit, the trio set the sound and style for the next decade of rap. With their spare beats and excursions into heavy metal samples, the trio were tougher and more menacing than their predecessors Grandmaster Flash and Whodini. In the process, they opened the door for both the politicized rap of Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions, as well as the hedonistic gangsta fantasies of N.W.A. At the same time, Run-D.M.C. helped move rap from a singles-oriented genre to an album-oriented one -- they were the first hip-hop artist to construct full-fledged albums, not just collections with two singles and a bunch of filler. By the end of the 80s, Run-D.M.C. had been overtaken by the groups they had spawned, but they continued to perform to a dedicated following well into the 90s. All three members of Run-D.M.C. were natives of the middle-class New York borough Hollis, Queens. Run (born Joseph Simmons, November 14, 1964) was the brother of Russell Simmons, who formed the hip-hop management company Rush Productions in the early 80s; by the mid-80s, Russell had formed the pioneering record label Def Jam with Rick Rubin. Russell encouraged his brother Joey and his friend Darryl McDaniels (born May 31, 1964) to form a rap duo. The pair of friends did just that, adopting the names Run and D.M.C., respectively. After they graduated from high school in 1982, the pair enlisted their friend Jason Mizell (born January 21, 1965) to scratch turntables; Mizell adopted the stage name Jam Master Jay. In 1983, Run-D.M.C. released their first single, "Its Like That"/"Sucker M.C.s," on Profile Records. The single sounded like no other rap at the time -- it was spare, blunt, and skillful, with hard beats and powerful, literate, daring vocals, where Run and D.M.C.s vocals overlapped, as they finished each others lines. It was the first "new school" hip-hop recording. "Its Like That" became a Top 20 R&B; hit, as did the groups second single, "Hard Times"/"Jam Master Jay." Two other hit R&B; singles followed in early 1984 -- "Rock Box" and "30 Days" -- before the groups eponymous debut appeared. By the time of their second album, 1985s King of Rock, Run-D.M.C. had become the most popular and influential rappers in America, already spawning a number of imitators. As the King of Rock title suggests, the group were breaking down the barriers between rock & roll and rap, rapping over heavy metal records and thick, dense drum loops. Besides releasing the King of Rock album and scoring the R&B; hits "King of Rock," "You Talk Too Much," and "Can You Rock It Like This" in 1985, the group also appeared in the rap movie Krush Groove, which also featured Kurtis Blow, the Beastie Boys, and the Fat Boys. Run-D.M.C.s fusion of rock and rap broke into the mainstream with their third album, 1986s Raising Hell. The album was preceded by the Top Ten R&B; single "My Adidas," which set the stage for the groups biggest hit single, a cover of Aerosmiths "Walk This Way." Recorded with Aerosmiths Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, "Walk This Way" was the first hip-hop record to appeal to both rockers and rappers, as evidenced by its peak position of number four on the pop charts. In the wake of the success of "Walk This Way," Raising Hell became the first rap album to reach number one on the R&B; charts, to chart in the pop Top Ten, and to go platinum, and Run-D.M.C. were the first rap act to received airplay on MTV -- they were the first rappers to cross over into the pop mainstream. Raising Hell also spawned the hit singles "You Be Illin" and "Its Tricky." Run-D.M.C. spent most of 1987 recording Tougher Than Leather, their follow-up to Raising Hell. Tougher Than Leather was accompanied by a movie of the same name. Starring Run-D.M.C., the film was an affectionate parody of 70s blaxploitation films. Although Run-D.M.C. had been at the height of their popularity when they were recording and filming Tougher Than Leather, by the time the project was released, the rap world had changed. Most of the hip-hop audience wanted to hear hardcore political rappers like Public Enemy, not crossover artists like Run-D.M.C. Consequently, the film bombed and the album only went platinum, failing to spawn any significant hit singles. Two years after Tougher Than Leather, Run-D.M.C. returned with Back From Hell, which became their first album not to go platinum. Following its release, both Run and D.M.C. suffered personal problems as McDaniels suffered a bout of alcoholism and Simmons was accused of rape. After McDaniels sobered up and the charges against Simmons were dismissed, both of the rappers became born-again Christians, touting their religious conversion on the 1993 album Down With the King. Featuring guest appearances and production assistance from artists as diverse as Public Enemy, EPMD, Naughty by Nature, A Tribe Called Quest, Neneh Cherry, Pete Rock, and KRS-One, Down With the King became the comeback Run-D.M.C. needed. The title track became a Top Ten R&B; hit and the album went gold, peaking at number 21. Although they were no longer hip-hop innovators, the success of Down With the King proved that Run-D.M.C. were still respected pioneers. After a long studio hiatus, the trio returned in early 2000 with Crown Royal. The album did little to add to their ailing record sales, but the following promotional efforts saw them join Aerosmith and Kid Rock for a blockbuster performance on MTV. By 2002, the release of two greatest-hits albums prompted a tour with Aerosmith that saw them travel the U.S., always performing "Walk This Way" to transition between their sets. Sadly, only weeks after the end of the tour, Jam Master Jay was senselessly murdered in a studio session in Queens. Only 37 years old, the news of his passing spread quick and hip-hop luminaries like Big Daddy Kane and Funkmaster Flex took the time to pay tribute to him on New York radio stations. Possibly the most visible DJ in the history of hip-hop, his death was truly the end of an era and unfortunately perpetuated the cycle of violence that has haunted the genre since the late 80s. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 22 Title: Run‐D.M.C. Released: 1984-03-27 Tracks: 9 Duration: 39:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hard Times (03:54) 2 Rock Box (05:31) 3 Jam‐Master Jay (03:13) 4 Hollis Crew (Krush‐Groove 2) (03:15) 5 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 6 It’s Like That (04:50) 7 Wake Up (05:32) 8 30 Days (05:49) 9 Jay’s Game (04:19) |
| Run‐D.M.C. : Allmusic album Review : Years after the release of Run-D.M.C.s eponymous 1984 debut, the group generally was acknowledged to be hip-hops Beatles -- a sentiment that makes a lot of sense, even if Run-D.M.C. isnt quite the equivalent of a rap Please Please Me. Run-D.M.C. were the Beatles of rap because they signaled a cultural and musical change for the music, ushering it into its accepted form; neither group originated the music, but they gave it the shape known today. But, no matter how true and useful the comparison is, it is also a little misleading, because it implies that Run-D.M.C. also were a melodic, accessible group, bringing in elements from all different strands of popular music. No, Run-D.M.C.s expanded their music by making it tough and spare, primarily by adapting the sound and attitude of hard rock to hip-hop. Prior to this, rap felt like a block party -- the beats were funky and elastic, all about the groove. Run-D.M.C. hit hard. The production is tough and minimal, built on relentless drum machines and Jam Master Jays furious scratching, mixing in a guitar riff or a keyboard hit on occasion. It is brutal urban music, and Run and D.M.C.s forceful, muscular rhymes match the music. Where other MCs sounded cheerful, Run and D.M.C. prowl and taunt the listener, sounding as if they were a street gang. And while much of the record is devoted to braggadocio, boasting, and block parties, Run-D.M.C. also addressed grittier realities of urban life, giving this record both context and thematic weight. All of this -- the music, the attitude, the words, the themes -- marked a turning point for rap, and its impossible to calculate Run-D.M.C.s influence on all that came afterward. Years later, some of the production may sound a bit of its time, but the music itself does not because music this powerful and original always retains its impact and force as music. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 22 Title: King of Rock Released: 1985 Tracks: 9 Duration: 43:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rock the House (02:42) 2 King of Rock (05:14) 3 You Talk Too Much (06:02) 4 Jam-Master Jammin’ (04:23) 5 Roots, Rap, Reggae (03:12) 6 Can You Rock It Like This (04:30) 7 You’re Blind (05:33) 8 It’s Not Funny (05:37) 9 Daryll and Joe (Krush-Groove 3) (06:33) |
| King of Rock : Allmusic album Review : Take the title of Run-D.M.C.s King of Rock somewhat literally. True, the trailblazing rap crew hardly abandoned hip-hop on their second album, but they did follow through on the blueprint of their debut, emphasizing the rock leanings that formed the subtext of Run-D.M.C. Nearly every cut surges forward on thundering drum machines and simple power chords, with the tempos picked up a notch and the production hitting like a punch to the stomach. If the debut suggested hard rock, this feels like hard rock -- over-amplified, brutal, and intoxicating in its sheer sonic force. What really makes King of Rock work is that it sounds tougher and is smarter than almost all of the rock and metal records of its time. There is an urgency to the music unheard in the hard rock of the 80s -- a sense of inevitability to the riffs and rhythms, balanced by the justified boasting of Run and D.M.C. Most of their rhymes are devoted to party jams or bragging, but nobody was sharper, funnier, or as clever as this duo, nor was there a DJ better than Jam Master Jay, who not just forms the backbone of their music, but also has two great showcases in "Jam-Master Jammin" and "Darryl and Joe" (the latter one of two exceptions to the rock rules of the album, the other being the genre-pushing "Roots, Rap, Reggae," one of the first rap tracks to make explicit the links between hip-hop and reggae). Even if there a pronounced rock influence throughout King of Rock, what makes it so remarkable is that it never sounds like a concession in order to win a larger audience. No matter how many metallic guitar riffs are on the record, this music is as raw and street-level as the debut. It manages to be just as dynamic, exciting, and timeless as that album, as it expands the definition of what both Run-D.M.C. and rap could do. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 22 Title: Raising Hell Released: 1986 Tracks: 12 Duration: 39:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Peter Piper (03:23) 2 It’s Tricky (03:03) 3 My Adidas (02:47) 4 Walk This Way (05:11) 5 Is It Live (03:04) 6 Perfection (02:58) 7 Hit It Run (03:11) 8 Raising Hell (05:31) 9 You Be Illin’ (03:25) 10 Dumb Girl (03:32) 11 Son of Byford (00:27) 12 Proud to Be Black (03:14) |
| Raising Hell : Allmusic album Review : By their third album, Run-D.M.C. were primed for a breakthrough into the mainstream, but nobody was prepared for a blockbuster on the level of Raising Hell. Run-D.M.C. and King of Rock had established the crews fusion of hip-hop and hard rock, but that sound didnt blossom until Raising Hell, partially due to the presence of Rick Rubin as producer. Rubin loved metal and rap in equal measures and he knew how to play to the strengths of both, while slipping in commercial concessions that seemed sly even when they borrowed from songs as familiar as "My Sharona" (heard on "Its Tricky"). Along with longtime Run-D.M.C. producer Russell Simmons, Rubin blew down the doors of what hip-hop could do with Raising Hell because it reached beyond rap-rock and found all sorts of sounds outside of it. Sonically, there is simply more going on in this album than any previous rap record -- more hooks, more drum loops (courtesy of ace drum programmer Sam Sever), more scratching, more riffs, more of everything. Where other rap records, including Run-D.M.C.s, were all about the rhythm, this is layered with sounds and ideas, giving the music a tangible flow. But the brilliance of this record is that even with this increased musical depth, it still rocks as hard as hell, and in a manner that brought in a new audience. Of course, the cover of Aerosmiths "Walk This Way," complete with that bands Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, helped matters considerably, since it gave an audience unfamiliar with rap an entry point, but if it were just a novelty record, a one-shot fusion of rap and rock, Raising Hell would never have sold three million copies. No, the music was fully realized and thoroughly invigorating, rocking harder and better than any of its rock or rap peers in 1986, and years later, that sense of excitement is still palpable on this towering success story for rap in general and Run-D.M.C. in specific. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 22 Title: Tougher Than Leather Released: 1988 Tracks: 12 Duration: 40:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Run’s House (03:43) 2 Mary, Mary (03:14) 3 They Call Us Run‐D.M.C. (02:56) 4 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 5 Radio Station (02:49) 6 Papa Crazy (04:17) 7 Tougher Than Leather (04:22) 8 I’m Not Going Out Like That (04:54) 9 How’d Ya Do It Dee (03:22) 10 Miss Elaine (03:05) 11 Soul to Rock and Roll (02:18) 12 Ragtime (02:42) |
| Tougher Than Leather : Allmusic album Review : At the end of 1986, Raising Hell was raps best-selling album up to that point, though it would soon be outsold by the Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill. Profile Records hoped that Run-D.M.C.s fourth album, Tougher Than Leather, would exceed the Beastie Boys quintuple-platinum status, but unfortunately, the groups popularity had decreased by 1988. One of Run-D.M.C.s strong points -- its love of rock & roll -- was also its undoing in hip-hop circles. Any type of crossover success tends to be viewed suspiciously in the hood, and hardcore hip-hoppers werent overly receptive to "Miss Elaine," "Papa Crazy," "Mary, Mary," and other rap-rock delights found on the album. Thanks largely to rock fans, this album did go platinum for sales exceeding one million copies -- which ironically, Profile considered a disappointment. But the fact is that while Tougher Than Leather isnt quite as strong as Run-D.M.C.s first three albums, it was one of 1988s best rap releases. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 22 Title: Back From Hell Released: 1990 Tracks: 16 Duration: 54:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sucker D.J.’s (00:50) 2 The Ave. (04:01) 3 What’s It All About (04:48) 4 Bob Your Head (03:47) 5 Faces (04:27) 6 Kick the Frama Lama Lama (03:09) 7 Pause (04:38) 8 Word Is Born (02:53) 9 Back From Hell (03:01) 10 Don’t Stop (04:37) 11 Groove to the Sound (03:34) 12 P Upon a Tree (00:44) 13 Naughty (04:08) 14 Livin’ in the City (01:03) 15 Not Just Another Groove (04:19) 16 Party Time (04:34) |
| Back From Hell : Allmusic album Review : Longevity isnt a realistic goal for most rappers, who are lucky if they arent considered played out by their third or fourth album. By 1990, Run-D.M.C.s popularity had decreased dramatically, and the Queens residents had lost a lot of ground to both West Coast gangster rappers like Ice Cube, Ice-T and Comptons Most Wanted. With its fifth album, Back From Hell, Run-D.M.C. set out to regain the support of the hardcore rap audience and pretty much abandoned rock-influenced material in favor of stripped-down, minimalist and consistently street-oriented sounds. Not outstanding but certainly enjoyable, such gritty reflections on urban life as "Livin in the City," "The Ave." and "Faces" made it clear that Run-D.M.C. was still well worth hearing. [Back From Hell was remastered and reissued in 1999.] | ||
 | Album: 6 of 22 Title: Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983–1991 Released: 1991-11-05 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:09:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 2 Walk This Way (05:11) 3 Together Forever (Krush‐Groove 4) (live at Hollis Park ’84) (03:34) 4 King of Rock (05:14) 5 Run’s House (03:43) 6 It’s Tricky (03:03) 7 Pause (04:38) 8 You Be Illin’ (03:25) 9 My Adidas (02:47) 10 Here We Go (live at the Funhouse) (04:05) 11 Rock Box (05:31) 12 The Ave. (04:07) 13 Hard Times (03:54) 14 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 15 Jam‐Master Jay (03:11) 16 Peter Piper (03:23) 17 It’s Like That (04:50) 18 Christmas in Hollis (02:59) |
| Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983–1991 : Allmusic album Review : For the most part, all of Run-D.M.C.s most important singles and biggest hits are included on Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983-1991. That alone makes the compilation a necessary purchase. However, that doesnt mean its a perfectly assembled collection. Instead of presenting the singles in chronological order, the sequencing skips back and forth -- for example, it opens with "Sucker M.C.s," jumps ahead to "Walk This Way," jumps further ahead to "Together Forever," then slams back to "King of Rock." Still, Together Forever has 18 of the groundbreaking groups absolutely essential items, from "Its Like That" and "Hard Times" to "Its Tricky" and "Runs House," which makes it an ideal introduction and an enjoyable retrospective. Its just not the definitive collection it could have been. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 22 Title: Down With the King Released: 1993-05-04 Tracks: 15 Duration: 49:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Down With the King (05:00) 2 Come On Everybody (04:30) 3 Can I Get It, Yo (03:31) 4 Hit em Hard (02:52) 5 To the Maker (00:24) 6 3 in the Head (03:29) 7 Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do (03:06) 1 Big Willie (04:28) 2 Three Little Indians (03:07) 3 In the House (03:37) 4 Can I Get a Witness (03:36) 5 Get Open (03:52) 6 Whats Next (04:03) 7 Wreck Shop (03:14) 8 For 10 Years (00:39) |
| Down With the King : Allmusic album Review : After the poor response of Back from Hell, Run-D.M.C. decided to make some drastic changes. Their first point of order was to rebuild their dwindling street cred and reiterate their proven track record as the kings by compiling a best-of compilation. Simultaneously, they started work on a fresh and current-sounding album with the help of some of the hottest artists and producers in the rap game. Retreating from the funky new jack swing that overwhelmed Back from Hell, they enlisted Pete Rock, Q-Tip, EPMD, Naughty by Nature, the Bomb Squad, and Jermaine Dupri to help produce Down with the King. The new sound is decidedly more fashionable, and their fedoras and Adidas are abandoned here for bald heads and baggy black hoodies to match their new gangsta musical direction; which takes an obvious cue from Onyx (signed to Jam Master Jays label), whose "Slam" was a platinum hit earlier in 1993. Instead of using the intersecting back-and-forth wordplay that launched their career, this new incarnation of Run-D.M.C. incorporates the trendy "grimy" sound with ensemble shouts over specific lyrical parts (think Leaders of the New School). The beats are less corny, less funk-inspired, and more jazzy and sinister, with ominous basslines, organs, and delayed horn samples, and the vocals are more raucous and angry. Longtime fans will wonder why the trio isnt staying true to its past, especially when Run borrow from newcomers Das EFX with "stiggitys" and "riggitys," but the album serves its purpose of winning over a new generation of fans, and old-timers can find solace in the fact that rock is incorporated again in "Big Willie," a throwback to "Rock Box" with a rippin guitar part from Rage Against the Machines Tom Morello. While less original than their earlier classic albums, this is an impressive showing from a rap group thats been together ten years, and is pretty damn innovative in its own right. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 22 Title: The Best Of Released: 1995 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:16:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Walk This Way (05:12) 2 Mary, Mary (03:16) 3 It’s Tricky (03:03) 4 King of Rock (05:15) 5 Runs House (03:46) 6 Miss Elaine (03:08) 7 You Be Illin (03:28) 8 My Adidas (02:50) 9 Tougher Than Leather (04:25) 10 Rock Box (05:31) 11 You Talk Too Much (06:01) 12 Raising Hell (05:35) 13 Hard Times (03:49) 14 Beats to the Rhyme (02:44) 15 Jam-Master Jay (03:13) 16 Peter Piper (03:26) 17 Hit It Run (03:13) 18 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 19 Its Tricky (club mix) (05:40) |
 | Album: 9 of 22 Title: Crown Royal Released: 2001 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:07:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Its Over (03:34) 2 Queens Day (04:18) 3 Crown Royal (03:13) 4 Them Girls (03:33) 5 The School of Old (03:20) 6 Take the Money and Run (03:48) 7 Rock Show (03:14) 8 Here We Go 2001 (03:21) 9 Ahhh (04:21) 10 Lets Stay Together (Together Forever) (03:19) 11 Ay Papi (03:28) 12 Simmons Incorporated (04:26) 1 Its Like That (04:51) 2 Peter Piper (03:25) 3 Down With The King (05:04) 4 King of Rock (05:14) 5 Walk This Way (05:09) |
| Crown Royal : Allmusic album Review : Being one of the most beloved hip-hop groups ever assembled has certainly become a double-edged sword for Run-D.M.C. As one of the cultures most influential groups, the names of Run, D.M.C., and Jam Master Jay immediately garner a certain degree of well-earned respect. Conversely, it has also put the trio under an incredibly intense microscope, a dissection that will become more exacerbated with the shameful Crown Royal. With virtually no input from D.M.C. (he appears on a sparse three tracks) Crown Royal spirals so recklessly into contrasting segments that its easy to forget you are even listening to a Run-D.M.C. record. Lacking any discernible sense of direction or continuity, the once cutting-edge trio has seemingly lost touch with its original fan base. They miserably play the role of alternative genre rockers on "Rock Show" (featuring Stephan Jenkins) and "Here We Go" (featuring Sugar Ray). And though tracks with Limp Bizkits Fred Durst ("Them Girls") and Kid Rock ("The School of Old") may eventually strike a chord with TRL fanatics, the groupings lack ingenuity and conviction. So whats left for the fan who was weaned on Run-D.M.C.? Not much! Sure, they throw the hip-hop populace a few bones on "Its Over" (featuring JD), "Queens Day" (featuring Nas and Prodigy), and "Simmons Incorporated" (featuring Method Man). But even these mediocre offerings are not nearly enough to satisfy any of their loyal supporters. If hip-hop has proven anything since its inception, its that few MCs or groups age gracefully. Hopefully, with its legacy still somewhat intact, Run-D.M.C. will now trade in the shell-toed Adidas, fat gold chains, and leather pants for a long overdue and deserved bow. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 22 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 2002 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:11:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 King of Rock (05:14) 2 It’s Tricky (03:03) 3 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 4 Can You Rock It Like This (04:30) 5 Walk This Way (05:11) 6 Run’s House (03:43) 7 Rock Box (05:31) 8 Peter Piper (03:23) 9 Mary, Mary (03:14) 10 Hard Times (03:54) 11 You Be Illin’ (03:25) 12 It’s Like That (04:50) 13 My Adidas (02:47) 14 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 15 You Talk Too Much (06:00) 16 Jam‐Master Jay (03:11) 17 Down With the King (05:02) 18 Christmas in Hollis (02:59) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Supplanting the 1991 collection Together Forever, BMG Heritages 2002 Greatest Hits also runs 18 tracks and shares ten of the same songs -- namely, all the big hits and usual suspects. Of the eight tracks left behind, there are some big ones -- no "Peter Piper" or "My Adidas" -- and the sequencing, while flowing much better than its predecessor, is still non-chronological, which robs the narrative of some power even if the music retains all of it. So, that means were still waiting for the perfect Run-D.M.C. collection, but until that arrives, this is still an excellent listen and works well as both a summary and introduction to one of the greatest bands of the 80s. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 22 Title: High Profile: The Original Rhymes Released: 2002-11-11 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:18:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Bounce (03:57) 2 You Be Illin’ (03:25) 3 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 4 It’s Like That (04:50) 5 King of Rock (05:14) 6 It’s Tricky (03:03) 7 Can You Rock It Like This (04:30) 8 Walk This Way (05:11) 9 Rock Box (05:31) 10 You Talk to Much (04:00) 11 Run’s House (03:23) 12 Peter Piper (03:25) 13 My Adidas (02:47) 14 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 15 Jam‐Master Jay (03:11) 16 Hard Times (03:54) 17 Down With the King (05:02) 18 Mary, Mary (03:36) 19 Ghostbusters (04:18) 20 Christmas in Hollis (02:59) |
 | Album: 12 of 22 Title: The Best of Run DMC Released: 2003 Tracks: 10 Duration: 38:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 King of Rock (05:14) 2 It’s Tricky (03:03) 3 My Adidas (02:47) 4 Down With The King (05:04) 5 Hollis Crew (Krush‐Groove 2) (03:15) 6 Its Like That (04:49) 7 Jam‐Master Jay (03:11) 8 I’m Not Going Out Like That (04:54) 9 Roots, Rap, Reggae (03:12) 10 Proud to Be Black (03:14) |
 | Album: 13 of 22 Title: Ultimate Run DMC Released: 2003-11-26 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:11:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rock Box (05:31) 2 Runs House (03:45) 3 Walk This Way (05:11) 4 Together Forever (Krush‐Groove 4) (live at Hollis Park ’84) (03:34) 5 King of Rock (05:14) 6 Jam‐Master Jay (03:11) 7 Hit It Run (03:12) 8 It’s Tricky (03:03) 9 Peter Piper (03:23) 10 It’s Like That (04:50) 11 Raising Hell (05:33) 12 My Adidas (02:47) 13 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 14 Mary, Mary (03:14) 15 Here We Go (live at the Funhouse) (04:05) 16 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 17 Down With the King (05:02) 18 It’s Like That (04:08) |
| Ultimate Run DMC : Allmusic album Review : Sure, other rap artists came before them, but Run-D.M.C. were raps first superstars -- one of the first rap acts to not suffer from the "one-hit wonder syndrome." As a result, numerous compilations of the group have been issued over the years, but none are as comprehensive as the 2003 double-disc Ultimate Run DMC, which packs one disc of hits and one DVD of their most popular videos. Just about every single Run-D.M.C. favorite you can think of is included here, including early classics of rock-based rap ("Rock Box," "King of Rock") and hits that made the group a worldwide sensation ("Walk This Way," "Its Tricky," "My Adidas"), as well as a few latter-day favorites ("Down With the King," the Jason Nevins version of "Its Like That"). If youre looking for a Run-D.M.C. collection that compiles all the hits neatly on a single disc, with an extra added bonus, then Ultimate is a must-have. Undoubtedly the best Run-D.M.C. collection out there. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 22 Title: Artist Collection Released: 2004-09-20 Tracks: 14 Duration: 59:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Walk This Way (05:11) 2 Rock Box (05:31) 3 My Adidas (02:47) 4 King of Rock (05:14) 5 Can You Rock It Like This (04:30) 6 Youre Blind (05:32) 7 Rock the House (02:43) 8 Its Like That (04:11) 9 Hit It Run (03:12) 10 Raising Hell (05:31) 11 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 12 Tougher Than Leather (04:22) 13 Down With the King (05:04) 14 It’s Tricky (03:03) |
 | Album: 15 of 22 Title: Live at Montreux 2001 Released: 2007 Tracks: 13 Duration: 40:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intro (04:36) 2 It’s Like That (02:06) 3 It’s Tricky (03:32) 4 Rock Box / Sucker MC’s / Freestyle / Here We Go / Beats to the Rhyme (medley) (05:14) 5 King of Rock (02:52) 6 Interlude (01:25) 7 Mary Mary (04:16) 8 Walk This Way (03:47) 9 School of Old (01:05) 10 It’s Over (03:19) 11 Run’s Freestyle (01:41) 12 Peter Piper (03:09) 13 Down With the King (03:32) |
 | Album: 16 of 22 Title: The Best of Run‐D.M.C. Released: 2007-05-07 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:01:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Walk This Way (05:11) 2 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 3 My Adidas (02:47) 4 It’s Like That (04:10) 5 King of Rock (05:15) 6 It’s Tricky (03:03) 7 You Talk Too Much (06:00) 8 You Be Illin’ (03:28) 9 Rock Box (05:31) 10 Run’s House (03:23) 11 Peter Piper (03:25) 12 Raising Hell (05:34) 13 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 14 I’m Not Going Out Like That (04:57) 15 Hit It Run (03:12) |
 | Album: 17 of 22 Title: Its Like This: The Best Of Released: 2009 Tracks: 36 Duration: 2:24:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 2 Its Like That (04:49) 3 30 Days (05:46) 4 Hard Times (03:52) 5 Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) (03:12) 6 Can You Rock It Like This (04:30) 7 Jam-Master Jammin (04:20) 8 King of Rock (05:13) 9 You Talk Too Much (05:59) 10 My Adidas (02:47) 11 Walk This Way (03:37) 12 You Be Illin (03:26) 13 It’s Tricky (03:03) 14 Im Not Going Out Like That (04:55) 15 Mary, Mary (03:13) 16 Runs House (03:22) 17 Roots, Rap, Reggae (03:12) 18 Its Not Funny (05:37) 1 Soul to Rock and Roll (02:18) 2 Down With the King (05:03) 3 Papa Crazy (04:19) 4 Rock Box (05:31) 5 Jam-Master Jay (03:11) 6 Peter Piper (03:24) 7 Its Like That (04:10) 8 Hit It Run (03:12) 9 Howd Ya Do It Dee (03:25) 10 Its Tricky 2003 (03:53) 11 Tougher Than Leather (04:23) 12 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 13 Youre Blind (05:31) 14 Darryl and Joe (Krush-Groove 3) (06:34) 15 Together Than Leather (Krush-Groove 4) (03:35) 16 Ragtime (02:42) 17 Proud to Be Black (03:15) 18 They Call Us Run-DMC (02:59) |
 | Album: 18 of 22 Title: The Music of Run-D.M.C. Released: 2010-05-25 Tracks: 45 Duration: 2:55:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 2 Rock Box (05:31) 3 Its Like That (04:49) 4 Jam-Master Jay (03:10) 5 Hard Times (03:52) 6 Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) (03:11) 7 Here We Go (live at the Funhouse) (04:05) 8 King of Rock (05:13) 9 You Talk Too Much (05:58) 10 Jam-Master Jammin (remix) (03:46) 11 Roots, Rap, Reggae (03:09) 12 Can You Rock It Like This (04:30) 13 Darryl and Joe (Krush-Groove 3) (06:30) 14 Together Forever (Krush‐Groove 4) (live at Hollis Park ’84) (03:34) 1 Peter Piper (03:22) 2 Its Tricky (03:02) 3 My Adidas (02:46) 4 Is It Live (03:06) 5 Walk This Way (05:11) 6 Hit It Run (03:09) 7 Raising Hell (05:31) 8 You Be Illin (03:26) 9 Christmas in Hollis (02:59) 10 Runs House (03:23) 11 Mary, Mary (03:13) 12 They Call Us Run‐D.M.C. (02:56) 13 Beats to the Rhyme (02:40) 14 Radio Station (02:47) 15 Tougher Than Leather (04:21) 16 Howd Ya Do It Dee (03:25) 1 The Ave. (04:00) 2 Pause (04:38) 3 Whats It All About (04:47) 4 Naughty (04:07) 5 Down With the King (05:02) 6 Come On Everybody (04:30) 7 Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do (03:06) 8 Get Open (03:52) 9 Wreck Shop (03:14) 10 Queens Day (04:15) 11 The School of Old (03:18) 12 Take the Money and Run (03:44) 13 Rock Show (03:11) 14 Ay Papi (03:14) 15 Simmons Incorporated (04:26) |
 | Album: 19 of 22 Title: S.O.U.L. Released: 2011-02-22 Tracks: 10 Duration: 38:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 My Adidas (02:50) 2 Walk This Way (03:37) 3 It’s Tricky (03:03) 4 Down With the King (05:04) 5 Peter Piper (03:24) 6 Here We Go (live at the Funhouse) (04:05) 7 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 8 Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) (03:13) 9 Darryl and Joe (Krush-Groove 3) (06:34) 10 Together Forever (Krush‐Groove 4) (live at Hollis Park ’84) (03:34) |
| S.O.U.L. : Allmusic album Review : Run-D.M.C. released three classic albums and both Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983-1991 (1991) and Ultimate Run-D.M.C. (2003) are five-star compilations. Therefore, this volume of Sony’s S.O.U.L. -- a budget-line series of ten-track discs -- is more like a sampler than a proper anthology. Each track is deserving of placement on a Run-D.M.C. best-of, but the disc does not represent the absolute best, not when “It’s Like That,” “Beats to the Rhyme,” “King of Rock,” and “You Be Illin’” are not included. Oddly (or conveniently), the disc closes with the four Krush-Groove tracks (“Sucker M.C.’s,” “Hollis Crew,” “Darryl and Joe,” and “Together Forever”) in order. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 22 Title: Walk This Way: The Best of Released: 2011-05-13 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:05:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Walk This Way (05:11) 2 King of Rock (05:14) 3 My Adidas (02:47) 4 Its Like That (04:49) 5 It’s Tricky (03:03) 6 What’s It All About (04:49) 7 Mary, Mary (03:14) 8 Beats to the Rhyme (02:41) 9 Down With the King (05:02) 10 Hit It Run (03:12) 11 Im Not Going Out Like That (04:55) 12 Faces (04:27) 13 Runs House (03:45) 14 You Talk Too Much (06:00) 15 You Be Illin’ (03:25) 16 Christmas in Hollis (02:59) |
 | Album: 21 of 22 Title: The Essential Run‐D.M.C. Released: 2012-10-30 Tracks: 29 Duration: 1:53:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 2 They Call Us Run‐D.M.C. (02:57) 3 Peter Piper (03:22) 4 Rock Box (04:08) 5 Beats to the Rhyme (02:40) 6 Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do (03:06) 7 Dumb Girl (03:33) 8 Mary, Mary (03:15) 9 The School of Old (03:19) 10 King of Rock (04:39) 11 Together Forever (Krush‐Groove 4) (live at Hollis Park ’84) (03:34) 12 My Adidas (02:47) 13 Hollis Crew (Krush‐Groove 2) (03:12) 14 Back From Hell (remix) (04:59) 15 Pause (12″ version) (06:06) 1 Down With the King (05:02) 2 Walk This Way (03:37) 3 Christmas in Hollis (02:59) 4 Hard Times (03:52) 5 Here We Go (live at the Funhouse) (04:05) 6 Come On Everybody (04:30) 7 The Ave. (04:02) 8 Run’s House (03:46) 9 It’s Tricky (03:03) 10 Tougher Than Leather (04:23) 11 You Talk Too Much (03:58) 12 You Be Illin’ (03:26) 13 It’s Like That (04:50) 14 Jam‐Master Jammin’ (remix, long version) (06:44) |
| The Essential Run‐D.M.C. : Allmusic album Review : The Essential Run-D.M.C. is no small consolation for being unable to obtain all of the groups albums. Indeed, something of this scope -- following many single-disc overviews -- has been necessary for a long time, as Run-D.M.C.s catalog is too deep to be sufficiently summed with one disc. Across two discs, theres every necessary Run-D.M.C. single and album cut, including the classics "Hard Times," "Its Like That," "Rock Box," "King of Rock," "Its Tricky," and "Down with the King." The set pays tribute to DJ Jam Master Jay by closing disc one with "Pause" (featuring the mans first appearance as an MC) and by closing disc two with a seven-minute mix of "Jam Master Jammin" (which went unreleased until the 2005 reissue of King of Rock). Bill Adler, pioneering hip-hop publicist and author of Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-D.M.C., provides quotable-crammed liner notes. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 22 Title: The Box Set Series Released: 2014-01-28 Tracks: 45 Duration: 2:55:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1) (03:10) 2 Rock Box (05:29) 3 It’s Like That (04:49) 4 Jam‐Master Jay (03:10) 5 Hard Times (03:52) 6 Hollis Crew (Krush‐Groove 2) (03:11) 7 Here We Go (Live at The Funhouse) (04:04) 8 King of Rock (05:13) 9 You Talk Too Much (05:58) 10 Jam‐Master Jammin’ (remix) (03:46) 11 Roots, Rap, Reggae (03:09) 12 Can You Rock It Like This (04:29) 1 Darryl and Joe (Krush‐Groove 3) (06:30) 2 Together Forever (Krush‐Groove 4) (Live at Hollis Park ’84) (03:34) 3 Peter Piper (03:22) 4 It’s Tricky (03:02) 5 My Adidas (02:46) 6 Is It Live (03:06) 7 Walk This Way (05:08) 8 Hit It Run (03:09) 9 Raising Hell (05:31) 10 You Be Illin’ (03:26) 11 Christmas in Hollis (02:59) 1 Run’s House (03:23) 2 Mary, Mary (03:13) 3 They Call Us Run‐D.M.C. (02:56) 4 Beats to the Rhyme (02:40) 5 Radio Station (02:47) 6 Tougher Than Leather (04:22) 7 How’d Ya Do It Dee (03:24) 8 The Ave. (04:00) 9 Pause (04:37) 10 What’s It All About (04:46) 11 Naughty (04:08) 1 Down With the King (05:02) 2 Come On Everybody (04:30) 3 Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do (03:05) 4 Get Open (03:52) 5 Wreck Shop (03:14) 6 Queens Day (04:15) 7 The School of Old (03:18) 8 Take the Money and Run (03:44) 9 Rock Show (03:11) 10 Ay papi (03:14) 11 Simmons Incorporated (04:27) |
| The Box Set Series : Allmusic album Review : The Box Set Series, a four-disc set from Legacy, covers all seven of the Hollis crews albums. Theres enough space to allow for virtually every track a casual fan could want, including classics like "Rock Box," "Hard Times," "King of Rock," "Its Tricky," "Walk This Way," "Beats to the Rhyme," "Runs House," and "Down with the King," as well as "Christmas in Hollis." A good midpoint between picking up one of the deeper single-disc compilations and getting all the original albums, it features the same track list as The Music of Run-D.M.C., released in 2009. The primary difference is that the tracks here are spread across four discs instead of three. | ||