Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Yeah, it's the sound that defined the decade, pretty much, so, ok, it sounds a little dated. But songs like "Wake Up" feel like 1984 ridiculing us in 2026 for imagining that we might be living in a wiser, better, more politically conscious age. Never heard this before, but I dig it. The elementary rhymes and production accomplish a lot, even makes it easy to engage with. Yeah, list it!
Some songs to touch on social matters but shoot off this is just goofiness. Brings me back to the fun early hip-hop days. Run-DMC, the Beasties, this felt so new and fresh. This was really a fun listen.
Good album
I was only 9 months old when this album came out. A bit too young to appreciate it properly. But I was 13 when Jason Nevins released his remix of “It’s Like That”, which turned out to be the perfect age to discover Run-D.M.C. Nevins’ version was massive. It was played on repeat on chart shows, on the radio and MTV. I bought it on CD single and continued that trend of overplaying it myself. I couldn’t get enough of it. I didn’t really know much about Run-D.M.C. at the time, besides “Walk This Way”, their crossover track with Aerosmith, which I also loved. I was big into the Beastie Boys, so Run-D.M.C. were right up my alley. Weirdly, though, I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this album all the way through before today. I’m familiar with a lot of its individual elements, but not the record as a whole. What strikes me most is how sparse it is. A lot of it is just drum-machine beats, scratching, vocals and very little else. It’s got a hard, stark and confrontational sound. A long way from the dense, layered collage of sampling and looping the Beasties would create a few years later on “Paul’s Boutique”. “Rock Box” is one of the pioneering moments where Run-D.M.C. really started breaking down the walls between rock and hip-hop. Pardon the direct visual reference to “Walk This Way”. Putting a heavy rock guitar over a hip-hop beat, not as a novelty interlude but as the central sound of the song, was a huge moment. Listening to the album now, I can’t help but hear the blueprint for so much of what I later loved about the Beastie Boys: the call-and-response, tag-team style of rapping, the big beats, the shouted lines in unison and the collision of hip-hop with hard rock. So I suppose there was a reason I loved Jason Nevins’ version of “It’s Like That” so much. It introduced me to Run, D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay at exactly the time I was obsessively listening to the Beasties. I was hearing the source material for a sound I already loved without even realising it. It’s like that, and that’s the way it is. Huh.
bangers
Decent listen.
Liked it
Great history lesson, a little upstaged by almost everything that'll come after it but still okay.
Groundbreaking at the time. It's a great snapshot of hip hop in the 80s. Still some great stuff on here.
I kinda like old school rap / hip-hop... in small doses. Listening to all the similar sounding songs with corny lyrics over and over started to get exhausting.
I had never listened to much of any of RunDMC. Those beats are fun and spread out. Though at some point the beats and the noise started to stress me out. Could have been the caffeine. Could have been the music. We'll never know because I probably won't listen again. I will drink caffeine again.
1047 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."
Classic for a reason. People often think early hip hop had basic beats - this is the counter argument.
- I really liked the first song (and It's Like That, the hit), but then the rest didn't really hit as much for me. Definitely sounds dated, but I still like the instrumentation, overall, and enjoy the simple breakbeats, throughout. - I like their voices more than the Beastie Boys (which is what I feel like they sound closest to). - The lyrics are pretty forgettable. - Also like that it's on the short side.
It may seem a bit quaint these days, but this was a truly a groundbreaking album for it's time. As a blue collar white kid in a racially diverse middle school in 1984, Run-DMC, Kurtis Blow, and Whodini were as influential as Motley Crue, Van Halen, and Iron Maiden with my peers. I guess that would explain the Nu Metal phenomenon that would happen about 10 years later.
Not as good as some of their other stuff.
The influence of this album cannot be understated. Legendary staples of early rap are hits to this day like Sucker MCs, Rock Box and It's Like That. Still this album is super dated, with most of the songs having almost the same drum machine beat with rapping over it. The rhyming is incredibly simplistic, but at the time, still groundbreaking. This was a monumental album for hip-hop, but as far as today goes, it's a 4/5
Great album!
Very dated.
Seems like the template
I dont have anything to say that the top reviews dont already explains well. Id says there a few songs and idea I like but its too rudimentary. Thanks for the countless amouth of people youve influenced guys. Dated/5
Álbum icônico da história do Hip-Hop. Batidas e vocais sensacionais. QKZXHBB Hades.
Enjoyed
Yes it's culturally, but no, I did not enjoy it. The record sounds absolutely dated.
Not a fan, but it wasn’t as bad as some others.
Never heard this one before. Really not my sort of thing but I gave it a go. Still not my sort of thing and I can't imagine I'm ever going to listen to it again. Rock Box was really good and I had the 'chorus' of 30 days going round my head for a bit afterwards but the rest kind of blurred into a collection of repetitive beats and uninspiring lyrics. Favourite (only) tracks. Rock Box and 30 Days.
Back when you could make music by pressing the Demo button on your keyboard.
Such a classic! Still sounding great to this day, extremely influential and groundbreaking no doubt. This was my introduction to hip-hop. Easy 4 stars from me. A bit samesy and simplistic and repetitive too reach the top marks though!
3.6
I'm sure I've never listened to this all the way through. It does seem like a prototype for a style that emerged. "Wake Up" might have been written yesterday — 40+ years on, it's still just a dream.
NOPE.
8 - RIP Jam master jay
Catchy not for me.
You cannot understate the iconic influence of something like this. They made it so it was cool to rhyme, cool to mix and scratch records, cool to sample, and cool to be a down to earth, righteous MC. A lot of eye catching themes of being a model citizen to wishing for a better world where people aren't so hateful towards each other. It's an insane dose of positivity behind some of the fattest drum samples I've ever heard. I think you got to give it it's due. That means 5/5 for me. I think everyone needs to hear it at least once, for sure. Come sit down and take a look at where hip hop started.
Parts of this kinda sound like the DK rap. Did I enjoy the rapping-type stuff? No. But did I enjoy the backing tracks? Also no. Oh well
Turning up only a few days after Raising Hell, Run DMC's debut feels less powerful and less coherent. I guess it's kind of a compilation of singles, which might explain it. Interesting, important, and ground-breaking, for sure, but doesn't have the power of their later stuff, 40-odd years on.
I appreciate that this has a real strong place in the musical cannon, but it just sounded like too many shouting over the bit
Elite road trip music
Come on, one of the best ever!!!
A fantastic reminder of why I really hated rap music when it was new. Shallow, repetitive production, shouty raps, and trite rhymes make this an absolute slog to get through. It's amazing to think this would eventually lead to Kendrick Lamar, but then again you'd never imagine Buddy Holly would lead to prog rock.
This one sounds so old now.
A massively influential album but it sounds very dated to me. I quite like the sparse vibe, I just think some of the production choices are a little cheesy. I’m not sure it’s something I would come back to, but it was interesting to listen to it and read about how important it was. Gets a bit samey by the end. Fav song: It’s Like That Least fav: Hollis Crew (Krush Groove 2)
You can feel that this is their first album. Still feels a bit janky the rapping, and doesn’t really flow that well. Quite a repetitive album also. Specific rating - 3.5 Fav song - it’s like that Least fav- 30 days
Feels a bit like a parody of a hip hop album, but I guess that shows just how influential it is: literally the blueprint for the genre. The sound did get very repetitive. Favourite song: Hard Times Least: Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2)
A really interesting record in terms of its legacy, it's clear it was made by talented people with original and fresh ideas. For that reason, I'm glad to have listened to it. That said, it's seriously dated and some of the tracks sounded almost identical. It's Like That still stands out, and it doesn't sound as awful as some older records do these days.
It's not that it's not good, it's just become such a template for rap that it sounds like a satire of itself.
The Hard Times drum mix is so good. The toms buzzing around in both of my ears was extremely satisfying to my brain. Other than that song though, this has definitely aged. Not in a bad way, just in a “there’s better music out there” way
This is rap in its earliest form, minimalist beats and loops with stilted rhyming. Unfortunately as important as it is it doesn't stand up in 2026.
Iconic and revolutionary, laying the groundwork for the new school of hip-hop over the decades that would follow. Has it aged amazingly as a record though? In some senses, yes - the production work is distinct and catchy. The number of snippets I realised had originated here and been sampled elsewhere throughout my listen kept bringing a smile to my face. As a whole package though? This style of interjection focused group rappping just always feels a bit blunt and cheesy to me. For context, I love the Beastie Boys, but Licensed to Ill is my least liked of theirs and that’s the closest in style to this given Run-DMC’s influence and the style of that era. Really torn on what to score this. In an ideal world I’d put it at 3.5 but I don’t think I love it enough to give it a 4. Do I weigh it more favourably because of it’s importance to the genre and the foundations it laid? I haven’t done that for other reviews so it feels unfair to start doing it here.
So much fun. Not the most advanced, but bursts with passion and attitude. Raw as fuck, the drums and guitars have this primitive feel but in a good way. Like they could explode at any time. Probably the earliest classic hip hop album too so props for that. Their style changed the direction of hip hop and for that they will forever be remembered.
Decent album, but definitely has noticeably aged.
Hard Times. Nuff said.
I get that this was important - as one of the first hip-hop records, but I found it a little boring - except for the “Rock Box” track which was really interesting. I think their next album is much better.
Que lindos, se ve que tenían una buena amistad y completaban las frases del otro, pero me aburrí muy rápido
Historically significant but corny 40 years later. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Oof, this sounds pretty bad now no? Not a fan today but I’m sure I would’ve been a fan then.
I get it, but uh, not for me
I think this has stood up better than some of the reviewers here suggest. Yes, it's very much of its time, but it's tight and clean (and at under 40 minutes, refreshingly unbloated, compared to some of the stuff that came later). Hip hop broken down to its elements, before the next remaking.
outstanding. so many throwback bangers!
pionnier veut pas dire bon… 2/5 genre wtf y’a pas plus de 1 mélodie par sons😭🙏🙏🙏
1984 is crazy, loved the Rock Box sample. Quite funny that it’s got the “hardcore hip hop” genre on wikipedia when compared to wu tang and nwa that came soon after
Crazy how far hip hop has come in a pretty short time, but this ain’t it for me 2
Generational levels of goofy. 1.0/5.0: Embarrassing
worth a listen exactly one time to appreciate the influence they had. otherwise this is pretty tough to take seriously
Badass!
Groundbreaking fusion of rap and hard rock
I liked this better than the beastie boys but still not the most amazing thing
Game changing. Glad we didn't send them back in 30 days.
I wanted the music to speed up because these songs are unbearably slow. Their other album that's on this list is stronger than this one. I found myself getting bored with this album. Still, it's surprisingly free of the filth that most rap albums contain, so it gets an extra star for being rap-PG.
Can definitely hear the influence of this album on modern hip hop. Fun to listen to for the historical value and there were a couple catchy beats, but not my favourite for pure listening enjoyment.
This is hilariously dated and the drum machine and synths are a bit one-note, and yet, I prefer this to so much of the modern hip-hop on this list that absolutely relies on the influence of this album.
With all of the subgenres of rap that have happened combined with the passage of time I'm really enjoying the minimalism of this. I'm sure all of the true scotsmans of rap fandom will say it's corny or something but they will say the same thing about their favorite rap from today after enough time has passed.
This is a solid album with a lot of good sounds. Not a style I will always go back to but a good listen.
I can appreciate it as one of the foundations of hip hop, but I just didn't find it very engaging
Man I felt like Hard Times went on forever yo. This is Run DMC. One cannot hate them for any reason but one can be tired of the same delivery each and every song and album. I get it, the sound of the times but really, if there aren’t any cuss words, is it really that good? These guys are squeaky clean rap. Like Will Smith minus the cuck part. The songs all have the same feel but aren’t overly similar. In this day and age it’s cheesy as hell but back then it was groundbreaking and I don’t even know that, I’m just assuming. Choice cut: Rock Box
Not my thing
Sounds very uniquely Run-D.M.C. of them, but consequently all the songs feel pretty similar to eachother. Still fun, still an early force in hip-hop history, and it's got that '80s charm
Total classic hip hop. Great vibes all the way through.
It may be a pondering record, but it is extremely dated. 2 stars for Sucker M.C.'s and It's Like That.
It's ok - there's some good and some bad. It's early so the formula isn't firmly established. Better days and beats ahead...
I don't know if I could go lower than a 3 for Run DMC. This is pretty good but not great!
Man, I get this is influential and groundbreaking for it's time, but it's just sounds so damn dated. I was terrified the whole album was going to sound like Hard Times, which is an absolutely awful track with some of the worst, stilted rapping flow I have ever heard in my life. Luckily, the rest of the album is pretty standard old school hip hop in terms of flows, but I still don't really care for it. Rock Box is probably the best track with it's more busy production. But then you have songs like Hollis Crew which is just percussion and DMC/Run rapping, which is the complete opposite of Rock Box. It just does nothing for me. Overall though, this thing has just aged so poorly that I can't get into it. Feel bad because I want to appreciate it, just can't when stuff like Kendrick, Biggie, Eminem, Mobb Deep, Nas, etc. all exist. It's like trying to go back and play the original Metroid after having played Super Metroid. Just unplayable.
2,5
It may sound rudimentary by today's standards, but Run DMC's self-titled debut quite literally changed the hip-hop game. They brought a hard, street-wise edge to the genre and an aesthetic that was revolutionary to the burgeoning genre. Run DMC will always be one of my favorite hip-hop groups because they brought the complete package.
Oh we're chanting and rhyming and playin' the beats and we're totally hip-hop, so no. Better than a lot of the genre, though.
I'm currently listening to the Beastie Boys audiobook so this is a timely selection for me. The KINGS. There is a very good argument that this was the Big Bang. It was definitely ONE of the Big Bangs. I've personally listened to Raising Hell more, but only because I didn't discover Run-D.M.C. until after Raising Hell had come out. In my defense, I was 9 when this was released. This only falls short of 5 stars for me because the weaker tracks are pretty weak. But it's very close.
It starts out strong, then gets a little repetitive. Almost like they're singing in circles. Then "It's Like That" comes on and it's good again. The remix of that song is top notch, takes me back to elementary school dances in the 90s. Clean, swear-free lyrics are actually possible in Hip Hop. One of the best hip hop albums on this list so far!
Notable Textzeile: Sucker MC's who did not learn If you don't this time, we shall return The beat is big, it's kind of large And when we're on the mic, we're in charge Das Wechselgerappe ist sooo Ultra-Old-School (Wer hats erfunden? Die RunDMSs) und deshalb/trotzdem/genau deswegen großartig und cool. Gleiches gilt für die Beats. Und wie sweet ist das Scratchen. Wie sie das auch noch erklären, bei Jam-Master Jay - herzallerliebst. Die Rhymes werden auch noch als solche erklärt und sind mal genial, mal richtig schäbig. Distracks sind auch voll gar nicht so gemein und es wird sich immer brav vorgestellt. Trägt das musikalisch ein ganzes Album lang? Hell no. Ist das Groundbracking und mir also egal? Hell yeah.
Warum habe ich noch nie ein Run DMC Album gehört? Warum? Was ist los mit mir? Wie geil ist das alles. Wie sehr klingt das alles genau wie der Hip Hop den ich mag. Dürfte ein bisschen Groove dabei sein? Shut up! Alles nur noch Drum Machine Staccato Beats. ALLES! ICH HAU EUCH WENN IHR DAS NICHT GUT FINDET! MIT DEM DISS TRACK DER WEH TUT!
Drei Buchstaben: WOW.
As a single song it’s fun. As a wrong album this sound is very tiring and repetitive. Just not for me
Skal innrømme at jeg var skeptisk til så gammel hip hop, og selv om det er primitivt, høres det ikke så cheesy ut som jeg trodde det skulle være. Hard Times er utrolig rudimentær både hva gjelder raps og production, men jeg hører en kraft der jeg ikke hadde forventet fra Run-DMC. Det er andresporet som stjeler showet, da; Rock Box er en certified banger som må ha hørtes ut som om den kom fra fremtiden.
Det er kult, men det låter litt underutviklet med veldig mye fokus på en trommemaskin som ikke har kommet så langt på det stadiet her.
Me gustó más el otro que me habían dado, de dos años después. Igual divertido.
The beats were annoying and so one dimensional, don't like the vocals either, predictable, void of any feeling. Sounds very amateurish.
Quite good, especially when you remember when it came Found the motifs a bit repetitive
Probably a victim of its own success, in that it was so influential that it now seems really dull and samey.
2,4/5
A good listen but it didn't change my day
This doesn't stand the test of time. It is fun tho. A bunch of songs that sonically sound pretty similar, but It's Like That is a solid track. A 3 mostly for how influential it was.
Some of these songs remind me of the improv game where you’re only allowed to say one word per person. It’s fun but the same throughout, good length though meaning I didn’t get completely jaded
Stripped back early hip hop. That’s just the way it was.
Obviously pioneering so 2 seems harsh but too dated for me ever to return to so settling on a 3
Worthy of its place on the list. Not worthy of a relisten. A basic, paired back sound which gets a little repetitive, but one has to appreciate the originality in context. Mercifully short, and released before the era of hip hop double albums with a ton of weak skits. For that grace alone it squeezes a three.
I fully agree with the two choices of Run-DMC albums included in the book because they are my favourites. I think I might’ve been ok if they’d opted for only one though and I wouldn’t mind which one was picked. They are pioneers and though their work is very of its time, I think it stands up well today, but the leap in style from this their first to Raising Hell their third is not significant enough to merit including both iyam.
Album #120: Run-D.M.C. Genre (W): East coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, rap rock Singles: It’s Like That, Hard Times, Rock Box, 30 Days, Hollis Crew (Krush Groove 2) I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: A few songs have great lyrics, and the beats are decent. However, the album drags and it definitely shows its age, especially with how sophisticated rap music has become since 1984. A little underwhelming. Favorite songs: Hard Times, Rock Box, Sucker M.C.'s (Krush Groove-1)
Rudimentary to say the least, but this album did so much for the genre.
This is just so awesome and so historic in terms of genre. Fun guys. Plus some tracks from Krush Groove! Cmon!
just good old fun. i love the production..
Favorite songs: Hard Times, Rock Box, Jam-Master Jay, It’s Like That, Wake Up, 30 Days 3.5
Inascoltabile
Better than Coldplay
Good
Good album but not as good as their second Album
Hip hop has come a long way…
RnB, HipHop, Rap, 1984 -> 1
As a time capsule, super fun. I very rarely listen to hip hop from before '88.
Old school rap, sounds dated
4/10 Reminds me of primary school poetry. I think when it new, young headmasterv arrived in the late 80s, he felt it would be "rad" if we wrote our own raps. Stuff like "My name is Gary, I'm here to say, have a happy holiday".. Rubbish. This is just full to my ears - better than a lot of hip hop and it doesn't cause anger in me. Just disappointment.
This reminds me of listening to rock and roll from the 50's. You can hear a lot of influential sounds, and it was probably pretty cool at the time, but now it's just simple and kind of boring.
The hardest part of ranking albums is "five star for its time, but not that level today without context."
Run-DMC are cool as hell and their flow is second only to Outkasts, but there's nothing that really jumps out at me on this album
Not a difficult listen, but probably not an album I'd listen to of my own volition. Certainly not bad by any stretch of the imagination. On researching I learned that it's been incredibly influential to the world of hip-hop - maybe if I was more familiar with the genre I'd enjoy it more, but I just don't think it's my kind of music.
This is a great album!
I’ve always enjoyed Run-D.M.C. and, of the hip-hop I’ve heard during this challenge, they remain one of the acts I connect with most. Hip-hop is still a genre I often struggle with, but what I like about Run-D.M.C. is that their lyrics don’t feel misogynistic, crude or overly dated in the way some older rap can. I’ve also always loved their beats and stripped-back style. Earlier in this challenge I gave Raising Hell a 5/5, so I was really looking forward to listening to their self-titled debut, Run-D.M.C.. I really enjoyed this album. It feels slower, rawer and more stripped back than a lot of later hip-hop, which actually works in its favour. Nothing feels overproduced — it’s just beats, rhythm, attitude and strong delivery. There’s a simplicity to it that gives the album a lot of charm. My only slight criticism is that, as the album goes on, the sound doesn’t evolve all that much. The formula stays fairly consistent throughout, and at times the tracks can blur together a little. That said, the album is short enough that the repetition never becomes a major issue, and the quality of the beats and lyrics keeps it engaging. Overall, this is another strong Run-D.M.C. album and a great reminder of why they were so influential. Favourite track: “It’s Like That” is superb Least favourite track: Everything on the album earns its place Album artwork: Standard album cover
The synchronized/alternating rapping is kinda dope but it’s still outdated as shit and the beats are extremely lame and as a whole is a very boring listen.
These boys were ahead of their time for sure
These guys were pioneers, not only of hip-hop, but also of rap-rock that would eventually become nu metal. It’s crazy how outdated it seems today. Still good
I appreciate this is a significant album from the genesis of the rap genre but it sounds really basic and dated. The flow of the record feels repetitive and becomes very boring to my ears.
Rock Box is awesome
They're Run DMC and they're here to say: they were very influential to hip hop but they're music does not hold up.
I had a Run-D.M.C. album back in the day but haven't listened to them for a long time. This album has a very distinctive and very recognisable sound, and it/they were amazingly influential, but some of the tracks don't have quite enough going on to hold my interest. Most are listenable but I wouldn't rush to replay. I was going to give the album particular credit for being uncompromising (with drum machine beats so front and centre), but I am intrigued by reading about Rock Box. I found that track particularly interesting on my first listen through, for the hugely influential combination of drum machine, guitar tracks and unapologetic rap. Then I read that Run-D.M.C. didn't actually like the primary mix, since it had so much guitar - but public response to radio play lead to that mix taking off. So, had the track been compromised by producer interference? Is the track appealing specifically because of the independence of the guitars, the rap and the beat?? I do give the producers credit for a significant insight. Also interesting to read that Run-D.M.C. had been unconvinced whether rap could hold up a whole album - they were maybe right - but they went on to release and sell more albums after this, so good luck to them. Overall, given that I won't replay, but crediting that the album is so unapologetically what it is, and standing out so clearly from what came before, I'll call this album Good, 7/10.
나쁘지 않았다. 뭔가 옛날 느낌이 나는(긍정적으로) 그런 힙합이었다. 힙합을 좋아하는 사람으로써 전체적인 느낌이 나쁘지 않았다. It wasn't bad. It was the kind of hip-hop that had an old-school vibe—in a good way. As someone who enjoys hip-hop, I found the overall feel quite good.
It's a solid old school dawn of rap album.
Lowkey peak I personally love old school hip hop
It's Like That
I'll give it a 4. Solid throughout just can't get a 5 due to the beat being a bit monotonous
3.5, good not great
I enjoy putting in Run-DMC when they come up here. I have an affectionate and nostalgia feeling for the sound though I would have been a little kid when this came out and didn’t know anything of it. The sound is a bit sparse and dated and though I like listening to it once it’s probably not something I’ll give a lot of repeat listens. “It’s Like That” is awesome though.
Old school.
Classic. Not fully formed yet, not you could see where it was going.
"Groundbreaking" doesn't even START to describe the importance of this album.
Old school hip-hop. I know some of these motifs from subsequent sampling. But still quite good.
I appreciate that it was a groundbreaking and original album for Hip Hop music in 1984, but I honestly didn't enjoy the overall sound.
flow so legendary, the costco guys have nothing but to steal directly from them WE BRING THE BOOM THAT'S WHAT WE DO
Feels like 1 40 minute song created by bored teenagers with a cheap Casio.
5 all day
Where it all began…
Great album. Rock Box in particular is an absolute BANGER of a track. The only thing stopping this from getting the full five stars, and admittedly it’s probably a bit unfair, is I’m used to the Jason Nevins remix of It’s Like That and hearing the original for the first time today I didn’t really like it. Top Track - Rock Box
Raising Hell was so much fun, but this one ran out of steam towards the end.
Is it a little repetitive? Yes. Is it a little dated? Sure. But I honestly enjoyed it. It was just a fun time and a bit nostalgic. 4/5
A lot of people saying the word "Outdated" about this extremely early hip hop album. They're not wrong, but they sure AREN'T right either. It's like that, and that's the way it is!
No
This is the debut album people still talk about for a reason. Young talents straight out of Hollis, Queens came through with something raw, strict, and completely fresh for its time. While listening I felt energetic and awake — that funky, hard-hitting rhythmic sound just pulls you up and makes you want to move. The beats are stripped-down but powerful, the flows are sharp and confident, and the whole thing has this no-nonsense attitude that hit different in 1984. It’s minimal but effective, mixing rock elements with heavy drums and that signature Run DMC energy. I’m not even a huge fan of them overall, but this album is beyond good. It feels like the exact moment where a new era of hip-hop was being born — tough, direct, and full of life. A classic debut that still sounds strong today.
So simple and satisfying.
These good credit score ass raps 💔
This was a pioneering album for 1984 but it hasn’t aged all that well. With the exception of a couple of the songs, it sounds pretty basic these days. They made huge strides between this album and Raising Hell which still sounds great to this day.
You can hear the beginnings of greatness in this album, but it was still elementary and not Run DMC’s best work. Jam Master Jay laid down beats and Rev Run And Daryl fed off each other to deliver lyrics in that unique 80’s rap style. A good listen and a foundation that was built on by a group of rap pioneers.
The roots of rap in the house. You can tell that the style has evolved well by how remedial this early stuff sounds now. The infancy of the Kings of Rock and their simplistic but playful lyricism (“if you say you need a car, well then I’ll buy you two// and if you say, you want a pet, I’ll buy a kangaroo”) and the less than intricate beat breaks, which entertain but fail to enthrall. They were pioneers to be sure, but these songs were best left out on the trails they blazed.
Man created wheel, then carts, bicycles, trains, cars...and so on. It all starts somewhere and when looking back that starting point is always the simplest version of the modern product. Chuck D said it best, "Run D.M.C first said a DJ could be a band, stand on its own feet, get you off your seat". They are the wheel everyone used when biulding their vision of what rap could be, and now that those ideas have evolved the wheel seems simple and plain. I like the wheel, it's not fancy but it's solid and well made. Nothing but respect to the pioneers.
A hugely influential album on the direction that hip-hop would take in the years to follow. You can hear the future coming. An important album, no doubt, but very much a relic of its time with its overt 80's production and simplistic rhymes. This sure ain't fresh no more.
I like it but not my favorite run DMc
I made a mistake by listening to a song by BTS between theese songs. Makes me feel like this is music produced and performed by cavemen.
Objectively quite terrible but still took the rap game by storm
Klassiskt men också bland det mest utdaterade i hiphop-väg på listan
Coolt klassiskt sound, men inte så mycket som stod ut allt som allt nu.
Bra hiphop! Bra flow, tunga beats, texter jag inte stör mig på.
Me pareció aburrido. El ritmo siempre el mismo, el rap también, pasé varios temas que me parecían muy largos
I was shocked by how recognizably hip hop this was (instead of rap rock). This is pretty crazy for 1984-- the production at least. The flows have aged a little more poorly Fav tracks: Wake Up, It's Like That
As much as Jagged Little Pill was rooted in the 90s, this is just as rooted in the 80s and 20x more dated. Seriously, props to these legends and pioneers in the hip-hop genre, they paved the way for a ton of rap acts I love. That said: this wasn’t very good. The beats were so vanilla I expected it to come with sprinkles. The flow is choppy and, this is not hyperbole, every track sounded the same to the point I thought it was just one long verse. I hate to do it, but I didn’t really like much of anything on this record - it’s gonna be a 2/5 for me
Sure
80s Hip Hop is fun!
A landmark album in hip-hop music. These guys walked so other rappers and DJ's could run. It's very minimalistic and sparse, there's very little samples used compared to modern hip hop. It makes it sound quite cold and rigid, when the only main instrumental part is the drum machine. The song "Rock Box" particularly stands out to me in that it sounds so inspiring, I want to conquer the world to that song. I can't imagine what it would've sounded like back in 1984; must have been life changing. I think it's a high 3 album, it's far from bad and far from perfect, it's a alright one. Highlight Song/s: "Rock Box" and "It's Like That"
Number: 161 Date: 06/13/2026 Artist: Run-D.M.C. Album: Run-D.M.C. Year: 1984 Style: New School Hip Hop Familiarity: Aware (2) Rating: 2 Before: ======= This might be OK. It's a far ways from The Doors though, which I had yesterday and gave a 5. During: ======= Starting off with Hard Times, it does sound pretty dated and extremely simple, kind of like a nursery rhyme. I hope it gets better after this one. Yep, it does. It's a pity about the opener though. Rock Box is OK but after that there's not much to say other than wtf, why is this on the list. Rating Track Name 1 Hard Times 4 Rock Box 2 Jam-Master Jay 1 Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) 1 Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1) 2 It's Like That 1 Wake Up 1 30 Days 1 Jay's Game ----------------------------------------------------- 1.62 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= The only track I liked at little is Rock Box. I gave it a 4 but that's being a bit generous. After doing a little research, I get that this is an important album but I have to rate it a 2 personally, as I can't see myself being able to sit through this whole album ever again. 2 my personal rating 4 suitability for this list 4 impact ----------------------------------------------- 3.3 composite rating
80s hip hop. Debut. New harder form of hip hop. Very minimalist beats,
Hip-hop AGAIN ??? This had nothing special, really. Boring as hell.
Better than ABBA/ABC because these guys actually get a star. But beyond that, another "I will never torture myself listening to this shite from this point forward" album. 1 "well deserved" star.
this was fine but a bit samey and boring
Hip Hop gold. This album is the template gor.so much that followed.
Raw and pioneering. Disco rap was dead once this dropped
Hard Times - 4/5 Rock Box - 5/5 Jam-Master Jay - 3/5 Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) - 3/5 Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1) - 3/5 It's Like That - 5/5 Wake Up - 2/5 30 Days - 2/5 Jay's Game - 2/5 Average score: 3.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ as dated as this album is, i somehow don't hate it nearly as much as some other hip-hop albums from the same era. the music aged in about the same way as Beastie Boys' albums did; the flow is a little whack by today's standards, but it's a fun enough listen that i can overlook it for the most part compared to Raising Hell, most tracks are pretty mediocre, but Rock Box in particular sounds damn good even by today's standards. Jam-Master Jay was a great DJ and complimented the duo's rapping style very well (RIP) i don't think i'd listen to the full album again, but i'd absolutely come back for Rock Box and It's Like That again. i think most of their other tracks i like are on Raising Hell
5/5, as expected.
This album sounds like what the beastie boys stumbled onto when they first started out and was like “we will make a killing innovating this style.” Pretty damn cool for 1984 tho
Nowhere near the peaks on Raising Hell, but it is Run-D.M.C. delivering decent song after decent song. Not half bad for a debut album, and it set them well for the rest of their career and for the scene as a whole (looking at you, Beastie Boys).
Can’t help but think about how Run DMC and the Beasty Boys sound so similar! Liked it but wouldn’t listen again.
it's nice
3/5
Great album - might seem a little softer, compared to what came later, but there’s a lot of good stuff going on. Favourite track: Hard Times
Decent old school hip hop. Although corny, it was interesting to listen to old flows that have died out. Some of the beats were more interesting than I expected.
Old hip hop is just the worst. Zero redeeming factors to this album.
What a treat!
6/4/26. I know this was their first work and the genre was brand new at this time, but this one wasn’t it for me. Found it boring; they definitely grew quickly as artists after this one!
Old style but really well done, entertaining, and clearly impactful
Really good listen, since its early hip hop, the rhymes and beats are simple, but still good.
I don't get people criticising this as sounding dated. It's over 40 years old FFS! According to Wikipedia this album broke new ground in a variety of areas. Absolutely points for innovation. IMHO I think it still stands up well.
Raw talent on show here, it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Maybe the first thing to do is put It's Like That on as loud as your system will allow and pretend you're at a party and someone put this first single by Run-D.M.C. on. Does it move you? If it doesn't I can't help you — no review can. Although there are elements of song craft, lyrics, and production we can list to be paid attention to for your appreciation, if your body doesn't lock in with the groove initially then you're going to be disappointed in the album overall. Partially because what was once radically new and a break in hip hop is now the sound of the old school rap. This is a record with so many firsts on it and yet now it's a distant relic reaching back from the past to remind us of how things used to sound.
buen album igual sonaba bastante viejo en comparación a otros albums para ser de los 80s
klasika
This album fundamentally important to what followed. So much so that it sounds like a self-parody. However, historical importance does not correlate strongly with listenability, which for me it lacks.
Delicious
I am aware of Run-DMC and have a few songs liked by them on Spotify. Also, one of my favorite Christmas songs is their song "Christmas in Hollis" - haha. But I've never done a deep dive into their stuff - since I was always more of a rock kid. Prior to this I don't have any songs liked on this specific album. Thoughts after listening 3 times... This was pretty good and the best rap album I've listened to so far. I actually remember and like the song "It's Like That". I ended up liking 5 songs on this one ... "Hard Times", "Rock Box", "It's Like That", "Wake Up", "30 Days". "Wake Up" is kinda like a rap version of John Lennon's "Imagine". That's cool. Or maybe a Martin Luther King speech. "Hard Times" and "It's Like That" are still relevant in 2026 in the US - with yet another Republican administration fucking up the economy - except for the richest people. As with pretty much every rap record I've listened to on this website, there are too many songs bragging about their rap abilities. This get pretty tedious after a while. Anyway - it's my first hip hop 3 rating - so that's a high water mark so far for this genre. Liked songs on Spotify: 5/9 Rating: 3/5
honestly pretty impressive how much they get out of what is mostly very sparse drum machine work and some scratching. the interplay between the two vocalists is pretty slick as well, but overall it kinda feels like an unmixed set rather than an lp.
Respect the achievement, just sounds really outdated and old fashioned in a way other old music doesn’t.
The music of my youth! What a great year for music 1984 was! All these years later, I'm still rapping word for word on this album, doubtlessly from playing it on repeat on my mini-boombox as a young teenager. This album, more than Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Sugar Hill Gang, really opened my eyes to rap. I was already a fan before Run-D.M.C. did their crossover with Aerosmith (in fact, they reintroduced Aerosmith to the American public).
Doesnt stand the same today I reckon. Still enjoyable. 3
Really disappointed in this. It's influential and you can tell, but it is the start of something good, not something good Best Song: It's Like That Rating: 4/10 Stars: 2
Kings from Queens
No soy muy fan del rap, pero esta bueno. Me gustó la guitarra de "Rock Box". Mas allá de eso no noto algo tan wow por ahora.
such strong mid-80s vibes. favourite song: sucker m.c.s
*I love the sound of old school hip hop, and this album is definitely ground breaking, but it gets repetitive by the end.
I enjoyed this album quite a lot but I found that it was often homogenous and blending into one sound.. but that’s not a bad thing. I can’t complain about one album lacking consistency and then complain again about a more unified sound. I just don’t see myself craving this sound too often
This album whilst undeniably influential for all of rap somewhat suffers from this. It is simplistic and feels a bit unrefined but overall a good listen
While this is a pretty good debut record, none of the tracks really stood out to me. Favourite Track(s): Rock Box Least Favourite Track(s): 30 Days, Jay's Game
Listened to on my Apple AirPods Max. A relic of the early days of rap, this first eponymous release by Run-D.M.C. is enjoyable to listen to, but in the way that playing 'Pong' or 'Pitfall' can be enjoyable. For me, it's mostly the historical relevance that gives it value in the modern day, rather than the actual content of it, just because of how outdated it sounds. This album mostly plays the same song over and over again, which is these now cheesy-sounding shout raps over minimal beats, typically just a programmed drum beat and maybe some scratches. After hearing the first song, you've got a pretty good idea of what the album is. Still, that doesn't discount it so much, seeing as this was the blueprint for the great rap that was soon to follow (very soon, in fact, with acts like Eric B and Rakim showing how to mold more complex sounding beats with rhymes that flow into one another rather than sounding choppy). In fact, it can be fun seeing the little moments where the album does kinda of experiment with the established sound, such as in 'Wake Up' which features a lot of sample work over the beat. It doesn't necessarily make for a good track, and some samples like water rushing just seem plain odd, but it's interesting nonetheless. Rock Box fuses the hip hop sound with distorted guitars running licks through the song, something that was crucial to the adoption and understanding of hip hop in the larger context of America. There's also the track 'Sucker M.C.'s', which is easily the most impressive in terms of actual rapping, mostly ignoring the shout rap style of the rest of the tracks, with both Run and DMC rapping just straight through the whole song, which is an appreciated turn of vibe compared to how the rest of the album plays. In terms of songs I actually like, 'It's Like That' holds up pretty well with a recognizable hook and some synth stabs and drum fills that helps the beat stand out. Beyond that, however, there isn't much I really enjoy on it's own. Listening within the context of the time, this album is enjoyable just to trace some of the roots of hip hop, but absent of that historical value, this just isn't my kind of rap.
My kind of hip hop!
Personally, I think Raising Hell is a more complete album, but this one isn't a bad place to start.
Excellent debut album.
Rating:★★★ Most classic sounding rap I've ever heard. I assume this is where the beastie boys get their flow from. It's kinda cheesy to listen to nowadays but I bet back in the day it was the jam. I can respect that this changed a lot culturally. There were some rhymes in there that were pretty nice, and messages that are timeless in their meaning. Overall, decent album.
every song sounds the same, the format is just talking with longer than usual pauses in between, the only good thing is that it's over, mid
Nostalgic
6/10
dois gurizes having fun. imagino que o status de lenda aqui seja pela influência.
Suenan bastante similares todas las canciones. 3/10
I'm sure at the time this sound felt new and exciting but by today's standards this just felt boring. Especially in the production as it felt like a one trick pony the whole time. No interesting samples or variability, and forgettable vocals and bars. Still not unlistenable though. 2/5
This is a hard album to rate, because while I'm surprised some songs hold up as much as they do, especially with the production, it is obviously very dated just due to being one of the early hip-hop albums from over thirty years ago. However, this album was still a good listen, and I do still think it is relevant and something people should listen to, if only to understand the beginning of modern hip-hop. And, as I said, there are also tracks and parts that are still enjoyable and fun to listen to, even today.
I enjoyed listening to this potentially because it reminded me of the DK Rap, which does demerit the album itself a bit.
They certainly are an 80s hip hop group with everything that entails. Beats are fairly basic, which isn’t bad, and the lyrics are clear with the half shouts supported by the other periodically. Yo be upfront I’ve never been a huge Run DMC fan, though they aren’t bad by any stretch. Overall I enjoy a track or two at a time but when I hear a full album it blurs together. Potentially with more familiarity I might be more engaged track to track but honestly they haven’t given me a whole lot of reason to want to dive in repeatedly.
just garbage
Oh so this is what all those guys with the t shirts are into huh
some classic tunes
Proper old-school rap. While not something I’ll listen to again (except maybe It’s Like That), rap from this era just had something to it that isn’t present in modern rap. It feels fun, and I enjoy the two-pronged vocals.
7/10
I had a good time with this. Yes it’s dated, but it’s a damn good time too
they got bars and the beats are catchy but it gets very repetitive at some point
Was a bigger fan of Raising Hell than this one.
Imagine being an MC in the early 80s. A respectful title, no one could make fun of you. And then Run-D.M.C. comes out with "Sucka MCs" Gotta hang up the headphones after that
Repeat listen
Pretty eh, mostly feels like just talking and album felt rather long.
Unk rap, but is a vibe. They set the foundation for the future. Probably will not revisit, but I acknowledge what this album is.
Buen álbum. Se nota que es foundation para el hiphop/rap de hoy. Muy old school. No creo que lo vuelva a escuchar.
This is one hell of a debut record. The rhymes are not especially notable - even for the era - but the production of the beats works really well. The second side has a couple of clunkers but how can you disregard It's Like That? I am really nostalgic for early hip-hop and especially RUN-D.M.C. who had me absolutely convinced in fourth grade that Sucker MC crews were something that I was going to have to deal with frequently when I got older.
"(And why you wear those glasses?) So I can see...Huh Huh!" - hardest line ever delivered in hip-hop.
This style of hip hop is just definitely not for me unfortunately.
Really cheesy, usually I love the fun early hip hop but this was some corny stuff. So vanilla Will Smith raps look like explicit gangster rap in comparison
Some pretty fun beats and rhymes, but altogether not my genre of music at all. I liked Wake Up for its positive message, fun lyrics, and unique beats.
Classic jams
Yes, it sounds primitive, and the rhymes are a bit basic at times, but you have to remember this was 1984!!! This album is over 40 years old!!!! And to my ears, at least, it sounds a lot better than a lot of the more modern hip-hop. Even though a lot of the music is fairly basic programmed beats without a lot of adornment, it seems like something I can listen to a lot easier than the more slick, modern production that I hear nowadays.
Revolutionary album that didn't age well #1004901283091
As one of the more accessible entry points to early hip‑hop, Run-DMC is built on hard beats, simple hooks and a stripped‑back swagger that still cuts through. It undeniably sounds of its time — blocky drum machines and shouted call‑and‑response raps — which may feel dated to some ears. But there’s an energy and directness here that makes it easy to stick with, even if hip‑hop isn’t usually your thing. It’s a foundational record I was surprised to get through without skipping, and that counts for a lot.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, once upon a time Rap was good wholesome fun. A whole album without misogyny, profanity, or even one use of the dreaded and all power word which can not be uttered. Plus one for being real.
Cool as. What's not to like?
It's almost unbelievable how naive and candid this record is.
fun beats! not usually into hip hop but I enjoyed this one
nothing really stood out
I definitely respect the impact this album had on the future of rap and hip hop. It sounded just okay, but I could feel how it laid the groundwork for the artists that came after them.
This album marks the end of the beginning of rap's history.
Ugh. Pretty boring rap. For such as short album this felt interminable.
As a historical snapshot, this excels. I love the way these two play off and complement each other. Favorite track: Rock Box
01) Hard Times - 8,0 02) Rock Box - 8,0 03) Jam-Master Jay - 7,5 04) Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) - 7,0 05) Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1) - 7,0 06) It's Like That - 9,0 07) Wake Up - 7,0 08) 30 Days - 7,0 09) Jay's Game - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,44 (74/100) Current ranking: 376/884
The album’s biggest strength is that it sounds foundational without sounding dusty. “It’s Like That” still lands because its social frustration gives the album a seriousness that separated it from lighter rap of the period. “Rock Box” matters because it pushed rap toward rock texture.
Yeah was never gonna age well, important for its time
The star of this record is JMJ and the Oberheim.
I really enjoyed this but I'll be the first to admit that it is probably mostly nostalgia and historical importance talking. The songs all sound basically the same and the beats, while unique, are pretty simplistic. I'd throw the whole album on anytime though. Tougher Than Leather deserves to be on the list more. 4⭐️
From the Vault #7 (January 7, 2026) Cool. Run D.M.C. For a while I thought these guys were called "Run for the D.M.C.". I've no clue why, but I'm pretty sure I got their name mixed up with Run For the Cube somewhere along the way. I know they're considered to be pioneers within the genre and that they released a disastrously bad album (produced by the frontman for Third Eye Blind of all people) during a period of career resurgence in the 2000s. It's unfortunate that these guys only have two book entries, but in all fairness hip-hop artists have a pretty ephemeral time in the limelight. Yeah, this is perfectly fine... at first. That's glowing praise coming from an esteemed, major league hip-hop hater such as myself. The sound of this album is pretty interesting. It has that old school hip-hop feel, albeit with a more minimal, atmospheric sound. I could appreciate some peace and quiet at first, though it very quickly becomes awkward. There's so much dead air, and the vocals move at a glacial pace when compared with what I'm used to from the genre. While I could appreciate part of the atmosphere, the instrumentals are completely air-headed. I could probably count the number of instruments and effects used on this album with one hand, and the actual compositions are quite dreary and dull. This album's shinining beacon of hope, however, is in the vocals. The singers are very adept when it comes to this style and delivery, which I perceive to be the sole reason for their success. Book time. "...blew up and paved the way for rap music to follow." "...perhaps the most influential rap album of all time." Pivoted away from the established hip-hop formula - this is more rock-centric. Minimalist. "...infancy of battle rap". I won't question this entry any further. It appears to be in here on good authority. I cosign this inclusion.
Michael Scott y Dwight Schrute??? 😳
Pretty okay
Quite dated, but still quite pleasurable. Not sure how often I'll return to this, but I enjoyed this listen much more than I like other similarly of-a-distinct-time-and-place albums.
Wasn't bad. Just felt extremely dated
3- Stars (7/15)
I’ve always had a soft spot for old school hip hop, but this is dated in a pretty bad way. Shame, I enjoyed their other album in this list.
Ok
Pretty tame by today’s standards but I still enjoy old school
Classic hip hop record
Take a shot every time they say “Sucka MCs” The vocals themselves are pretty well done, very distinct and they’re almost comforting in a way. I think my favorite part of the album is just getting a glimpse at very prototypical rap, it’s very cool to see how it evolves over the years. I do like rap collectives where you use multiple singers; it lets more personality flow into each track and adds to the variety I just don’t think the backing beats are very good at all, they lack energy and they don’t absorb you like future rap albums do. For the most part the lyrics are fine but eventually you get to the point where it feels a little corny and every song sounds like DK Rap (which was modeled off Run DMC ofc) Really cool for its time and pretty inoffensive but doesn’t really hold up compared to the great albums of the 90s.
I'm kinda at the point where all these rap albums are starting to blend together for me. Nothing was really a stand-out except for Wake Up where the extremely idealistic lyrics feel cutting through its absurdity. That's really it. I think rap itself just moved a lot from when this was made so it just feels very... silly? Simple? Somehting like that.
Old School Hip Hop, from one of the originals. Not great rhymes, not great musicianship. If I'm being honest, the genre was never appealing to me. I love the blues, R&B, jazz, etc. But this, while new, just never floated my boat. 3 for historical significance though.
I like how they swap who's singing with basically every word, I thought that was pretty cool. Other than that, all the songs sounded the same. There was some uniqueness in it, but it just didn't stand out.
We seem to get hip hop albums in waves. This one isn't as bad as some of the others. Coming from the super early days of the genre, it's not so much glorification of drugs, misogyny, guns, sexual assault, violence, hating women, using women, that the genre has turned into. It is pretty monotonous still but in sort of a different way than hip hop is now. The lyrics are still questionable in quality but not as bad as more recent hip hop I guess. It's actually kind of funny to see how tame this genre was in its infancy compared to what it's grown into. All in all, I'd give this album like a 1.5, I'll round up because it's only about 40 minutes long.
Impossible to overstate how much this sound informed and informs my sense of taste. If an act is spare, deliberate, even austere, I trace my enjoyment of that back to first encountering Run-D.M.C. as an 80s kid.
Intéressant mais redondant
me senti no episodio que o chris vira dj e arranha o disco da rochelle
4/10 Best songs: Rock Box As a historical artifact, this is very interesting - this is an unparalleled snapshot of early rap/hip-hop. But the other reviews are not lying: this album is very dated, with some really dumb, corny lyrics and not-so-great rhymes. I do find it charming, with a few interesting/appealing songs, but whether it's good or not is debatable. Even though my rating is low, I think it definitely belongs on this list.
I do wish I was more aware if Run-DMC earlier in life. Truly listening to them now, after cutting my teeth on BDP, Nas, Wu, PE they sound flat, not as robust. It's redundant. I respect its power of influence, but I'm not drawn to revisit it.
Rapmaster 2000
I love this album.
The drum machine sounds of early 80s hip hop cannot be topped.
I've struggled to rate some of the rap and hip-hop we've had on this list, due to not really understanding how some of those albums sit in terms of timing or significance (and sometimes being put off by the swearing). I didn't mind this though, perhaps because it was more familiar from my 80s UK childhood. Run DMC broke through here, along with Grandmaster Flash, and provided something new to listen to in the charts; it felt quite fun at the time, as well as having a message. Today, I wasn't really engaged by a whole album of Run and DMC, but it was pretty good.
Not for me...
Sure it's dated. Gregorian chants are dated as well, compared to Mahler. +1 for the influence. Better than some of the stuff on this list. 4/5
Mittwoch, der 22.04.2026 ~ Mittag ~ Am Landwehrkanal gehört - am Dösen in der Sonne, zwischen meinen Arbeitsschichten.
Donnerstag, 09.04.2026 Spaziergang in Moabit um Mitternacht rum am Samstag, dem 04.04., auf dem Weg zu AERA Chb 2good2go abholen
This has... aged super poorly. Run D.M.C. are fuckin' nerds, I don't know how else to put it. Their songs are like "I went to school and got good GRADES/My teacher said I get an A/Now that makes me really COOL/And if you do drugs you're a FOOL" like damn these guys need to get shoved into fucking lockers. Nerdcore was never cool. I dunno man, every song on this album sounds exactly like the DK Rap. I get that's both the point of the DK Rap, which is supposed to sound like a Run D.M.C. song, and that music has just changed a ton, but this just aged so poorly.
My wife calls it Rap for Teenage White boys. I just call it crap.
I get that this was super important to rap history but maaaan it does not hold up
I have a lot of affection for this but yes the reviews are right it's dated in a way that's hard to overcome. That said, it *is* interesting in a historical context and benefits from the unclear boundaries of the genre. I love Rock Box's fruity loops-ish guitar. Something like Jam Master Jay is so like...it's just dudes so excited for everyone to meet their friend. If you are willing to meet the album about 70% of the way and get on the wavelength of the dated flow it's genuinely charming. call this a 1980s five and a 2026 three.
Didn't age all that well.
Well, these were definitely all Run-D.M.C. songs. You can tell because they all sound exactly the same.
It’s like that. Really. You needed to be there to fully appreciate the cultural relevance and the impact of Run DMC. It sounds simplistic now, but at the time it was the freshest of fresh.
Going into Run-D.M.C. by Run-D.M.C., I knew it was going to sound dated, but this really feels old. Which is fair, it is an old record, but the style of rapping just isn’t for me. I can absolutely hear how influential it is, and it clearly deserves all the recognition it gets, but the beats, the delivery and even the lyrics just don’t age that well to my ears. It’s pretty stripped back and repetitive, and I found myself having to power through parts of it. There are some fun moments though, and “Rock Box” was a highlight. But yeah, overall, just not for me. Wine pairing? Maybe a cheap, no-nonsense house red. Something straightforward and a bit rough around the edges, like a basic Cabernet or table wine. Food pairing? Fast food feels right. A greasy burger and fries, something simple and unapologetic. Vinyl? No, not really. Overall 2 out of 5, unfortunately.