Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Old school hiphop
Older/original hip hop groups do get tagged with sometime corny lyrics or just generally older styles/sample technology and I would generally associated this with Run-D.M.C. just because I only knew their Walk This Way cover. That being said, this album has a lot more interesting production/sampling choices than I expected. It definitely still feels like an 80's hip hop album but now I feel like Beastie Boys almost ripped these guys off to some level. There is such a focus on the actual rapping/beats more than melody/a catchy hook that this feels more like an oddity than I anticipated.
Okay - felt like there were similar beats on every song
This was really fun to listen to at first. As the album progressed, though, I found myself getting kind of bored. 3/5
Good stuff.
Crazy that this album came out 5 whole years after Rapper's Delight. It's Like That and 30 Days bumped it up from a 2.5 to 3 stars.
Another pretty dated hip-hop record - there’s some catchy stuff in there but the production and flows just sound pretty cheesy now (big ‘My name is Andy and I’m here to say…’ vibes). I hope Raising Hell is on here, because despite being only two years later it’s aged so much better and still packs a huge impact, definitely Run’s best work
Revolutionary and sometimes ahead of the times. But the beats and rhymes can be a bit to similar and gets repetetive through a whole album.
Classic rap. This album is interesting when compared to modern albums. This is so measured and methodic with the delivery. You can definitely tell that rap has evolved since 1984.
Solid, not my fav
Still not a fan of that old style of rap but the backing tracks were good so I liked it way more than Beastie Boys' License to Ill
Old school hip-hop. Not bad, and very important, but it's like listening to Rock Around the Clock for hip-hop. The genre has grown so much since then and my tastes are more toward early 90's alternative hip-hop like Tribe, De La Soul, Digable Planets, etc. but you've gotta start somewhere.
Respect for paving the way for a new genre of music but it got a little boring for me
3.4x enjoyable early hip hop, listened 2x
Way too much synthesizer drum machine for me
These guys are good, but I don't really like rap! 3 stars
Beats are kinda rudimentary in that 80s hip hop way, not as strong as the sparse beats that would be popular later. But it's 1984. And the MCing is very good. They're using a particular flow that's dated but not using it rigidly and it sounds more like good MCing from any era than, say, Beastie Boys. I might like this better than Raising Hell, maybe? but I haven't listened to that again, and I might just be in a better mood on this day. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
I like Run DMC but the raps and and breakdowns are a bit repetitive.
okay.
memories but not my bag
I like DMC but every song sounds the same
Hard Time - 7.5/10 Rock Box - 8/10 Jam-Master Jay - 7.5/10 Hollis Crew - 7.5/10 Sucker M.C's - 7.5/10 It's Like That - 8/10 Wake Up - 7/10 30 Days - 7/10 Jay's Game - 7/10 TOTAL - 63/90
2.5
it hasnt aged great, but thats because hiphop has evolved to such a great level in the years since this released. but it is refreshing to listen to something so simple and somewhat effective. but if you use this album as a basis to write off all hiphop, i will personally go to your house and punch you in the face.
Liked this a bit better than Raising Hell, probably because it sounds more "electro" and closer to Sugarhill stuff. Funny to think this was "hardcore rap" once upon a time, quite dull overall from a modern perspective
I really want to like old school Hip Hop because it is socially conscious and ahead of it's time and experimental, but it kind fell flat on the music side for me.
i get why this album is here but holy is it boring
Album 16 of 1001 Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C. Favorite Track : Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2) Rating : 3 / 5 I appreciate it for what it is and the impact it had at the time of it's release. I've never been big on hip hop or rap, so this is not my regular thing. The words here are more important than the beats. I'm a music guy. I don't usually worry about lyrics until I'm into a song. My favorite songs are not because of the lyrics. The beats aren't my type of music but I'll give it it's due. I did listen twice.
A fun listen, and something of an artifact from the origins of hip-hop. More than a little quaint now, though.
It is the early stuff for sure, so it does get a slight pass, but it is quite corny at bits. The first does not always mean the best.
It be tricky... to rock and... to rhyme. Nice 80's rap start. Hard times, they like intertwining their lyrics between them lol. Hard times kinda sucks tbh. Rock-box is wayyy better kinda sick electric guitar. Jam was decent. Hollis crew is suppper bouncy 80's rap. Sucker's MC beat kinda stinky, but rap kinda good more relaxed. Dream was really good delivered in a slightly punishing way. Kinda punishing my ears now (2nd to last track). Ok that sound got old, light 3.
Another from Run. Like the other we got, this is obviously an important, foundational hip hop album. But it's old school to the point that I really don't get much enjoyment out of it. It's the building blocks of stuff I enjoy a lot more. I imagine people who hate old school hip hop hear all of it as stuff like this. I'm giving it a 3 out of respect, but I'm marking this as chopping block for the list too because I really don't think we need two Run-DMC albums, we get the gist in one. Same sort of rule should apply to the Beastie Boys. Favorite tracks: Rock Box, It's Like That. Album art: Two guys, brick wall, dope font. I like this cover a lot honestly. It's not much but it's strong. 3/5
It’s like listening to the toddler version of rap, walking slowly, a little awkwardly, but holding their own. I kinda like that the rapping is slow enough that I can actually understand what they’re saying. I also like the raging against the racist machine rather than against warring factions in the same genre and among the same oppressed group—fighting the right enemy. Rap has not really been my thing but 80s/early 90s rap is as close as I get to liking it.
Track 1: Very nice synth horn hits accompanying the beats. Need that dolla every day of the week. Nice very early use of drum machines which is sick. Flow is pretty 1 dimensional but lyrics are great yelling that they are having hard times. Track 2: Oh dang, cool guitar intro on the beat over the drum machine. Beat is really cool and complex. Love the switch to each different rapper. Nice scratching. The guitar accompanied with the lyrics are the highlights. Song drags on a bit at the end. Track 3: Oh dang I love Me some scratching turnstilism. The samples are sick with the horns. Run DMC lovestory to jam master jay I love it. Great use of the scratching as an individual instrument to solo on. Love it! Track 4: Great fast clapping beat. Got rhymes so deaf sheesh. Good flow on this song and nice switches back and forth to each MC. Beat at the end gets a bit old. Track 5: I like the beat but the claps are a bit much. Nice kind-of disstrack to other sucker MC's? Flow is eh on this as well. Track 6: oh I love this dancey beat with the bright horns. It's like that and that's the way it is. Beat is a bit repetitive, and I wish there was more instrumentation or sampling instead of just drums at times. Call and response is nice on this. I like the soft finish. Track 7: cool deep voice sample, and I like the little glockenspiel sound. Nice and popping. Love the MLK-esque message and commentary. Comments on a utopian vision but this was just a dream and real life is not like this. Track 8: oh man I love the midi type keyboard and synths; Makes the song a bit funky and Dancey. Nice fade and reverb on the keys part. Ending is repetitive but really let's you feel the beat. Track 9: oh man I love the samples and the scratching on this. The turntables are sick. Great beats and way to switch it up to not keep it the same. Once again basically solos on the turntable. Overall the album is very solid and extremely influential. At times some of the beats were one dimensional and the rapping was meh. I think jam master jay really shined on this album and showed his talents as a different type of producer. Run DMC walked so wu-tang could sprint.
This is a landmark album in hip hop with a lot of firsts for the genre. At times the album feels dated because of how far the genre has progressed since the release of this album.
I found this to be super dated, especially compared to "Raising Hell" There's nothing bad about it, but it's not great either. Some albums you listen to and you can't believe what time period they were made in. This one, there is no way it was made anytime other than when it was.
Generous 3... very dated and repetitive but still a decent listen
Some great stuff on here. Obviously very dated though
Moins bien que Booba je trouve
déjà 250 albums........
Pioneers of the hip hop and rap genre, many artists owe them thanks for their contributions to music. I really liked the positive/uplifting message and subject matter of the lyrics. While the raps are a bit cheesy here and there, they are still meaningful and done with skillful flow. I'm not a huge fan of the beats. I'd listen to this album again.
A cool part of hip hop history, but saying that this hasn't aged the best is an understatement. The beats don't really hold up and some of the songs go on for way too long ("Wake Up" is the biggest offender, god damn that one got very annoying very fast). It's still pretty fun though. Just two guys being dudes.
Fun, but old hi[-hop did not age well.
It doesn't get much closer to the roots of rap than this album. This crew was taking all of the tools of the trade (i.e. scratching, sampling, synthesizers, drum machines, a live DJ doing the mix, and multiple emcees) and putting it to full effect. All of this is something we take for granted at this point, but these guys were quite literally figuring it all out as they went. What really sets Run-D.M.C apart from rappers of that time and since is their collaborative style, of passing the lines back and forth, and chorusing each other. The coordination and memorization involved to do this without breaking the flow is truly mind-boggling to me.
They went to the hat store and they bought themselves a hat. Just some nice boys having a good time. Weird to think that this scared White people. But it gets a bit repetitive.
Genre: East Coast Hip Hop 3/5 A true fossil of what would someday become the world's biggest genre of music, Run-D.M.C.'s self-titled debut album is one of hip-hop's earliest albums of note. Featuring a few hip-hop firsts, Rev Run and D.M.C. casually changed the face of the game in one fell swoop. Rock Box is considered to be the first fusion of rock and rap, and was the first rap song to be played on MTV, as its crossover appeal proved to be massive. It's Like That is also a track cited as a hip-hop firsts, this time being one of the genre's first true "hardcore" tracks, portraying a darker, less-mainstream take on the genre. However, as the tracklist progresses, the one big problem with this project is unfortunately how poorly it has aged. The beats and the bars sound corny and goofy as hell on a few of these. It's clearly primitive, and no one is expecting one of the first hip-hop classics to be perfect, but the overall unintentional silliness is too much to ignore. Overall, this is clearly an essential listen, but don't expect to hear polish. This is a rough draft that not only Run-D.M.C. would build upon, but an entire generation would build upon.
This is pretty baseline Rap right? So like, I think the beats and Rhymes are super simple. But these were the dudes, who did it so everyone else could. So it gets points, there but It's still so dated it's kind of hilarious to listen to.
Sounds very dated now, but enjoyed this album. Hard Times is a classic, Rock Box signposts their later famous collaboration, and It's Like That is just great.
Absolute pioneers! These guys really were paramount in reshaping hip-hop, and infusing it with rock sounds, which is especially on display with the iconic track "Rock Box". I don't know the proper terms for these things, so I will just say that they make heavy use of the "call and response", "finish each other's sentences", and "you rap one word and then I rap one word" styles. The sparse rapping also gives ample opportunity for the fun beats to shine through. All are certainly products of the time, but enjoyable. This is fun and was truly groundbreaking, but it does understandably feel dated and basic by today's standards. Still, during this album's time, it's impossible to deny the effect and impact these guys had from this debut album.
1st May 2022 Listened on the drive back from camping with Joe and Adna. Chilled for the rest of the day. Thought I’d be all over this but felt a bit low key. Maybe I didn’t listen in the best of environments but felt like they had 1 backing track and rapped over it for half an hour.
This album is so utterly peak 80s. It's not necessarily a bad thing - really kind of a testament to the record; being able to put this on and immediately be transported to middle school (wait...that's a terrible thing) The emergence of Run DMC was the first time a lot of suburban kids heard rap in the mainstream - there was a lot of predictable handwringing for various reasons (some you could guess) but it's just FUN music. "Rock Box" - fit right in with a lot of the early-mid 80s semi-cheesy-but-fun-for-its-own-sake rock music of the time. I like the retroactive simplicity of the beats and rapping - the interplay between Run and DMC is a huge plus. It's a fun listen and this is where so much of everything started - popular music would be completely different if Run DMC never existed. 7/10 3 stars
I mean it’s 1984, it’s raw, it’s audibly simple compared to modern rap, but it’s good.
For what it's worth I can see why this album would be influential to hip-hop and to a lesser degree rock/rap hybrids that were to come in the 90s. Half of the songs were enjoyable and fun while the the rest were annoying af. It's Like That, Hard Times and Rock Box were the best of the bunch.
Not sure how to rate as i understand this is an album that influenced the whole of rap, so its highly rated in that regard but as an album its self quite basic, im gonna rate based on how much id listen to it again sooo.
I actually missed listening to this album on the day it came up because I was at a conference where I got to see DMC talk about his rise to fame and the resulting mental health issues that he suffered. I'm glad I saw him speak before listening to this again. Hearing him talk about how this album came to be, what his life was like at the time, and how it changed him (and, arguably, music) forever really gives some context and credit to an album that could otherwise seem like a typical, cheesy, 80s rap album.
Seminal but rap has come a long way since then.
I found this album a little difficult to get through. I appreciate that it is an important album in pushing the popularity of hip hop into the mainstream but it seemed to lack style and the backing track seems pretty thin. There is not enough there to listen to with out getting tired by the half way point. My introduction to Run DMC was a few albums later when they teamed up with Aerosmith on Walk This Way which pushed Hip Hop further into the mainstream. They were no doubt critical to elevating the genre to the next level which makes this album essential but it hasn't aged well. 3 out of 5 for it's influence.
The most important thing to consider whilst I listen to this, is whether it makes me want to eat a raw chicken carcass or not. I have to tell you, it not only makes me want to eat a raw chicken carcass, but it makes me want to eat a raw chicken carcass whilst smothering myself in bbq sauce and squealing like a pig. There isn't any higher praise.
Listenable, with a couple of proper standouts - 'Rock Box' absolutely rips - but I'm too distracted by that nursery rhyme delivery particular to so much 1980s hip hop.
Unk rap, but is a vibe. They set the foundation for the future. Probably will not revisit, but I acknowledge what this album is.
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.
On this episode of "The IT Crowd", Moss (Richard Ayoade) and his friend practice their hip-hop rap for the talent show at the local middle school.
no stand out songs
This is what I expected when Raising Hell came up earlier in my queue. This album is corny as hell. I see exactly why this popped off. It's perfect for the time it's from but we can throw away this cheese now. It's moldy and smells funny. Let's be glad they made much better albums we can still enjoy to this day.
2.5*
Unique sound, but boring and not musically pleasing.
No va.
Kind of boring and monotanous - The first song was great but after that they all sounded alike. I like that it was short. 2 stars
Incredibly not for me. Like looking back at early civilizations to see how they lived and finding I am thankful I don't have to live that way, Run DMC is that to me for hip hop. Cool to see where the roots of hip-hop started, but holy fuck do people still listen to this now? Crazy how popular their logo on t-shirts got. No way half those people are seriously going back and listening to this Run DMC.
I know this was a revelation in its time, but it felt so chaotic and overwhelming and yet really simplistic. It was hard to listen to straight through. It kept losing my attention and I hate that, because I love them.
Influential, but very dated.
Sounded pretty cool but I am not sure I’d ever choose to go back and listen again. Definitely prefer it to some of the more recent hip-hop albums I’ve gotten on here.
This is grandpa rap lol, I get it’s what broke into the mainstream but man is it a hard listen.
Niet echt mijn vibe, maar opzich leuk
Just how many hip-hop albums are there in this list - too many in my opinion. Repetitive and boring.
Theme I'm noticing is that the first ones to do it sound corny to me, probably due to being copied due to their originality. Run-D.M.C sounds simple to me, basic even 4/10
Well it's hip hop
Not aweful
Their raps are kind of not that great. I don't wanna spread no hate. They won't sell out, or so they rap. Two albums later, Adidas ads. (probably not their best work but hey, everybody had to start somewhere. lots of love for these early Def Jam albums)
I appreciate the influence this album had on the evolution of rap music but this didn’t necessarily age the greatest for me. Found it to be just an ok listen, it got kind of boring.
This album has not aged well. I respect it for the impact that it had, but I am not a fan. The beats are paper thin, and their back and forth style is silly. 2/5.
Too old shit
I don't think I'm a big fan of older rap styles.
It was important that somebody made a record like this around that time. Run DMC did it. Probably a big step in the evolution of rap music. But it sounds very outdated. Very bad by today's standards. If it wasn't such an important record, it would be a 1 star from me. There was one song that I didn't hate as much: Rock Box
It's weird.... I enjoyed Public Enemy, and I really respect early hip-hop. As a white boy, I'm most familiar with Run-DMC and Aerosmith teaming up. I expected to really love this, but it just didn't resonate. I can't place my finger on why. But even the hits didn't do it for me. I wish I had a reason, but listening to this one just fell flat for me.
Well this first RUN DMC Album was a snoooooozer. Rock Box was kind of innovative; mixing the rocking guitar lick with hip-hop, but the album as a whole was BORING.
förstår att det här är gammalt och lite banbrytande så + 1 poäng för det.
Favs Sucker MCs - Like the flow here Wake Up - Like the piano melody and the wake up voice Good, but not sure I like the old-school hip-hop simplicity. I realize this is a forerunner, but need a little more complexity. I don't know much about Run DMC, but I know they have at least two songs where they mention their love of chicken and collard greens (Christmas in Hollis). I need to try classic collard greens.
Los inicios del rap en un àlbum. Todos los tópicos están incluidos. No soy muy fan de este género, pero me hace recordar al Príncipe de Bel Air. Bastante repetitivas en mi opinión.
Probably would have knocked a guy on his ass when it came out! Liked it about the same as the other one from this list, but they had definitely hit their stride a bit more on that one. Docking a star here and putting it on a Run DMC curve.
Pfff. really old.
2 stars because it's not my thing but very important for the genre.
2/5 didn't like it
I get this album was revolutionary and there are some good tracks, but it gets repetitive and starts to sound the same pretty quick
Started off ok then got very repetitive reminded me of the offspring.
It's kind of mad that this was considered a big leap forward for hip-hop, because it sounds every bit as dated Grandmaster Flash's debut. Neither the rapping style nor the production have aged well at all (except maybe Rock Box). I don't want to downplay its historical importance or some of the worthy lyrical messages but it's hard to hear this now and not just think 'how quaint!' 2.5
I get (and remember) the importance of the album at the time and the fact that this opened the doors for NWA, Wu-Tang, Tupac, etc. but the sound and songs haven't aged well.
a trailblazer but perhaps hasn't aged super well - feels kinda robotic, forced to my 2023 ears
It's so easy to see how influential Run-D.M.C. was on hip-hop, but re-listening to their debut in 2023 is a little tougher than other groundbreaking records. 2.5/5
I found myself being pleasantly surprised by the lyrics (including on “Wake Up”), but I just can’t get behind the background music.
Lyrically, a bit of a parody these days but a clearly influential record at the time and had a huge impact on the genre especially mixing rock music and guitars with rap/hip-hop.
One of the most important albums of modern music. It’s hard to be honest without sounding pompous, but this music is unlikely to amaze today’s listeners, myself included (b. 1994). Yet the sparse, electro beats and outdated drum machines paved the way for hip hop to explode into the mainstream just a few years later. Amazing how the style evolved so quickly.
Run-D.M.C. is the debut album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C.. It was groundbreaking at release for presenting a tougher form of hip-hop/rap, and as a result, this album pioneered the "new school hip hop" (considered "old school" today) of the mid to late 1980's. Although this album may have started it all when it comes to hip-hop/rap's golden age, I thought the barebones drum machine and record scratches left the actual musical part's feeling empty. It's not today's type of music I'm used to in this genre and it's definitely showing its age. Out of respect for the OG I can't rate it too low, but I won't listen to this album again. Please leave this version of hip-hop/rap where it belongs in the 80's.
I'd like to think I like Run-D.M.C, but considering many of their songs I have are from later albums, so I was cautiously excited for this album. Sadly, a good chunk of this album is a little hollow sounding, with lots of empty space and the flow of the rapping often being choppy. Obviously that's because it was very early in the genre, and I respect it heavily for that, but albums only a couple of years later in the genre don't have that issue. There are a couple songs without this issue, such as Rock Box, but then the other issue is the length, with most of the songs opting for an instrumental for long periods of time, or just ending when it should. This is close to something that's good, but the cheesy lyrics on top of all of that makes it something I'm not crazy about.
I adored Grand Master Flash when I was a kid. Yes, the rhymes were either silly or, in the case of The Message, interesting-but-basic, but their music was (and still is) awesome. They knew how to keep things interesting and fresh. When RUN-DMC hit the scene, my first impression was that they were boring. The lyrics and flow were as basic as could be and so was the music (or lack thereof). But to my surprise, these guys were hugely influential, and hip-hop followed their blueprint for the next several years. So I tuned out of the genre. Too bad for me, because I missed a lot of great music when it was happening. Now that I've rediscovered the genre, it's been fun going back to the hear all the artists I missed the first time around, but to me RUN-DMC still sound kind of boring and basic. At least their message (whatever there is beyond the boasting and dissing) is positive. None of the misogyny, homophobia, or gangsta crap that would pervade the genre. And props to them for being so influential.
Was excited that this popped up in the queue since I have a developing interest in rap/hip hop and I understand RUN-DMC's importance as a seminal artist in all that followed...and I'd never actually listened to one of their albums... But geez, it seems so simplistic, repetitive and dated! For me, that was the true surprise. I appreciate they laid a groundwork for a new genre, and for that reason I'm glad I listened....but really not much to listen to by today's standards. Out of respect for it's role in pioneering a genre, I'll give this a 2 instead of a 1. I really wanted (and expected) to like it. Not to be. But thanks for the history lesson.
Hard times- quite a simple song with simple rhymes Rock box- Some nice fusion kinda sounds with electric guitar 👍 Jam master Jay- love the hype for the producer👍 Hollis Crew-another pretty simple straightforward brag track Sucker MCs- fun song with simple but effective backing beat👍 Its like that- song seems to plod a bit for me, just not strong enough combination of lyrics/beat for me Wake up- this is the beginning of a good idea, could be elevated more👍 Again, I am taking this album out of context as the fundamental and influential trailblazer that it is, but we can really see this is laying the foundations and what has been built up out of it is much better overall. 2/5
Really influential but just sounds so dated now
Though I couldn't find any hood ornaments to wear around my neck, I still I put on my Shells and dug up my Kangol to listen to this album. ... and wow. I mean, uhhhh wow... Yeah, I was super excited to listen to this but then I realized that this is the one BEFORE the good one. Regardless, it provided a good reference point from how far they evolved from this album to Raising Hell in the span of 2 years. Hard Times and It's Like That are familiar jams, but this is almost comical to listen to now. One important observation to note about this... that It's rare to find someone in your life who'll finish your sentences for you. So glad these three found each other.
No one can deny Run DMC's influence on rap. However this album sounds very dated amd isnt my favorite to come out of that era. Beats seem underwhelming and lyrice dont do it for me. Highlights are Its like that and rock box.
“Timeless!” is not how I would describe this record. It was new and interesting at the time, but damn, this did not age well. Maybe if there was live break dancing…
Really don’t get this. I know they were trailblazers but this doesn’t hold up a torch to the proceeding hip hop. The rhymes are like the raps you made up in the school yard!
A little disappointing, very lo-fi which isn't necessarily bad but at times basically unlistenable. The rhythm if the rap is really samey, throbbing, predictable but I'm listening in retrospect. Run DMC are really influential but actually not so interesting imo - much prefer NWA, public enemy, last poets etc as like forefathers of hip-hop rap. Probs won't listen again.
Revolutionary, sure, moving the early rap scene away from its disco block-party roots and morphing it into something tougher, with more emphasis on social commentary, and complete with stripped down, hard as nails production that laid the template for gangsta rap and beyond. Unfortunately, the album sounds prehistoric by todays rap/hip-hop standards, making it hard to listen to and be engaged by for long stretches.
Respect to the pioneers. That said, it sounds a bit repetitive to 2022 ears. It’s definitely a classic and you can hear how the influence permeates the genre. Plus, the drum machines are fantastic.
As important as this album is for hip-hop as a whole, it unfortunately hasn’t aged favourably. The sparse production leaves more to be desired and the slow pace of the back-and-forths between Run and D.M.C. just end up sounding silly and outdated. Not hating btw
I’m sure this was revolutionary but this wasn’t for me. Kinda felt like when you play an old video game after being used to the graphics now. Favorite part was the guitar on rock box
A lot of their lyrical style has always been quite jarring to me, changing rapper mid-line, all of that, though I get their importance in ushering in a new style at the time it was released, and the beats are decent. Rock Box is brilliant too.
Not for me. This is one of those albums that is trailblazing and influenced loads of other groups, but it's just not that interesting in the context of knowing what comes after it. It sounds so dated, both the style and the lyrics. Rock Box the best of a bang average bunch, 2/5.
It feels very raw (in a good way), but I don't think the lyrics or beats are actually very good. This seems like one of those albums that is notable because it was one of the first to use a certain style/genre. But I don't think being historically significant warrants a high rating - Not sure this one stands the test of time.
I get it was important in the evolution of hip hop, but really dated and not great by today's standards
Influential in fashion, music style, and attitude in the 80's. Unfortunately, pass a little nostalgia and a trip down memory lane, the music doesn't hold up. Another record I don't 100% agree with being on this list. I guess better then the FAT BOYS representing the rap portion of this era.
This one required a lot of focus on time and space. Without the context of what the hip hop scene looked like in 1984 it is very very hard to listen to. The finishing each others sentence bit was cute the first five times but fuck it got old very quickly. How was a song about a 30 day return policy considered hard core hip hop?
Used to listen to this album everyday on the ride to school. Sounds very dated now. Speak-singing, drum machines, and it was ground breaking at the time, but didn’t hold my interest.
Old hip hop is just the worst. Zero redeeming factors to this album.
Hip hop isn’t a genre I relate to or really appreciate. Became boring very quickly.
Maybe this was groundbreaking at the time but no extra credit for that. It doesn’t stand up. Corny and uninteresting.
It’s like the cave paintings, necessary for the forward movement of art but no one is learning from them anymore.
Just kinda shouting into the microphone with boring beats
...uhhh, gruselig und einfach nur schlecht. Schade, dass man einen Stern vergeben muss, um den Vote abzugeben.
I think this album has some very dated attitudes towards sucker MCs, and some of the sucker MC-phobic language is hard to listen to in 2024. I’m glad that in the 21st century, we are more accepting of sucker MCs thanks to those who have tirelessly campaigned for sucker MC rights.
Lowkey peak I personally love old school hip hop
"Groundbreaking" doesn't even START to describe the importance of this album.
5 all day
Hip Hop gold. This album is the template gor.so much that followed.
5/5, as expected.
What a treat!
klasika
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).
My kind of hip hop!
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.
Repeat listen
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.
Classic jams
Cool as. What's not to like?
This album marks the end of the beginning of rap's history.
I love this album.
I feel like I have only absorbed the Run DMC style through parody and homage over the years, so it’s very interesting to listen to this album and find the overall effect more expansive and encompassing and overall less rudimentary than I imagined.
A classic debut album from pioneers of rap. Still holds up to this day if you grew up with it. I can understand how those who didn’t listen to this era of hip hop may not enjoy it as much though. 4.5 / 5
Great tag team of rappers and emcees bring so much energy to each of their songs
Might be more known for their later albums, but this one is still damn good as well. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
Never truly listened to a lot of their stuff but every time I hear them i rock out with it. These guys are true hip-hop masters.
I have clearly not given Run-D.M.C. enough credit for how they shaped hip hop. My god this album is good, as was their other album on this list. They're good, solid rappers and have really catchy songs. I can guarantee I'll have "30 Days" stuck in my head for weeks. "It's Like That" is iconic, but "Hard Times" and "Rock Box" were great too. Not a weak track on the entire album.
Old school hip hop
Such a simpler time for hip-hop, but fun to listen to get perspective on how much it has changed since. Easy, quick listen.
Loves me some Run-DMC
This is the first full Run DMC album I’ve listened to and I was happy to find it had the same fun energetic feeling as the songs I’ve heard. Would happily listen to it again.
A classic
When we were kids, I felt like Beastie Boys were state of the art. They were great — but for the most part, they in fact were not the bleeding edge. Licensed to Ill was essentially a ripoff of this seminal album. They leaned into Jazz and Punk after that (if anything, that part *was* bleeding edge), but then with Hello Nasty...it was right back to emulating this classic sound. 1984! This came out in 1984. Fucking prophetic. I love everything about it: the hair metal guitar, the campy synth splashes, the 808 beats. Hail to the kings.
Energiek, vlot, innovatief, positief, tijdloos: jemig wat een lekkere muziek is dit. Als ik het zo zie, hebben deze luitjes heel wat mensen de weg gewezen. Wat weer resulteerde in een boel bozemenerenmuziek, maar hier hoor ik vooral de boodschap dat je gewoon voor jezelf op moet komen, en dan gaan met die banaan. Helemaal niks mis mee.
Bij het eerdere album van Run DMC heb ik ongeveer alles al gezegd. Dit album toont dat alles er al vanaf het begin in zat. Ik noemde onder andere de opvallend sterke samenwerkingsstijl. Het eerste nummer van dit album toont exemplarisch dat het bij Run DMC NIET erg is dat ze elkaars zinnen afmaken. Het nummer is ook exemplarisch voor de minimale begeleidende muziek. Het had een samenwerking met Kraftwerk kunnen zijn. Het heeft overigens nogal wat muzikale overeenkomsten met de grote hit op dit album: It's Like That. Nu we bij dat nummer zijn beland. Run DMC kreeg zoals eerder geschreven het label grondlegger van de hardcore rap. Maar deze hit klinkt niet alleen veel te toegankelijk om nu nog dat label op hen te plakken. Ook de tekst druist in tegen dit label. Het ging eigenlijk al tegen de hardcore rap in, terwijl het amper bestond. Als ik deze twee nummers eruit pik, lijkt het album eenzijdig. Daarmee doe ik het al snel te kort. De overkoepelende factor is wel het minimalisme, waardoor de aandacht flink naar de raps wordt getrokken. Maar het maakt nogal verschil of het minimale uit de Kraftwerk-achtige hoek komt, of vanuit een draaitafel, of vanuit een gitarist. Ook die crossover haalde ik al aan. De heren toonden op dit eerste album al aan dat rock en rap uitstekend samen kunnen gaan. Rock Box is één van mijn favoriete nummers op dit album.
Nice
Simply classic
It doesn’t care if you like it. It dares you not to. The production is skeletal (just drum machines, scratches, and a handful of riffs), but the confidence fills the empty space like thunder. This wasn’t just rap—it was a new era, and you can hear the door being kicked in on every track. Rating: 4.5/5 Short Review: Hip-hop growing teeth, spitting bars, and stomping in Adidas with zero apologies. Favorite Track: “It’s Like That” — the manifesto. Cold, direct, and still feels urgent.
extremamente bom, além de que uma me lembrou de todo mundo odeia o Chris, absurdamente nostálgico
Easily one of the most important albums in one of my favourite genres. Understandably dated, of course, it's over 40 years old? There weren't many rap groups around and sonically very little options were available to two MCs and one DJ to create varied production. It's vital, witty and brilliant so it gets a 5.
It's outdated of course but loved it. Hip hop was a blank canvas so rhyming "girl" with "world" or "here" with "there" was still fresh and possible. There are way better hip hop albums imo but this had a few things going... new tech using beat machines like the Roland 808 similar to Kraftwerk & Gary Numan etc. A genre defining sound & one of the first classic hip hop albums.. This is one of the most sampled albums of all time I'm guessing too.
Hell Yeah!
I needed this today. So fucking good. The rhymes are on point, the beats are timeless and the songs are so catchy. Run DMC is like AC/DC - if you don't love them I don't trust you.
So sparse and pointed! Really great and hasn't aged! :)
Excellent Album!!! Ground breaking!!
The O.G. album that is as pivotable today as it was upon release.
The best mainstream rap album of the 80’s
Run-DMC walked so Beastie Boys could run.
Absolutely loved the album, the two MCs have amazing chemistry and are incredibly fun to listen to. Best part is it's all tied together by the great DJ.
It's just the way it is.
There's something perpetually immediate about Run-D.M.C.'s authenticity, earnestness, and even their corniness that makes this debut sound simultaneously anchored in its era yet somehow also timeless.
That's the real hip-hop! Not that overproduced bullshit, just the simple samples and the rhymes. 5 stars.
## In-Depth Review of *Run-D.M.C.* by Run-D.M.C. Released on March 27, 1984, *Run-D.M.C.* was the groundbreaking debut album by the Queens-based hip-hop trio Run-D.M.C. Comprising nine tracks, the album introduced a raw, stripped-down sound that redefined rap music and ushered in the New School era of hip-hop. Below is an in-depth exploration of its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and a balanced critique of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrical content of *Run-D.M.C.* was revolutionary for its time. The group moved away from the party-centric and playful rhymes of early hip-hop, opting instead for a harder, more confrontational style. Tracks like “It’s Like That” and “Hard Times” delve into social commentary, addressing issues such as unemployment, poverty, and systemic inequality. These songs expanded the thematic boundaries of rap music, aligning it with the socially conscious tradition of Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message”[1][2][4]. “Sucker M.C.’s,” one of the album’s standout tracks, is a diss record that introduced a minimalist lyrical style focused on braggadocio and personal storytelling. The song’s directness and lack of a traditional chorus were unprecedented at the time[2][4]. Similarly, “Hollis Crew (Krush Groove 2)” offered a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of Run-D.M.C., blending autobiographical elements with motivational undertones[1]. While most tracks are lyrically robust, some—like “30 Days”—veer into lighter territory with humorous themes. However, these moments lack the depth and impact of the album’s more serious offerings[1]. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Run-D.M.C.* was a stark departure from the disco-influenced beats that dominated early hip-hop. The production relied heavily on drum machines and sparse instrumentation, creating a raw, unpolished sound that emphasized rhythm over melody. This minimalist approach gave the album an aggressive edge that resonated with urban audiences[2][4]. “Rock Box,” another standout track, broke new ground by incorporating electric guitar riffs into a hip-hop framework. This fusion of rap and rock was revolutionary and laid the foundation for future rap-rock collaborations[4]. Tracks like “Jam Master Jay” showcased DJ Jam Master Jay’s turntable skills through intricate scratching and cutting techniques, further emphasizing the album’s innovative use of sound[1]. However, not all tracks are equally compelling. Songs like “Wake Up” feature less dynamic production that feels dated compared to the rest of the album’s cutting-edge sound[1]. --- ### **Production** The album was produced by Russell Simmons and Larry Smith at Greene Street Recording in New York City. Their production choices were instrumental in shaping *Run-D.M.C.’s* signature sound. By stripping away unnecessary layers and focusing on hard-hitting beats and vocal delivery, Simmons and Smith created a sonic blueprint that would dominate hip-hop for years to come[4][5]. The use of drum machines like the Oberheim DMX gave tracks such as “Sucker M.C.’s” their iconic punchiness. The decision to incorporate rock elements in “Rock Box” also demonstrated a willingness to experiment beyond traditional hip-hop boundaries[4]. Despite its groundbreaking nature, some tracks—like “30 Days”—feel underdeveloped compared to others on the album[1]. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Run-D.M.C.* balances social commentary with self-assertion and humor: - **Social Commentary**: Songs like “It’s Like That” and “Hard Times” address economic struggles and societal injustices during the Reagan era. These tracks resonate as precursors to politically charged rap movements. - **Self-Assertion**: Tracks such as “Sucker M.C.’s” and “Hollis Crew” highlight personal ambition and confidence, reflecting hip-hop’s competitive spirit. - **Humor**: Lighter tracks like “30 Days” bring levity but lack the depth found in other songs. This thematic diversity helped establish *Run-D.M.C.* as more than just a collection of singles; it was a cohesive statement about life in urban America during the 1980s[1][2][4]. --- ### **Influence** The influence of *Run-D.M.C.* cannot be overstated. The album marked a turning point for hip-hop by: 1. **Defining New School Hip-Hop**: It introduced a tougher, more aggressive style that contrasted sharply with earlier party-oriented rap. 2. **Pioneering Album Culture**: By crafting an album with thematic consistency and high-quality production across all tracks (rather than focusing solely on singles), Run-D.M.C. set a new standard for hip-hop albums[5]. 3. **Breaking Genre Barriers**: With tracks like “Rock Box,” they paved the way for future collaborations between rock and rap artists. 4. **Cultural Impact**: Their streetwear-inspired fashion (Adidas sneakers without laces, leather jackets) became iconic and influenced both fans and fellow artists. 5. **Mainstream Success**: The album reached #11 on Billboard’s Top Black Albums chart and earned Gold certification within months—a milestone for hip-hop at the time[2][4]. Without *Run-D.M.C.*, subsequent artists like Public Enemy, N.W.A., or even modern acts blending genres might not have had such fertile ground to grow. --- ### **Pros** - **Innovative Sound**: The minimalist production was groundbreaking for its time. - **Lyrical Depth**: Tracks like “It’s Like That” tackled serious social issues with clarity and urgency. - **Genre-Bending**: The inclusion of rock elements in “Rock Box” expanded hip-hop’s musical possibilities. - **Cohesive Vision**: Unlike many early rap albums that felt like compilations of singles, *Run-D.M.C.* presented a unified artistic statement. - **Cultural Influence**: Beyond music, their style and attitude helped define hip-hop culture. --- ### **Cons** - **Inconsistent Quality**: While most tracks are strong, songs like “30 Days” feel out of place or underwhelming compared to highlights like “Sucker M.C.’s.” - **Limited Melodic Range**: The heavy reliance on sparse beats sometimes makes the album feel monotonous over repeated listens. - **Dated Production on Some Tracks**: While innovative at release, certain songs lack the timeless quality found in others. --- ### Conclusion *Run-D.M.C.* is an essential piece of hip-hop history that redefined what rap music could be. Its raw energy, innovative production, and socially conscious lyrics set it apart from its contemporaries while laying the groundwork for future generations. Despite minor flaws in consistency and melodic variety, its cultural impact remains unparalleled. For listeners seeking to understand hip-hop’s evolution or simply enjoy one of its most influential works, *Run-D.M.C.* is both an educational experience and an exhilarating listen.
sapeee. 5 de 5
This feels so foundational to basically all music after it.
Iconic! Love this. Game-changer.
AWESOME
This is the birth of the sound of 80's hip-hop and as dated as it sounds now, the innovation and progress is undeniable. A ground breaking masterpiece.
This is #day156 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to da roots of hip-hop! The golden age of hip-hop is not just the epitome of cool. This is when every album and single was breaking new ground. It was experimental, it was interesting… Take Run-DMC's debut. With just 9 tracks, this record hits you like a statement. Irresistible beats, hard-hitting rhymes, and innovative use of samples make it iconic. "Hard Times," "Rock Box," "It's Like That," and "Sucker M.C.'s" (one of the very first diss tracks), this album is full of classics. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day157.
Now we are talking.
Really liked it, not as much as Raising Hell but still really enjoyable.
I haven't listened to this entire album for a long time, probably since the 90s. Reznor masters mood, angst, lust, hunger. It originally came out just in time for my teenage years, and the only thing I loved more than the music was the videos. Upon revisiting, I can genuinely appreciate the ebb and flow, quiet spaces, then pounding beats with his voice screaming over them. I would sum it up with one word: sex.
So CUTE
It feels ike two friends having a great setup and having fun. I love it !
"Run-D.M.C" is the self-titled debut album by American hip hop band Run-D.M.C. The genres are East Coast hip hop, hardcore rap and rap rock and the album is considered to be the first in a few of those categories. Sparse bears and aggressive rhymes. The band on this album was Jay Master Jay (percussion, keyboards), Darryl Mc Daniels "D.M.C." (vocals), Joseph Simmons "Run" (vocals) and Eddie Martinez (guitar). Commercially, the album hit #53 in the US and was the first certified gold hip hop album. A deep bass drum and handclaps open "Hard Times." They continue throughout the song. Synths in the background. Run and D.M.C. repeating hard times. The boys need a dollar everyday of the week. "Rock Rap" is considered the first rock rap song as Eddie Martinez lays down the guitar licks. More loud drums beats and bells added. They are masters of the mic. Run and D.M.C. deliver their best rapping on "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1) as they diss other M.C.'s. The first single released was "It's Like That." Slow deliberate beats with sparse keys. Considered one of the first hard core rap songs. A social protest song as they rap on unemployment and inflation. "30 Days" is more synth heavy. They are strutting their stuff and if you don't like it, you can send them back in 30 days. The album closes with "Jay's Game" and showcases Jay Master Jay with his beats, handclap percussion and especially his scratching. Compared to current hip hop production, some may consider this minimalist but to me this sounded fresh and relevant as ever. Aggressive and clear rapping. Deep, loud and deliberate beats throughout. Touching on social issues. Rightfully considered a classic and an album to definitely go back to.
So much fun to listen to rap as it should be meaningful and clean
Wake Up!!
Hard to believe I didn't love this in 1983; I love it now. Happy birthday, Hip Hop! #HH50
Run DMC have always been sort of vaguely there in my life, but this is the first time I've listened to a full album. The beats are so stripped down! I found myself questioning who Run DMC are, because given the number of references to DJs and MCs you'd expect more turntableism - but I think what we have is maybe a couple of drum machines. Beats and flows is what this album is all about, and while I'm not super-fussed by some of the beats, the flows are always right up there. Run DMC are some of the rap pioneers, and still some of the East Coast's finest. Genre-defining and absolutely worth a place in the list.
Run DMC é o responsável pelo hip hop fodase
One of the most influential rap albums ever, with great songs like the commentary of ‘It’s Like That’ and the awesome guitar of ‘Rock Box’. While the rapping isn’t the best (this came 3 years before Paid in Full came and revolutionized the game) this is overall a great album.
Run-D.M.C. were single handedly responsible for smashing down the walls that separated rock from hip-hop in the early 80's. I believe this harder sound (which is the earliest signs of future genres such as gangsta rap and hardcore rap) is why they were so prominently featured on MTV, allowing them to sell the most records of any hip-hop group up to that point. They were actually the first hip-hop group featured on MTV, and were also the first hip-hop group featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. These guys took sounds that MC's like Grandmaster Flash were making, stripped them down, simplified them, and cut them with rock instead of the usual funk sensibilities. Also, one thing that I love about these early days of hip hop is the clean songwriting. As I stated in an earlier review if an album by Jungle Brothers, these guys didn't rap about hoes, getting their birds sucked, and killing people. They sang about real issues, like racism, poverty, and world peace. The song Sucker M.C.'s is considered to be the first "diss track" ever. Run-D.M.C.'s lyrical delivery of finishing each other's sentences would become a trend in hip hop as well, being utilized by future bands such as Beastie Boys. Overall, a historic record today, and an excellent one at that!! I will absolutely listen to this again!! Favorite songs: Rock Box, It's Like That, Jam-Master Jay, Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1), Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2), 30 Days Least favorite songs: if forced to pick, Hard Times 5/5
Amazing. Legendary. Super fun!
Я в каком-то невероятном восторге от альбома. В нем столько энергии и жизни. Понятно, что музыкально он староват, это начало хип-хопа, но он невероятно живой. Музыка тут на 4, но энергетика и вайб на 5
Ебучая классика. Очень мощный, грязный, злой хип-хоп с которого началась новая музыка. Этот альбом хочет что ты под него качался и танцевал и ему плевать на твое мнение. Алкоальбом: выпить серию шотов с хреном и пойти разрывать танцпол
What a banger of a record. Every track. Every beat. Every rhyme. Retro and avante garde, it oozes cool at every turn, and while the 808s bang it squarely in the 80s, the many revivals now make it almost timeless. A perfect record.
Hard times are coming to your town So stay alert, don't let them get you down They tell you times are tough, you hear that times are hard But when you work for that ace you know you pulled the right card Hard times got our pockets all in chains I'll tell you what, homeboy, it don't have my brain All day I have to work at my peak Because I need that dollar every day of the week Outstanding. 5/5
Awesome, of course it's a classic.
Very fun, simple, and great for bopping. I think this is a classic everyone needs to hear!
YOooo
In the documentary Shangri-La, about the life and times of Rick Rubin, there is a great quote: "We weren't great at using drum machines quite yet, but Rev Run and DMC had the one instrument more powerful than the drum machine: their VOICES!" - Russell Simmons. Now that quote isn't verbatim, but the meaning has stuck with me. This album absolutely rules. It's short, to the point, and maybe the first example of hardcore rap music. Sucker MCs, Rock Box and not one but TWO tracks dedicated to Jam Master Jay. "It's Like That", by far the best song and "a protest to social and political problems" and "the song takes a hopeful turn and encourages listeners to take action and believe in themselves." Love this one. 5 stars, easily.
Incredibly interesting to listen to. Run DMC was a buzzword when I was a kid. I knew they were “rappers” but heard the grownups around me talk about how rap was a fad. I didn’t have external permission to listen to them, and that became my disposition toward hip hop for years. I’ve “caught up” to some extent and grown to love the genre, but I have a long way to go. After this 1001 project, I may take a year and listen to only hip hop. This album was a lynchpin in taking hip hop from what it was, to what it became. The trunk of the tree. Springing up from the roots and supporting the countless branches growing up from it. A treat to listen through it.
These two guys, they’re street prophets for real. This album rips, it’s excellent all around. Hard Times is shockingly more relevant now than it possibly was back then, and it floored me with its prescience. And obviously It’s Like That is the anthemic hit that just won’t quit, I’ll never tire of it. This is a flawless debut, it is bursting at the seams with charisma, innovation, and originality and it’s FUN! Such a good album, love it.
This album may be discarded as a historical artefact which belongs to its particular time and place, but I think it’s still one of the most vibrant hip-hop albums around. Which is ironic, because the beats are generally monotonous and the rhymes are not quite as biting as those who trod the trail Run DMC blazed. It’s almost primitive in its simplicity and that is emphasised when situated within a genre which has become elaborate and conventional to the point of parody. And this is the point, this album broke almost every convention in the book when it was released. “Rock Box” transcended the realm of hip-hop and encroached on the sacred ground of rock. Tracks like “It’s Like That” and “Wake Up” demonstrated that the genre could do more than just brag about cars and flashy watches (although the lads do spend a lot of the album reminding the listener who they are). In addition to its objective merits as a pivotal album in the history of hip-hop, I think it’s still a blast to listen to, and it has me doing the running man before too long. What a record.
I hate it when people use the phrase "true gem," so I'm going to refer to this as an "unfalsified jewel." And it really is. It's stripped-back and raw, but it largely avoids the constant anger of hip-hop in favour of a more varied and open-hearted approach. "It's Like That" is one of my favourite hip-hop tracks ever, and the original version sounds just as good as the Jason Nevins remix. A "verifiable precious stone."
Chef's kiss.
Never really listened to old school hip hop but this was really good
Landmark album in every aspect that contains many classic tracks: Rock Box is almost just as good as Walk This Way; Hard Times might even be better than the Kurtis Blow original; and It's Like That is a big single (19997 remix is even better) while Sucker MCs is another legendary rap track and the other two singles (30 Days, Hollis Crew) are 5* too. The remaining three tracks, including Jam Master Jay, are also very good and well known.
Put that fancy new drum machine to work! Rock Box keeps it funky fresh with the Duncan Hines reference and guitars. Sucker M.Cs pretty great Wake Up is kinda sad because not one of the problems from 84 is solved. Jam Master Jay can jam! Every M.C. that follows owes it to Run DMC so gets a 5 by being the template for pretty much all the rap/hip hop that follows
very cool
Absolutely class - both interesting as the start of the golden age, and immensely enjoyable on its own merits. It's like that and rock box and hard times and wake up are all pretty perfect, and so are all the other tracks!
Owned this almost 40 years ago. Can't wait to listen on the way to work!
An album of a generation.
This album is great. I remember it well from when it came out and got popular. I had not heard much rap/hip hop at that age (early/mid teen years) and I liked how different it was from most music with which I was familiar. Love how 'Rock Box' showed the world that rock and rap have a lot more in common than most had thought. Pretty clear the door it opened for so much that followed.
Good
A really fun album. It changed the entire hip hop game. The rhymes seem simplistic by today's standards but that doesn't take from the album. The album does not have some of Run DMC's mega hits but it is still a good album. I would listen to it again.
Bangers!
Absolutely fantastic.
KILLER album. Insanely influential on hip-hop as a genre and it's just full of jams. I love the minimalist beats.
A classic album, and you can still hear its influence in a lot of current music. Don’t know what else to say about this really - love it.
Probably the only rap/hip-hop album that I ever enjoyed. Some songs are fun and lighthearted (but still have well-written texts that you can follow), while some are more serious, providing comments on problems in the modern world. But even then, the lyrics aren't too sad or heavy. The beats are also good, and the occasional bits of rock melodies are a nice touch. And overall, the artists come across as fun, likable guys, a connection that isn't easy to establish through music.
Ok i
EPIC! I never realised the message in these tracks although I always really enjoyed them for the entertainment value with the retro beats and rap style. I have a new-found appreciation for It's Like That and Wake Up - what a TUNE.
Anything that was featured in Vice City largely contributed to my unstoppable love with 80’s music, especially origins of the hip hop. “It’s like that” and “rock box” wow!!!
I loved all of the sounds of this album. Drum machines and heavy guitar sounded great and really could see the beastie boy influences.
Love how sparse this is, and their interplay. Although rapping and rhymes have obviously progressed since this time, their delivery is so on point and their message is clear that it doesnt matter that the rhymes are basic. Loved it.
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, because the album is so unapologetically what it is, and standing out so clearly from what came before, I'll call this album Very Good, 8/10.
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
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!
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.
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
80s Hip Hop is fun!
Raw and pioneering. Disco rap was dead once this dropped
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
Old style but really well done, entertaining, and clearly impactful
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.
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.
Delicious
Kings from Queens
Excellent debut album.
Nostalgic
I had a good time with this. Yes it’s dated, but it’s a damn good time too
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.
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.
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.
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⭐️
Pretty tame by today’s standards but I still enjoy old school
Classic hip hop record
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.
Rapmaster 2000
The drum machine sounds of early 80s hip hop cannot be topped.
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
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.
RUN DMC were pioneers. That’s why it gets 4 stars
Enjoyed the relative minimalism of the beats. 80s and 90s hip hop is generally a winner in my book and this is no exception
7 / 10 - Old School Hip-Hop - Genre begründend - kann man nicht still zu stehen bleiben, man muss sich bewegen Favs: - Rock Box - Wake Up
Hurray! Album number 90 is my first hip-hop album. Insane that it took this long. I ran the numbers and it's about a 0.02% chance to go 89 albums in a row from this list and not get an album tagged hip-hop, 1 in 3600! This album is the perfect way to start getting some rap. Groundbreaking sound. Certainly a bit dated, but still solid. The beats are simple but still good. The lyrics don't jump out at me, but the delivery is excellent. For everyday listening this isnt on my go to list, that will always be the 90's hip-hop I grew up with, but it is a classic and essential entry on the list. 3 star listen, but 4 star album off influence alone.
You can hear Run DMC become if not better rappers, rappers who are getting better at making music as this album goes on. I think "King of Rock" remains my favorite Run DMC album but I enjoyed this one a lot.
This is silly in a fun way. I like the back and fourth vocals
Gorgeous 80s Hip Hop when it was nice n fun
Nice beats. Fun rhymes. I like this.
Lyrics are a positive message but just not the exact hard hitting rap that I perosnally like. The interplay between Run and DMC is very pleasant in the ears, fun hearing them go back and forth. The beats are simple but they make you wanna dance, very fun music to listen to.
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? Unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? RUN-DMC is fun but I don't think I could name any songs by then except Tricky. Favorite song(s)? Rock Box, It's Like That, Wake Up, 30 Days Overall Thoughts: I recognized more of this that I thought I would. It was fun, every song belonged and none felt like filler. I don't listen to much rap but when I do enjoy it it's this specific Hip-Hop era, which this album pioneered.
GEIIIIIIILLLL ich lieb d farbe vom schriftzug poah riiiesige beat s riff bi rock box isch soo eifach aber iwie machts vill uus sucker mc's hani jz chli wack gfunde wake up isch chli repetitiv aber iwie schono geiil, de bass und die stimm mmh 30 days isch auchli weird WBER DE SYNTHI ISCH SOOO GEIL mengisch sind d beats so leer iwie? aso isch sicher extra aber ja also hard times isch en absolute bop und en grossteil vom album hani eifach na cool gfunde? raising hell hani scho lieber gha. knapps 4i glaub?
Classic greatness
Beats and rimes that are near to my hear
great listen. throwback. Particularly impressed by the rap on the live "Here We Go". Very old school, fascinating to see how much hip hop has evolved over the decades.
Obviously a classic, but also just as obvious is how dated it sounds. That's to be expected, as the beats were all created with a drum machine and sparse synthesizer and guitar usage. Speaking of guitar, the single "Rock Box" would do huge numbers because it actually features guitar rather prominently, successfully bridging the gap between hip-hop and rock, and showing that the two genres have more in common than one would think. JMJ, Run and DMC all work incredibly well together to make some hard hitting and in your face jams, but it's not very often that the songs stick with you for very long after you listen. This album is a great starting point for any aspiring MC to study, but given how far rap has come over the decades I would say this album deserves it's flowers for planting the seeds, despite how much of a time capsule it really shows itself to be. "Rock Box" and "It's Like That" are immortal classics of hip-hop and rap, and that's the way it is.
Awesome
A solid first album from some legends. I put "It's like that" on my playlist.
It's interesting to read in the Wiki article how many firsts this album represented. My review would otherwise just say that this is a classic early 80s rap / hip-hop record, but, nay, this is the record that established what became classic. Still not my jam, but pretty cool.
Nice.
I think I prefer the cadence and style of modern rap better but I think this album had a really great, charming energy. I especially liked Rock Box. The instrumental was fire! I think the style is a little Sesame street, the way they finish each other's sentences and the rhyme scheme is so duh duh duh dah dah dah but it's trailblazing and enjoyable.
My wish for everyone (non-evil) in the world is to find a DMC to complement their Run.
Fun! Old school hip hop sounds a little silly now compared to stuff from even thirty years ago, but the appeal is still there.
classic. legends.
Hard-hitting and classic.
Really good! All of the songs are great
Raising Hell is a better album, imo, but it's really interesting and fun to hear how hip-hop would quickly expand from this. In a way, too, this kind of feels like a window into what Prince was building. Really hoping more hip-hop and rap pioneers show up on this, such as Boogie Down Productions
the debut Run-D.M.C. album is a landmark of hip hop history. nowadays, hip hop is the biggest genre of music in the entire world, but its omnipresence should never blind us to its foundations! Run, D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay (R.I.P.) were working from a blueprint established by artists like Kurtis Blow and the Sugarhill Gang, acts that weren't too far removed from the disco music that formed the foundation of rap music. turn on this album, though, and you'll immediately hear a substantial paradigm shift. yes, the opening track is a Kurtis Blow cover, but the two versions are worlds apart. Run-D.M.C.'s version also serves as an introduction to their sound as a group: stripped down, aggressive, and heavily featuring the interplay between its two MCs, who weave in and out of each other's verses with reckless abandon. it's a far cry from anything that had come before in hip hop. a lot of the music here is purely just Run and D.M.C. rapping over programmed drum loops, with maybe the occasional chord stab here and there, and some scratching from Jam Master Jay too. other than the aforementioned opener "Hard Times", the two main highlights are "Rock Box", a guitar-laden track which was hip hop's first major crossover with rock music, and "Sucker M.C.'s", perhaps the genre's first major diss record. the overall listening experience can feel pretty rudimentary by today's standards of rapping, beat-making and songwriting, but that's because this album represents hip hop's literal rudiments! very informative listening experience. decent 7/10.
Some old school hip hop at its best. This is a fantastic album.
B+
Not really my thing, I found it boring
Classic rap
it may sound old and far from what hip-hop sounds like today; but I actually found it refreshing
Great.
Very direct. Fun.
It’s amazing to have been around for the creation of rap/hip-hop. Listening to Run-DMC’s debut album when it came out in 1984 must have blown people's minds….and made a lot of people angry. Hip-hop still tends to make people angry even today. Run-DMC was in the orbit of one Rick Rubin, who was both a hip-hop fan and a heavy metal fan. I’m convinced his pairing of rock guitar with rap made it more accessible to the white audience. It’s hard to hate on a rocking guitar riff. Rock Box is the big one off this album. The guitar playing on it was nice and heavy for the time and became the first rap video played on MTV, which is amazing. MTV wouldn’t even play Michael Jackson without a little blackmail thrown in. Then Michael Jackson, along with Madonna, made MTV. It certainly wasn't Mick Jagger and David Bowie. I digress. The first single off the album was It’s Like That. I’m quite certain I must have heard that at the time because it feels like I’ve always known it. Maybe I saw it on MTV as a kid. It got to number 15 on the Hot R&B chart. Yes, listening to the album now, it sounds quite corny. It sounds like what most black folks probably believe white folks sound like whn rapping. It doesn’t quite hold up to the advancements made in hip-hop, though I’d argue hip-hop has regressed to mumbling and ambient beats. But I’d wager that if you put these tunes on at a party, people would dance and cheer. This album is included on the 1,001 list almost specifically because of its historical significance. This album birthed hip-hop. Yes, the rhymes and beats are simple, for the most part, but at the time, no one outside of people in clubs and at block parties in New York City had ever heard rap before. I first discovered Run-DMC on MTV with the amazing Walk This Way with Aerosmith. It blew my mind. I was in middle school, and I ended up buying Run-DMC cassettes to give as gifts to a few friends. I did the same when I first heard Guns ‘N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction. Run-DMC were so good and so new, I wanted the credit for spreading it through Ohio County Middle School. In the end, this is an essential album to hear, though you must get into the right mindset. This was most of America’s introduction to rap and hip-hop; in fact, specifically, Rock Box was white America’s introduction to rap and hip-hop. This album belongs in the Smithsonian to be preserved for the rest of time. Now, will I be listening to it again? Probably not, I’ve got enough to last me for another 40 years.
Catchyyyyyy
Great album even though not a Massive hip hop fan , however grea5 album which brought this genre more into the main stream , very listenable and good to dance to
Like the genre itself, I sort of went through a natural evolution with my hip-hop tastes, and that started with Run-D.M.C. I was obsessed with these guys when I was younger (mind you, we were WELL past the 80's at this point in time). Something about 80's hip-hop drew me in, and Run-D.M.C. specifically caught my ear with their simple beats and clean, yet tough, lyrics. One can argue that the rap rock genre fusion got its start here, with "Rock Box" representing the first big hit in that regard (and the highlight of this album for me). Lest I also forget to mention "Sucker M.C.'s" as being recognized as one of the first diss tracks in hip-hop too. Yeah, not hard to see why this is considered a landmark release in hip-hop ("Hard Times" to "It's Like That' is one hell of a run to start the album, I must add). Sure, I will admit that Run-D.M.C. sounds pretty primitive in multiple regards nowadays, and thus they might not get the respect they deserve as a result. Nostalgia can hit like a truck though, and while I don't find myself lsitening to these guys much anymore, they still hold a special place in my heart and in hip-hop as a whole.
Loving the grooves & beats on this album, and the old-school (some would argue out-dated) verses add a charm to the album that I feel adds to the listening experience. It’s got attitude, energy and a vibrance that ultimately makes it really fun to listen to, if you don’t take it too seriously. Despite a couple of moments where it maybe felt repetitive and a bit tired, it’s a strong 8/10 for me.