Run-D.M.C.

From the first few seconds I knew I'd enjoy it. Sure it's simplistic in hindsight, but it was ground breaking at the time. I'm only knocking it down to a 4 because they went on to make better albums.

This is a very clear 3.5 for me. The production, flow, and lyrics are all very dated. But this was the first album of the first intellectual rap group. Without Run-D.M.C., you don't get Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, or even something like Rage. They were so influential and ground-breaking it totally overcomes everything else. Influence 5. Quality 2. Intangibles 5. Hits 2. I respect my elders 4.

Classic Rap/Hip hop. Good stuff.

You almost have to give this at least 4 stars based on its influence and because it (in my opinion) still holds up so well after 40 years. Yes, the beats and synths here are firmly rooted in the mid 80’s, but it’s striking how relevant the lyrics and vocals are to modern rap music. Several songs still slap musically: It’s Like Than and Wake Up are particularly strong tracks for me. It’s minimalistic and has a heavy focus on the vocals, which I think is great. There were better hip hop albums to follow, but this is an incredibly important part of the zeitgeist.

Impact-wise this is likely a five star. But even within the Run-D.M.C. catalog it may not be their most exemplary work. Highly suggest listening to it but if you had to pick a single album from the,, it’s going to be Raising Hell. But then listening to this tells you where it all started.

I’m familiar with a lot of melodic rap or modern production in hip hop so seeing where it came from or the earlier stages of rap was enjoyable and fun

This album is a pillar in the Hip Hop community. While they didn't spit the most dynamic verses, it's fun, house party music as the duo feeds off of each other. Favorite Track: "Rock Box".

Great to finally hear this, I’ve known how influential this was for a while but never listened to it until now. I thought it was really good but definitely dated which is to be expected but still brings the album down a bit, for 1984 though it feels like it should have sounded more dated than it actually did. It feels very Beastie boys at times with the punchy rhythms and back and forth between the 2 mc’s (obviously inspiration to them). The political commentary was cool as well and I could see how this could have led to these themes being brought across into future hip hop albums, that and the concept of diss tracks and hardcore hip hop. The blend of rock elements with the guitar on Rock Box and the synths help keep it fresh although it did sound a bit plain sometimes with just drums and vocals but it did make it sound more punchy. Favourites: all. Overall: 8/10.

debut album of run-d.m.c., and it's a pretty important and early example of fusing rap with rock. in-your-face rhymes, guitar chugs to keep the rhythm and FAT drum machines make this an album perfect for blasting in your car. there's no doubt that these guys have lots of chemistry even from the get-go. and some of these tracks will literally make you bounce with every THUMP of the bass. this album is a little... dated. the earlier grandmaster flash levels of hip hop (which older generations call TRUE hip hop and not the vulgar evil stuff) to me, while engaging is a little corny. you can rag on how different and how r-rated 90s hip hop was, but i'll take cool beatflips and conscious, emotional vocals rather than some dude playing with a yamaha dx7 and a drum machine and going "hip hop! it's the hippest of hop! we hippity hop, we hoppity hip, we dance and we pop and we shoot some hoops! hippity hippity hop hop! ah ha ha, ah ha ha!" stop spamming the clap button. don't get the wrong idea though, this album is good.

Nostalgia! Man, listening to these jams brought me back to my bad ass youth. I felt so fucking cool listening to this album, although I does fee a bit dated.

Liked it, interesting to here the early beats of Hip hop

Lovely

It's just like that. That's just how it is

Not normally my type of music but quite enjoyed this album

An album I've been meaning to check out for a very long time, an early hip-hop staple that's considered to be revolutionary for the genre - and I'm not really sure how I feel about that sentiment. I do think golden-era hip-hop has a very unique and charming sound that wasn't translated at all into the '90s when the sounds of the genre shifted drastically, and this album partially encapsulates that. The beats here feel more deliberately programmed, clearly drawing from the sounds of rudimentary house and techno music that were growing alongside hip-hop at this time - especially on a song like 'Jam-Master Jay'. But the biggest thing is just the sheer lack of samples flying in and out on this thing, something that's usually an '80s hip hop staple that contrasts the more repetitive nature of '90s hip-hop production (which I love also, still). Run DMC deviates from groups like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and The Beastie Boys when it comes to sample selection. There's a satisfying level of simplicity behind the music here, and I'd say that Jam-Master Jay's production style falls more in line with the sounds of the earliest DJs and founding fathers of hip-hop like Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa. Some cool production moments here include the live-recorded electric guitar on 'Rock Box', the detuned, blaring synths and 808 of '30 Days', or those bright synth hits on 'It's Like That' - a super catchy tune. You'll still get samples and record scratching here, of course, most evidently on the closer 'Jay's Game', but it's certainly not the focal point here, with it taking a backseat to the keyboards and drum machines usually. The rapping is pretty basic, which is to be expected of this time, with the anthemic, bar-conscious, back-and-forth style that guys like the Beastie Boys loved. I enjoyed it for the most part, especially on the song 'Rock Box' which felt like a more slick and progressive take on that style. 'Sucker M.C's' was a nice break from the constant call-and-responses of the album, with the whole track spotlighting both MCs just going off on this simple drum-machine beat - it's an effective demonstration of how stripped-back this genre can get. Lyrically, it's pretty standard battle-rap type stuff, say for maybe the togetherness-anthem that is 'Wake Up' that I found only slightly annoying on the production front. So did I actually enjoy this? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did, the album just flew by, for one, and for two, I do think this album sticks out in the golden age hip-hop era and really highlights a time where hip-hop wasn't afraid to heavily draw from many adjacent American subcultures. I'd say this album and 'Licensed to Ill' show two different sides of that same coin, and that's always super cool to listen to.

Another nostalgic fave. I love how simple and stripped down the music is. It may seem too basic in comparison to the rap music made today, but it’s an easy 4/5 from me.

Klasse 80s Hip Hop aus dem so viel hervorgegangen ist und inspiriert wurde.

Minimal, tough as nails, guitar samples - one of those records, like Nevermind, that made everything before seem old-fashioned.

This was really good. The 84 flow takes a bit of getting used to, but the beats are banging and the messages behind many tracks are on point. Will listen again.

Gotta give it up for Run-DMC. Where would we be without them? Nostalgic, positive, all around awesome. I do have to say that I don’t listen to a ton of this anymore, but this is the DNA of hip-hop. Essential listening.

proper solid rap album, think i prefer this to raising hell, this was more raw in my opinion, some great tunes

Good

Rad

Run DMC are legends and this album is certified 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Maybe it's part of my 80's nostalgia, but I enjoyed the album.

Great album. Iconic!

As I’m going through all these albums, I’m discovering that I like rap and hip hop from the 80’s and early 90’s more than I would have ever liked to admit. Here’s another example. I dig it! 4/5

Hard but oddly motivational

Before I started the 1001 journey, I had a couple of songs from this album on a playlist somewhere. It's Run DMC. I'm an ex-teen of the 80s. I like it.

One of the first albums I bought with my own money was "A Salt with a Deadly Pepa" and I listened to it endlessly. Lots of similar vibes here. Love the simple production, the big drums, the clever lyrics.

Hard to argue against such a legendary group. The sort of style of finishing eachothers bars did wear on me a little as the album went on but I think as pioneers or what would become a global genre gotta give credit where credit is due. To make something like this without a real blueprint is inspiring to say the least.

Solid. Bold. Fresh.

Solid hip hop slice, ahead of it's time. Rock Box is a clinker

Dated? Yes. But you got to respect the classics.

Best Song: Sucker MCs This was good. It showed what was to come, which was arguably one of the most influential artists in hip hop. 4/5.

Great album!

Honestly, I think this album and Raising Hell are probably in a dead heat, objectively speaking. Both hugely influential, both very good albums at a time when rap was not an album genre. But where I erred on the side of caution before and rounded Raising Hell up from a 4.5 to a 5, I think, because I just don't have the same fondness for it, I have to round the self-titled down to a 4. Still tremendous, though. Rock Box and Sucker MC's have aged like fine wine. Loud, brash, potent fine wine. So probably more of a red than a white.

This is just friggin’ awesome

Just a little less refined than their later work, but the content is still incredibly relevant today and the production is only slightly dated. Listened to: at work. Favorite track: Jam-Master Jay, It's Like That

Top

Enjoyed this album. Always wonder what I would have thought at the time it came out. It wasn't in my musical interests at the time.

An enjoyable album with great classic jams that are balanced well by old school hip hop feel and the true of innovators of hip hop before everyone settled on their vibe and hip hop became stale with the cliches we are stuck with today. There is a reason that this was the first hip hop album to be certified Gold (500,000 sales) in the U.S. The album still drags with the typically boring MC braggadocio that leads to boredom during tracks 3-5 and 8-9. While I didn't add any tracks, its place in music history guarantees a spot on this list. Although I would argue that RAISING HELL really changed the game for all of the music industry. That is when everyone, including me, learned how hip hop and rock could co-exist.

This is another debut album. Even though this is a hip hop album, I was impressed by the lyrics. Typically hip hop lyrics are all about guns, drugs, killing cops, etc., but this album was clean with interesting upbeat lyrics. There is very little music in the background, but somehow it works well. I think this is the best hip hop album we’ve heard so far.

Now I'm no prude or snowflake, and I don't mind at all about all the f-bombs liberally scattered throughout the music of the 2020s, but it is really refreshing to listen to rap artists who feel no need to swear their way to stardom. That said, I don't think this album is as good as "Raising Hell", but, of course, this is their debut effort, so perhaps excellence should not be expected. It's definitely good enough for four stars though.

Entertaining. One of those works that make you feel energized and optimistic. Today -2025- might not come across as a great thing, but back on its release date, it must have been revolutionary.

like this more than most oldschool hip hop (which i like anyway)

Feels a bit lacking, but then you realize it came out the same year as Ghostbusters. Worth listening to just to see how far the genre has come and in such a relatively short amount of time.

Need more guitars in rap music

Possibly in danger of like some of the tracks were going to roll into - It’s like that but enjoyed it. Very influential group

Very cool and influential

Good! You can hear it echoed down through the years.

It is interesting to compare this to all the diversity of sound, speed and style in hip hop now. Legends if course

They get better, but this is a groundbreaker

It was a blast listening to this while getting ready! I liked the lyrics and beat. It kind of felt like it shouldn't work but it did?

8/10 Favorites: Rock Box, Wake Up, 30 Days

Got major Beastie Boys vibes, and it turns out that after a quick search: Run-D.M.C. DID influence them! In fact, Run-D.M.C. helped create Paul Revere on Licensed to Ill. Neat!! I also really like how they alternate saying things. It is done very well here

Simple in some ways compared to modern hip-hop, but you can hear the ground breaking bits even today. A bit heavy on the drum-track clicking sometimes.

the beats are basically all the same in terms of effect but impressively different and wildly creative in terms of actual individual elements...some heavier, some more minimal, but always impressively matching run and d's chemistry which tbh if we're being real might still be completely unmatched...listening to these guys is the hip hop equivalent of jawdropping prog rock guitar interplay, still so exciting and fun. it is not the most diverse record in the universe, but its very concise and , if exhausting, its exhausting in a good way. and before it gets there, its as thrilling as any music has ever been tbh. cant even imagine the atom bomb this was in 84

I just finished the Beastie Boys Book, which features Run DMC several times, so this worked as a fun companion piece for that early period of rap music

Classic.

Gillar albumet, känns nostalgiskt på nå vis. Fick mig dansa på nya, kreativa sätt! Mysig och kul samtidigt, lågintensiv-dansvänlig

Rock Box

rock box forever!!!! 3.5

One of the greatest of all time. Pioneers in the genre. This album is fun, catchy, cohesive, and relatable. Everything a great album needs to be truly great.

I am probably softer on pre-"old school" rap (I've noticed when anyone refers to old school rap they only refer to 90s rap.) Though when this was released I was in my "rap is crap" phase, something I started shedding in the early to mid 90, it was really looking back at the early 80s rap that first started my turn to find some appreciation for the genre (probably because by that time it was that rap that was being incorporated into rock more so than say Biggie or Tupac.) As far as this album, first of all the three main singles seem to be the key tracks, especially "Rock Box" which I totally love. "That's the Way It Is" is the only song in here I was very familiar with from way back in the day. I like it now, didn't then. But my biggest take away from this album is the big drum sound which I'm just gonna go out and say it... No Run-D.M.C., no *Big Bam Boom*, not that Hall & Oates were trying to rap, but they totally copied that drum sound for the "Dance On Your Knees"/"Out of Touch" opener. I personally a) like what I've heard from *Raisin' Hell* better, "Tricky" and "Walk This Way" are tops. ||I actually like the Aerosmith cover better than the original, but that more has to with the choral effects on Tyler's vocals on the chorus in the original kinda takes the steam coming out of the verses. The raw screech of Tyler in the remake has a f'n great bite||, and b) much prefer the Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's style of rapping much more that Run-D.M.C.'s. But in this album is really the template of the future of rap, even though I will probably mark *Raisin' Hell* as their masterpiece once we get there. 8.1 ★★★★

Pretty cool, it definitely sounds dated now but I dont think you can hold that against them. Imagine hearing this for the first time in 1984.

Hard to hear the innovation now. Now, a lot of the beats sound the same and the rhymes simplistic. Back then, this was revolutionary. Listen to Kurtis Blow's version of Hard Times from a few years prior and then listen to this one and you'll appreciate what I mean.

It's always interesting to listen to groundbreaking albums and artists long after they made waves, especially if (like me) you're listening to their music largely for the first time (it was of course impossible to have missed their incredible cover of Aerosmith's "Walk this way", as well as the ubiquitous "It's tricky", but I don't think I've heard any of their songs from this album before aside from "It's like that", and I'm not entirely sure if I heard it much at the time). I know they made a splash as one of, if not *the* first hardcore rap/hip-hop groups to hit the scene, but listening in 2025 it's striking how slowly the beats pound, and how tame the lyrics are compared to just a few years later. But it's also impressive how you can hear echoes of them in the Beastie Boys (especially the syncopation in "Wake up", but really throughout), Public Enemy, Ice-T, etc. I particularly enjoyed their singles "Hard times", the OG rap rock track "Rock box", their seminal "It's like that", as "Hollis crew", and "". I'm a little disappointed I wasn't able to watch the videos to their singles, but probably not enough to go back to watch them later. But very fun to listen to a transformative album.

This was a great album!!

I was white, surburban, and in 4th grade when this came out. I wouldn't encounter these guys for at least another two years when Raising Hell blew the doors wide open. This album was in the "formative mix" of my middle childhood, but not nearly as much as Raising Hell or the Beastie Boys' Ill Communication. It's great.

Campy, heavy, and a total blast all around, Run-D.M.C. does not disappoint on their debut.

Classic, but not always my kind of jam.

In general I’m not a hip hop fan but Rin-D.M.C. Is an exception for me - another enjoyable album.

Still holds up

Would listen again. It may be a little same same, but the electricity is undeniable. Low four. Faves: hard times, rock box

who doesn’t like some old school hip-hop??

Iconic and breakthrough album, immensely influential and game changing for the time.

These guys kicked the walls open for hip hop. Respect.

Man, did I love this. Hard hitting beats, playful delivery, the genre bending with rock. It’s all so cool and innovative. You can really hear their influence on acts to follow. Very minor points deducted for repetition (which is part of what makes it good) and the overall feel of cheesiness to the raps. Hip hop cannibalizes itself a bit when its edge of innovation casts aspersions on outdated styles and I can’t ignore that.

Rock Box! The original (and far superior) It's Like That Sure, it's hugely influential, and massively dated. Not all of it stands up to this day. But not all of it should be dismissed, there's still lots to enjoy. The less sparse stuff which makes use of synth stings and guitar samples stand up the best.

I’m so uncultured. I get it now.

Really really cool to listen to something that represents some of the earliest shifts in the sound of hip-hop. Come on; these beats are totally banging, and the rapping is charismatic as fuck. Maybe it’s a little one-note, but it’s still a must-listen, #101.

Really good fun! That classic style which can seem a little clichéd now but still has impact and flair. Makes me want to force a friend to walk around doing the alternating words/lines thing with me! Rock Box was my top pick, closely followed by Wake Up. Cool cover too.

Fun time.

Definitely an album everyone should listen to before they die. Fun. Provocative. And… dated. I’m sure this blew a lot of minds when it came out, its importance to the genre really can’t be overstated. But it’s a little earlier than the hip hop that I usually go for. Maybe that’s just because I don’t own a boombox. 6.5 for enjoyability + 2 for significance.

Good, classic

There's a lot of rippty rap rap going on in this album. I know the times were different, but the motivational rap doesn't really do it for me. Most of the beats felt like a sign of the times, but I did really like the guitar lick on Rock Box. Crazy that it'd take 2 more years before Walk This Way. I don't know if we needed that closing DJ track, but it is cool that Run DMC was giving Jay a chance to shine.

Let's be honest: the rapping isn't great. Not really flowing - more talking (yelling?). But the beats are 🔥🔥🔥 and this is hella influential.

“Relax your body, relax your mind, and listen as we say this rhyme” is such a hilarious thing to hear in a hip hop album. Really dated but one of the more influential rap albums out there. It’s Like That is a classic. I’ll round up to a 4.

Took me 30 years, but I see why they were the boom of hip hop. Samples for days and wonderful rhythmic flow.

This is cool and definitely important, but the instrumentation is a little sparse for my tastes.

Awesome

Will likely go into my regular rotation

The rockingest rappers ever, no one did it better than this. Every hugely influential album should be so enjoyable.

O disco é uma eterna lembrança dos filmes dos anos 1980. Um grande divisor de águas, onde o Rap trazia mais leveza e não haviam Diddys e Jays para acabar com o movimento.

Old school vibes

the songs got a little grating by the end of it but enjoyable overall, it scratches some part of my brain to hear them trade off words when they rap.

wow, this is their debut? these guys came out swinging! run-dmc really had their sound and energy nailed down from day one, so if you like their rap rock sound and high-energy hip-hop stylings, don't sleep on this. the album peaks around the middle and the last couple tracks are longer filler, but otherwise this is solid. favorites: rock box, jam-master jay, sucker mc's, it's like that

You would think you’d want to listen to this during Hard Times, but only Sucker M.C.’s do that. It’s Like That.

The beginning of hip-hop's mainstream recognition. I miss when enunciation was as much a part of the genre as the beats.

Stone cold classic and still sounds fresh after all this time. They’re so young, working with their limitations in such fun creative ways. My little 16 year old suburban mind was blown away by this. This is/was the sound of New York City (ok I know-maybe actually Queens) to me. Before I discovered the pleasures of the Velvet Underground. But that’s another story.

Run, DMC, Jam Master Jay and Russell Simmons were instrumental in the transition of a novelty into a genre that's now 40 years old. So this is of enormous historical importance. But through the lens of time, it sounds quaint. Glad I listened to it. Doubt I'll listen to it again.

Foundational

✔️

This 1001 list can be so cheeky! Giving me Run DMC right after License To Ill. Makes me want to listen to the list according to time, oldest first. Run definitely walked so BB could run. No doubt RUN DMC had their own influences, but respect for any artist doing their thing with confidence. Rock Box is so sick. 3.5

Favourite tracks: hard times; rock box; it's like that; 30 days

An important recording. A very important recording.

I like this for the sake of nostalgia and their influence. 3.5 stars.

This was such a fun revisit. I do like to kick back with some old school rap now and then.

An album that by any normal means I should hate. Sparse, just basically drum machine and rap. But it's just got something that makes it maybe of its time but also very listenable. We all know it was influential and what it led to and it's still got a charm.

Classic rap album

Perfect 90s hip hop vibe

8/10. I got Raising Hell in the database four days ago. Neither of the albums disappointed. Alternating words is a really interesting concept. :)

This is better then newer hip hip releases. I don’t know what exactly I like here but it’s awesome.

Fun

I for one love to be reminded of hip hop’s younger days before its misogynyistic and violent growth spurt. May be hard to stick with the entire album but there are key songs to hear (quick! before you die!) - Hard Times, Rock Box, Jam Master Jay, and It’s Like That. There are other good songs as well, but I find myself surprised they are only half over when I think they are about to “rap up.”

Ok

Rap legends. Always nice to hear how well they do the vocal interplay between them and finish each others sentences. I don't like it as much as raising hell and it really feels primitive at times but a good album nonetheless.

Run DMC er evigt hyggelige og deres 4 første albums er all timers

Måske et hot take, men jeg synes faktisk den her var federe end Raising Hell. Virkelig fed impulsiv energi, elsker de hyper minimalistiske beats. De sidste par numre er desværre lidt flade.

Great album with a lot of back and forth in the vocals, which makes it pretty fun and unique (to Run-D.M.C. at least) I still remember watching a Quake III frag movie some time early 00's where "It's Like That" was used... Good times..

Good Lod. Forty Years. It's difficult to imagine how groundbreaking this was back in '84. Wasn't really a fan back then, but like your gran's baking, there a certain nostalgia for things. It's still impressive in '24, and certainly deserves it's place in the 1001.

i love their style, the going back and forth they do is classic but it really ads dynamic to their songs

This does not sound modern. There is no doubt about that, but it is to be expected in the same way Buddy Holly didn't sound modern when I heard his album. I knew only some of Run-DMC's hit songs and only It's Like That off this album. I really like the synths on Hard Times and It's Like That, plus the guitar on Rock Box is pretty revolutionary. Wake Up is still relevant, of course. Like the broken record I am, some of the songs could have used some editing. 30 days is about one minute too long. Very influential album and I did enjoy listening to it even I may not revisit it frequently. Absolutely should be in this book, because without this album I don't know if there is a lot of 80's rap like LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys.

Start of a great era in music, tho it's not ny favourite

A true classic. Maybe a little dated but still iconic.

Iconic "It's like that" is on here. I'm usually not into hip-hip, but I like this.

Such a great debut, Run D.M.C. Knows how to make fun hip hop and the demonstrate that on their first release. They start strong on the opener, I really liked the breathy loop they had going on in the background. Rock Box lets everyone know that they’re willing to mix in some rock, they formally introduce Jam Master Jay on track three, It’s Like That is the hit that pulled everyone in. The beat on Wake Up may be my favourite that they made on the album. I had fun all the way thru, not quite as strong as Raising Hell but still awesome. 4 stars

Yep! Still holds up. Classic that’s all there is to say

It's a little dated but still damn good

Classic OG

Sounds almost minimalist by today's output.

Never heard this before. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I really like this. I like the spare production and the varied sound. "We're risin', surprisin', and often hypnotizin' "

I will agree with most of the other (good) reviews and say that this was extremely influential and important, and also sounds very dated these days.

Day201 - classic,nostalgic,influential and just plain fun. it’s like that

Minimal and sparse hip-hop from the early days. It's of its time, which means it's not something I would go out of my way to listen to again, but it was interesting and I enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars.

It's a very important piece of hip-hop history, obviously it comes off very simplistic in hindsight, but at the time I'm sure it was mind-blowing. Have to give it respect for that, and 'It's Like That' and 'Rock Box' I actually think still hold up as great tracks today.

Ground-breaking debut. Lots of great songs and I love the beats and the back and forth rapping. But this album isn't nearly as good as Raising Hell. I can tell things were still kind of getting figured out, couple songs fall flat for me

That was pretty epic in 1984. Unique. Predecessors of hardcore rap. I'm saying it just the way it is.

This album cannot be critiqued without context. Simple: this was the world’s first major tap production. Comparatively, it’s not great but for what it was it was revolutionary. Sucker MC’s still holds up, and Jam Master Jay, DMC and Rev Run later even perfected many of these songs. Still a classic

Run DMC were rap and hip hop pioneers. They will always be one of my favorites. If I had been a bit older and cooler I would have known about Run DMC when this album came out. Instead, I learned about them when Raising Hell came out and I saw them on MTV. This sounds so old now but it was truly revolutionary at the time. My favorite tracks are "It's Like That", "Sucker MCs" and "Hard Times". While not my favorite Run DMC album, total respect for completely changing the game.

Pretty good

Great, I enjoyed listening to this.

Quaint by todays standards but groundbreaking for its time.

Already listened.

Again a little out of time now, but clearly influential and some all time classics.

I especially like Wake Up

So minimal, my nearest frame of reference is probably Suicide. Must be the same drum machine or something. A game changer. Do I prefer Tougher Than Leathers more maximalist approach? Yes. But the latter wouldn't have been possible without this first.

Hip hop pioneers deliver the goods.

Definitely dated but also definitely an album that should be on this list due to their influence. Love Run-DMC!

Old school hip-hop? Yes, please! Although this is right up my alley, I had never given it a listen. I am glad that I have now experienced it, but it will not be a favorite of mine.

Run-D.M.C. is fun and they've got a unique sound. It's good.

I can do another old-school rap album… might get a little same-y but the runtime keeps things moving along nicely.

This was generally pretty good! Tbh I didn't really listen to a ton of the lyrics, but "Rock Box" sounded cool. It never got annoying, and although the beats were very simple, the songs always ended right as they were about to become too repetitive for me.

still gestating here but an amazing debut nevertheless

I loved this old school rap, the rhythms and the energy. It's a very influental album that started everything. But it sounds a bit dated here and there.

I get it. Pretty revolutionary. I enjoyed Raising Hell more.

Amazing the divide between this and public enemy. I used to mix these guys up all the time, but the difference is stark - Run DMC is firmly in the old school. Sillier by a lot, but still with social concsiousness, other rap standards. The back and forth rapping feels almost clunky sometimes! Though sillier - it is a lot of fun! and give this a thought. The next time someone’s teaching why don’t you get taught?

Hip hop grew up so fast. Got so much better... And worse oddly. But this is really fun to listen to now. So simple.

Doesn't get more old school than this. I love how it is equally dark and fun at the same time.

The original Beastie Boys.

Mood: excellent Setting: 74 degrees, biking along the Esplanade instead of working I listened to this right after I listened to the Tribe album which was a cool combo. Another classic hip hop album I had never listened to but thoroughly enjoyed. I don't know if I would really go back to this album since I would never choose a hip hop album to listen to out of everything, but I am really glad I listened. Are there any modern rappers anywhere near this good anymore? Maybe that's why I stopped listening to rap...

Pleasantly surprised by this. You can draw a straight line from this to Bambata – and from there to Kraftwerk and 'Krautrock'.

So apparently I have completely misjudged Run-D.M.C. - their debut is catchy, creative and sometimes straight up industrial.

Run-D.M.C. came along with “Rock Box” and it changed everything.

True, early & raw. Perfect 80s hip hop if you’re looking for a benchmark or in the mood.

A groundbreaking classic that still entertains.

Definitely on the better side of 80's hip hop, and more interesting than a lot of other hip hop in this list. Reminded me of the beastie boys.

Ok, this is sooooo dated but... it's pretty fun. 3.5 rounding up

This is a big, pioneering album in rap and I love the combination of rap and rock like on the groundbreaking Rock Box (picture any Beastie Boys song and it can be traced to this song). But you can still hear the old stylings of typical 80s rap in the stilted way Run and DMC rap. And for as good as Jam-Master Jay is (particularly on the so-titled song), sometimes the beats are too simple and drum track oriented. I think Hard Times sort of captures those weaknesses, despite its quality lyrics and aims. It's Like That will always remain a classic and it does better than Hard Times at pushing lyrical and musical boundaries (rapping still a bit stilted). Other than the songs I already mentioned, Wake Up is the only other one I want to give a shout out to. I thought I would absolutely love this album but it's just good. Maybe 3.5 on its own but definitely rounding up for how it changed the whole rap genre.

I was a big fan of Run-DMC's Raising Hell growing up - listened to it a ton and will absolutely be giving that a 5 when it comes up on the 1001. This one shows they were moving in that direction early, but it's more sparse and undeveloped in comparison. Lots of rap history in the making on this album, but I feel it's a step below Raising Hell, fair or not. Favorite tracks: Hard Times, Rock Box (holy 80s guitar batman! But, again, it shows where they're going), It's Like That.

Such good craic

The more I listen the more it's growing on me, especially the heavy samples on Rock Box.

Very good album. It was nice to listen to Run-DMC tracks that were new to me.

While elements of the sound do feel dated, can't deny that they changed the rap game, and set a course for rap to evolve into what we got over the coming decades. Still a great listen, takes you back to the golden days when rap began to get in your face.

Good beats. I'd listen again.

Production hasn't aged well but still a fun, enjoyable album.

I think you absolutely need to have a bit of nostalgia to enjoy this record. As important and groundbreaking as it is, hip hop music came a long way since then.

Not as cheesy as I thought it would be. Not every song was a banger for me, but they all at least had good beats, and I enjoyed the album as a whole. 7.2/10 Fav song - Rock Box

An absolute classic. Run DMC was at the very beginning of Rap and hip hop. Basic sampled beats, some nice scratching and solid lyrics keep this album pumping from start to finish.

Respect. Loved it then and love it now. It’s Like That, and that’s the way it is.

1980s hip-hop can sometimes be heard to appreciate, because in many ways it sounds crazily dated compared even to the "golden age" of the 1990s. The beats tend to be a bit too clean and crispy, whilst the rhyming about your rhyme skills perfectly on the beat can seem corny in retrospect. Once you get over these things, damn this is a solid album. Jam Master Jay excels on really spacious production, where the electronic futurism of electro meets rock licks. "It's Like That" is a classic, but really everywhere you look there are little snippets of lyrics that echo down the halls of hip-hop almost four decades later in the form of countless samples and references and influences. But more importantly, the record just sounds fun and enlivening and maybe even fresh once you get over its anachronisms. 4*

Whilst the rap vocal rhythms sound very dated now, in the mid 80s this must have been mind blowing. Relatively sparse, but varied, backing music and confrontational and socially conscious lyrics with a message promoting self improvement. Innovation runs through this record. 1980s Hip hop didn't sound like this. 'Rock Box' must be the first rock/rap crossover and 'Sucker M.C.'s' is apparently one of the earliest diss tracks. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: It's Like That Date listened: 02/10/23

Famosa: Walk This Way (feat. Aerosmith) Le daré un 4, aunque son un poco pesados.

Fun classic hip-hop album.

You can’t convince me this isn’t the height of cool, never to be reached again.

Som característico, hip hop e pa marcou uma época

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Rock box, It’s like that, Wake up

classic slice of old school hip hop. 4

Hip-hop changing debut album by iconic duo. Drum machine creates a new sound that is fairly minimal and repetitive but lets the duo's rapping be the centerpiece. Standout is "Rock Box", while "Wake Up" lyrics give an MLK-esque social commentary.

Pretty good early hip hop

Good album, especially the parts that didn’t get played on radio.

A rosetta stone of hip-hop and a few cuts – especially "It's Like That" and – remain masterpieces (and master classes). They get lots of mileage out of a pretty simple palette and narrow toolkit. Remains powerful and a strong foundation for so much that was to come. Bonus points for historical significance, being first breakthrough in a major new genre.

Real cool

A hard decision, as stripped of context these sound like schematics of future bangers. Relentless, heavy, stark electronics, the rapping is glorious, but confusingly slow to today’s ears. Enthralling, but not entirely enjoyable. Intelligent minds forging something truly unheard: raw, earnest, bravely awkward.

This is the only kind of rap that I actually like. Solid album

Own on Vinyl

Famosa: Walk This Way (feat. Aerosmith) Le daré un 4, aunque son un poco pesados.

Ganske chill

Schöne trockene Oldschool Beats. Gut anzuhören, solange sie keine Gitarrensamples benutzen. 3-4

The creators of hippity hop

Extremely fun album. There are some elements that feel basic/formulaic at times (Wake Up), but most of the album instead is a great look into how great this duo would be. Favorite track:

More political than I expected, lol. Beats are okay, lyrics are okay, but I mostly just appreciate what these guys did for hip hop. You can hear the sounds of a different time in their voices and inflections. I think it’d be cool to remake this album with modern sound tech and design.

Strong tracks here.

An old classic and sounds quite date now though

Classic, an essential if dated listen.

Оу еее, у нас ещё одно музыкальное ископаемое. Потому что это хип-хапчик из 1984 года... С исследовательской точки зрения альбом слушать интересно. Поскольку можно подметить детали "рождения" хип-хопа: иногда проскакивают "старомодные" гитарные рифы, происходит упрощение ритмических рисунков, активное используется драм-машинка и скретчи, а поверх всего этого кладётся речитатив. В голове почему-то рисуется картинка подворотни, в которой брейкеры устраивают импровизированные баттлы. Но если оценивать с эстетической точки зрения эту пластинку - наверное, она далека от совершенства. Ей это можно простить, поскольку это только-только первые шаги в создании подобной музыки. Но для экскурса в историю - самое то. Run-D.M.C. возможно в большей степени знаком благодаря каверу на Walk This Way от Aerosmith, которые тоже в своём роде "проэкспериментировали", добавим в хард-рок речитатив. Не моя музыка, поэтому 4-.

Это БАЗА. просто интересно, как бы хипхапчик жил без них, но хорошо, что они все таки плотненько зачитали свои потрясающие текста (одновременно иронично и нет) дохуя десятков лет назад

I love me some Run-D.M.C.! Their self-titled album is a classic, and it's got more rhymes than a Shel Silverstein book. Seriously though, these guys are the real deal. They've got beats that will make your head spin, and lyrics that will make you want to jump out of your seat and start breakdancing. And if you're not careful, you might just break something. But don't take my word for it, give this album a listen and you'll see what I mean. It's like a party in your ears, and everyone's invited. Except for Dave. Dave's not invited. He knows what he did.

This is a really solid debut album and important for early hip hop. You can really hear the roots of choices that went on to influence so many other rappers. Specifically I feel like I can hear their influence on what the Beastie Boys would go on to do. Standout Tracks: Hard Times, Jam-Master Jay, Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1), It's Like That, Jay's Game

Highlight: 30 Days

Classic

In a fit of irony, a young boy ignorant of their apparel was wearing a Run-D.M.C. tee shirt on this day. Rap, so much has changed in its relatively short time as a genre. Rhymes and messaging were paramount in a much simpler delivery. In the 21st century, rap and many of its offshoots started to use more repetition and become somewhat chorus-based, which is in its own way a welcome change, but also largely resulted in less writing, lazy writing, and less about the message. Run-D.M.C. though, they are very much the reason many artists would get into the game, and this album certainly proves that. Rock elements, key repetitions, but most of all, a sense of purpose in their verse delivery makes them stand out. While the sound can be elementary at times vs. the new and improved beats of today, today's rap lacks a significant fundamental that early rap artists could tap into so easily, and that is some kind of message that spoke to the culture. These days, no one takes any of these new artists with the reverence that these early groups can now demand.

Gillade Raising Hell för någon månad sen, och älskar detta debutalbum ännu mer! Det känns mer angeläget, mer äkta, och mindre kommersiellt än Raising Hell. Epokgörande album som startade new school-eran i hiphop. Klassiska, BIG beats, mycket trummor. Rappen är väldigt tidsenlig, hur Run och DMC inte har varsin vers, utan rappar samtidigt, varannan bar, ibland varannat ord. Väldigt mycket lines av typen: "I rhyme to the beat of the groove at the mic", men det är ju också 83. Finns också mer samhällskommenterande låtar, som 'Hard Times' och 'Wake Up'. B-sidan är bara hit efter hit efter hit efter hit. Svårt att välja favorit, låtföljden 'It's Like That' -> 'Wake Up' -> '30 Days' är svårslagen. Skrev i min recension av Raising Hell att rap-rock är en vedervärdig genre, det får jag väl stå för. Men SATAN vad 'Rock Box' knockade mig. Den elgitarren slår an strängar djupt inne. Otrolig. Bästa låt: Rock Box.

Now, that IS how you make a hardcore rap.

Classic.

Like this by this pioneering crew. The mix with the rock elements is surprising for the time and it works. It's like that is obviously the stan out.

This bangs

Yes Yes Y'all! 4 stars

As much as I don't like hip hop I enjoyed this album, yeah it's very repetitive but it's not as painful as some modern rap I had to listen to through this challenge Saved tracks: Hard Times, Rock Box, It's Like That, 30 Days

Classic album. Always a good listen.

4.0

dated, sparse, yet weirdly catchy rap with relatable but oddly SFW Sesame Street-esque rhymes

пахнуло ностальгией)

8/10 quite silly at times and I think it’s aged weirdly , but deserving of its status.

7/10. Pretty good, maybe a little bare-bones for my taste, but still.

They made a song about systematic oppression sound like the DK rap. 7/10

A truly seminal band. I always liked their singles but never pursued any further. They definitely made hip-hop accessible to everyone and that hip-hop/rock fusion hooks in a much larger audience. For me they are a solid 3.5 but for the amazing legacy and the fact that their songs still stand up, I’m raising that.

yes!

Amazing old school hip hop from what it was just starting to gain national attention. Surprising prevalence of guitar that I never picked up on when I first heard many of these tunes as a kid. Slow rhymes, lack of profanIty was very noticeable considering how prevalent it became when gangsta rap first hit the scene.

I thought this was so fun. Samey by the end of it, for sure, and cheesy to boot. But I love me some cheese.

Really good hip-hop album with rocky backtracks. Some tracks sound like others but enjoyed.

Ehhh idk, the lyrics are clever, but, similar to the Lorde album, I'm more drawn to instrumental than words, and the mixing here has too much highs, especially in the snares that it ruins the experience.

J'ai vraiment plus aimé ça que je m'y attendais! J'ai aimé les beats et le flow, mais aussi l'humour derrière les paroles. Le petit côté baveux du old-school rap me plaît toujours. Il faut dire aussi qu'un texte sur la paix dans le monde et l'absence d'armes fait vraiment changement du hip-hop plus violent.

One of few hip hop bands I can pick out off the radio and get into. I can appreciate how important they are, so yeh, it's like that.

Not really my jam but it’s compelling with a beat and you have to appreciate their passion

I called Raising Hell somewhat primitive, but it still feels like the best possible version of its sound. Their debut sounds even more ancient, yet oddly still relatively refined. They knew their sound and what they wanted to do, while others would turn hip hop into the force it became since. This is a lot of fun, but I can see how it may not appeal if you don’t like some rock n roll in your rap. B+

4/5. A really fun and jamming album that discusses politics and controversial topics in a unique way. Some songs do not hit at all but I found myself into it for most of the way through.

Just two rappers and electronic percussion. Very dry and staccato, but quite fun to listen to.

Great aggressive raps, sparse beats, some guitar mixed in. I like it.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would tbh. I've always liked Run DMC's singles but was never interested enough to check out their albums. Their flow and beats are very old school, but it's intersting to see the evolution into hard-core hip hop starting here.

I enjoyed it for a start but when it came out this album was a new sound for everyone, maybe groundbreaking. Great album overall.

good vibes for a Monday morning i liked listening to this! it was slower than i was expecting but i guess that's just because hip hop has sped up since then.

The beats are primitive and the rapping style might be considered a parody if it weren’t the firstly bona fide incantation. Hollis Crew (Krishna-Groove 2) claims “The beat is big, It’s kind of large.” Agree to disagree, but it’s immaterial. I like the rudimentary beats. They fit the whole mood of this album. It feels like a window into the birth of a rap evolution and it is special to be able to witness (listen to) it. Rock Hard is commendable for combining the early 80s rock guitar sound into the rap genre. Wake Up is akin to Lennon’s Imagine, dreaming of a version of reality where all nations and people get along and all people have a job and a home. The album is the antithesis of gangsta rap, it promotes education (It’s Like That) and I didn’t hear disrespect for anyone. This is a big plus. I’m in between ratings, and happily rounding up this time.

Classic!

Great beats that all kind of sound the same and not my favorite lyrics or style of rhyme. But, It's heavily influential on the hip hop I love and listen to regularly so thats worth an extra star. 4/5

Some really great old school hiphop. I'm not a huge rap person but this kinda old school stuff speaks to me a lot more than a lot of the more modern stuff on here. It's kinda goofy but really fun.

Classic hip-hop

This album is about one song really.. Rock Box. Way ahead of its time and the root of so many artists to come. It's a 5 star song, the rest of the album is good but not as strong as material on there next 2 albums.

A good listen all the way through. "It's Like That" is one of my favorites.

That’s the way it is

Impressively fun album, feels way ahead of its era.

Just brilliance. Bringing NYC hip hop in to the masses in the 80s. Paving the way for future generations. This is why.

Amazing album. So many classic

Real funky early hip hop album

7/10

4.5

Ok

liked this more than i thought i would!

Great stuff

Very minimalistic production with simple but excellent beats. The rapping really gets the spotlight only to be amplified by the beats. Run and DMC are excellent and there's a reason why this album is so important for hip hop. I would however say that hip hop has evolved after RUN-D.M.C's debut album but this laid the groundwork for many others.

Classic Old School. Really takes me back. Reminds me of old friends that I haven't thought of in years! This was definitely a sound that was truly new and unique at the time. Rock Box set the way for songs like "Walk This Way" That Aerosmith and Run-DMC collaborated on. Every song is significant and set the stage for others to follow.... Standouts: It's Like That, 30 Days, Hard Times, and Rock Box. Others: Jam-Master Jay, Hollis Crew, Sucker M.C.'s, Wake Up, Jay's Game. 4/5

Something comforting about their "we're all still figuring this rap thing out" flow

It definitely shows it's age and I definitely don't care. It's a fun album to listen to. I'll take it over this trap beats bullshit era we live in now any day. This a legendary act that deserves all the respect. However, this album isn't exactly 5 star perfect. Some songs are really good while others are just okay, maybe a little above average. They definitely have better albums. It's a 4 from me but this I'd a great old school album. Highly recommended.

I was today years old when I figured out Run D.M.C are the names of each MC. Simpler times, good tracks

Enjoyable with a couple of stand out tracks. 4.5 rounded down

I really enjoyed this, and I don't do Hip Hop in general. The entire album communicates a great sense of humor and a positive worldview. It's also catchy enough to engage me even though I don't really like rap. My understanding of the history is that Run-D.M.C. created that punk-rap sound that makes Rock Box distinctive, although the idea was actually Rick Rubin's and they'd never heard the punk backing when they recorded their vocals. It clearly influenced the Beastie Boys, and led the way to their other guitar backed tracks, like their Walk This Way collaboration.

Classic.

The raw, heavy and powerful sounds of the simple drum machine arrangements and the very occasional synthesizer stab behind the very 80s MCing make for an austere but thrilling listen. I expect this must have sounded amazing in the 80s! "Rock Box" is a strange and jarring interruption in an otherwise outstanding album, without that track I would give the album 5 stars but it ruins it for me. The Jason Nevins remix of "It's Like That" came out when I was 11 and I remember it being my favorite song at the time 😂

what!!!! this album was FUN. i had a grand time listening to this album. there was never a dull moment. dmc and run going back and forth often kept me on my toes! they were so quick. the beats are, as the kids say, sick. i admire that, despite most of their tracks being fun, they use "wake up" as a powerful political song. run dmc were such pioneers with this hip hop album coming out in 1984. but then certain songs, such as "30 days," are of their time. i don't know the last time i heard the word "layaway." (but i loved that song anyway.) i enjoy the combination of rap and rock, too--the guitar is amazing on "rock box"! rip jam master jay. what a legacy he created!

Solid, better than the first album that was referred. A couple saved songs off this, this is a defined, classic sound.

What a great album, doesn't feel out of place. Lots of highlights on this album, hard to go past It's Like That, and Wake Up. I also like bopping along to Jays Game.

As I grow older I appreciate this work more and more.

Interesting beats that mix up every song. (Subverts expectations in stanzas) Emphasis on certain words for more impact, punchy. Throws words back and forth (Childlike whilst discussing heavy subject matter). Uses common social issues in ghettos and black neighbourhoods to relate to their audience, trying to punch a message. Wake Up is very layered, probably one of my favourites. Describes a utopia, then tells us it was all a dream. (On the nose.) Very unsubtle, but thats not a negative, just unappealing to me.

I didn't like it as much as some of the other East Coast stuff I've gotten on here, like Biggie and Tribe Called Quest, but I did still like it.

Well, that certainly was a rap album from the 80s

Simple and solid. Still kills.

True pioneers. A bit cheesy by today's standards, but this album is one of the first of it's kind for hip hop.

Run-DMC brought rap to the mainstream rock and pop market, thus to white people. They made hip-hop just white enough without losing its integrity. You can't go wrong with their debut album. (7/10) FT: It's Like That, Rock Box

Old school and cool. There are some dips here or there in how strong some of the songs have held up. For an album that launched hardcore rap, it feels less hard and more a reflection of working class struggles for black communities. It is defiant and doesn't hide the pain but it isn't brutal. Perhaps that is how it holds up so well... it's truth speak. (Unlike other later albums which are closer to ego-centric anger displays) And the mix still feel fresh.

I DM’d the C if you know what I mean. You can def tell how they basically created beastie boys

The beginnings

It's tricky not to rate this a 5, it's so close.

Classic! Jos tää jossain hävii modernille räpille niin se on käyttettyjen samplereiden maksimimuisti. Ei mikään muu. 4/5

Okei, oli aikanaan kovaa menoa (kiitos Elias tutkimukseksesta), mutta nyt on vaan hauska hiphop-levy. Saundit toisinaan vähän dänkkejä, mut hyvällä tavalla. Kuuntelin eilen kävelyllä ja sai kyllä asennetta askeleeseen. Kaiken kaikkiaan 4/5

a little corny but overall pretty good, 8/10

Very cool album. Simple but fun beats and really good lyricism/delivery. I think some of the songs drag on a little too long without much change in the tone of the song, but that's a minor complaint. 7/10

I found myself missing the guitar riffs a bit after the second track. Nevertheless, the MCs effortlessly demonstrate the reasons for their influence. The progression from drum machine beats, to bragging, tunes, props to the DJ: It's all innovative, all entertaining.

pretty groundbreaking for 83 and hard beats for the time. I think you just take run dmc for granted now and they are almost seen as a novelty but this proves they had steel. 4.

Hard beats and a boastful vocal delivery. You can see why RUN DMC were so irresistible to Aerosmith. It was fun recognising parts of this album that other artists have sampled. Half the tracks on Electro 1-6 seem to have been lifted from the album. Dave put the record, etc.

This really is an album that you should listen to. It's the earlier example of beat box that I can recall, and had a huge influence. Just really classic.

Lekker

Grymt album

A seminal record which helped launch the new school style, Run-D.M.C. features drum machines, more aggressive delivery (relatively), and emphasizes the DJ alongside the MC. With rock and funk tinges, this album is more coherent and intentional than a lot of old school records. The only drawback for me is just how dated it sounds

Oh, I don't know. SHACK'S reviews didn't last very long, did they? What would CRUTE score this? 3? I'll go somewhere around that then. RIP Meatloaf

The album that ripped hip-hop from its disco roots and set the template for its next 38 years. The album that proved full length LP album hip-hop could be a thing. The B-Boy style that reinvented urban fashion. And in Rock Box the song that quietly went about creating the rock/rap crossover format, got Run DMC played on MTV and had a large hand in hip-hop going mainstream. Got a lot to answer for haven't you Rock Box eh? As influential as it is, there's a bit too much filler in amongst the bangers to make it a 5. That said, an album containing Hard Times, Rock Box, Jam-Master Jay and It's Like That can't possibly get less than a 4, filler or no filler.

Normally I don't listen to old school hip-hop that much, but this was very enjoyable. Also very enjoyable that it included the hit ''It's Like That''.

Very beasties boye

I haven't listened to this album in about thirty years and forgot how raw and original it is. Jam Master Jay's sampling and cutting work with the by today's standards 'simple lines'. But this right here is one of the building blocks of rap. Long before the autotune. 4.5/5.

This was a banger, such a good sound. I love the addition of guitar sounds to the classic hip hop beats