Raising Hell

Lustig, was Hip Hop mal war. So verspielt, so wenig böse. Nach dem Balkantrip auf dem Weg nach Ddorf im Bus.

pioneers. way ahead of the game Peter Piper is one of my all time faves.. Goddamn that DJ MADE MY DAY lovelovelove

My first intro to hip hop / rap. Summer of ‘86 I was about to start high school and my neighborhood friends and I played this cassette all summer long. I even wore a pair of those shell top Adidas. Seems so dated today but still fun to listen to. Proof that you don’t have to be crazy crude and vulgar to be cool.

Freshman year. Suburban Atlanta. Rap had come to the area a couple year prior thank to a recent transplant to the area named Ace Atkins. With it came break dancing and parachute pants. At that time it's pretty much Kurtis Blow, Dr Jeckll and Mr Hyde and of course the first true break out - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. This coincides with me finding my musical sea legs. I took a lot in and early on - i preferred guitars. And that's why I do remember the first time I experienced rap and rock merging. USA Network was in the early days of cable and they had 24hrs to fill. They filled that by showing music videos. In my memory often things that didn't make there way into the rotation on MTV. So one night I'm watching and what comes on - none other them Rock Box. Big beat, leather suits, chunky adidas - a different world than suburban ATL - but there was something else. A whaling guitar that runs throughout. Riffs and solos alongside the already familiar rad cadence. Mind blown. The next year brought King of Rock which repeated the trick with a better riff and overall production. These of course set the table for the moment that rock and rap would be intertwined and allow rap to crash not just middle school thanks to a new kid with a cartoon a name and a massive boom box but to the culture writ large. And the best part - this album just sounds damn good (where is i don't actually love Rock Box 40 years later). And it's a great time throughout.

Great album

Rap music used to be fun!

Classic unc hiphop. The Aerosmith feature was crazy, and the intro four songs were certified classics. However, the album generally doesn't keep that same energy through the whole setlist, and becomes quite same-y. However, the album peaks so high it still gets a low 4.5/5.

268/1089 - Got a bit sick of the drum sounds after awhile but it was a very fun listen overall.

This album is tight as hell and helped build out a genre. Several heavy hitters with Tricky getting a ton of airtime. Good one for the list and worth hearing. Strong three weak four.

Obviously made a huge impact on music in general. Some fun tracks. Some bits don't age well. Bang for your buck if you were to have purchased this at the time.

This was good. And old-school, pretty genre-defining

86% Best: Peter Piper; It's Tricky; My Adidas; Walk This Way; Perfection Must-Hear? Sure

3.5 rounded up to 4 because of Walk This Way.

Pioneer Rusty Rhythmic Slightly monotone (instrumentally) Fun

Favorites: Peter Piper, It's Tricky, Walk This Way (!), Is It Live, Raising Hell (!), Proud To Be Black Now I know where 'It's Tricky' came from. So nostalgic. Wasn't prepared for 'Walk This Way' with these sick ass guitar riffs and vocals damn! Thanks for the spit in my ears from 'Hit It Run', ig <3 Dig the vibe, tho. 'Raising Hell' hell yeaaaaaahhhh that guitarrrrrrrrraawrr. Definitely something that i'd pull while trying to finish all my assignments the night before deadline (bonus points if highly caffeinated). Just to feel that pump, you know. Especially from 'Dumb Girl'. Overall, so smooth and chill. Loved it.

Their cover of "Walk This Way" changed the hip hop/rock music world forever, so I get why this album was included. Who can forget that music video? Other favorites: "It's Tricky" and "Raising Hell" After the BEAT STREET film soundtrack, RAISING HELL might very well be the very first hip hop album, by one artist, that I ever listened to all the way through. Thankfully this album is from an era when hip hop kept albums to a reasonable listening length. Definitely one of the more iconic old school hip hop albums but from an enjoyment point of view I cannot give it a 5.

Dope album. Very energetic, and the chemistry between them is almost flawless, like they complement each other very well. Banger after banger.

Pretty kool

A lot of great beats and some incredible cuts. It’s a sound which is so tied to its era, that nowadays it feels more like a novelty listen than something on regular rotation. It’s between 3 and 4 stars for me.

Not saying they don't deserve it but it is weird these guys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Killa

Loses a bit in second half. And all a bit too tinny. But gotta admire what they were doing.

Great tunes and a fantastic discovery. Walk this way is an incredible song. Cornerstones of hiphop.

The generator is on a roll. A great hip hop feature with incredible production and catchy songs. Run-DMC's debut is one that stands the test of time.

What funny listening numbers. Some massive hits on this album and then some I've never heard of. Obvious love the hits and love the flow and feel of the album overall.

A classic and fun album

Nicht meine Musik, aber dennoch gut

One of the most important hip-hop/rap albums not only for it's scratching artistry and back 2 back rhyming but also for bridging rap with rock. Of course It's Tricky contains samples of "My Sharona" by The Knack and "Mickey" by Toni Basil so there's already Rock elements there,you can see it comin', My Adidas has amazing drums and is always a reminder that back then and even now Adidas shoes and wear are still a hip-hop brand! Walk This Way is a genre-bender.How open-minded these two bands were and still are to come up with such a collaboration,this powerful fresh version, Is it live has James Brown and LL Cool J samples in it,The bongos and cowbells mixing shows some wizadry but it feels empty in comparison with the previous ones, Raising hell is quite interesting because of blending again Run Dmc's hip hop with live Aerosmith guitar solos,my fourth favourite along with the three hits, You be illin' has a Kurtis Blow sample,quite good song, Dumb girl had something hypnotic that i really liked although they seem to have serious issues with that girl! Overall is a good album and for the 4 songs that i liked i will give it a 4/5

There’s some fun stuff happening here

Classic.

Classic

Fun listen 4/5

Funker fortsatt.

Solid 80s hip-hop but some of it hasn’t aged well. Still groundbreaking and a clear influence of what came next.

Zoals al vaker vermeld is dit - ondanks dat ik begrijp dat het de 'golden age of hip hop' wordt genoemd - niet mijn golden age of hip hop. Maar dit is samen met 'Paid In Full' wel echt een fundamentele pilaar in mijn ideale hip hop wereld. Echter vind ik het verval van 'speciaal' naar 'primitief' altijd wel erg groot op albums van deze tijd, wat natuurlijk inherent is aan een pril genre. De eerste 5 songs zijn echt een openbaring én vormen een belangrijke kickstart voor een hoop artiesten die het muzieklandschap de opvolgende jaren zouden vormgeven. Daarna vind ik de 'archaic' en traditionele hip hop structuur gewoonweg een beetje saai, waardoor ik zelf toch vooral ben blijven kleven bij de progressievere early 90s. Al begrijp ik ook wel dat dit voor 1986 écht heel progressief was. Het is allemaal relatief. Bij 'You Be Illin' veer ik nog wel een keer op. Ik kom toch - de historische significantie in ogenschouw nemende - op een 8 uit. 8/10 Highlights: Peter Piper It's Tricky You Be Illin'

pretty kick butt

I really like the first couple songs ("Peter Piper" and "It's Tricky" but I do NOT LIKE "Dumb Girl" or "Son of Byford"

Only the expanded edition is available on Spotify, with its pointless a cappella versions and demo tracks. As for the actual album, it was good fun, but it got a bit samey. A low four for me.

A fun, boisterous, energetic party record. Not the best example of hip-hops lyricism, but it highlights the genre's early energy and playfulness, with some catchy early sampling.

This was incredibly cool when it came out and it's still cool now. A classic.

So fun, so much energy. A building block for the genre that’s still enjoyable and fresh.

The best word I can think to describe this album: fun.

Hell yeah

Struggling to get a 7/10 but 7/10

Basically only knew that Run-D.M.C. were best known for their collaboration with Aerosmith (though it turns out I never actually heard their version of Walk This Way before!) It's a bit more minimalist than I typically like in hip hop, but I really enjoyed it here. The rockier ones in particular kind of succeed at doing what the Beastie Boys couldn't quite reach with Licensed to Ill.

I think inventing rap/rock is pretty up high up in terms of claims to fame. And let’s face it, this version of Walk this Way is an absolute all-time banger (I’ve not changed my mind on that since my 11yr old self first heard it). As an album, it’s an all round entertaining listen. As an aside, has anyone invented rap/folk yet? If not, come on, your moment is nigh….

It would have for a 3, but extra point for pioneering a new genre

Good shit, klausyčiau vėl 4.0

Monumental hip hop album, which unbeknownst to Run DMC would later be featured on the GOAT snowboarding game.

Hip-hop as a music genre has had an arduous path to the mainstream over the years. It's so well documented because it's relatively new. Listening to this album was a great reminder of how different it was just 40 years ago. Simpler but exciting and fresh compared to the offerings of pop and rock songs at the time. Raising Hell may not be the most technically complex or poetically written piece of music. I probably wouldn't even call it Run-DMC'S best work. But it is vital to hip-hop's journey to being accepted and appreciated by radio and the average household. The fun of the album is the thesis of each song being completely random. A whole song could be focused on bragging about their DJ Jam Master Jay. The next could be spent appreciating their favorite footwear. It's just fun honestly. I detest Aerosmith so Walk This Way is a tough listen, but I can still appreciate its importance in music history. Two behemoths at the top of their genre collaborating to making a beloved rock and hip-hop track. However "soft" this album may seem at times, it still has moments of making a statement in songs like Proud to be Black. So maybe making a more accessible album proves to be a great way to get a more serious message into suburban households.

Man, these dudes went hard back in the day.

Great album despite it nit being my thing. A little repetitive towards the end but I enjoyed all of it.

Great duo, the top half of the album is killer, but hit it run and dumb girl kinda threw me off. Guess every track can’t be a winner.

Highlight Song/s: It's Tricky, My Adidas and Raising Hell What a pioneering album, It sounds a bit crazy but it legitimately sounds like I'm listening to history happening, as if this was an album released last month that changed the game or that I'm walking near a historical monument. Tad bit ludicrous, I know. Run-D.M.C. walked (created this album) so others could run. This is undeniably one of the essential albums in all of hip-hop, and a stepping stone which connects disco rap to gangsta rap.

My fav Run DMC album

Sheer fun and pump me up jams.

I like this kind of old school hip hop. No headache, strait to the point; background music to the bone (mostly a drum machine), lots of room for the MCs to rap. Walk This Way is of course noticeable and would almost be anecdotical if not for its significance as the first hip hop/rock collaboration.

good classic album, some really awesome songs. Although hip hop is not really my thing.

Brilliant. Probably the best Hip Hop album I've listened to.

Love Run DMC. They're also my preferred method of listening to Aerosmith.

G/zg

I have liked every RUN-DMC song I have ever heard, yet I was still somewhat skeptical whether I could tolerate an entire album from them. And even as I got through the brilliant trifecta of It's Tricky, My Adidas, and Walk This Way, I was still questioning whether I could hang for seven more songs. Silly me. This is a great, FUN album, front to back. I realized there's something kind of punk about RUN-DMC's simplicity and the aggressive vocal delivery that's right in my wheelhouse. I like.

4.5/5 - You need to hear this, because it launched hip-hop and rap into a generation of young suburban ears. The first 4 tracks are all-timers. It gets spotty in places after that with weaker songs like Perfection and Dumb Girl, but this is a must-listen classic. Pop culture juggernaut.

dope. in yo face! revolutionary.

C'est oldshool, mais c'est vraiment bon !

They’re the mic dominators, the rhyme creators, Run-DMC shook the globe, no imitators. From Hollis, Queens, to the world they reign, When they step on the stage, they ignite the flame. No glitter, no gimmicks, just beats and bass, They brought the hardcore sound straight to your face. Adidas on their feet, stripes shining so bright, When the record starts to spin, they control the night. They broke down walls with a rock-rap blend, Changed the game forever, set the new trend. Respect to the roots, they keep it alive, Every rhyme that they dropped made the culture thrive. So raise your hands high, let the rhythm decree, No kings more supreme than Run-DMC.

Walk what way?

GREAT album.

Kills. Great samples, great rhymes, the first to mix rap and rock, and still the best.

Bomb

Still a classic!

I know lots of these songs

Hylder at rap bliver en del af mainstreamen. Det er på bølge med rock og pop lige pludselig. Der er også flere sange med rock rap osv og det inspirerede også NWA, beastie boys osv (faktisk også Nu-metal) det er et meget festligt album og det fik også bla hiphop modentil at blive populært (Adidas). Mega fedt album og god lyd. Beastie boys er nogle af mine yndlingskunstnere og det her minder mig meget om. Det nød jeg virkelig at lytte til. Tror måske det er 4-4,5

Besides It's Tricky, really liked the tracks Is It Live, Hit It Run, and Proud to BE Black

This was fun

Bello ma non il mio stile

Good album, Blast from the past!

Not a fan of the old school back and forth and echoing style of rap from the 80's/early 90's, but you can't deny some of the hits from this record that carry into today IE It's Tricky and Walk This Way with Aerosmith. Easy to hear some of the early samples that are still used and today, which is fun. I'm glad we have evolved beyond all the just completely unnecessary filler that is plaguing some of these lyrical tracks - with "Now listen up here cause i'm here to say..." elementary school rhymes, which I guess pretty much started because of Run DMC and early rappers. I find all of the filler and useless intro-sentences really take away from the song Proud to Be Black, which would have a lot stronger of a message if it were better written without so many bars wasted on leading up to the point.

Fun old school rap Standout songs: Perfection You be illin

I like their rap.

great tracks.

I was only familiar with the famous tracks before but this is a great, fun album to listen to. Loved the Rick Rubin influence with real instruments!!

This cover of "Walk This Way" really did change everything. A little danger in writing that, painting a bit of white saviour brush to the smackheads in Aerosmith but it was such a crossover smash that even the metalheads in my circle had to begrudgingly admit the marriage of rap and rock fit perfectly here. This album was the Run-DMC jam - memories of "It's Tricky" and "My Adidas" on school skibus trips. I'll forego my usual crapping on chintzy "percussion" sounds because this was the first, or at least the first to hit the mainstream, and the songs are just too catchy and fun to ignore even 40 years later. THE old-school hip-hop classic. 8/10 4 stars.

Rap has come a long way since the 80's, and a lot of once-classic albums sound a bit weaker next to what came out even in the 90's. This is not one of them. Yes, the rhyme schemes are pretty simple, but the energy the MCs bring is top notch, and they're even able to sell a song about nursery rhymes. The beats hit hard too, they're very percussion-heavy and sometimes fairly complex. A few of the tracks mix in some rock elements, and it feels more seamless than some rap rock tracks made 30 years later. There are a lot of fun ideas here on tracks like "You Be Illin'" (let's forget about "Dumb Girl" though, yeesh...). This definitely sounds like an 80's rap album but turns those elements that are no longer in fashion into something great.

Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 🟪💚🆒 Production: 👊😎👍 Music: 👑📢🚀 Rating: 👟👟👟👟(👟)/5

Iconic. The grooves are SO good.

You don’t have to love it, but it deserves its legendary status. It is a classic.

Super cool album. It’s a classic, and they paved the way for hip-hop. Love that they educate through the songs too.

It's rap, but they're trying to be role models? I found myself wanting to critique this too much before pulling back and remembering this is 80's rap. They really did boost rap to the mainstream. But it's still elementary beats and rhymes. Overall it's a crucial piece of rap history. It's fun with plenty of good vibes.

p much everything i said ab the debut still applies, but everything is a bit tightened up, more rock-oriented, and generally a bit more coherent in terms of central Song Ideas. lots of delightful classics on here, and while there is a divide between them and the rest of the tracks its hard to articulate....i suppose ill just have to fall back on Same Strengths, Just Not As Strong? incredibly fun, obviously! enough vision and talent and energy to make five minutes of aerosmith tolerable!

I’ll be honest, I enjoyed this a lot but it sounded like 1 or 2 songs but extended. The singles were the best on the album and the rest were good but didn’t have the hooks

-Love the old school hip hop vibe -Makes me feel like I could be a banging street dancer -Love the iconic songs -Lots of different sounds yet it maintains the atmosphere, which I appreciate

Pretty great

These guys are awesome.

1. Peter Piper - 9 Amazing hip hop. Great flow to the lyrics and the beat is immense. This is what spanned the sound we love today. 2. It's Tricky - 10 An all-time classic. Flow is unmatched in this track. Absolutely legendary sound. 3. My Adidas - 7 Flow is great, beat is great, and some of the lyrics are awesome. The topic of the song is a bit uninspiring but overall it's not a bad track. Probably could have been shorter. 4. Walk This Way (feat Aerosmith) - 11 Exactly how a crossover/guest/sample should be. Amazing track combining two completely different forms of music. It is so hard to do, but it is completely masterfully on this track. Another all-time classic. 5. Is It Live - 7 This is a really good example of what made this album so game-changing. The rhymes within structured rhymes. The bridges of lyrical rhymes that connect one standard line of the verses to the next. Vocal lyrical poetry. 6. Perfection - 5 It's just not as strong as previous tracks. It's not bad but the lyrics are a lot less hype and a lot less strong than previously. Too repetitive as well in the second half of the song. 7. Hit It Run - 6 Solid hip-hop. Lyrically it is better than Perfection and the flow is a little bit better. Has some solid scratching and beat boxing in it as well. Enjoyable track. 8. Raising Hell - 10 Brilliant track. The drums are made to sound like that of a gun and the flow and beat is incredible. Mixed with a great sounding guitar that's given space to dominate the song with a great solo, this track is everything great about another mix between rock and hip-hop. 9. You Be Illin' - 6 Beat is amazing! Lyrics leave a bit to be desired. The purpose of the song is just kind of lighthearted but also meaningless. Chorus is very repetitive. 10. Dumb Girl - 4 It's just not a great song. It's lyrically not great but the beat just isn't as enjoyable as other tracks on the album either. Bit of a pass over track. 11. Son of Byford - N/A Track is too short to warrant a rating. 12. Proud to be Black - 7 Much better than the previous 2 rated tracks. A return to what is so enjoyable about Run-D.M.C. Lyrically the flow is great, the message is great, and the beat is solid. Mix in some excellent scratching and you get an all around decent track. Average Rating: 7.45 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 3.73 Rounded Up: 4 Stars

Awesome

First rock-rap-album. Pioneers. Still rocks.

Their sound is distinctive. It is easy to hear the debt that bands like The Beastie Boys owe them. I love the way that the album opens, it catches you and just keeps going

Really good cant go wrong with a singe song on here really 4.5

Great album. The beginnings of rap and such a great way to get audiences into with so crossover music as well.

4/5. Great rhythms. Views on women rather sus. Gotta love the Aerosmith cover.

I enjoyed the shouty rap and had some classics on here.

Está muy guay el rap de los 80 finales/ principios de los 90. Tiene una base chula para muchas canciones la verdad. Me parece increíble que se hiciese viral una canción de este album JAJAJAJA. en definitiva álbum chulo

I wore my sneakers but I'm not a sneak

hell yeah!

Je connaissais pas l’artiste mais ils y avait plusieurs sons super connus. J’ai bien aimé ! Ça donne la pêche

Nice, love 80's rap/hip-hop gas such a recognisable style to it. Always a good listen, fun as hell.

This album was just a fun listen. Super catchy beats and lyrics

55/1001. Golden age of hip-hop, classic album, greatest hits of the 80s in this genre. Keep it real and minimal, not illin'

Starts out with the alwyas fun Peter Piper. The word play with the fairy tales is pretty nice. I've always loved Tricky, total banger. The remix of Walk This Way with Aerosmith was a really nice surprise, I'd never heard that before, total blast. The rest of the album is solid. Good beats, nice raps. Raising Hell was a nice breakout, with some good guitar work. Overall mostly a 3, but the few big hits pull it up to a 4. Best song: Tricky

I liked it, didn’t love it.

Favorite track: rising hell Other picks: walk this way, it's tricky, hit it run

Such a classic album with so many bangers on it. Love singing along to this one

3.7 - Fun, okay, enjoyable

I like this !

Great album. I guess it's somewhat dated, but it's still the sound of hip hop to my ears. It was fun to listen to it today.

4/5 meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeow

Hell yeah, stabil 4*

It's cool as hell this album, even if the beats can get a little repetitive at times. Still can't knock how influential it was.

I kinda felt history being made with this one.

It’s Tricky and WTW are iconic

The music version of wide pants from the early 90’s

Really fun album. My favourite tracks are Walk This Way and It's Tricky. I'm not sure if all the lyrics are still acceptable for today's society.

Feels like a classic, even though I’ve never listened to it before.

This was a fun throwback!

This album was an absolute bop during my workout. The obvious track standouts are It’s Tricky, Walk This Way, and You Be Illin’. This is just a solid hip hop album that was very enjoyable to listen to. Check it out!

Now this what good 80s music sounds like. I remember this sounding just so different and exciting to Uk chart music. It’s tricky has always been been my favourite Run DMC song, throw in My adidas and Walk this way and you cant go wrong A fine example of good old school hip hop

This was always going to be at least a 3* for me, given “It’s Tricky” and “Walk This Way” are on this album. I enjoyed listening to the rest of it, although no other tracks stood out to me quite like the two biggies.

We know it for the smash hit of course but this album is full of bangers

Classic!

Enjoyable

Maybe it would be nice if they changed the setting on the drum machine more often, but this is a catchy and pivotal album. It seems almost innocent now.

Makes you move.

Enjoy this much more than the current version of the genre.

A classic rap album , one of the first CDs I ever owned. Always a good listen.

Surprisingly good given how dated 80s hip-hop always sounds. A few huge hits on here.

Great album when I heard it in elementary school and that's still the case now! Fortunately, today's rap lyrics are even more complex and poetic.

reaaaally good!!!! loved it

Some great songs and catchy tunes on this album!

On the cheesier side of the hiphop I like, but this album is a classic. Side A in particular is relentless in how it keeps serving up great tracks. Really appreciated the production on this album this time round, and it’s no wonder it was the first hip hop album to go platinum or to gain a bunch of different awards. The quality does drop off slightly in the second half, but it’s still a superb album. Plus it gave us SSX tricky, the greatest snowboarding game of all time.

Never heard the title track before, it was awesome

it was dated but FUN which i needed yesterday

This album scratches my brain in just the right way. the undiagnosed adhd is LOVING it. But I totally cannot multitask with these songs. I was trying to work with this in the background and no I cannot. since I dont know the lyrics its distracting, and I need to just listen to the album as it’s own task. 
my dad loves the old school rap stuff and all these songs remind me of songs he used to show me so its fun I was so excited to hear what was next Highlights “It’s Tricky” “Walk this way” “Is it live” fun percussion

Solid rap album

I had never listened to Run DMC or this album before but it turned out that I knew a few of the singles. My personal highlight was their cover of “Walk this Way” as it was a really interesting take on the original. Having never heard this album in its entirety before, I can clearly hear how influential it has been. I would return to listen to some of the songs but not all, therefore its a 4 star album for me.

Let's all just pause... Take a big breath... and collectively agree 40 years later it's still one of the best rap albums produced.

Me quedo con los primeros 4 temas que son iconicos y diferentes los demás en verdad muy repetitivos pero no son malos.

It’s the purest form of hip hop, relying on catchy beats and storytelling. It’s lighthearted, it’s fun, it’s tricky!

Been meaning to listen to this record for a long time because it's always listed as a seminal hip hop album. Can totally see it. Maybe not as impactful now as it was then, but still a great listen. Great flow and delivery, and absolutely killer beats behind it. Of course I already knew the classics, but that last tune is a genuine anthem.

4/5 Just ja just nelosen puolelle. Muutama viiden tähden biisi, mutta aika paljon semmosta kolmosen perushyvää tykitystä.

Puhelaulun alkulähteillä. Raikasta ja Aerosmith virkistää aina

Niin kuin aikaisemmin kuultu public enemy toimi meikäläiselle, niin saman tekee myös tämä duo. Old school räp on douppiishittii.

3.5/5. Started real strong, but fell off a bit

Favorite track: it's tricky. Overall score: 7,8/10

Obviously we've gotten much better hip hop albums since but this is still a very fun album. "It's Tricky" is a classic and "Walk This Way" honestly slaps, an improvement over the original in my opinion. This album feels dated and timeless at the same time somehow. Favorite track: Walk This Way 3.5/5

it was good but I didn’t like it

Surprisingly good also Marky Mark Good Vibrations could’ve got into this album

Classic

Dit is eigenlijk best leuk. Energiek, afwisselend, en de heren van Aerosmith komen ook even op de koffie. Wat mij betreft zou dit genre zo vaker mogen klinken.

Couple really good songs. Some really bad songs. Tough rating but probably around 3.5.

By today’s standard, this rap may seem simplistic. That is exactly why I like it. Not over produced. It is what it is. Not to mention the collab with Aerosmith brought them back from the almost dead and introduced rap to so many. Some classic songs. Great album.

Just so fun

Classic old school hip hop. I love the My Sharona sample on It's Tricky. Liked Songs Added: It's Tricky Walk This Way You Be Illin' Proud To Be Black

Pretty close to a masterpiece. The progenitor of so much that came after. And still sounds good. The rap style is the only thing that has dated but it is my preferred style anyway.

Probably their best work here. For some reason like the beat doesnt change🤷

Highly hyped hip hop Just rocking rhymes right on time Became a legend

Great Album, A few bangers in the mix

I like this because I like the beats and there voices sound cool with the lyrics. I would recommend this to someone else because I think they would really like this. I give it 4 stars.

Yeah, loved this!

Raising Hell" continued Run-DMC's ongoing evolution of their unique blend of hip-hop and hard rock that began with "King of Rock." This time, they collaborated with producer Rick Rubin, whose passion for both metal and rap not only guided Run-DMC into further merging the two genres but also enhanced the album's commercial appeal. He introduced more catchy hooks, intricate scratching, and powerful riffs, while also persuading Aerosmith to appear on the album. More significantly, this album was likely the gateway for many non-rap listeners to explore the genre for the first time. It is difficult to find a stronger opening set of tracks on any other 80s rap album than "Peter Piper," "It's Tricky," "My Adidas," and "Walk This Way." Although the album loses some momentum towards the end, it remains a remarkably strong overall. Also, another album that makes me miss being a teen in the 80s.

I can see why they were so popular in their time. I kinda want to like it more than I actually do.

Peak hip hop! Standout tracks: "It's Tricky", " You Be Illin'"

Haven't heard this in 30+ years? Not sure I have listened to it straight through either. Classic old school rap/hip hop. Very nostalgic for me. Walk This Way may have been the most popular song but listening now, the mix is terrible. Otherwise, most of the other tracks are great except Dumb Girl has not aged well. Not something I'll pull out except in a nostalgic mood.

The Pinto twins are really into this. It's catchy and old school.

Loved it

Lots of good hits. Opened up strong with Peter Piper.

Wasn't big into hip-hop growing up. Interesting to listen back to this album and how it changed music to come!

Crazy good opening 4 tracks

Raising Hell by Run-D.M.C., released in 1986, is a landmark album in hip-hop history that played a pivotal role in bringing rap music into the mainstream. As one of the first hip-hop albums to achieve multi-platinum status, it broke barriers with its raw sound, socially conscious lyrics, and innovative fusion of rock and rap—most famously on the track “Walk This Way” featuring Aerosmith, which bridged racial and genre divides. The album helped redefine the cultural legitimacy of hip-hop, elevating it from underground street culture to a dominant force in global pop culture. Its success laid the groundwork for future hip-hop artists and cemented Run-D.M.C.'s legacy as pioneers of the genre. (Source: ChatGPT)

Looking at the cover alone I would have never told you I recognized this as a classic album, showing my amateur status as a hip hop listener. I have scratched the surface of 90s hip hop, Eminem, Beastie Boys, Tribe Called Quest, and of course the rap rock of the 00s. After scoping out the track list, of course I realize what a beast of an album this is, with multiple instantly recognizable hit tracks. Certainly the first time listening to some of these songs I'm already familiar with on good speakers, which gives them much more depth than I recall. Definitely an enjoyable listen, even if it's not a sound I'd likely revisit frequently.

Excellent! Rap/Hip-Hop finest!

You know, after two albums that I can't say I liked, something like this is exactly what I needed? Some good-old-fashioned classic hip-hop. I would say you can't go wrong with this kind of album, but I'm also the person who gave Licensed to Ill a 2/5, so I can't really say that. But don't worry Run-D.M.C. fans. Just because this is also a 1986 album produced by Rick Rubin that helped pioneer rap rock and bring hip-hop into the mainstream doesn't mean I feel the same way about Raising Hell. I actually liked this album quite a bit! There' definitely things to enjoy here. See, in addition to a similarly significant album like Licensed to Ill, I also have Run-D.M.C.'s 1984 self-titled debut as a frame of reference. I think the thing that this album really has over that one is that there are more stand out songs and moments. Self-titled really only had one song that I really loved with "It's Like That." Raising Hell starts off with not one, not two, but 4 instantly memorable tracks with "Peter Piper," "It's Tricky," "My Adidas," and of course, their version of "Walk this Way." That last one is especially notable for marking the point where hip-hop really started to enter the mainstream. None of the other songs are bad, but I do feel that the album starts off with its best outings. I think the rapping is pretty solid. It's not one-note, but it is a bit dated. That's kind of how this whole album is. It may be a bit dated in its feel. Like, there's no denying that this is clearly and 80s hip-hop album. However, it's still a strong showing that helped revolutionize the genre for the better. Are there better hip-hop albums that have released since Raising Hell? Absolutely. However, I would absolutely recommend this album to anyone looking to get into the earlier albums of the genre's history to see how hip-hop got where it is today. Not only does Raising Hell provide that, but it also provides some pretty good songs with solid beats. Light 4/5.

Classic, great to hear these again

Goeie shit, solid old school hip hop. Verrassend consistent. 8.5/10

This production is so crisp and vibrant yet still sounds live. The group underplays Rubin’s impact on production but this carries his signatures even in this early work. Obviously the singles enduring, and the legacy/impact of the album can’t be overstated, but the entire thing is an impressive confluence of DJ and emcees firing on all cylinders, paving the way for untold numbers of artists to follow. Walk This Way is famous, but there are several rap rock tracks that don’t get talked about enough.

One of the most formative hip hop albums in history. Hip hop has changed so much over the years, that so much of this sounds dated, but to disrespect its cutting edge and its influence is *not* something I'm going to do. Sounds like My Adidas, It's Tricky, and the Aerosmith collaboration Walk This Way are such classics it's almost impossible to review them without the weight of history and influence. It's rare that you listen to an album and understand that without that specific release at that point in time, an entire genre of music would possibly not exist, or would be so different as to have been something completely changed. This is one such album. This is hip hop history. This is American history.

YA YA YA very fun to listen to, a classic

Fun, but gets kinda stale on the back half. The 808 tracks can be a bit repetitive. Still, I enjoyed the more popular tracks that have found themselves in the mainstream. Some of the lyrics were fun too! 'Walk This Way' was my fave.

For me this is the first hip hop I heard growing up. The first crossover mainstream rap with Walk this Way. Which also made me aware of Aerosmith for the first time, as I didn’t realize they were still around at the time. Some good songs on here like It’s Tricky.

I'm not a hip-hop, but deserves the love.

I have never listened to an 80’s hip hop album lowkey excited.

Decent very 80s but enjoyable

Sounds like the sound Peter piper robin hood men in tights. Fun album wither Aerosmith song. Tidal tried skipping it's tricky. 4/5

Respect

very fun, also cool collab with aerosmith

Love some classic hip-hop; album is definitely top-heavy with hits but it’s still good across the board and has enough great tracks to make up for the weaker one or two.

Another really cool hip hop album I’ve got from here, seems like they’ve picked well. 4 stars

Loved it!

Gotta love old school hip hop. Not just "Walk This Way", there's so much to enjoy on this: "Peter Piper," "It's Tricky," "You Be Illin' " all great hits. The only thing is I would say the song "My Adidas" sounds pretty dated. But apart from things like that, the flow is just so... ill. Highly recommended.

I'm not sure there is an old school rap song I like better than It's Tricky. I could play that track all day - the beats, the rhymes, it's perfect. This album opens very strong with it and several other songs with wicked beats and rhymes - Peter Piper, My Adidas, and the super cool Walk this Way remake. Then it waffles a little - Is It Live and Hit It Run aren't bad but the first sounds too much like My Adidas and the second tries to hard with it's beat boxing? Perfection is meh. They bring it back to rap rock greatness with Raising Hell and You Be Illin - the first is slick, edgy and serious while the second is fun and groovy. Dips again with Dumb Girl and Son of Byford but finishes strong with the anthem Proud to Be Black. Not perfect but damn good. From three of the most influential rappers of all time.

Trochę przestarzałe bity, które czasem brzmią jak uderzanie łyżką o patelnię, ale całość ma w sobie mnóstwo ognia. Zaczynam się powoli przekonywać do rapu. 7/10

It was pretty good but it’s an era with hiphop before the Golden age of rap. I love jazz rap in this era so much more. Still cant deny its influence

Classique. Ca part de la, et c'est fou de voir l'énergie derrière alors que c'est si pauvre en terme de prod. Fascinant de revenir au minimum du hip hop et en même temps ça reste frais avec des ajouts comme la présence d'Aerosmith

It's ok.

Great example of the early genre.

Good, classic rap album, few well known songs, overall positive vibes. Pretty good altogether.

Classic Rap Album. It's Tricky and Walk this Way are staples of the genre,

A solid early hip hop album. It’s Tricky will always be one of my karaoke favs. I like how the tracks transition into each other like how a dj would mix live.

I was bouncing around to this one. Very fun record with consistently great percussion. I also really love rap over guitars. Standout tracks are: “Raising Hell” and “My Adidas”.

Again, surprisingly good.

Fun and upbeat. Good for Car Trip.

A lot of the really early hip-hop doesn't hold up, but this is still cool. Well worth its spot on this list.

This is one of the original hip hop albums released in the world. And it's a good one. I liked it. Probably, without this we wouldn't have had many other rappers.

i get it's corny, but i really do like how much they hype each other up on all the tracks, especially towards Jam Master Jay. he's basically the reason that Run and D's trade-offs work -- he sets up a steady beat, some nice samples (or two members of Aerosmith) for them to work over, and lets them do their thing. as cool of a beat it probably is, "Perfection" shows that they're really nothing unless they work as a power trio. i get the whole mid-school thing is associated with cheesy record scratches and dated beats, but they really make it work. it's not timeless, it's dry aged. i love Run-D.M.C. and i am not ashamed, nor should i be. i mean they made "My Sharona" listenable, desirable even. man, the first No. 1 rap hit really should have been It's Tricky / Proud to Be Black. it shouldn't have been fucking Ice Ice Baby.

Rocking. Great fun.

This album has a hell of a run on the first side. I was totally hooked, and pretty sure I was on my way to a five-star album. But, the album really does fizzle in the second half. There's still a couple bangers on there but nothing compared to the opening run of "Peter Piper", "It's Tricky", "My Adidas", "Walk This Way", and "Is It Live". It's plainly obvious how influential this album was for the genre, and even more so for rap rock as we know it today. Truly a classic. 4.5 out of 5.

Some good fun 80s rap. You can tell this is where it all came from.

Very nice rap album, still up to date

ok. number 100. 100 down, 1000 to go. a round of applause. so, "Raising Hell" by Run-D.M.C. i like the beat, i like the flow, i like the sampling, i like the version of "Walk This Way" on the album, and i can admit and 100% admit that it is a non-deniable influential hip-hop album. i hates modern rap but the 80s is just pure excitement. the only problem is that i am not wearing my adidas sneakers while listening to this at school. i am wearing a pair of cheaply made sneakers instead. 4/5

Classic hip hop. My older sister had this album when I was a kid and I thought it was so cool. We used to sing along to some of these songs when I was in grade school, good memories.

Good shit. The hip-hop/rock fusion sounds awesome, and there are couple of absolute classic tracks. There are also a few I'm less into, which stops this from getting 5 stars, but I really had fun listening to this album

I enjoyed listening to this!! It’s tricky and walk this way being on the album automatically give it a 4 in my opinion, but after hearing everything else I’d give it a 4.5. Some really good songs!

This album is analogous to the 2024 Yankees. 2 absolute monsters and a lot of average at best teammates. It's tricky is a banger and Walk This Way created a new genre of music, but not quite the supporting cast for a 5. Would like a little more in the way of beats/production besides bass and snares

i like it :)

Ovo je baš iz totalno drugog vremena. Simpa

This album is shot out of a cannon. Before they were corny VH-1 TV personalities these guys could bring it. The first half is classic after classic with great beats, solid rhymes and infectious fun. Then there is the all-time best crossover track of all time. Like most albums of this era, it falls off in the second half and we get a healthy dose of misogyny and questionable beliefs. It was the times, not all their fault, but that keeps it from perfection.

It's got some really good stuff but not the strongest throughout. Will I listen to again: 60%

I thought this would get repetitive, but it’s a classic for a reason.

I don't know much about hip-hop but I liked the flow of the rapping, and of course, Walk This Way is an iconic hip-hop song. Overall it was a lot of fun to listen to.

hay un gran flow de los muchachos

I liked this album, especially the cross-genre tracks. However, most of the hip-hop ones had good lyrics, but the beats were too simple and repetitive to get that last star.

Thoughts before listening: The first Run DMC album I got on here was a lot of fun so I would expect more of the same from this one. Review: This is okay, but not quite as fun as the first Run DMC album I heard on this project. This album's hits ("Walk This Way", "My Adidas", and "Its Tricky") are all classics that are getting added to my playlist, but the rest of the album isn't really standing out to me (the title track is the best of the bunch). While this is a bit of a dated sound these days, I do recognize that the mix of rap and rock found on this album was revolutionary for the time. Even just having a traditional 70s-era rock band in Aerosmith appear on the album was a huge deal. I was going to give this 3-stars but the deep cuts are starting to grow on me a bit, so I'll go with 4-stars.

has aged funny due to how much hip hop has progressed, but for what it is, this is a great time

Soooo old-school, the record scratching kind of cracked me up. The beats were pretty great, though. Fun! 3.5

I don’t know a whole lot still about rap and hip hop. I’m happy to say that I’ve learned a lot through this project, but I basically started at zero so I don’t know much compared to experts. I have learned, however, that I very much enjoy 80’s and 90’s rap. There seems to be a feeling of authenticity, of urgency about social issues, and even sometimes just some goofy fun. I have been wanting to consume more since I first listened to Biggie’s debut, “Ready to Die,” and have liked what I’ve heard. So when Run-DMC came up today, I was thrilled. This is great album. They move through each track with a certain levity, even when the songs are about something heavy. It seems effortless, as though writing the lyrics was easy and the delivery of them is just fun for them. It’s refreshing after being exposed to modern rap and hip hop, which seems contrived and mostly focuses on how great the performer thinks they are. They try to tell why they’re great. Run-DMC simply shows you. Are all the rhymes expertly written? No, there’s definitely some clunkers and stretches here, stuff written to fit the rhyme but not necessarily sound natural. But you can forgive them for that. It is hard, after all, to write compelling lyrics AND have them rhyme. I dont need to write on and on about the Aerosmith collaboration and how groundbreaking it was. There’s plenty of YouTube essays on that. I will just say how naturally it works; the original “Walk This Way” is almost rapped anyway, so if there was ever going to be any collaboration or collision of these two genres, this was the perfect choice. I thought it was great. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Peter Piper, It’s Tricky, Walk This Way, Is It Live, Raising Hell, You Be Illin’

A classic. So influential on the rap and rock that followed. Rhymes and rhythms are *tight*. On the downside, it’s definitely “of an era” that’s passed, so a little dated. But it’s still great! A 4. Will listen to it again.

I be illin………took me back to high school!!

Great album. A few songs didn’t age as well as others. But I still really enjoy this album and listen to many of these songs on a regular basis. I feel that it is a classic. Certainly rap has come a long way but given these were some of the first in this genre and many still are great that is a real testament. I’m not a fan of walk this way mainly because it’s a cover song and I think that a song that combines two genres for one of the first times shouldn’t have been a cover. That and I don’t love Aerosmith. Other songs on here are so good and still quoted regularly that it makes it a top album

So. Many. Hits.

Suuuch a great album. Speaking of album openers - Peter Piper goes insano mode. And the percussion elevates this whole project to a whole other level, truly excellent

Fun and family friendly! Sounds like rock and roll to me

it's just fun and I like that they are just rapping about regular stuff ... wearing adidas, walking down the street ... just simple guy stuff that appeals to simple guys like me

Это даже не олдскул, это пре-олдскул! Рэп, который ещё не успел озлобиться и опошлиться, но уже перестал быть наивным. Run-D.M.C. здесь как первопроходцы, прорубающие тропу в густых джунглях для раннего хип-хопа. Шагают твёрдо, но временами оглядываются: влияние сетов Afrika Bambaataa ещё видно невооружённым взглядом. Звучание альбома — сырое, прямолинейное, как разговор на крыльце у дома, где правда важнее изящества. На момент выхода это был взрыв. Чего стоит один только гитарный рифф из «Walk This Way», который врезался в сознание, как метеор в тёплую землю. Это было настолько свежо, что никто не знал, как реагировать. Сегодня же — с высоты прожитых десятилетий — альбом ощущается, как первые шаги ребёнка, который ещё не выбрал, будет он танцором или боксёром. Влияние альбома на мировую индустрию сложно переоценить. Тогда ещё вряд ли кто-то мог предположить, что хип-хоп станет глобальной культурной революцией. Именно поэтому та музыка такая искрення — она ещё не боялась быть простой.

All time great 4 track set to start things off. The rest is good, but never rises to the heights of It’s Tricky or Walk This Way.

7/10, but I'll rate it as four stars because of its influence.

Wow this brings me back to middle school/high school. Such a fun album. I only really remember the big hits really - It’s Tricky and Walk This Way - but I enjoyed all the songs.

Really enjoyed it. I generally like my rap family friendly with low swears or racial epithets and not so much about Ice cubes dick. This delivers with a killer opening 4 tracks. It gets a little repetitive thereafter and could do with a little bit magic to funk it up a bit.

78/100. Very iconic record. I listened to this a lot when I was younger. Good beats, nice and fun lyricism. Today, I don’t feel this record is overly impressive—maybe I’ve just listened to it too many times in my life.

This is bad, not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good...

Amazing, especially considering how early it was. Some great ideas and fun raps.

Love the pass the mic style of that bygone era. It's just a really fun album.

Groundbreaking and fun.

Oh yeah. I legit love this period of hip hop where things were gleeful and nobody was routinely called a ho.

Legendary. And STILL a really fun listen nearly 40 years later.

4*

first hip hop LP of this project, pleased it's an old school classic

True pioneering on this record as hip hop wastes no time infiltrating rock and roll, the results of which we still see today.

I feel saying that, as a rock fan, saying that Run DMC is personally one of my preferred hip-hop group feels like it’s cheating. Next to the Beastie Boys, Run DMC paved the way for a relationship between rap and rock. I mean, Walk This Way was practically a rap song disguised as a rock song. It just took some time for someone to realize it. Besides that, everything else on Raising Hell is infectious. It’s Tricky has had real estate in my head since I was a kid since I first heard it in SSX Tricky.(awesome game series by the way. EA should bring it back if they didn’t suck dicks) The other songs are great too, especially You Be Illin’. There’s a little mid-80’s hip-hop cheese here, kind of like the Beastie Boys vibe with License to Ill. But the influence and quality of this album can’t be denied. It’s a classic for a reason. Favorite track: It’s Tricky Other hits: Walk This Way, You Be Illin, Raising Hell, My Adidas, Proud to be Black

A great album, some would even consider monumental for the genre of hip-hop. Several catchy, fun to listen to songs. It's amazing reading about how the collab between Aerosmith and DMC would elevate hip-hop to a much larger audience. It's a shame, however, what the genre would eventually become today as artists don't make music like this anymore (although the same can be said with most classic rock bands). I was close to giving it a 5, given it's enjoyability and landmark influence, but upon its conclusion I didn't find myself dieing to run it back again or replay any song in particular.

Stiff fresh after all these years. Brings me back to mtv days. Love the guitar riffs in raising hell.

I’ve never enjoyed 90s rap but this was such a fun listen!!! I will return

First half of the album is great but spotty after that.

Old school hip hop is definitely the best form of rap. This one is more fun and light hearted compared to others The main hits are good, but it's the songs I'm not seeing getting talked about as much that are the proper bangers, for example Hit It Run and the title track The beats are good but get a tad repetitive. It also ends on a couple weaker songs which is why I'm not giving it a 5

13/01/24 Didn't expect to like this album but apparently old skool hip hop is growing on me.

1980s rap aura 🔥

A couple of duds but mostly great fun whilst making a clear statement. You be illin is a great find for me

Hip-hop in the mid 80s was preparing to make the transition from being a trendy fad to being seen as the real thing and Run-D.M.C. was one of the most pivotal rappers to bridge the gap in more ways than one. Having already made their stances clear on prior releases (King of Rock and their endorsement of Adidas clothing, for example), Run-D.M.C. not only doubled down on those stances but they whipped from thin air an unlikely collaboration that not only broke down barriers but helped lay the foundation for what ended up being a form of rock genre that went way beyond what was envisioned. Raising hell? When it came down to it, they surely did. Favorites: Peter Piper, It's Tricky, My Adidas, Walk This Way, Is It Live, Perfection, You Be Illin, Proud to Be Black.

Another 80s rap album. This will probably be a struggle... Peter Piper - your classic 80s rap. You know the drill. Earnest. Cheesy beats. Lost it at: "He's not Hansel." "He's not Gretel." It's Tricky - A classic! Catchy. My Adidas - alright. Walk This Way - this is a great song once you studiously ignore the lyrics (yikes). Is It Live - not bad. Perfection - LIVING for the smug singing at the beginning and throughout. Also - "DM-" "CCCCCCCC!" - stunning. Song gets pretty boring after the first min though. Hit It Run - hated this so much I had to skip it. Raising Hell - "IT is SOMEwhat FRIGHT'ning!" - amazing. Love the rock elements of this song too incl. the guitar solo. Also love "He's off the WALL, on the BALL". You Be Illin' - really like the hook on this. Dumb Girl - thought the beginning was dumb (!) but then loved how the beat came in. Love how the final 'Dumb Girl' sounds like Ru Paul said it. Son of Byford - what can really be said. Proud to be Black - pretty good. Great lyrics. All in all I liked it a lot! Surprisingly.

Great album, would be even better if they had a third guy who said the last word of the rap when they said it

I recognise some songs just as they've been sampled more recently, iconic! I don't really listen to hip-hop but I still enjoyed it.

Run DMC's third album goes hard and Rick Rubin knows how to get the white boys into rap. This album and its four singles represent rap finally being recognised in the charts. Peter Piper is pretty standard 80s rap riffing on nursery rhymes over a stripped back mardis gras beat. Rubin and Jam Master Jay's pop genius is on display with It's Tricky sampling My Sharona. My Adidas continues to demonstrate Jay's chops on the deck with a series of complicated scratch routines over a clever homage to Adidas. The Walk this Way cover achieves the seemingly impossible task of making 80s hard rock funky (although points off for paving the way for rap rock I suppose). Is it Live struggles to squeeze some groove out of an 808 and while the boasting is fun it hasn't aged well. Perfection keeps things stripped back with a (live?) drum track and more lyrical boasting. Hit it Run brings back the turntablism and amps up the vocals with Run and DMC aggressively spitting bars. You can see where the LA rappers got their ideas from. The title track brings the guitar locks back but the vocals don't maintain the energy. You be Illin has some great storytelling in the style of the Biz. Dumb Girl has a great 808 and feels like a bit of inspo for Memphis. Proud to be Black closes the album with an important message for the bigger audience the album attracted. 1986 is a huge year for rap (Licensed to I'll, Eric B is President, The Source, Kool Moe Dee, 2 Live Crew). Not sure what else we're going to see from this year in the list but Raising Hell earns it's place for figuring out how to give rap commercial appeal. Anyone who got rich rapping in subsequent decades owes this album a lot.

second track of this album kicks like spread eagle across the block i can hear how pivotal this record was to one of the most important acts of my life (& contemporary music if we're being honest). flows are a little dated but the energy more than makes up for it, v glad this is on this list

I’d never listened to this album from start to finish because so many of these tracks were already overplayed by the time I could remember. Even though I was already familiar with the songs, it was still nice to hear them in the true album order, which flows perfectly with all the right tracks in all the right places. The album has so much punchy energy, I can only imagine the fun environments it’s been played in over the years. I also have to give credit to Run-D.M.C. for crossing over into the rock genre, appealing to that audience while staying true to their hip hop identity.

Some lyrics that have not stood the test of time

First time hearing this album, and most of these tracks. I feel like a lot of these are ripe to get sampled (and obviously a lot of this has been). Pretty chill over all, not as in-your-face as I would have thought.

i listened to the wrong dmc album but god damn i’m in love

Favorite Track: It's Tricky

This is a lot of fun. Aerosmith crossover a look into the future from 86 or wherever. It's a compilation per spotify? Anyway apparently these guys were 'new school' rather than old school at one point but it feels firmly old school now. More polished rapping and produciction than the last one I got from them.

Fun album with the hits

The beats and rapping is quite primitive, Hip Hop has come a long way since this album. Still fun to listen and the tracks really bang. And of course Walk This Way is a certified hood classic.

what happened to rap GROUPS like these guys, beasties, even sugar hill gang??? there’s just such obvious charm going from voice to voice. maybe just the style of rap today doesn’t lend itself to it as much

Good tunes, took me back to my youth 4/5

Some of this feels a little dated. Not in terms of the lyrical content, but rather the musical style. Hip Hop has just come a long way from the 80s, and this probably influenced some of that 90s sound that I (personally) really don't like. But this is really good. It's really top heavy, but the top very much has some incredible and notable songs. The back portion of the album falls pretty far from the bar they set with the first 4 or 5 songs. And the beatboxing that shows up on "Get It Run" and a couple other times after is really bad. I also haven't ever listened to this version of "Walk This Way" before and holy shit. Favorite Song(s): It's Tricky, Walk This Way, Raising Hell

Yeah classic stuff

It was crazily good. I didnt expect that so many good songs were from that album alone!

I liked this a whole lot more than their debut. Some real old school hip hop! My one caveat is that the Aerosmith cover makes me dread when their albums pop up here for me.

Not a fan at all of walk this way, but the rest was nice.

good bells and basic drums and samples, voice variation and dope rhyme, pre-kendrick (superior)

I just love 'It's Tricky', and not just because of the snowboarding game. Very good album

While I like some individual hip-hop songs from before this (The Message, Planet Rock, Rock the Bells and a few others) I often find the albums quite underwhelming as people were still really figuring out what could be done with the genre. There would be one or two standout songs and then just a string of forgettable tracks that all sounded very similar and were going for the same thing Raising Hell is the earliest hip-hop album I can think of where everything just clicked. The years just after this pushed things further, with Public Enemy, NWA, Big Daddy Kane, De La Soul and loads more doing their own twist and pushing the boundaries even further from around 1987 onwards, but for 1986 this was basically unprecedented. Not only did Run-D.M.C. really figure out how to make a varied and interesting hip-hop album, they also pioneered combining this genre still in its infancy with rock on songs like Walk This Way and Hit It Run, expanding their sound even further. It’s quite front heavy with four fantastic songs to kick it off, but it doesn’t drop off too hard and it’s a truly remarkable release for it’s time

o único rap rock possível. absurdo demais. só pedrada. eu perdoo eles por terem trazido esse subgênero ao mainstream, o que acarretou em bandas horríveis.

Dated AF sound, but some seminal tracks on there. Enjoyed listening to this

Favorite song: Raising Hell

First four songs are absolute bangers. I would say the rest of the album is hit and miss for me. "It's Tricky" is my absolute favorite off this album. Makes me incredibly nostalgic for the amount of hours I poured into playing "SSX Tricky" as a kid. I like enough of this enough to merit 4 stars, but there's enough weak on here to me to have it fall short of 5.

It's good. Classic tracks. I didn't like the songs towards the end but need another few listens. Maybe

These guys are also absolute pioneers of an entire genre and played a key role in bringing it to the mainstream, with some of the tracks from this album at the heart of that.

fun album, didn't miss a beat. Would I listen to it again? Probably

I’d never listened to this album from start to finish because so many of these tracks were already overplayed by the time I could remember. Even though I was already familiar with the songs, it was still nice to hear them in the true album order, which flows perfectly with all the right tracks in all the right places. The album has so much punchy energy, I can only imagine the fun environments it’s been played in over the years. I also have to give credit to Run-D.M.C. for crossing over into the rock genre, appealing to that audience while staying true to their hip hop identity.

Absolutely classic. Finally brought hip-hop to the attention of everyone who wrote it off for the last 7 years. Minimalistic but appropriate for the time. Packed with energy, hits, and a killer guest appearance, this deserves to be remembered forever as the breakthrough of one of music's most popular genres

Fierce fun.