Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell (30th anniversary)

Today (July 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Raising Hell, the third studio album from rap pioneers Run-D.M.C. This 1986 record spent seventy-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 3.

For my full review of this rap classic, click here.

For more from Run-D.M.C., click here.

Run-D.M.C. – King of Rock

Today (February 21st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of King of Rock, the second studio album from Run-D.M.C. This 1980 release spent fifty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 52. It also went to number 12 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C. (30th anniversary)

Today (March 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from Run-D.M.C.

For my full review of the groundbreaking Run-D.M.C. album, click here.

Happy Birthday, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels

Happy forty-eighth birthday today (May 31st) to American hip-hop pioneer Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels.

McDaniels grew up in New York City and attended Catholic school. After he enrolled in St. John's University. Inspired by the recordings of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, he taught himself how to DJ. By the end of the decade, along with friends Joseph "Run" Simmons and DJ Jam-Master Jay, he was preforming rap publicly.

Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell

In 1986, the hip-hop kings from Queens crossed brought their music into the mainstream - thanks to a breakthrough hit and major exposure on MTV. Run-D.M.C.’s third album Raising Hell sold incredibly well (went triple platinum) and was critically praised (Rolling Stone ranked it number 120 in their 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time).

Raising Hell came out on July 14th of 1986 while I was working in New Jersey for a six-month stint, thus I purchased it on cassette. The first side was definitely my favorite as the first four tracks are a solid set. I could then usually flip it, back up a bit and pick up the final four tracks on side two.

Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C.

In early 1984, one of the first old-school rap groups to make it big was Run-D.M.C. The self-titled debut album, released on March 27th, from this group from Hollis, Queens, New York is considered a groundbreaking record. They combined sparse beats (delivered expertly by Jam Master Jay) with aggressive vocals (by Darryl “D.M.C.“ McDaniels and Joseph “Run” Simmons) and some guitar riffs (by Eddie Martinez) to create a new sound that contrasted with the earlier hip-hop recordings.

The record has been recognized by many sources for its innovation. The Source gave it a five-star rating and listed it on their 100 Best Rap Albums. Rolling Stone magazine gave it four-and-a-half stars, and placed it at number 51 on their 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980’s list and number 240 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time list. Spin magazine gave it a rating of 9 out of 10. It also appears on the list of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.