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.

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.