DMC picks the worst Run-DMC album of all time
As one-third of the iconic trio Run-DMC, DMC made a seismic impact on hip-hop during the 1980s and early ’90s. The Queens emcee was one of the co-founders of Def Jam Records and featured on all of the trio’s projects, from their 1984 self-titled debut to King of Rock, released in 1985.
Run-DMC were definitely ahead of the curve with their music and had a powerhouse producer behind them, Rick Rubin. One of the crew members was brothers with a young Russell Simmons, and the group did not hesitate to utilise his business acumen to land a record deal. From here, they were unstoppable.
The collective’s rise to dominance began during the mid-1980s boom-bap era. However, electro was also beginning to flourish during this period. With so many sonic shifts occurring and subgenres thriving, Run-DMC had to find a niche, and that they did. Rick Rubin managed to hit the jackpot while experimenting with hip-hop with rock. The trio’s mainstream renown was almost instant when they released their debut single ‘It’s Like That/Sucker MCs’.
It wasn’t quite rock music but wasn’t instantly recognisable as hip-hop. It was a bittersweet organic blend, quickly becoming Run-DMC’s signature sound. The outfit’s popularity continued to grow at an unfathomable speed, with their Aerosmith collaboration remaining legendary to this day. The group’s position as one of the founding members of the hip-hop community is undeniable and they have delivered countless moments of musical grandeur in their time.
Rick Rubin’s unique production opened the floodgates for artists and crews to experiment with hip-hop. Following his arrival, other pioneers began breaking free of the creative restrictions placed upon artists by hip-hop purists, and the culture regained its dynamism.
DMC was the crew’s frontman and, alongside Rev Run, was the three-piece ensemble’s main vocalist. As such, the rapper is in high demand for interviews about the origins of the crew, and he frequently reminisces about the good old days and shares his opinions about the extraordinary music he made during his tenure as the face of Run-DMC.
That said, last year during the celebrations of HipHop50, DMC was asked about some of the trio’s most iconic moments, but also reflected on some of his least favourite moments and during an interview with Vulture magazine he revealed what he thought Run-DMC’s worst album was.
Looking back through the collective’s entire catalogue, he came to a swift decision, unveiling, “No question, Back From Hell.” For DMC, the group had drifted too far away from what made them legendary in the first place.
“We got so far away from who Run-DMC is,” he continued, “cursing and trying to act all hard like we were Onyx or some shit. I remember Dante Ross, a legendary New York City A&R guy and a big fan of the band from the early days, did not hold back. ‘What the hell is Run-DMC doing? They think they’re gangsters now?’ That wasn’t even the worst part. More embarrassing? Run-DMC doing New Jack Swing.”