A lot can happen in 40 years, it is absurd the effects time can have on places and people. As the sand reaches the bottom of the hourglass with every blink of an eye and the rapid pace of how things developed in the modern age, romanticizing a time before social media became a commodity. Living in the digital age has plenty of benefits but none more rewarding than the gift of digital music. While audiophiles will argue how everything sounds better on vinyl and streaming services continually pay pennies on the dollar for millions of listens, the convenience is undeniable. More so than the power of having classic LPs at your fingertips, these albums can transport you back to those “simpler times”, and you’d be hard-pressed to find an album that does the job quite like Run-DMC’s self-titled debut. It captures such a specific moment in music, it marks a change in hip-hop while also acting as the beginning of what would inevitably become the storied legacy of Run-DMC. Every great story starts somewhere, and Run-DMC starts with one of the most memorable debut albums in hip-hop history.
Run-D.M.C was originally released on March 27, 1984, 40 years to the day. Hip-hop is not a stranger to timeless debuts, From Nas to Wu-Tang, there is no shortage of artists who let their presence known right out of the gate. A lot of these albums cemented that a fresh voice had entered the genre ready to deploy fearless creativity and undeniable talent, and every classic debut does it in its own way. Run-DMC did more than make their presence known, they seemingly ushered in a completely new era of hip-hop. The sparse instrumentals mixed with the pure aggression of the group put them on a playfield all to their own, one lined with neck-breaking drum patterns derived from funk and a natural chemistry so potent it has, and will continue, to withstand the test of time.
Run-DMC’s self-titled debut was an instant hit. It landed at 54 on the Billboard 200 and 14 on the R&B/Hip-hop charts. With singles like “It’s Like That” and “Hard Times” helping the album climb the charts, it was clear the group separated themselves from the rest of their genre. With groups like The Fat Boys as their contemporaries, Run-DMC’s aggression crash-landed onto the scene with purpose and poise. The sophistication of this record is hidden in its minimalism, by stripping away any unnecessary elements of an instrumental, their vocals were more raw and powerful, emphasizing their harmonious choruses and venomous verses.
In 1984, everything about Run-D.M.C was brand new. While the vocals and concepts they explored act as the crown jewel of the record, there is no denying the influence the production had and continues to have today. The syncopated drums of “Sucker M.C.’s” feel like a blueprint for the mesmerizing work of J Dilla and not to be forgotten, their iconic crossover of rock and hip-hop on “Rock Box”. Run-DMC broke down barriers with this single, combining the rock of the 70s with their unique take on hip-hop that was never attempted in such an authentic and genuine way. “Rock Box” still stands as a groundbreaking release as it is credited for breaking down the invisible wall between the two genres. The music video for the single would go on to become the first rap video to be played on MTV in 1984. 4
Of all the timeless debuts that emerged from hip-hop in its golden area, Run-DMC’s self-titled debut is up there as one of the most impactful. Thanks to their fearlessness and ability to make the minimal sound full, they unlocked a sound all to their own. While we’re discussing it 40 years later, this isn’t an album that could come out today and have the same longevity and impact as it did in 1984. This album captures a renaissance in a genre that has had many, it is one of the first times a singular release seems to have completely changed the course of history. Run-D.M.C withstands its fourth decade as one of the most important hip-hop releases of all time, and it would take a whole lot for its legacy to diminish anytime soon.
