Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 88 - Run D.M.C.

Run D.M.C. had formed in 1981 in Queens, New York. They were to become one of the innovators of the new school of Hip Hop along with the likes of LL Cool J, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys (all of whom were New York based).

They had begun singing at Two-Fifths Park in Hollis, and Run (Joseph Simmons) had recorded a single, 'Street Kids' that largely went unnoticed but joining forces with DMC (Daryl McDaniels) and DJ Jam Master Jay (Jay Mizell) they released their first single, It's Like That backed by Sucker M.C.'s late 1983 that peaked on the US R&B Charts at #15.

A cover of Hard Times originally released in 1980 by fellow New Yorker Kurtis Blow followed in late 1983 proving that they were not a one hit wonder. Rock Box was the single that really stood out as it fused Rock and Hip Hop (of course they would go on to explore this later with King of Rock and Walk This Way with Aerosmith), it also was their first video.

Their debut album was the first of the genre to go Gold. In 1989, the album was ranked number 51 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. In 2003, the album was ranked number 242 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 

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

Profile/Arista

Produced by Russel Simmons/Larry Smith

Released 27th March 1984

US Chart #53

Track listing
   01. "Hard Times" – 3:52 (Bralower, Moore, R.Simmons, Smith, Waring)
    02. "Rock Box" – 5:30 (McDaniels, J.Simmons, Smith)
    03. "Jam-Master Jay" – 3:11 (McDaniels, Mizell, J.Simmons, Smith, R.Simmons)
           04. "Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2)" – 3:12 (McDaniels, J.Simmons, Mizell)
    05. "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1)" – 3:09 (N.S.Hardy, Jr., McDaniels, J.Simmons, Smith)
          06. "It's Like That" – 4:50 (McDaniels, J.Simmons, Smith)
    07. "Wake Up" – 5:31 (J.Simmons, Smith, R.Simmons, Hayden)
    08. "30 Days" – 5:47 (D.Simmons, Smith, Moore)
    09. "Jay's Game" – 4:25 (J.Simmons, Smith, Mizell, R.Simmons)

Deluxe Edition (2005) 

 Bonus Tracks
    10. "Rock Box (B-Boy Mix)" – 5:52
    11. "Here We Go [Live at the Funhouse]" – 4:06
    13. "Sucker M.C.'s (Live at Graffiti Rock)" – 3:25
    14. "Russell & Larry Running at the Mouth" – 4:37

Personnel
    Jam Master Jay – Percussion, Keyboards
    Darryl McDaniels "D.M.C." – Vocals
    Joseph Simmons "Run" or "Rev Run" – Vocals
    Eddie Martinez – Guitar

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!