Run-DMC Releases Catalogue

They are the Kings from Queens who brought their street-sound to thecul-de-sacs of suburbia|. With their first three albums hitting gold,platinum and multi-platinum respectively, rap revolutionaries Run-D.M.C.re-defined popular culture, paving the road for both politically consciousrap outfits like Public Enemy and gangster rap stars like N.W.A. Now sevenalbums and nearly two decades later, they've sold over 25 million albums andsingles worldwide.

Many of those records have been previously hard-to-find or out-of-print.But On June 1, their back-catalog hit record store shelves. With the recentacquisition of pioneering hip-hop label Profile, Arista Records hasre-released six albums on their new Arista/Profile imprint: Run-D.M.C(1984), King of Rock (1985), Raising Hell (1986), TougherThan Leather (1988), Back From Hell (1990) and Down With theKing (1993).

Back in the 80s, partners-in-rhyme Joseph Simmons (Run) and Daryl McDaniel(D.M.C) along with scratch artist Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay) made musichistory as the first rappers to appear on American Bandstand andSaturday Night Live. Their self-titled album debuted in 1984,produced by Russell Simmons and Larry Smith, featuring the classic tracks"It's Like That" and "Sucker M.C.'s," with "Rock Box" becoming the firstvideo by a rap artist to air on MTV. Run-D.M.C. was the first black rapact to grace the cover of Rolling Stone. As New York Newsday put it, "Theywere the first rap group that really mattered."

Their breakthrough album came in 1986, with the release of RaisingHell, which skyrocketed to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Chart and wascertified triple platinum. The album, produced by Rick Rubin (who laterworked on the Beastie Boys' 1986 hit, Licensed to Ill) featured thefirst rock/hip-hop collaboration. This stint with Aerosmith delivered ahit single, "Walk this Way," and a tour that featured up-and-coming artistsPublic Enemy, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys.

Their 1988 release, Tougher Than Leather, climbed to No. 9 on thecharts, but fans were left disappointed two years later with Back fromHell, and their 1993 comeback Down With the King. Run-D.M.C. iscurrently in the studio finishing their eighth album, Crown Royal,due for release later this year. Crown Royal will feature guestappearances by Slick Rick, Fat Joe, Nas, Lord Finesse, and Method Man.Future plans include a collaboration with Rick Rubin and Aerosmith to remake"It's Tricky," and a new version of "Here We Go Again" featuring SugarRay. - Holiday Dmitri