Run-D.M.C. (Profile, 1984) by Run-D.M.C.

I know I've said this before regarding landmark albums and it applies here as well: there is nothing that I can say  about this album that hasn't already been said.  In a nutshell, it changed music and culture forever.  And Larry Smith is an outstanding producer.  However, I just watched footage of Run-D.M.C.'s reunion (R.I.P. Jam Master Jay) at the Made in America festival.  And to see classics like "Rock Box," "Sucker M.C.'s" and "It's Like That" still hold up and get a crowd going almost thirty years later is awesome, but not surprising at all.  To see JMJ's sons on the turntables, that was a moment.  I love hip hop, and because I love hip hop, I love Run-D.M.C.  They are to hip hop what the Beatles are to rock.  But to me, they're bigger than The Beatles.  The music Run, D and Jay created not only made me want to be a part of rap, but their success was the first to prove that it was possible to really make something of yourself with it.  They continue to inspire me to this day.  Therefore, I salute Run-D.M.C. - the greatest rap act of all-time.

Raising Hell (Profile, 1986) by Run-D.M.C.

I wish I was older so that I could have been around when this album came out.  This was the album that legitimized hip-hop in the mainstream.  And the records are timeless, which is not surprising because Rick Rubin produced the album.  Yet, the leaps and bounds that this album took for an entire culture continue to be recognized and grow in appreciation to this day.  The first three cuts on the album are some of the best music hip-hop has to offer and "Walk This Way" is absolutely iconic.  My favorite line on the album, however, is in the title track where they say, " Kings from Queens from Queens come kings/ We're raising Hell like a class when the lunch bell rings."  In Chuck D's book Fight the Power, he identifies Raising Hell as his favorite album.  It's very easy to understand why.

Tougher Than Leather (Profile, 1988) by Run D.M.C.

Raising Hell is unquestionably a flawless album with tremendous cultural significance.  However, because of its success, its follow up was slept on.  I love Tougher Than Leather.  I think that use of  breakbeats in the production prevented them from getting repetitive with heavy drum machines. "Beats to the Rhyme" is ahead of its time. And of the millions of times James Brown's "Funky Drummer" has been sampled, "Run's House" is my favorite use of that over-used track.  Rest in Peace Jam Master Jay.  {Writer's note: Because of Internet connection issues, I was unable to post yesterday, 04/02, and so I am posting twice today on 04/03.  I apologize for any confusion and/or inconvenience.}