0545. Run D.M.C.
Raising Hell

So, you're a rap-crew and your label suggests you do a cover of a seventies rock song. What do you do?
a. Scoff and say "no way"
b. Worry about the impact on your credibility would be
c. Record the song together with the original band
d. All of the above
Run DMC, as we know, chose d., but not until being severely campaigned upon by their producer to do so. (A producer called Rick Rubin of course. He's popping up just about everywhere there's music history to be made.)

Starting with the tongue twister Peter Piper, they show that they're still at the top of the (1980's) game, and with just about half of the songs being classics they cemented their impact on music history. Cause you can't say that Walk This Way (you know, from Toys In The Attic) didn't break a whole lot of barriers.

The first hip hop act to be played on MTV Other greats are of course It's Tricky, along with My Adidas and a new found favorite: Proud To Be Black. Nice to find new highlights on an album you've owned for almost two decades (no, I didn't buy it when it first came out, but I did cop the mega hit single). This is well worth checking out (even though It's Tricky suffered the same fate as It's Like That, being remixed by that hack DJ a decade and a half ago).