On this day March 27 1984 Run DMC released their self titled debut album and changed the face of hip hop forever. With hard hitting beats raw delivery and a stripped down sound the album broke away from the funk influenced style of early rap and introduced a new street edge that would shape the genre for years to come.
The album reached number 53 on the Billboard charts and featured tracks like It’s Like That and Hard Times which helped set a new tone for rap music. It marked the beginning of Run DMC’s legendary run as one of the most influential hip hop groups of all time.
80s insight: Run DMC’s debut album was athe first rap album to be certified gold by the RIAA helping push hip hop further into the mainstream.