Tougher Than Leather
Tougher Than Leather | ||||
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Studio album by Run–D.M.C. | ||||
Released |
May 23, 1988 September 16, 1988 | |||
Recorded | 1987-1988 | |||
Genre | Golden age hip hop, rap rock | |||
Length | 40:26 | |||
Label | Profile Records | |||
Producer | Run–D.M.C., Davey D., Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons | |||
Run–D.M.C. chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Rolling Stone | [2] |
Robert Christgau | B+ [3] |
Pitchfork Media | (6.4/10)[4] |
warr.org | [5] |
Tougher Than Leather is a 1988 studio album for American rap group Run–D.M.C. and a follow-up to their hit Raising Hell. While the new record did not maintain the same popularity as its predecessor, it obtained platinum status and spawned the favorites "Run's House" and "Mary, Mary" (built around a sample from The Monkees' song). Despite being given a mixed reception at the time of its release, it is now hailed as a seminal classic in hip-hop and many see it as an underrated album.
In response to albums such as Eric B. & Rakim's Paid In Full, Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, and Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded and By All Means Necessary, the group made a distinct departure from their earlier work, as Jam-Master Jay used a heavier amount of sampling. Run and DMC also made changes in their rapping style (heavily influenced by Rakim) as techniques such as alliteration, polysyllabic rhyming, and internal rhyme are found in songs like "I'm Not Going Out Like That," "Radio Station," and the title track. The group also introduces storytelling to their arsenal in "Ragtime." Despite this, Run-D.M.C. does not abandon their formula of combining hip-hop beats with hard rock guitar riffs, using it in "Miss Elaine," the title track, "Soul To Rock And Roll," and "Mary, Mary."
Tougher Than Leather was the group's fourth effort and blended in elements of not only rap but also rock n' roll and funk, making it their most varied effort to date alongside King of Rock. "Papa Crazy" is based on "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations.
Film
A film of the same name, starring the members of Run-D.M.C. and their producer, Rick Rubin, was also released in 1988.
Track listing
- "Run's House" – 3:49
- Samples: "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "Mary, Mary" – 3:12 (produced by Rick Rubin)[6]
- Interpolations: "Mary, Mary" by the Monkees
- "They Call Us Run-D.M.C." – 2:56
- "Beats To The Rhyme" – 2:43
- Samples: "Nautilus" by Bob James
- Samples: "Rock Box","Sucker M.C.'s","Hit It Run" and "Jam Master Jay" by Run DMC
- Samples: "Funky Drummer" and "Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing" by James Brown
- Samples: "Cinderfella Dana Dane" by Dana Dane
- Samples: "Big Menu" by Sam Kinison
- Samples: "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly & Life
- Samples: "AJ Scratch" by Kurtis Blow
- Samples: "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney
- Samples: "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" by Public Enemy
- "Radio Station" – 2:50
- "Papa Crazy" – 4:18
- "Tougher Than Leather" – 4:20
- "I'm Not Going Out Like That" – 4:55
- "How'd Ya Do It Dee" – 3:20
- "Miss Elaine" – 3:05
- "Soul To Rock And Roll" – 2:17
- "Ragtime" – 2:42
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
- "Beats To The Rhyme" (Previously Unreleased Instrumental) - 2:44
- "Crack" (Previously Unreleased) - 1:43
- "Christmas In Hollis" - 2:58
- "Penthouse Ad" - 0:58
Samples
- "Beats to the Rhyme"
- "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney
- "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "Big Menu" by Sam Kinison
- "Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing" by James Brown
- "Nautilus" by Bob James
- "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly & Life
- "How'd Ya Do It Dee?"
- "Here Comes the Meter Man" by The Meters
- "I'm Not Going Out Like That"
- "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson
- "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy
- "Rebel Without a Pause" by Public Enemy
- "Mary, Mary"
- "Mary Mary" by The Monkees
- "I Can't Stop" by John Davis and the Monster Orchestra
- "Papa Crazy"
- "Radio Station"
- "I Wouldn't Change a Thing" by Coke Escovedo
- "Sing Sing" by Gaz
- "Dear Yvette" by LL Cool J
- "Run's House"
- "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "Ashley's Roachclip" by The Soul Searchers
- "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick
- "Soul to Rock and Roll"
- "King of Rock" by Run-DMC
- "Rock 'N Roll Dude" by Chubb Rock
- "I Know You Got Soul" by Bobby Byrd
- "Hit It Run" by Run-DMC
- "They Call Us Run-D.M.C"
- "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
- "Catch a Groove" by Juice
- "Tougher Than Leather"
- "AJ Scratch" by Kurtis Blow
References
- ↑ Henderson, Alex. Tougher Than Leather at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
- ↑ Rolling Stone 14 July 1988
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1195&name=Run-D.M.C. Run D.M.C.]. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
- ↑ Pitchfork Media Run D.M.C. review
- ↑ "Run-D.M.C". Warr.org. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ↑ "Run-DMC - Tougher Than Leather (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
External links
- Review of video, Video Review, Jan. 1989
- Tougher Than Leather (film) at the Internet Movie Database
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