It's Like That (Run–D.M.C. song)

"It's Like That"
Single by Run–D.M.C.
from the album Run-D.M.C.
B-side "Sucker M.C.'s"
Released March 12, 1983
Format Cassette single, 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded 1983
Genre Golden age hip hop
Length 4:51 (7")
7:25 (12")
Label Profile Records
Writer(s) Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, Larry Smith
Producer(s) Russell Simmons, Larry Smith
Certification

4x Platinum (RIAA)

2x Platinum (BPI)[1]
Run–D.M.C. singles chronology
"It's Like That"
(1983)		 "Hard Times"
(1983)
On a black cover, a red early Run-DMC logo is above "vs Jason Nevins" in yellow graffiti font. The single title is in red in a smaller, plain all caps print below.
The cover of the 1997 Jason Nevins remix
Run-D.M.C track listing
"Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1)"
(5)		 "It's Like That"
(6)		 "Wake Up"
(7)

"It's Like That" is a song by American hip hop group Run–D.M.C. It was first released in 1983 on a cassette backed with the track "Sucker M.C.'s". The release marked the start of Run-D.M.C.'s career and is widely regarded as ushering in a new school of hip hop artists with a street image and an abrasive, minimalist sound that marked them out from their predecessors. Both tracks were collected on the trio's eponymous debut album in 1984. "It's like That" is about life in the area where the group lives (unemployment, prices, death, etc.). Despite protesting those social and political problems, the song takes on a hopeful message encouraging listeners to abandon prejudice and to believe in themselves. In 2001, parts of the song was sampled in Jagged Edge's "Let's Get Married (Remix)" featuring Run-D.M.C.. The single was an international success.

In 2008, it was ranked number 40 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.[2]

Background

In the re-release of the album in 2003, a booklet was included, and a reviewer, Angus Batey, wrote the background information about the album. When he wrote about "It's like That", he quoted:

[Larry] Smith had created one particularly stark backing track that would provide a perfect setting for rap. He was aware of Run's prowess as a writer, having previously paid the teenager $100 for a set of lyrics with the intention of [Kurtis] Blow recording them. One evening, in Smith's home studio in Queens, Run and D persuaded Larry and Russell [Simmons] to let them have a chance to make a demo. Russell agreed; taking Run's $100 rap and extensive additional lines penned by the prolific DMC, Russell doled it out line by line between the two vocalists, who sprayed their lyrics over the stark beat onto tape. 'It's Like That' became the band's debut single, stridently announcing that a new era began.

The song was mixed by Kurtis Blow and Elai Tubo.

Chart positions

Chart (1983) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[3] 15

Jason Nevins version

"It's Like That"
Single by Run–D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins
Released October 5, 1997
Format CD single
Genre House
Length 4:10
Producer(s) Russell Simmons, Larry Smith, Jason Nevins
Run–D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins singles chronology
"Can I Get It, Yo"
(1993)		 "It's Like That"
(1997)		 "It's Tricky"
(1998)

In 1997, a new version by American producer Jason Nevins was released. The remix topped the charts in many countries, including the United Kingdom, where it stayed at the summit for six weeks and became Britain's third biggest-selling single of 1998. Elsewhere, it also topped the chart in Australia, where it remains their only top five hit there.

In the United Kingdom, Nevin's remix gained notoriety for breaking the Spice Girls' run of consecutive number one hits on the UK Singles Chart, keeping their song "Stop" from claiming the top spot.[4]

Track listing

CD maxi
  1. "It's Like That" (Drop The Break - Radio Edit) - 4:09
  2. "It's Like That" (Jason's Battle Blaster) - 8:21
  3. "It's Like That" (Drop The Break) - 8:20

Music video

The music video for the remix featured a male and a female breakdance crew battling each other in a breakdance battle in which the females ultimately win. It is interesting to note the similarities in choreography and theme when comparing the Run–D.M.C. video of "It's Like That" with the video by Shannon and her hit single, "Let the Music Play" (also released in 1983), an example of which can be found on YouTube here.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1997-98) Peak
position
scope="row"Australia (ARIA)[5] 1
scope="row"Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 2
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 2
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] 2
Canada (Canadian Singles Chart)[9] 3
Denmark (IFPI)[10] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 3
scope="row"Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 1
scope="row"France (SNEP)[13] 14
scope="row"Germany (Media Control Charts)[14] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 1
Italy (FIMI)[16] 10
scope="row"Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 1
scope="row"New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 1
scope="row"Norway (VG-lista)[19] 1
scope="row"Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 1
scope="row"Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 1
scope="row"UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[22] 1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23] 13
scope="row"US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24] 14
scope="row"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 90
US Rap Singles (Billboard)[26] 46

Year-end charts

Chart (1998) Position
Australia (ARIA)[27] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[28] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[29] 40
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[30] 13
France (SNEP)[31] 62
Germany (Media Control Charts)[32] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 29
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[36] 3

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[37] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[38] Gold 25,000x
Belgium (BEA)[39] Platinum 50,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[40] Gold 6,495[40]
France (SNEP)[41] Silver 125,000*
Germany (BVMI)[42] 3× Gold 750,000^
Sweden (GLF)[43] Platinum 30,000x
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[44] Platinum 50,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] 2× Platinum 1,250,000[46]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Popular culture

The song was featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Scarface: The World Is Yours. The Jason Nevins Remix is featured as a playable track in SingStar Dance for the PlayStation Move. The remix was also featured in a Fanta commercial where people and objects bounce around by drinking the soda given by a DJ while the song plays.

References

  1. ↑ bpi.co.uk
  2. ↑ VH1′s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs - Stereogum. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. Chart Positions (Allmusic)". Billbord. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ It's Like That by Run-DMC Songfacts songfacts.com
  5. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. > Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media) 110 (10): 47. March 7, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  11. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media) 110 (5): 66. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  12. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins: It's Like That" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Run-D.M.C.Vs.Jason Nevins > It's Like That – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  15. ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to Know" (ENTER SEARCH PARAMETER RUN-DMC INTO SEARCH BY ARTIST BOX, THEN SELECT GO). Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media) 109 (50): 50. December 13, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510.
  17. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". VG-lista. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". Singles Top 60. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1998-03-21" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 – Issue Date: 1998-02-28". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Run-D.M.C.. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Run-D.M.C.. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Hot Rap Singles". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media) 110 (50): 40. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  27. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1998". austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1998 (Singles)". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 1998 (Singles)". ultratop.be (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Classement Singles – année 1998" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  32. ↑ "German Top 20 – The Chart Of 1998" (in German). Universität Würzburg. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Top 40 – Jaargang 34, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 1998" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1998". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  36. ↑ "1990s Singles Chart Archive". everyHit. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  37. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Run DMC/J.Nevins – It's Like That" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved September 9, 2012. Enter Run DMC/J.Nevins in the field Interpret. Enter It's Like That in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
  39. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 1998". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 The first web page presents the sales figures, the second presents the certification limits:
  41. ↑ "French single certifications – Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Run D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins; 'It's Like That')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  43. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  44. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Run D.M.C.; 'It's Like That')". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  45. ↑ "British single certifications – Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It's Like That". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 9, 2012. Enter It's Like That in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  46. ↑ Ami Sedghi (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
Preceded by
"My Heart Will Go On" by Céline Dion		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
March 15, 1998 – April 25, 1998 		Succeeded by
"All That I Need" by Boyzone