Tougher Than Leather is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released on May 17, 1988, by Profile Records. The album was produced by the group members themselves, Davy D. and Rick Rubin.
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". 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.
The album was reissued by Arista Records in 1999 and 2003. An expanded and remastered edition was released in 2005 and contained 4 previously unreleased songs.[8]
Background
The platinum-selling album, a follow-up to the group's big commercial breakthrough album 1986's Raising Hell, featured some of the group's classics like "Run's House", "Beats to the Rhyme", and a cover of The Monkees's "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. The album was recorded at 5 studios in New York City: Chung King House Of Metal, Unique Recording Studios, Inc., Electric Lady Studios, Ian London Studios, Greene St. Recording.
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".
Film
The album was accompanied by the release of a crime film of the same name by New Line Cinema with Rick Rubin as a director and starring Run-D.M.C. According to the plot Run-D.M.C. must find and punish the evil drug lord-record company executive who murdered their friend. Along the way, they encounter racist bikers, blonde bimbos, and the Beastie Boys. The film was released on September 16, 1988, and was panned by critics.[9][10]
Track listing
The information about samples was taken from WhoSampled.[11]
The information about bonus tracks was taken from a booklet of 2005 expanded deluxe edition.[12]
#
Title
Description
Length
13
"Beats To The Rhyme (Instrumental)"
B-side of "Run's House" (1988)
Previously Unreleased on CD
2:44
14
"Crack (Demo)"
Recorded November 30, 1986
Previously Unreleased
When the reel was found for this demo it said "Crack (For Michael Jackson)" on the box, but according to Run the track was never intended to MJ. "We had only met with Michael for once. We had this crazy idea that reminded me of Force MC's (later became Force MD's) and Dot-A-Rock (Fantastic 5 & Cold Crush Brothers). It sounded like Flash on the beat box and the way Jesse D from the Force MC's would sing like Michael over a fly beat box." – Run
Previously released on A Very Special Christmas & Christmas Rap
"Bill Adler called one morning and told me that we had to make a record for the Special Olympics. I was in a creative mood and wrote the whole record while eating breakfast. I even got jelly on the paper. That night Bill brought an armful of Christmas records that we ended up sampling for it." – Run
Sample: Clarence Carter – "Back Door Santa" (1968)
Sample: Isaac Watts – "Joy to the World" (1719)
2:58
16
"Penthouse Ad"
Recorded February 11, 1987 for the April 1987 issue of Penthouse Magazine
Recorded For Tilley Marlieb Advertising
Previously Unreleased on CD
This radio spot was recorded for their interview that appeared in Penthouse Magazine
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