The band signed a record deal with Profile Records in 1983, and Run's older brother, Russell "Rush" Simmons, signed Run-D.M.C. to his newly formed management company Rush Productions that same year. On their first major United States tour, the group set new fads by performing dressed in baggy black clothing, Adidas Sneakers (always with shoelaces removed), and Fedora hats.
Their mainstream success continued as the group performed at the famous Live Aid concert in 1985, and their 1986 album ''Raising Hell'' became the highest-selling rap album in history (this record was later broken as rap gained more popularity with artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Eminem), reaching number 3 on the ''Billboard magazine'' album charts and selling over 3 million copies. The album featured the famous cover version of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way", a rap-rock collaboration performed with Aerosmith members Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. The song was the first hip-hop track to make the Top 10 on Billboard's singles charts.
Run-D.M.C. were renowned for breaking new ground in rap music. "It's Like That" and "Sucker MC's" (1983) were the first hip hop tracks that relied on electronic beats and nothing else. "Peter Piper" (1986) was the first rap record in which the DJ cut up a record (in this case, "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by jazz musician Bob James. Run-D.M.C. became the first rap act with a platinum album and multi-platinum album, as well as the first rappers to appear on the cover of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, to receive a Grammy nomination and to appear on Saturday Night Live] and American Bandstand.
After a period of lackluster commercial success after the ''Raising Hell'' album, the group made a comeback in 1993 with their album ''Down With the King'', which made Billboard's Top 10 for album and the Pete Rock assisted single "Down With the King".
Jam-Master Jay was shot and killed in October 2002, leading Run-D.M.C. to announce their retirement.
For a complete biography and the most up-to-date information on Run DMC, visit www.RunDMC.com.
Rock Box
Run-D.M.C. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Live for you
(Fresh) fresh, yeah
For all you sucker MCs perpetratin' a fraud
Your rhymes are cold wack and keep the crowd cold bored
You're the kind of guy that girl ignored
I'm drivin' a Caddy, you fixin' a Ford
And when I'm rockin' on the mic, you should all applaud
Because we're wheelin', dealin', we got a funny feelin'
We rock from the floor up to the ceilin'
We groove it, you move it, it has been proven
We calm the savage beast because our music is soothin'
We create it, relate it, and often demonstrate it
We'll diss a sucker MC, make the other suckers hate it
We're risin', suprisin', and often hypnotizin'
We always tell the truth and then we never slip no lies in
No curls, no braids, peasy-head and still get paid
Jam Master cut the record up and down and crossfades, okay
Because the rhymes I say sharp as a nail
Witty as can be and not for sale
Always funky fresh, could never be stale
Took a test to become an MC and didn't fail
I couldn't wait to demonstrate
All the super def rhymes that I create
I'm a wizard of a word, that's what you heard
And anything else is quite absurd
I'm the master of a mic, that's what I say
And if I didn't say that, you'd say it anyway
Bust into the party, come in the place
See the first things come, the music in your face
Girls on the walls, some on the floor
With the DJ named Jay with the cuts galore
So listen to this because it can't be missed
And you can't leave 'til you're dismissed
You can do anything that you want to
But you can't leave until we're through
So relax your body and your mind
And listen to us say this rhyme, hey
You might think that you have waited
Long enough 'til the rhyme was stated
But if it were a test, it would be graded
With a grade that's not debated
Nothing too deep and nothing dense
And all our rhymes make a lot of sense
So move your butt to the cut
Run amok, you're not in a rut
Each and everybody out there, we got the notion
We want to see y'all all in motion
Just shake, wiggle, jump up and down
Move your body to the funky sound
Side to side, back and forth
We're the two MCs and we're gonna go off
Stand in place, walk or run
Tap your feet, you'll be on the one
Just snap your fingers and clap your hands
Our DJ's better than all these bands
Huh
We got all the lines and all the rhymes
We don't drop dimes and we don't do crimes
We bake a little cake with Duncan Hines
And never wear the pants they call the Calvin Kleins
'Cause Calvin Klein's no friend of mine
Don't want nobody's name on my behind
Lee on my legs, sneakers on my feet
D by my side and Jay with the beat (beat)
Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, uh, uh
We don't stop
Don't, don't stop (Jay)
One, one, two, two, three, three
The, the Hollis, Hollis crew, crew
For, for, for, for, for the love now
Cool T now, ha, ha
My man, my man
My, my man Jam Master
In, in his place to be
Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay
The big beat blaster
Wailin', straight up rap
Countin' green
All the way live
Re-remember you don't stop
And, and, and, and you don't stop
Rock, rock the spot
Stick 'em and you don't stop, hah (stick 'em)
Run rocks it well, huh, well, well
With the clientele
Krush Groove (young ladies in the place)
We're-we're, we're-we're (bass)
We're-we're, we're-we're in the hottest place
Ha (Cold Crush), so Larry
Homeboys
Now we're talkin' autographs
Talkin' autographs and autographs
Fly girls in the place
Homeboys
Hollis Crew
The song "Rock Box" by Run-D.M.C. starts with the artists sending out a message to all the "sucker MCs" who are "perpetrating a fraud" by creating poor lyrics that are boring and unengaging. They refer to themselves as "wheelin', dealin'" and "groovin'" artists who possess the ability to calm the savage beast through their soothing music. They also pride themselves on their ability to tell the truth in all their songs, and despite the lack of any physical adornments, they continue to get paid for their art. The lyrics later transition into an invitation for the listeners to dance and move their body to the funky sound of Jay's music.
The first few sets of verses use a lot of metaphors and comparisons to showcase their own abilities in comparison to others in the industry and to stress the fact that their music is extremely impressive. They also make a point of creating lyrics that are relatable and make sense. They talk about not needing to wear fancy clothes or brands like Calvin Klein and only needing sneakers on their feet and a D on their side, showcasing their focus on the essentials required to create entertaining yet meaningful music. The final verse is a repetitive invitation to the listeners to participate in the music and dance to their beat.
Line by Line Meaning
For all you sucker MCs perpetratin' a fraud
To all those pretenders who call themselves MCs, you're not genuine.
Your rhymes are cold wack and keep the crowd cold bored
Your lyrics are terrible, and nobody takes an interest in them. It's boring for the audience.
You're the kind of guy that girl ignored
You're someone that other people do not take seriously.
My name is Joseph Simmons, but my middle name's Ward
I have two names, Joseph and Ward.
Because we're wheelin', dealin', we got a funny feelin'
We are involved in a lot of activity and feel great about it.
We rock from the floor up to the ceilin'
We play music that makes you want to dance and shake, starting from the ground up to the ceiling.
We groove it, you move it, it has been proven
We play the right kind of music, and you can't resist moving and dancing.
We calm the savage beast because our music is soothin'
We help ease tension with our music.
No curls, no braids, peasy-head and still get paid
I don't need an expensive hairstyle to be successful or rich.
Because the rhymes I say sharp as a nail
The lyrics I write are very sharp and impactful, like the tip of a nail.
Witty as can be and not for sale
I'm very clever and have a great sense of humor, and my talent can't be bought.
Took a test to become an MC and didn't fail
I had to prove myself and took a test to become an MC, and I didn't fail.
I'm a wizard of a word, that's what you heard
I'm very skilled and masterful with my craft, which is what people have heard.
And anything else is quite absurd
Anything else is illogical or unrealistic compared to what I can do with words.
Bust into the party, come in the place
We arrive with enthusiasm and energy at the party or event.
See the first things come, the music in your face
We quickly make an impact with our music as soon as we arrive.
Girls on the walls, some on the floor
Women dancing on the walls or on the dance floor.
With the DJ named Jay with the cuts galore
Our DJ Jay is doing an exceptional job mixing the music.
You can do anything that you want to
You can have a good time and dance or do whatever you like.
But you can't leave until we're through
We won't stop playing until we are finished with our set, so you can't leave yet.
So move your butt to the cut
Get up and dance or groove to the music.
We got all the lines and all the rhymes
Our lyrics and rhymes are top-notch and unbeatable.
We don't drop dimes and we don't do crimes
We don't snitch on others, nor do we commit any crimes.
We bake a little cake with Duncan Hines
We get rich by making music, not by involving ourselves in illegal activities.
'Cause Calvin Klein's no friend of mine
I don't want to wear Calvin Klein's clothes, nor do I want my name on any of it.
We're-we're, we're-we're in the hottest place
We're in the most happening and popular spot right now.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lawrence Smith, Darryl Matthews McDaniels, Joseph Ward Simmons
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The120376
My favorite part of this hip hop classic 4:13 - 4:53
"We got all the lines
and all the rhymes
We don't drop dimes
and we don't do crimes
We bake a little cake with Duncan Hines
and never wear the vest they call the Calvin Kleins
Cause Calvin Klein's no friend of mine
Don't want nobody's name on my behind
Lee on my legs, sneakers on my feet
D by my side and Jay with the beat"
RLFLOWS
Damn almost 40 years later & still hits hard. Legends.
Timothy Black
I'm sweat suit
Billy
⭐
Blackhaze3000
STILL
Capital City NJ
🎯
Lace Krooz
🔥🔥🔥❤👍🏽❤👍🏽
Ripper1488
I get goosebumps listening to this because it’s genius. The music, the rap, the presentation…total package. RIP Jam Master Jay
Timothy Black
The shit
Muhammad
Facts🥳
Ghost No.5
Lol same just takes u str8 back there❤