Search - Run Dmc :: Tougher Than Leather

Excellent Run DMC Reissue

Dorrie Wheeler | 09/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Tougher Than Leather was released in 1988 hip-hop and rap music was changing. Ice-T was spitting his gangsta rhymes. NWA and Eazy E were welcoming in West Coast rap and gangsta rap. Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy had concious rap on lock. Artists such as MC Hammer (yes, he did have an album before "U Can't Touch This), Kool Moe Dee, Eric B. and Rakeem, Big Daddy Kane, and The Beastie Boys were on the scene and on the music charts. Run-DMC had a bit more competition that they once did. Tougher Than Leather was by no means a commercial disapointment but it didn't have that huge appeal that Raising Hell had. The album had hits with "Mary, Mary," and "I'm Not Going Out Like That."



The most memorable song from this reissue is "Christmas In Hollis." This song is considered the first hip-hop Christmas Carol and can still be heard every holiday season. The song didn't appear on the original pressing of Tougher Than Leather but is one of three bonus tracks on the reissue. The reissue includes an introduction by Chuck D and includes interesting facts including the fact that Run DMC were set to headline their 4th national tour when the album was released.

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Run DMC rocks harder than ever on this 4th LP

Hype Currie | Detroit, Michigan United States | 06/04/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tougher than Leather--

Rap group Run DMC experienced their biggest commercial success off the strength of their third LP, 1986's Raising Hell. In the process they virtually introduced hip-hop to most of mainstream America, while giving indie label Profile Records extra reason to be proud of the homeboys from Queens. A year later, their follow-up LP was allegedly scheduled to be released--and their manager Russell Simmons tried to extricate them from their deal with Profile. But Profile balked on parting ways with their biggest act, and Tougher than Leather made its debut in the spring of 1988. By this time, several things had occurred--for one, hip-hop's street audience had been moving on to newer acts during Run DMC's hiatus, like Big Daddy Kane, Eric B. & Rakim, and Ice T. Also, the pop charts still didn't seem to have room for more than one rap act, a slot which DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince now filled. Tougher than Leather was met with platinum sales, but the urban backlash to the group was tangible, despite a well-received "Run's House" tour. In retrospect, this album still holds up as one of the hardest rap albums of all time, as the hip-hop beats and loud guitars crash and burn like nowhere else. Produced mostly by Davy D, some of the best songs include `Mary Mary' (Rick Rubin's lone contribution, sampling the Monkees' tune), `Beats to the Rhyme', `Radio Station', `Miss Elaine', and the guitar-heavy title track. If Raising Hell is their best LP, Tougher than Leather is a close second. The 2005 re-release includes bonus material.

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It's not the best RUN-DMC album but it's def a collectors it

Jacques Smith | Balto, Md | 04/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To me, "Beats to The Rhymes" is my favorite song on the album. That's not to say there's not any more dope tracks on this album. If your a RUN-DMC fan, you must have this album in your collection."