"Back from Hell" is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released on October 16, 1990, by Profile Records. The group members produced the album themselves.
This album is notable for adopting a more street attitude compared to their previous work and features more explicit language. Tracks like "Faces" and "Pause" introduce the new jack swing musical style. Notably, Jam Master Jay raps for the first time on songs like "Faces," "Not Just Another Groove," and "Pause," while Aaron Hall contributes vocals on "Don't Stop."
The album has sold over 300,000 copies in the United States, peaking at number 81 on the US Billboard 200 and number 16 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. It features three Billboard singles: "Pause," "What's It All About," and "Faces," with "What's It All About" also charting in the UK.
Back from Hell was reissued by Arista Records in 1999, 2003, and 2018.
Prior to recording Back from Hell, the group faced significant challenges: Jam Master Jay owed nearly $300,000 in state taxes, Run was struggling with severe depression, and DMC had become reliant on alcohol to manage debilitating stage fright, consuming up to 12 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor daily.
