← Back

King of Rock

by Run-DMC

Released: January 21, 1985

Rap rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Certification.

The Album

"King of Rock" is the second studio album by hip-hop duo Run-DMC, released in 1985. Hailing from Hollis, Queens, New York, the group was composed of Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and DJ Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell. As pioneers of the hip-hop genre, Run-DMC's fusion of rap with rock music on this album significantly influenced the direction of popular music and culture.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album marked a new wave of rap…

The album marked a new wave of rap music as it carried a heavy rock influence not present in their previous work.

It contains eight songs, including the eponymous track…

It contains eight songs, including the eponymous track "King of Rock," which asserts the group's dominance in the music scene, as well as "You're Blind" and "Can You Rock It Like This." Among the songs, "King of Rock" and "You Talk Too Much" were released as singles.

Over time, the album gained greater recognition for…

Over time, the album gained greater recognition for its pioneering style, and is now considered a classic.

Significantly, "King of Rock" had a lasting influence…

Significantly, "King of Rock" had a lasting influence and opened doors for future artists.

The integration of rock and rap, as well…

The integration of rock and rap, as well as the raw energy and creativity displayed in the album, was a trailblazer for the following generations of hip-hop artists.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

You Talk Too Much

Can You Rock It Like This

You're Blind

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Run-DMC - King of Rock

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

It was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1987. Despite receiving mixed reviews upon its release, the album broke new grounds, as it was the first rap album to make an appearance on MTV.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

The album marked a new wave of rap music as it carried a heavy rock influence not present in their previous work. It contains eight songs, including the eponymous track "King of Rock," which asserts the group's dominance in the music scene, as well as "You're Blind" and "Can You Rock It Like This." Among the songs, "King of Rock" and "You Talk Too Much" were released as singles.

Despite receiving mixed reviews upon its release, the album broke new grounds, as it was the first rap album to make an appearance on MTV. Over time, the album gained greater recognition for its pioneering style, and is now considered a classic. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1987.

Significantly, "King of Rock" had a lasting influence and opened doors for future artists. The integration of rock and rap, as well as the raw energy and creativity displayed in the album, was a trailblazer for the following generations of hip-hop artists. Its release helped solidify Run-DMC's reputation as pioneers of the genre and cemented their place in music history.