Raising Hell

For the video by Iron Maiden, see Raising Hell (video)

Raising Hell
Studio album by Run-D.M.C.
Released	July 18,1986
Recorded	1986
Genre	Hip-Hop, rap rock
Length	39:46
Label	Arista Records/Profile
Producer	Russell Simmons; Rick Rubin
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork 9/23/05 Robert Christgau (A-) link Rolling Stone 9/5/02 The Source
Run-D.M.C. chronology
King of Rock (1985) Raising Hell (1986) Tougher Than Leather (1988)

Raising Hell is a 1986 album by old school rappers Run-D.M.C.. Their breakthrough album, Raising Hell trumped standing perceptions of commercial viability for hip hop groups, achieving triple-platinum status and receiving critical attention from quarters that had previously ignored hip hop as an urban fad that would soon disappear from the mainstream American consciousness. Notably, Raising Hell features the well-known collaboration with Aerosmith, "Walk This Way". While the song was not the first fusion of rock and hip hop, it was the first one to make a significant impact in the charts. It became the first rap song to crack the top 5 of The Billboard Hot 100. Raising Hell peaked at #1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip Hop Album chart, and at #6 on the Billboard 200. In 2003, the album was ranked number 120 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums. It ranked fourth on Chris Rock's list of the Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of all time, and the comedian called it "the first great rap album ever"^[1] In 2006, the album was chosen by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 greatest albums of all time. ^[2] The song "It's Tricky" would later be featured on the game SSX Tricky as the theme song for the game.

Track listing

1. "Peter Piper" – 3:25
2. "It's Tricky" – 3:03
3. "My Adidas" (McDaniels/Rubin) – 2:47
4. "Walk This Way" (feat. Aerosmith) – 5:11 - Features new vocal and guitar parts by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith based on their original 1975 recording, as well as a sample of the original drum intro during the second verse
5. "Is It Live" – 3:06
6. "Perfection" – 2:52
7. "Hit It Run" – 3:10
8. "Raising Hell" – 5:31
9. "You Be Illin'" – 3:26
10. "Dumb Girl" – 3:31
11. "Son of Byford" – :27
12. "Proud to Be Black" – 3:14

Deluxe Edition bonus tracks

1. "My Adidas" (a cappella) – 2:32
2. "Walk This Way" (demo) – 5:26
3. "Lord of Lyrics" (demo) – 4:30
4. "Raising Hell Radio Tour Spot" – 0:53
5. "Live at the Apollo Raw Vocal Commercial" – 3:28

Charting singles

Billboard Music Charts (North America)

Awards

• 1987 Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap - Single for "Walk This Way" (jointly awarded to both Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith)

Vinyl Sleeves and Labeling

• There are at least 2 color schemes for this LP record. One is a purple front photo with lime green writing and a red back photo with teal writing. Another is a green front photo with rose letters and a teal back photo and orange letters.
• There are some pressings that are mislabeled and both sides as side 2 though the grooves in the vinyl are etched correctly.

References