Run DMC & The Beastie Boys

Oops. How have 5 months passed? I've been in a weird place with music. Bands aren't grabbing me by the heart/mind lately. I've found myself going back to my youth and loving the stuff that had me obsessing when I was a child. Run DMC and the Beastie Boys to be exact. Raising Hell and Licensed To Ill were my favorite records (yes, vinyl) in 1986/1987. As documented before, they were also my first concert. I was born in 1976 so I am not exaggerating when I say child! What's interesting to me is how did this suburban white girl of 10 years old become obsessed with Run DMC? I have no recollection. I would listen to them over and over. The Beastie Boys came later. However, once into them, I would listen to them over and over as well. I like to think that the Beastie Boys in particular helped to lay the ground work for my love of classic rock. All of the great samples on that record! Metal was my next great love as a child followed by "alternative" so it's fun to see how it all is actually oddly linear. It's funny to me that a relatively new genre (rap) helped get me into classic rock.

Proud To Be Black is one of my favorite songs on the record. I was really into Harriet Tubman as a child (I was a weird, nerdy kid) so it was really amazing to hear a song cite her! As much fun as some of the other songs are, this one really stands out.

She's Crafty is one of those songs that brilliantly uses samples. The opening? My god! I love the story in here. I have always been about the lyrical journey, apparently. This is one of the more perfect songs from this record. These records are such a fun memory for me. Hope you enjoy.