What's It All About? [1990] - Run-D.M.C.

[Hypestyle]

They clipped off the last verse, which to me is the best verse on the song, and one of the hardest ever from Run DMC... "I flex my muscles.. it's what I must do.. is bum rush you, ___ you I'll crush you... the ku klux clan is ____ed up, and anygood man should understand.. crate diggers will know the rest. classic..

[DeeJaySiddall]

Just heard them talking about this & a member of the roses said IT WAS AN HONOR for the kings of rap to sample a beat from a few skinny white boys from Manchester so yeah they approved

[LFCEOIN]

if they ruined fools gold then i would be annoyed but it just doesnt. its class

[Inspire6]

all the funking americans who copy every thing from ENGLAND and claim it their own

[jimbobrust]

Is this a stone roses beat?

[LFCEOIN]

@jimbobrust the one and only

[MrZotsey]

Notice Run's last verse got cut !!!!!!! lol

I've still got this album on tape !

Yeah that's right kids ! Tape !!! lol

[REGINALD0205]

Its funny, when this came out. I was proud because my opinion was.. HIP HOP CHANGED AND THEY CHANGED WITH IT, but kept the same flow ( back and forth rhymes) . I know they went more "new jack swing" on this , but even the new jack songs were still RUN DMC. GOOD ALBUM

[soultheinterrogator]

I think its funny how everyone says this was a failed album. I will say this. Run DMC's Worst IS better than Lil Waynes Best ANYDAY! (I do love this song) Thumbs up if you agree.

[mildseven2006]

This was a great album. Too bad it never blew up.

[skeptic9876]

this is better than wrethc32 unorthodox, bonus points for using the wa wa guitar sample :)

[gotflava1]

Dope and R.I.P to Jam Master Jay

[MUSIChannel91]

personally i think this is rundmc's best album

Back from Hell - Shame if it didnt do too well

[LFCEOIN]

THE GREATEST BASS LINE OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MUSIChannel91]

@LFCEOIN Stone Roses - Fools Gold

[rutlandyid]

@LFCEOIN Too fucking rite mate,get this tune n some decks flip it over to the instrumental speed it up and mix it with 'a guy called gerald ' voodoo ray and you have a mix to blast any pilled up lads n lasses into oblivion.im too old for that shit but it still sounds the bollox

[IceManLikeGervin]

Positive over negative!!

Run DMC & Jam Master Jay (rip)

[TheEazyDuzIt95]

"...from their failed album Back From Hell" lol

[slugworth28]

thats gotta a verse missing..

[skingerskanger]

through 1990-1993 RUN DMC went through a change in wardrobe then went back to their original look around the release of Crown Royal

[eugenemcgirt]

This song is cool... heard Funkmaster Flex play it on a Saturday night during the summer of '91, part of a mix which started with EPMD 'Golddigger', Run DMC 'What's It All About', Main Source 'Large Professor', KMD 'Peachfuzz', Chubb Rock 'Treat 'em Right', and Special Ed 'Move It'.

I can tell you that tape STILL rocks... especially with the scratching and mixing of Flex. It got a lot of play during the summer of '91.

[sirdaddytopper]

To hell with them, they made their money. Listen to the song from the sample. It's so much better than this (c)rap. Fools Gold. Stone Roses.

[BlackCloudBoss]

Yeah, many of those making comments about Run DMC falling off or on a downward slope with this album is right, as that was the feeling at the time. Looking back though, I shouldn't have slept on this like I did. Rap is a young man's game so I don't even blame them, retrospectively, for not setting trends anymore by the time this album came out.

[412pixie]

This song is DOPE.....despite all the negative stuff people be talkin about 90s Run DMC. It might not be the classic stuff but I like it anywayzzzzzz.

[Blackson187]

This was the saddest part of their career. Instead of innovating the hip hop style like they had always done before, they were trying to adapt to the other popular acts of the era. I don't think it really needs to be stated (though I'll say it anyway,) that it failed miserably.

[Jahrass7]

@Blackson187 totally agreed. They paved the way for the golden era of lyricism/consciousness, but this is just corny and reeks of Russell Simmons attempt to make them relevant 4 years after their peak.

It's like asking a construction worker to be an architect. They made hard park-jam-ish joints and they had the patent on that, this song sucked. Beat/rhymes just everything.

[eddytintoon]

its the bass line from the stone roses fools gold that makes this erm song

[rockwallaby550]

When it was 1990, coming up in Miami, I bumped both Hip-Hop and Acid-House/ Manchester Music (Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Blur.) At the time i didn't understand that these rhythms were related by way of the Funk. Run-DMC had fallen off, i know i was bumping Native Tongues and given out the Gas Face. But in retrospect, it's all so clear.RIP JMJ-- Real Hip Hop Funk and Soul forever and ever and ever.

[hoodie232II]

today i smoked a french vanilla blunt in amsterdam dampkring and im very strong up high

[dznutz1971]

I'm not going to lie. The more people appreciated rap as an art form, it propelled RUn DMC to the legendary status they are seen as now. My only argument is that as far as album wise..this signified the downward slope until they came out with the single "Down with the King"

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Down with the king only sold as much as back from hell....so to me they just lost sales due to the new cats in the rap game....like i said they still toured crazy until jay's death .....My only dissappointment was the crown royal album...they should not have been talked into making the album like santana's.......the hip-hop collabs were dope but the other stuff should have been scraped.

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 I want to clarrify this point because I think there is a misunderstanding. When Run DMC came out with this song they fell off ONLY as far as NEW material was concerned. It marked a turning point as far as new material because it was the first album they came out with that DID NOT have consistant hits.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Pause was a big hit it was the b-side of the ghostbusters single that went on to sell 300,000...back in 90 and that was more than some hip-hop albums then.

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 Back in 90' when this came out. me and boys were dissappointed because out of 10 songs on the album, only two of them were good, just like Down With the King. In the streets, everybody listened more to West Coast artists because Dre was producing consistant hits with DOC, NWA were 8 out of 10 songs on the album were good. Most MC's cant do that these days.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 I do not know what album you listented 2 ...Pause....faces......the ave.....back from hell....naughty.....don't stop......and what's it all about? are you crazy!

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 See Adam, you have MORE of taste for pop rap. I was wit when it first began back when they first dropped in 83. As far as "Faces" I hated that song because they tried to go straight to the R&B charts. That wasn't the norm back then and it hurt me because RUN DMC was known for briging REAL hip hop. Faces wasn't REAL.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Are you the authority on what's real...I think not...first of all Faces beat was the new jack swing era(teddy riley)...The same person stanley brown who produced pause produced Faces...which had an rnb sound..so get your music correct! Listen to the lyrics and not the music sometime...cause it's always been rthey just rap over ...blues...rnb..jazz...and even country.

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 I respect that you like rap. But travel on pages were "Jam Master Jay", "Run's House", "Darryl & Joe" for example. You see people writing "Real Hip Hop" in the captions. This song is "diluted" hip hop and that's the point I tried to make. If you want more examples of REAL HIP HOP, check out Mantronix, Man Parish's Boogie Down Bronx. Nothing beats drum machines and two turntables and a mic.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Your mad funny...you can not tell me what's real and what's not....that's the problem what you might think is real might be corny 2 some1 else...Run said himself ''we broke down doors so that other's can come thru" hip-hop..And as for Mantronix that black and white dude were Ok...but I was not impressed by them....Like I said right until Jay's death Run-D.M.C. used 2 turntables and a mic and no Dat!

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 PEACE 2 YOU THIS IS NOW GETTING OLD..........NICE DISCUSSION.....RUN-D.M.C. & JAM MASTER JAY....GREATEST HIP-HOP GROUP EVA!

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Pop rap...LOL..IN 1982 RUN-D.M.C BECAME A GROUP DAVY D WAS THE ORIGINAL DJ...THEN CAME JMJ....THEY MADE A COUPLE OF SINGLES IN 83 AND DROPPED THE SELF TITLED ALBUM RUN-D.M.C. IN 84"...NOT ONLY THAT RUN WAS THE DJ FOR CURTIS BLOW. THE DEFINITION OF REAL IS LIKING WHAT YOU WANT AND NOT WHAT EVERY1 ELSE LIKES!...FACES WAS REAL!!!!!!!!!!

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 Yeah bruh, in 82. There was an explosion of underground hip hop that hit the streets that year. Grand Master Flash's "The Message", Soulsonic Force's "Planet Rock", Kraftwerk's "Numbers". Run Dmc's Hard Time's and It's Like That came out in January of 1983 so I know what I'm talking about. "Faces" and "Pause" were made for commercial audiences when they since that their reign was shifting. You sound like a dude who stepped on the scene when "Yo MTV raps" came out.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Oh so Run and DMC told you that they made thos 2 records for commercial success...Why? When they already had the fans cross them over! Your mad corny with the light insults...As for yo Mtv Raps they are they reason the show even existed....Run-D.M.C. shot the first pilot in 1988.Every record that you stated, me and my brother have....so what's your point...Like I said say what you want BACK FROM HELL...NOT TO HELL AND BACK WAS A GOOD ALBUM!

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Well hell every east coast artist took a back seat to the west.....so it was not about the product...... every1 was feelin the west a little more!DOC had 1 good album and only 6 songs were good....NWA took alot of what run-dmc did and just cursed alot the on true lyrisist was cube...if it was not for him they would not have been as dope.......niggas4life was a classic though!

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 Last point. When Crown Royal dropped, everybody including me respected their old stuff, but knew they were done as far as new material. The game had changed! I think the hottest thing they came out with during that time was what they dropped on the WWF compilation. JMJ was killed, DMC had voice problems, thats why there will never be another RUN DMC concert, sadly I say.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 first of all run-d.m.c. was supposed to go to def jam.....secondly your right after yrs of drinking dmc had throat problems,he did not record anthing on crown royal..they used recycled verses.....If Dee's voice was right the album would have came out differently.JMJ RIP.

[JohnnyBakery]

I'm going to disagree with anyone who doesn't like this song or this album. RUN DMC is the reason I enjoy hip hop music, and I love this album just much as any of their others, and probably more. They did try to reinvent themselves on this album because that's what artists do. Some things work, others don't. But I don't think they sold out. I still think they stayed true to who they were. In their autobiographies they both mention being disappointed in this album, but I'm not sure why. I love it

[AdamsInc71]

@JohnnyBakery I could not agree more...while other artist made records to cross over ....the fans crossed run-dmc over ....fans that new what time it was and appreciated good hip-hop...Everything after them used their blueprint and ran with it.PEACE!

[dznutz1971]

This was from the Hell and Back album. As a RUN DMC fan, I was dissapointed with this track and everything on this album. What they were trying to do was re-invent themselves and keep up with younger acts. They're my favorite group but its said that their string of hit albums came to an end after this.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 They did not try to reinvent anything...they started really cursing on this album as they did with their live show......Nothing was different about this album....this was one of the best cuts with a message....the ave....naughty....pee upon a tree....and the title cut were all dope.Peace!

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 I'm a big RUN DMC fan, and compared to their previous albums this one was a BIG dissappoinmtent. And with the emergence of other groups, this was the begining of their decline.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 First of all you can not campare a good album to 4 previous classic albums......I am a big fan and have met Run and talk to JMJ....But this was a slept on album not their best but production was just as good as the others.After years in concert cursing they just put that on wax and people that that they were biting off the NWA's ect.Peace to you and this nice disscusion.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 And as for their decline are you talking about live shows because up and until jay's death no hip-hop group could touch them!

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 They did try to reinvent themselves. They went from Adidas to brand newbian as the 90's hit. I can tell that you probably didn't become a RUN DMC fan until after 1986 when Walk this Way came out. They will always be respected for their past work but this album was a flop in the hood.

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Naw homeboy...you know what they say when you assume....I have all of their albums...cassette tapes....singles albums...books and cd's ..the hood the hood..come on son hip-hop was made for every1...it might have been a flop to you but going gold 500,000 copies is pretty good considering the change that was going on in hip hop and 8 yrs in the game at that time.

[dznutz1971]

@AdamsInc71 They lost alot of their hard core fan base (not the commercial fan base) by the time this album dropped. This album lacked the hardcore beats and rhymes I was used to them putting out. Gold is damn good. But Raising Hell sold over 3 million copies and Tougher than Leather (one of my favs) sold 1.5 mil. "Tougher" was underated and still much better than Back from Hell

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 RAISING HELL WENT ON TO SELL 4 MILLION AND THEN THE BEASTIES BEAT THAT AND THEN HAMMER SOLD 10 MILLION AS FOR THE BACK FROM HELL ALBUM THEY WERE GOING THROUGHT ALOT...I STILL LIKE THE ALBUM.....TO DATE RUN-D.M.C. HAVE SOLD OVER 30 MILLION ALBUMS WORLDWIDE.PEACE!

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 In the video here they wore ewings their stetson hats and outfits to match...so what are you sayin...they are still the KINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

[AdamsInc71]

@dznutz1971 Your a fan the album is called BACK FROM HELL!

[REGINALD0205]

Everyone said they sold out on this song.. THIS WAS CLASSIC RUN DMC... I think the video was a sell out, but not the song.. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE SONGS OF THAT ERA and had message... PLUS THE SAMPLE IN THE HOOK .. BEFORE JAYZ... "whats it all about ANNIE"

[yerbibby]

with A reni beat of the roses with a bit of mani on the bass, miss these days when ALL music joined to be one big partyxxxxxxxxxxxx

[yerbibby]

with A reni beat of the roses with a bit of mani on the bass, miss these days when ALL music joined to be one big partyxxxxxxxxxxxx

[ThePtno1]

the first ever rap album i bought when i was ten

[phl1ag1983]

Stone Roses used an interpolation of Know How by Young MC and the beat from Funky Drummer by James Brown, so it all comes around!

[noncepuncher]

@phl1ag1983 Cheers man I knew Stone Roses had ripped the sample(J Brown) just couldn't remember where from.Didn't know it contained Know How either.Now it all makes sense,but...whats it all about?

[danthedonHBB]

@phl1ag1983 but young mc, used a sample on know how, and it doesnt sound much like this:S, also the beat really doesnt sound like funky drummer

[Mackadoeshez]

This joint is dope & lyrically on point!!!!!!

Run DMC on the conscious tip!!!!

[jfvols]

Where's Bob Your Head from this album???

[koolmini5]

stone roses

youtube it all you yanks

[kingshahine]

brown actually met reverend run

[HHH80]

love that hook son!!!!

[eleven38]

@HHH80 its fools gold by the stone roses

[sirdaddytopper]

Stone Roses never got props for this. RUN DMC didn't even credit the sample let alone pay them for using it.

[epsoff]

that sucks. got reminded of this by the jay z version, BIG UP DA WHITEYS $ GIVIN YA SUM BEATS BROS! we're not all like vanilla ice y'know... got the 12" in a box somewhere...

[snooters]

This is completely false.

[6shadow6lord6]

Back then, you didn't have to pay for a sample. I'm a fan of both the Roses and Run-DMC, and from what I've read Ian Brown didn't mind (hell, he seemed pretty pleased).

[buDDee3]

Man, I'm a fuckin metal head/ rocker or whatever you want to call it and I still think this is the shit! Run DMC is and always will be the best rap group that ever lived. And those rap haters don't know what the fuck they're talking about. New rap sucks. This is gold, pure gold.

[badboybrettjones]

not pure gold, fools gold haha sorry i had to do it

[yohanu]

Agreed!

[lui502]

Fool's Gold FTW!

[darkmarkfourfour]

Fools Gold was allegedly made whilst listening to Young MCs Know How

[kumbo]

what is fools gold?

[badboybrettjones]

stone roses song, sampled in this song, its an amazing song

[RoryGaylor]

thumbs up

[unregisturd]

"Flex my muscle what I must do is bumrush you fuck you I'll crush you" -- Pretty tough rhyme

[GoofleArse]

fools gold rules, this song is decent.

[cheza224]

this song's only good coz of fools gold

[moarfan74]

@cheza224 thats what hip-hop is.......its an artform that utilises other peoples work and creates something new.......so sorry but this is a classic track in its own right

[locyka19]

I just wonder wut could happen if they'd done some harder music like this one

[oneUNITED7SS]

Fool's Gold. lol.

[Brewmaster757]

ha dat bass line is sampled from stone roses song fools gold. it works well ha

[SofaPaule]

Omg, the LP is one of the best from Run DMC. Well, almost as good a Tougher Than, Raising or... damn, I LOVE this crew. RIP Jam Master Jay !

[hiphopyoudontstop34]

dope

[cheekyleopard]

One of teh best rap tunes ever imo!

[bigdaddyhammertime]

The whole Back From Hell album is dope as fuck.

[andrew007go]

although is not the best of DMC but

this song still better another rap songs nowadays

[kumbo]

this is the shit...

[radiobrain07]

Stone Roses and Run DMC. Simply awesome

[monotyper]

they knew it was slammin so they had to get busy with it...

[mrtremix]

sick tune rock box is the best jam

[Andrew077]

The sample of Fool's Gold by the Stone Roses works so well with this track. Love it. :-)

[dinadenyit]

You know there is one more verse to this song where DMC gets NASTY!!! Too bad its not in the video.

[hoodie232]

My favorite RUN DMC track...true teachers

[bella77a]

Sample of stone roses fool gold, class.

[MdeGreat]

classic and 4 real

[peteregor]

I love this song! Real 90's classic :-)

[mr2gti]

Totally agree, future classic without doubt.

[ratbasket]

Mixes 'Fools Gold'by Stone Roses and Johnny Mathis! I think this record will be 'rediscovered' as a classic. Run D.M.C. goes New Jack with cool results.

[neverbeg]

Haven't heard this since school. brilliant.

[BezzSoz]

Listening to this again is a breathe of fresh air from all the shit out today

[coldrockdaspot]

word :)

[rovonne]

One Of My Favorite Joints,By The Kings.RIP JMJ.

[00rr1]

This Samples fools gold by the stone roses.I don't think they ever visited the Hacienda somehow.

[coldrockdaspot]

Probably not but Run DMC were touring London when that song was huge at the time.