The unanimous negative response from both the public and critics to their latest album didn't help an already volatile situation within Run-DMC, and things didn't improve after its release. DMC's alcohol problems worsened, and Jam Master Jay faced several life-threatening incidents, surviving two gunshot wounds after an accident and being involved in a near-fatal car crash. Furthermore, Run began to experience legal troubles. The group's chaotic and confusing situation convinced the boys to rediscover religion, taking a break from music for a while. While the seminal group was on hiatus, the game continued to shift and change without giving the boys time to update and keep up, yet Run-DMC prepared to return in 1993.
Three years after the disappointing "Back from Hell", Run-DMC make a noteworthy comeback album, 15 cuts, 50 minutes. Jam Master Jay produces four tracks and the rest are made by Pete Rock, Q-Tip, EPMD, Kay Gee, Bomb Squad, Daniel Shulman, Jermaine Dupri and Clifton Dillon.
The rhythm set is good, typical of the early nineties hip-hop scene, simple boom bap with good samples and an honest drum, while Run & DMC enjoy swapping forgettable hardcore bars, inserting some religious [lyrical] veins and copying delivery style from the major exponents of the period. They have regained control of the vehicle of their career, and it wasn't taken for granted, but here it seems they have decided to set the autopilot to be on the safe side and arrive safely at their destination, also allowing themselves the tribute to Dre ("Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do"), the reggae filler feat Mad Cobra ("What's Next") and the solo by Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, to mark their return to the roots ("Big Willie").
However, rap rock isn't here and their hardcore delivery has faded, revisited in flashes in the cheerful cut with Onyx ("Get Open") and in the initial tracks, when Pete Rock, CL Smooth, Q-Tip and EPMD also helps the legends in the lyrical performance: the disk is discreet and irregular, dragged to the top of the charts by a fantastic title track, thanks to a spectacular rhythm by Pete Rock and a good energetic performance, CL Smooth kills the piece with his sick, superior, dope flow.
Distributed by Profile, the CD is leaded by three singles (title track, "Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do", "Can I Get It, Yo") with "Down with the King" that is a international hit: with a music video that received heavy airplay and featured cameos of half of the hip-hop scene of the period (even Eazy-E, who showed up uninvited), the first single of the disk became their second-biggest hit after "Walk This Way" (1987), charting #21 on the Hot 100, reporting the group in the top ten of rnb singles after "Run's House" (1988) — it's paid tribute to that song in this title track, along with a sample from James Rado's "Where Do I Go" from the original Broadway cast recording of the musical "Hair" — and becoming the only single of Run-DMC to topped the Hot Rap Singles chart.
With this release, Run-DMC once again gain the favor of critics, who express positive opinions towards the album, appreciating the group's musical renewal and their newfound freshness, also rewarded by fans, the LP returns to topped the rap album charts after seven years and is certified gold by RIAA in three months. DMC doesn't mince words and claims that Pete Rock saved Run-DMC's career by coming up with the title track in 1992 for their new album, allowing them to get back on tour, back on MTV, back to having a music video, back on the radio, back to having an audience, back in business. Despite all, the single "Down with the King" is the last hit of the group, later Jam Master Jay founds his own label JMJ Records discovering Onyx and Run became an ordained minister.
Rating: 7/10.
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