While I think Run-D.M.C.'s production was on the up with their previous albums, here we see them branching outside to more top-tier producers from Naughty by Nature's KayGee, Q-Tip and Pete Rock to name a few. Pete Rock handles the title track so well with it being my favourite song from the group. You can hear KayGee's recognisable production from the first note on 'Hit 'Em Hard'. 'Big Willie' is the obligatory rap-rock track from Run-D.M.C, with Tom Morello, from Rage Against the Machine, on the guitar, but they've done better. There are some nice touches to the instrumentation but the first verse from Rev Run sounds mixed too low and it gets repetitive during the verses. 'What's Next' also sees Run going back to a reggae sound which they had a couple of songs in on their earlier albums, but it's the least likeable moment on the album. All in all this is a decent rap project to add to so many from what is the greatest era in hip hop, but Run-D.M.C. do lose their unique sound and style here, with it sounding like lots of other albums from the early-mid '90s. They even look like Naughty by Nature on the album art. The rapping is less traditionally Run-esque as well, and while never a strength of the group, there isn't anything topically interesting being spat. Some of it sounds more like an Onyx record, who Jam Master Jay helped to sign. There are too many okay, but nothing special, boom bap songs like 'Three Little Indians', 'In The House' and 'Get Open' to name a few. 'Can I Get a Witness' elevates beyond those mainly thanks to a catchier hook, and the same can be said for 'Wreck Shop'. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Down with the King, Hit 'Em Hard, Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do, Can I Get a Witness, Wreck Shop

I've been revisiting/listening to what I've missed from Run-D.M.C.'s discography and this is one I'd listened to and rated too low. I was probably influenced by the rep this has. Like most Run albums do (after the lackluster intro, 'Sucker D.J.'s'), this starts really well. The sampling on the first two full songs is exceptional with 'The Ave.' being cited as having eleven samples on Whosampled.com and 'What's It All About' having nine samples, with the most notable one being the brilliant 'Fools Gold' by The Stone Roses. Some of the bars on the anti-racism 'Faces' reminds me of the rap in MJ's 'Black or White'. Along with 'Faces', 'Pause' and 'Not Just Another Groove' fall into the new jack swing genre seeing Run chasing the trends of the era. From a group who stayed fairly true to themselves for four albums, it's odd hearing those songs. They aren't too bad though. We also hear more cursing and perhaps a higher percentage of songs about social topics compared to Run's previous projects. 'Pause' is an anti-drug song which is hypocritical given what some of the members of this group were up to. Elsewhere, 'Don't Stop' is one of Run's best songs. The hook and bridge are so damn catchy. I've loved it since I heard it many years back on a video game soundtrack. 'P Upon a Tree' is a short reggae song/comedy interlude about needing to urinate... 'Naughty' has some more enjoyable production with the horns working well to break up the chorus and verses. That's probably where the album should've finished. As with Run's previous albums before this, the tail isn't a strength with three party tracks finishing the album. From someone who has never been enamoured with early hip hop instrumentation, compared to their earlier albums, I think this is another step up in that department. A lot of the sampling works well and as I found with 'Tougher Than Leather', there are just a lot more elements to the instrumentation than you get with Run's earlier music. It's overhated. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: The Ave, What's It All About, Don't Stop 1. Sucker D.J.'s 30 2. The Ave. 80 3. What's It All About 85 4. Bob Your Head 72 5. Faces 64 6. Kick the Frama Lama Lama 60 7. Pause 54 8. Word Is Born 76 9. Back from Hell 79 10. Don't Stop 100 11. Groove to the Sound 70 12. P Upon a Tree - 13. Naughty 76 14. Livin' in the City 60 15. Not Just Another Groove 50 16. Party Time 52

If you don't know, D.M.C lost his voice in the '90s due to spasmodic dysphonia, and if you didn't know once you hit play on this, you'd be asking when is D.M.C actually going to start rapping because all of the power from his voice that he had with RUN-DMC is gone. The way he spits on the opener is quite an underwhelming way to commence the album. And his vocals on 'Just Like Me' just sound amateurish backed by Harry Chapin's 'Cat's in the Cradle' sample/lyrics. There are lots of average rap-rock songs. The highlight is 'What's Wrong' with an enjoyable sung hook, production, and feature from Outlawz member, Napoleon. The album improves towards the end where it has more of a standard hip hop sound and doesn't use so many corny samples. Beats: ★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: Cold, What's Wrong, Goodbye

This is the first Cam'ron album I've heard and it has to be one of the most lacklustre hip hop albums I've ever listened to. People rate this guy highly? Cam'ron is boring and the beats offer little.

Still the best. The stories still reverberate with soul, meaning and ingenuity.