Jam Master Jay raised an eyebrow. "A remix? We're in the middle of a concert, man. What's the hold up?"
Released in 1983, the original "It's Like That" was the debut single from Run-D.M.C. It stripped hip-hop down to its barest essentials: a hard-hitting drum machine (the Oberheim DMX) and social commentary. It didn't just change the sound of the streets; it established the "New School" of hip-hop, moving away from the disco-influenced sounds of the late '70s. The 1997 Transformation: Jason Nevins run dmc jason nevins its like that raxon e
turned that gritty street anthem into a global dance floor phenomenon that sold five million copies and famously blocked the Spice Girls from the top of the charts. Jam Master Jay raised an eyebrow
Origins and original meaning Run‑D.M.C., formed in Queens in the early 1980s, were crucial to hip‑hop’s evolution from block‑party novelty to mainstream force. “It’s Like That” (originally released in 1983 as a single and later included on early releases) embodies that transformation: a spare beat, clipped drum machine hits, and direct, declarative verses about economic hardship, social struggle, and the toughness of street life. The lyricism is terse and pointed — less poetic flourish than social report — and the production’s minimalism places emphasis on rhythm and vocal delivery, a hallmark of early rap’s communicative urgency. What's the hold up