Rick Rubin on How Walk This Way Brought Hip-Hop Into the Mainstream

TL;DR

"Walk This Way" by Run DMC and Aerosmith bridged the gap between rock and hip-hop, introducing both genres to new audiences and revitalizing Aerosmith's career.

Transcript

The Joe Rogan Experience I can remember being in um once uh Def Jam happened and we started having a lot of success putting out music and I'm still probably at NYU um labels would come around and want to be involved in one way or another and and one label asks like what do you attribute the success of this to after all it's not music now these are ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💨 "Walk This Way" demonstrated the potential for collaboration between different music genres.
• 😮 The song showcased the rising popularity of hip-hop and its ability to captivate mainstream audiences.
• 🌚 The backlash faced by "Walk This Way" highlights the resistance to change and new sounds in the music industry.
• 🥇 The success of the song brought Aerosmith back into the spotlight and solidified Run DMC's place in mainstream music.
• 🚀 "Walk This Way" played a crucial role in introducing hip-hop to rock fans and vice versa.
• 👶 The song showcased the importance of demonstrations and familiar elements in helping audiences understand and accept new music.
• 😮 The quick rise and fall of Aerosmith's popularity before "Walk This Way" highlight the unpredictable nature of the music industry.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did "Walk This Way" bridge the gap between rock and hip-hop?

"Walk This Way" merged the phrasing and lyrical style of rap with the familiar sound of rock music, demonstrating that hip-hop could be accessible to a wide audience.

Q: How did the audience initially react to "Walk This Way"?

The song faced backlash from some listeners who believed it was ruining the original song. However, within a few days, it became the most requested song on the radio, showing its growing popularity.

Q: How did Aerosmith and Run DMC come together to create "Walk This Way"?

Initially, Run DMC recorded the song with the idea of combining rock and hip-hop. The label then reached out to Aerosmith, who agreed to participate, leading to the collaboration.

Q: Did "Walk This Way" revive Aerosmith's career?

Yes, the song played a significant role in revitalizing Aerosmith's career. Before its release, the band had fallen on hard times, but "Walk This Way" brought them back into the mainstream.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Walk This Way" was a groundbreaking song that merged rock and hip-hop, showcasing the potential for collaboration between genres.

• The song initially faced backlash but quickly became popular, dividing audiences while also uniting fans of rock and hip-hop.

• "Walk This Way" revived Aerosmith's career and introduced mainstream audiences to hip-hop, making it a landmark moment in music history.