On September 27, 1986, "Walk This Way" by Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the first rap song to break into the top 5. This collaboration between the legendary rock band and the pioneering hip-hop group was a groundbreaking moment in music history.
The original "Walk This Way" was released by Aerosmith in 1975, but it was Run-DMC's cover version that truly brought the song to new heights. The idea for the collaboration came from producer Rick Rubin, who saw the potential in merging rock and rap. Initially, the members of Run-DMC were hesitant, as they were not familiar with Aerosmith's music. However, once they heard the song's opening guitar riff, they were hooked and decided to put their own spin on it.
The collaboration process was not without its challenges. Run-DMC and Aerosmith recorded their parts separately, and there were some creative differences along the way. However, the end result was a powerful fusion of rock and hip-hop that appealed to fans of both genres.
The music video for "Walk This Way" also played a significant role in the song's success. The video featured Run-DMC and Aerosmith performing together, with a memorable scene of Steven Tyler breaking through a wall to join the rappers on stage. The video received heavy rotation on MTV and helped expose Run-DMC to a wider audience.
The success of "Walk This Way" paved the way for future collaborations between rock and hip-hop artists. It also helped establish rap as a mainstream genre and demonstrated the potential for cross-genre partnerships. The song has since been recognized as one of the greatest moments in music history, and its influence can still be heard in many of today's popular songs.
