It's Like That (Run–D.M.C. song)

"It's Like That"
Single by Run-DMC
from the album Run-D.M.C.
B-side "Sucker M.C.'s"
Released November 1, 1983
Format Cassette single, 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded 1983
Genre Golden age hip hop
Length 4:51 (7")
7:25 (12")
Label Profile Records
Songwriter(s) Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, Larry Smith
Producer(s) Russell Simmons, Larry Smith
Run-DMC singles chronology
"It's Like That"
(1983)		 "Hard Times"
(1983)

"It's Like That"
(1983)		 "Hard Times"
(1983)

"It's Like That" is the debut single by American hip hop group Run-DMC.

It was first released in 1983 on a cassette backed with the track "Sucker M.C.'s". The release marked the start of Run-DMC's career and is widely regarded as ushering in a new school of hip hop artists with a street image and an abrasive, minimalist sound that marked them out from their predecessors. Both tracks were collected on the trio's eponymous debut album in 1984. "It's Like That" is about life in the area where the group lives (unemployment, prices, death, etc.). Despite protesting those social and political problems, the song takes on a hopeful message encouraging listeners to abandon prejudice and to believe in themselves. In 2001, parts of the song was sampled in Jagged Edge's "Let's Get Married (Remix)" featuring Run-DMC. The single was an international success.

The song was remixed by house DJ Jason Nevins in 1997. His version was originally released in 1997 on 10" vinyl in the U.S., and became a sleeper hit in 1998. It sold around five million copies worldwide, placing it amongst the biggest selling singles of all time.

In 2008, it was ranked number 40 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.[1]

Background

In the re-release of the album in 2003, a booklet was included, and a reviewer, Angus Batey, wrote the background information about the album. When he wrote about "It's like That", he quoted:

[Larry] Smith had created one particularly stark backing track that would provide a perfect setting for rap. He was aware of Run's prowess as a writer, having previously paid the teenager $100 for a set of lyrics with the intention of [Kurtis] Blow recording them. One evening, in Smith's home studio in Queens, Run and D persuaded Larry and Russell [Simmons] to let them have a chance to make a demo. Russell agreed; taking Run's $100 rap and extensive additional lines penned by the prolific DMC, Russell doled it out line by line between the two vocalists, who sprayed their lyrics over the stark beat onto tape. 'It's Like That' became the band's debut single, stridently announcing that a new era began.

The song was mixed by Kurtis Blow and Elai Tubo.

Track listing

All tracks written by Darryl McDaniels, Joe Simmons and Larry Smith.

12" Profile - PRO-7019 (US)
  1. "It's Like That" - 7:25
  2. "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush Groove 1)" - 3:15
  3. "It's Like That (Instrumental)" - 7:10
  4. "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush Groove 1) (Instrumental)" - 3:05

Chart positions

Chart (1983) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[2] 15

Jason Nevins version

"It's Like That"
Single by Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins
Released October 5, 1997 (U.S.)
23 February, 1998 (UK)
Format CD single
Genre Hip house
Length 4:10
Songwriter(s) Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, Larry Smith
Producer(s) Russell Simmons, Larry Smith, Jason Nevins
Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins singles chronology
"Can I Get It, Yo"
(1993)		 "It's Like That"
(1997)		 "It's Tricky"
(1998)

"Can I Get It, Yo"
(1993)		 "It's Like That"
(1997)		 "It's Tricky"
(1998)

In 1997, a new version by American producer Jason Nevins was released. The Nevins version topped the pop charts in many countries, including the United Kingdom, where it stayed at the top for six weeks and became Britain's third biggest-selling single of 1998. Elsewhere, it also topped the chart in Australia, where it remains their only top five hit there.

In the United Kingdom, Nevins remix gained notoriety for breaking the Spice Girls' run of consecutive number one hits on the UK Singles Chart, keeping their song "Stop" from claiming the top spot.[3]

Track listing

CD maxi
  1. "It's Like That" (Drop The Break - Radio Edit) - 4:09
  2. "It's Like That" (Jason's Battle Blaster) - 8:21
  3. "It's Like That" (Drop The Break) - 8:20

Music video

The music video for the remix featured male vs. female breakdance crews battling each other. The video was shot in downtown LA in 1998 after the song went to #1 on the pop chart in Italy. Jason is in the beginning of the video wearing his 'well known yellow tinted glasses' and holding a boom box.

Charts and certifications

The song was featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Scarface: The World Is Yours. The Jason Nevins version is featured as a playable track in SingStar Dance for the PlayStation Move. The remix was also featured in a Fanta commercial where people and objects bounce around by drinking the soda given by a DJ while the song plays. The TV series GLOW used the song as a break dancing spin to one of their wrestling matches.

References

  1. ↑ VH1′s 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs - Stereogum. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. Chart Positions". AllMusic. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  3. ↑ It's Like That by Run-DMC Songfacts Archived 2009-08-25 at the Wayback Machine. songfacts.com
  4. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop Dance 15/11/1997". ultratop.be. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. > Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 110 (10): 47. March 7, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  11. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 110 (5): 66. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  12. ↑ "run dmc vs. jason nevins: it's like that" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Musicline.de – Run-D.M.C.Vs.Jason Nevins Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  15. ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to Know". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original (enter search parameter Run-DMC into Search by Artist box, then select Go) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 109 (50): 50. December 13, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510.
  17. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Charts.nz – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". VG-lista. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins – It's Like That". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  25. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 – Issue Date: 1998-02-28". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Run-D.M.C. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 110 (50): 40. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  29. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1998". austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1998 (Singles)". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 1998 (Singles)". ultratop.be (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Classement Singles – année 1998" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Top 40 – Jaargang 34, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  36. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 1998" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1998". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  39. ↑ "1990s Singles Chart Archive". everyHit. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  40. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Run DMC/J.Nevins – It's Like That" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved September 9, 2012. Enter Run DMC/J.Nevins in the field Interpret. Enter It's Like That in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
  42. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  43. 1 2 "Run DMC vs Jason Nevins" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  44. ↑ "French single certifications – Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It's Like That" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Run D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins; 'It's Like That')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  46. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Run DMC – It's Like That" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved September 2, 2018. Enter It's Like That in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  47. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  48. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Run D.M.C.; 'It's Like That')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  49. ↑ "British single certifications – Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It's Like That". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 9, 2012. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type It's Like That in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  50. ↑ Sedghi, Ami (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
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