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It's Like That (Run-D.M.C. song)
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Wikipedia article
"'It's Like That'" is the debut single of American hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released in 1983 by Profile Records. The song was remixed by house DJ Jason Nevins in 1997. His version was originally released in 1997 on 10-inch vinyl in the United States 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".[http://stereogum.com/24391/vh1s_100_greatest_hiphop_songs-2/list VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs - Stereogum]. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
Run-D.M.C. version
It was first released in 1983 backed with the track "Sucker M.C.'s". The release marked the start of Run-D.M.C.'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-D.M.C. The single was an international success.
The song would be named by fans one of Run-D.M.C.'s signature songs.
In the re-release of the album in 2004, 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 stated:
The song was mixed by Kurtis Blow and Elai Tubo.
Track listing
All tracks written by Darryl McDaniels, Joe Simmons and Larry Smith.
'12-inch Profile PRO-7019 (US)'
# "It's Like That" 7:25
# "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush Groove 1)" 3:15
# "It's Like That" (Instrumental) 7:10
# "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush Groove 1)" (Instrumental) 3:05
Charts
Jason Nevins version
{{Infobox song
| name = It's Like That
| cover = Run DMC Jason Nevins - Its Like That single cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins
| album =
| released =
| recorded = 1983, 1997
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip house
| length = 4:10
| label = Sm:)e Communications
| writer =
* Darryl McDaniels
* Joseph Simmons
* Larry Smith
| producer =
* Russell Simmons
* Larry Smith
* Jason Nevins
| chronology = Run-D.M.C.
| prev_title = Can I Get It, Yo
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = (It's) Tricky
| next_year = 1998
| misc =
}}
In 1997, a new version by American producer Jason Nevins was released. The Nevins version topped the singles charts in 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it stayed at the top for six weeks and became Britain's third biggest-selling single of 1998. In the UK, the 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.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from 'Billboard' wrote, "The lines dividing rap and dance music are momentarily blurred on this revision of a Run-D.M.C. chestnut. Their rhymes are sewn into a forceful, house-inflected groove by underground club dynamo Nevins, who displays a palpable talent for combining hard-edged flavor with ear-grabbing hooks. Club DJs have already turned this into a dancefloor staple, with crossover radio mix-show programmers also banging it like crazy. It won't be long before folks can hear it during morning-drive hours." A writer from 'Daily Record' stated that this version is "pure brilliant"."Chart Slot; TOP 10 SINGLES CHART". 'Daily Record'. April 17, 1998. Retrieved December 1, 2020.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 became a hit in Europe. Jason is in the beginning of the video wearing his 'well known yellow tinted glasses' and holding a boombox.Track listings
'US 12-inch single':A1. "It's Like That" (Drop the Break) 8:20
:A2. "It's Like That" (Battle Beat Dub) 4:48
:B1. "It's Like That" (Jason's Battle Blaster) 8:21
:B2. "It's Like That" (Acapella Break) 1:28
:B3. "It's Like That" (Bonus Beat Break) 8:20
'CD maxi, Australian CD single'
# "It's Like That" (Drop the Break radio edit) 4:09
# "It's Like That" (Jason's Battle Blaster) 8:21
# "It's Like That" (Drop the Break) 8:20
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Year-end chart performance for "It's Like That"
!Chart (1998)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (3 Austria Top 40)
| 10
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
| 40
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
| 13
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|France (SNEP)
| 62
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts)
| 6
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland (slenski Listinn Topp 40)
| 8
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
| 29
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)
| 4
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
| 19
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)
| 3
|}
Certifications
Release history
References
Category:1983 debut singles
Category:1983 songs
Category:1998 singles
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:Hip house songs
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Jason Nevins songs
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in Denmark
Category:Number-one singles in Finland
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Number-one singles in Iceland
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Number-one singles in Scotland
Category:Number-one singles in Sweden
Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland
Category:Run-DMC songs
Category:Songs written by Darryl McDaniels
Category:Songs written by Jam Master Jay
Category:Songs written by Joseph Simmons
Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
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