“Walk This Way” by Run DMC (ft. Aerosmith)

Run DMC’s rendition of “Walk This Way” is basically a word-for-word cover of a track by the same name which Aerosmith originally dropped in 1975.  We have already done an analysis the original, which we recommend that you read to get a better understanding of Run DMC’s version also. But in summation, this song is centered on a couple of sensually-inexperienced lads’ first time getting laid. 

The ladies whom they are respectively sleeping with are more experienced than they are. As such, they are instructing the boys on how to engage in bedroom fun satisfactorily.  So the expression “walk this way” is actually a metaphor which summarizes the instructions these ladies are giving to the young men.

That being said, a listener may never pick up on the featured narrative due to the rapid-fire pace in which the verses are presented. However, such did not prevent Run DMC’s team up with Aerosmith going on to be one of the most-celebrated and influential tracks in American music history.

A Cover? A Remix?

Whereas some may consider Run DMC’s rendition of “Walk This Way” as a remix of Aerosmith’s 1975 original, it can perhaps be most accurately described as a cover. 

Writing and Production Credits of “Walk This Way”

Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler are the only two writers credited with creating this song. Aerosmith’s version (which is the original) was produced by Jack Douglas.
However, in this particular case, the track was produced by Rick Rubin along with Russell Simmons and Run DMC’s Rev Run and Jam Master Jay (1965-2002).

Release Date

This song was released on 15 May 1986 as part of Run DMC’s classic third album, “Raising Hell”. The following month it was also issued by Profile Records and Arista Records as the second single from that project.

How Run DMC stumbled upon “Walk This Way”

Run DMC were actually introduced to “Walk This Way” by their DJ, Jam Master Jay. He used to loop part of the intro which he intended to use as a sample but never bothered with the rest of the song, not even knowing who created it. It was Rick Rubin who later told him it was an Aerosmith track and suggested that Run DMC cover the song. MC Run and DMC weren’t really keen on the idea at all. 

Great Success!

Eventually their rendition of the tune went on to become the first track to successfully fuse the rap and rock genres to major chart success. 

It even proved to be more successful than Aerosmith’s original. For instance, it ranked higher than Aerosmith’s rendition on Rolling Stone’s 2011 ranking of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” (both versions made the list). 

Moreover it has been dubbed the fourth greatest hip-hop song ever by VH1 and one of the “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Furthermore, Run DMC and Aerosmith took home a 1987 Soul Train Award for Best Rap – Single due to this track.

In fact it is was this song which is credited with introducing hip-hop music to mainstream audiences. Moreover Run DMC’s version of “Walk This Way” revitalized Aerosmith’s career, as the band was on the brink of irrelevancy at the time. For instance, the music video to the song is the first ever featuring Aerosmith staples Joe Perry and Steven Tyler which received significant airtime.

Music Video

The music video had Jon Small as its director.  It was filmed in Union City, New Jersey at a venue called the Park Theater which is said to have remained relatively untouched still some decades later. And the clip memorably features Run DMC in a sound clash against Tyler and Perry (the other members of Aerosmith were not present). The visual went on to break rap-music barriers on MTV.

FYI, the highly-entertaining visual above has been placed on a number of ‘greatest music videos’ lists compiled by the likes of MTV, VH1 and Rolling Stone.

How did Run DMC’s version of “Walk This Way” perform on the charts?

It charted in almost 15 countries. This included peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 1 in New Zealand and number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. And this was at a time when hip-hop wasn’t particularly popular in the United Kingdom.

“Walk This Way” has also been certified Platinum in the United States and Gold in the UK and Canada.