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Back from Hell

Studio album by Run-D.M.C.

Released

October 16, 1990

Recorded

May 1989 - March 1990

Studio

Chung King House of Metal, Inc.
(Manhattan, New York)
Studio 900
(New York City, New York)

Genre

Hip hop, Golden age hip hop, East Coast hip hop, New jack swing

Length

54:29

Label

Profile Records

Producer

Stanley Brown, Davy D, Glen E. Friedman, Frankie Inglese, Jam Master Jay, Run-D.M.C., Russell Simmons (also exec.), Larry Smith

Run-D.M.C. chronology

Previous

Tougher Than Leather (1988)

Next

Down with the King (1993)

Back from Hell is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released in October 16, 1990 on Profile Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King House of Metal, Inc. and Studio 900 in New York City from May 1989 to March 1990. Production was handled entirely by Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay themselves with co-production from Frank Inglese, Glen E. Friedman, Russell Simmons, Stanley Brown, Davy D, Larry Smith and David Reeves. It marks the end of a long streak of critically and commercially successful albums by the group.

Back from Hell peaked at #81 on the Billboard 200, and #16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album has sold over 300,000 copies in the United States. It received mediocre reviews from critics. Back from Hell spawned the singles: "The Ave.", "What's It All About", "Faces" and "Pause", which all three of the songs were charted, the song "Pause" peaked at #51 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #11 on the Hot Rap Songs charts and #50 on the Hot Dance/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, "What's It All About" debuted at #24 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #4 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and #48 on the UK Singles chart and "Faces" peaked at #57 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.


Track listing[]

All songs performed by Run-D.M.C.

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Time
1. "Sucker D.J.'s" McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons, Simmons, Smith Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay 0:50
2. "The Ave." Inglese, McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Frankie Inglese (co.) 4:00
3. "What's It All About" McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Glen E. Friedman (co.), Russell Simmons (co.) 4:48
4. "Bob Your Head" Inglese, McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Frankie Inglese (co.) 3:46
5. "Faces" Brown, McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Stanley Brown (co.) 4:27
6. "Kick the Frama Lama Lama" McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay 3:07
7. "Pause" Brown, McDaniels, Mizell, Reeves, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Stanley Brown (co.), Davy D (co.) 4:38
8. "Word Is Born" McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay 2:54
9. "Back from Hell" Friedman, McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons, Smith Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Larry Smith (co.) 3:00
10. "Don't Stop" Brown, McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Stanley Brown (co.) 4:36
11. "Groove to the Sound" McDaniels, Mizell, Reeves, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, David Reeves (co.) 3:34
12. "P Upon a Tree" McDaniels, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay 0:44
13. "Naughty" Hill, McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay 4:08
14. "Livin' in the City" McDaniels, Mizell, Sabety, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay 1:03
15. "Not Just Another Groove" Brown, McDaniels, Mizell, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, Stanley Brown (co.) 4:20
16.  "Party Time" McDaniels, Mizell, Reeves, Simmons Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay, David Reeves (co.) 4:34



Samples[]

The Ave.

  • "Hihache" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band
  • "Down on the Avenue" by Fat Larry's Band
  • "The Chase" and "Mama Feelgood" by James Brown
  • "Same Beat" by Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s
  • "I Like Funky Music" by Uncle Louie

What's It All About

  • "Apache" by Incredible Bongo Band
  • "Fools Good" by The Stone Roses
  • "I Can't Stop" by John Davis and the Monster Orchestra
  • "Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy

Bob Your Head

  • "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic
  • "Popcorn With a Feeling" by James Brown
  • "Blue Moon" by The Marcels

Faces

  • "Let a Woman Be a Woman - Let a Man Be a Man" by Dyke & the Blazers
  • "Kool Is Back" by Funk, Inc.
  • "Cramp Your Style" by All the People feat. Robert Moore
  • "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown

Kick the Frama Lama Lama

  • "Fools Gold" by The Stone Roses

Pause

  • "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James
  • "Catch a Groove" by Juice
  • "It's Yours" by T La Rock and DJ Jazzy Jay

Word Is Born

  • "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band
  • "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" by The Soul Children feat. Jesse Jackson
  • "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim

Back From Hell

  • "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
  • "Escape-Ism" by James Brown

Don't Stop

  • "I Can't Stop" by John Davis and the Monster Orchestra
  • "Beats to the Rhyme" by Run-D.M.C.

Groove To The Sound

  • "Pull Up to My Bumper" by Grace Jones
  • "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James

Naughty

  • "Bang on a Drum" by Rick Jones
  • "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson
  • "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud" by James Brown

Not Just Another Groove

  • "Pump Me Up" by Trouble Funk
  • "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown