| Down with the King | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Run-D.M.C. | |
|
Released |
May 4, 1993 |
|
Recorded |
March 1992 - January 1993 |
|
Studio |
The Hit Factory |
|
Genre |
East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, Jazz rap, Conscious hip hop, Gangsta rap |
|
Length |
49:27 |
|
Label |
|
|
Producer |
The Bomb Squad, Chyskillz, Clifton Dillon, Jermaine Dupri, EPMD, Kay Gee, Jam Master Jay, Mr. Bozack, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Run-D.M.C., Daniel Shulman |
| Run-D.M.C. chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Previous |
Back from Hell (1990) |
|
Next |
Crown Royal (2001) |
Down with the King is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released in May 4, 1993 through Profile Records. Recording sessions took place at Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia and at The Hit Factory, Sorcerer Sound, Axis Studios Inc., Rockin' Reel Recording Studios, Unique Recording, Soundtrack City, Music Palace and Studio Works Too in New York City from March 1992 to January 1993. Production was handled by The Bomb Squad, Jam Master Jay, Chyskillz, Jermaine Dupri, EPMD, Daniel Shulman, Kay Gee, Clifton "Specialist" Dillion, Q-Tip, Pete Rock and the group themselves, with co-production from Mr. Bozack. It features guest appearances from Mad Cobra, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Q-Tip and Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine).
The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Down with the King spawned the singles: Can I Get It, Yo", "Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do" (which reached #78 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #21 on the Hot Rap Singles chart) and the title track "Down With The King" (which reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, #9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, #33 on the Rhythmic Top 40 and #1 on the Hot Rap Singles chart).
On July 29, 1993, Down with the King was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album was received more favorably by fans and music critics than the group's previous effort Back from Hell.
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Producer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Down with the King" | Run-D.M.C., Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth | Pete Rock | 5:00 |
| 2. | "Come On Everybody" | Run-D.M.C. | Q-Tip | 4:30 |
| 3. | "Can I Get It, Yo" | Run-D.M.C. | EPMD, Mr. Bozack (co.) | 3:30 |
| 4. | "Hit 'Em Hard" | Run-D.M.C. | Kay Gee | 2:52 |
| 5. | "To the Maker" | - | Jam Master Jay | 0:24 |
| 6. | "3 in the Head" | Run-D.M.C. | The Bomb Squad | 3:29 |
| 7. | "Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do" | Run-D.M.C. | The Bomb Squad | 3:06 |
| 8. | "Big Willie" | Run-D.M.C. | Danuel Shulman, Run-D.M.C. | 4:28 |
| 9. | "Three Little Indians" | Run-D.M.C. | Jam Master Jay, Chyskillz | 3:07 |
| 10. | "In the House" | Run-D.M.C. | Pete Rock | 3:37 |
| 11. | "Can I Get a Witness" | Run-D.M.C. | Jermaine Dupri | 3:36 |
| 12. | "Get Open" | Run-D.M.C. | Jam Master Jay, Chyskillz | 3:52 |
| 13. | "What's Next" | Run-D.M.C. | Clifton "Specialist" Dillon | 4:03 |
| 14. | "Wreck Shop" | Run-D.M.C. | Pete Rock | 3:14 |
| 15. | "For 10 Years" | - | Jam Master Jay | 0:39 |
Samples[]
Down With The King
- "Run's House" by Run-D.M.C.
- "Where Do I Go?" by The Original Broadway Cast of Hair (James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot)
- "The Honeysuckle Breeze" by Tom Scott and The California Dreamers
Come On Everybody
- "Spinning Wheel" by Lonnie Smith
- "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Babe" by Jimmy Smith
- "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier
- "Scenario (Remix)" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Leaders of the New School and Kid Hood
Can I Get It, Yo
- "My Adidas", "Hit It Run" and "Walk This Way" by Run-D.M.C.
- "Sixty Minute Man" by Rufus Thomas
- "Midnight Theme" by Manzel
- "Fairplay" by Soul II Soul
- "AJ Scratch" by Kurtis Blow
Hit 'Em Hard
- "Uptown Anthem" by Naughty by Nature
- "Soul Girl" by Jeanne & the Darlings
- "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier
- "Rock the Bells" by LL Cool J
3 In The Head
- "Donkey Walk" by Lou Donaldson
- "Top Billin'" by Audio Two
- "The Breakwdown (Part II)" by Rufus Thomas
Ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do
- "The Look of Love" by Ramsey Lewis
- "Uphill Peace of Mind" by Kid Dynamite
- "Hey! Last Minute" by The Meters
- "Soul Power 74" by Maceo & the Macks
Big Willie
- "Spinning Wheel" by Blood, Sweat & Tears
- "Check the Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest
- "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)" by Ramsey Lewis
- "Let’s Get Started" by Commodores
Three Little Indians
- "Blind Alley" by The Emotions
- "Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)" by Run-D.M.C.
- "Third Movement: Blues (Twelve Measure Form) Variationial Interlude" by Yusef Lateef
- "Cool Hand Stanley" by Wynder K. Frog
- "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps
- "Daisy Lady" by 7th Wonder
- "Jam Master Jay" by Run-D.M.C.
- "AJ Scratch" by Kurtis Blow
- "Public Enemy No. 1" by Public Enemy
In The House
- "It's Your Thing" by Lou Donaldson
- "Run's House" by Run-D.M.C.
- "Gotta Learn How to Dance" by The Fatback Band
- "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone
- "2001" by The Cecil Holmes Soulful Sounds
Can I Get A Witness
- "Blow Your Head" by Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s
- "Midnight Theme" by Manzel
- "How I Could Just Kill a Man" by Cypress Hill
- "Lick the Balls" by Slick Rick
- "Going Back to Cali" by LL Cool J
- "My Adidas" by Run-D.M.C.
Get Open
- "Blind Alley" by The Emotions
- "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps
- "Turning Point" by Lonnie Smith
Wreck Shop
- "Drum Pan Sound" by Reggie Stepper
- "Who's Making Love" by Lou Donaldson
- "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
For 10 Years
- "Spinning Wheel" by Lonnie Wheel