The Revolutionary Collaboration Of Aerosmith And Run-DMC: A Game Changer In Music History

In the early months of 1986, songs like Dionne Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For,” Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love,” and Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” dominated the Billboard charts. The hype over Aerosmith — who had six platinum hits in the 1970s — had cooled down. Meanwhile, hip-hop and rap were finding their way, but the genre remained largely self-contained and far from mainstream music.

When Aerosmith’s manager, Tim Collins, received a call from hip-hop producer Rick Rubin proposing a collaboration with rap group Run-DMC, his response was, “What’s rap?” This exchange highlights the cultural divide between the rock legends and the emerging hip-hop scene.

At this time, Aerosmith was struggling with a midlife crisis in their music careers, while Run-DMC was making a name for themselves in the rap world. The Boston rock band, consisting of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and Brad Whitford, faced dwindling success and substance abuse issues. On the other hand, Run-DMC — made up of Joseph Simmons (“Run”), Darry McDaniels (“DMC”), and Jason Mizell (“Jam Master Jay”) — rebranded themselves in 1983 and were deeply familiar with Aerosmith’s music, notably using their classic hit “Walk This Way” in their performances.

The bold move to combine these two seemingly disparate groups resulted in one of the greatest genre-crossing hits, changing the landscape of American music forever.

Rick Rubin's Vision for a Genre-Blending Collaboration

Mixing genres was not a novel concept for Rick Rubin. He had previously sampled AC/DC’s riff from “Back in Black” for the Beastie Boys’ Def Jam debut “Rock Hard.” Although he had completed Run-DMC’s Raising Hell album, he felt it lacked a key element to reach mainstream audiences, according to Geoff Edgers’ book Walk This Way: Run-DMC, Aerosmith and the Song that Changed America Forever.

Rubin sought a “secret weapon” to elevate Run-DMC beyond the underground scene. He wanted to bridge the gap between hip-hop and rock by finding a familiar piece of music that would resonate with both audiences. He reached out to Tim Sommer, a former NYU radio jockey, with a specific request: “I need a white rock song that can be turned into a rap song.” This initiated the idea of reworking “Walk This Way.”

A Magazine Editor's Role in Sparking the Collaboration

While the idea of using “Walk This Way” was discussed over the phone, former Spin magazine editor Sue Cummings also played a role in connecting the two bands. While profiling Run-DMC, she was inspired by their riff of “Walk This Way” and wondered how Aerosmith would respond to this recognition from a new generation.

At the time, Aerosmith was struggling after rehab, and their last album, Done With Mirrors, was faltering. Cummings thought that collaborating with a young, popular group could rejuvenate Aerosmith’s image. She took a tape of Run-DMC to Boston to propose the collaboration, stating that Aerosmith had never heard of the group but was open to the idea.

Bringing Together Two Worlds: The Meeting of Aerosmith and Run-DMC

After securing the collaboration, Rubin reached out to John Kalodner at Geffen Records, Aerosmith’s label. The band had released their first album since reuniting in 1985, Done with Mirrors, which was not performing well. Kalodner was surprised at Rubin's clear vision despite his young appearance.

With Kalodner on board, it was time to approach the band members. Tyler was excited about the collaboration, recalling how he had been exposed to rap music while wandering through New York City. Perry, however, was less familiar with the genre and had to rely on his stepson Aaron's knowledge of rap to understand it better.

Recording the Iconic Track: A Quick Studio Session

On March 9, 1986, Tyler and Perry headed to New York City’s Magic Ventures studio, where they were paid $8,000 for the day. Run-DMC, on the other hand, was eager to complete the session quickly to return a rental car. This meeting highlighted the contrasting lifestyles and assumptions about one another between the two groups.

Despite initial misunderstandings, the recording session was successful. The iconic beats were familiar, though the lyrics presented challenges, with Run expressing dissatisfaction with them. However, the collaboration resulted in a groundbreaking version of “Walk This Way,” which was included on Run-DMC’s 1986 album.

Impact and Legacy of "Walk This Way"

The music video for the song became a staple on MTV, showcasing the two bands breaking down barriers and uniting on stage. The popularity of the track propelled both bands to new heights; Run-DMC achieved mainstream success with their album Raising Hell, while Aerosmith experienced a resurgence in their career with their 1987 album, Permanent Vacation.

More importantly, the collaboration opened doors for hip-hop and rap music, allowing them to integrate into American culture. Rick Rubin's vision of blending rock and rap paved the way for future collaborations and genre fusions in music.

This groundbreaking partnership not only changed the trajectory of both bands but also helped reshape the music industry, demonstrating the power of collaboration across genres.