10 Perfect Hip Hop Music Samples Of Classic Rock Songs
8. Run-DMC's Walk This Way - Walk This Way (Aerosmith)
By the mid 1980s Run-DMC was one of the biggest hip hop groups on the planet. In 1984 they'd become the first rap group to have a video played on MTV - not only did this open the door for other hip hip acts, but it introduced a wider demographic to the genre. Pretty soon suburban white kids were buying hip hop albums, and wearing their Adidas sneakers without laces.
Aerosmith during the early '80s was another matter. The group had slowly been falling apart for some time. A decade of extensive touring - along with excessive drug consumption - had left relationships frayed and the creative well dry. Guitarist Joe Perry quit in '79 and for the next few years the band's prospects looked bleak.
In 1986 Run-DMC were getting ready to put out their third studio record. The group had been messing around with a sample from Aerosmith's 1975 track "Walk This Way" but couldn't figure out where to go with. Ever the ideas man, producer Rick Rubin, suggested they approach Aerosmith to do a collaboration on the song - knowing full way the rock group was currently trying restart the career. Although both parties were hesitant at the notion, Rubin worked his magic, resulting in a huge hit for both groups.