Which group released the 1984 debut album Run-D.M.C.?

Run-D.M.C. released the 1984 debut album Run-D.M.C.

The self-titled record introduced the Queens trio of Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell to a broad audience. Its stripped-down production, forceful delivery, and streetwear-centered image helped define a new direction for recorded hip hop.

The album includes “It’s Like That,” “Hard Times,” and “Sucker M.C.’s (Krush-Groove 1).” “Sucker M.C.’s” is especially important because its sparse drum-machine beat and direct rhymes contrasted with the more disco-oriented sound common in earlier rap recordings.

Readers sometimes confuse this album with King of Rock, Run-D.M.C.’s 1985 follow-up, or Raising Hell, the group’s 1986 breakthrough. The debut’s title is simply Run-D.M.C., matching the group’s name and establishing one of hip hop’s most influential album trilogies.