Friday, 2 December 2022

Run-D Jewels


Vincent Gallo's third greatest contribution to popular culture after Buffalo '66 and Palookaville: introducing Run-D.M.C's live performance of Sucker M.C's on Michael Holman's 1984 TV show Graffiti Rock. Davy DMX famously "cut the record down to the bone" and Run-D.M.C & Jam Master Jay followed suit by cutting a live performance every bit as sharp as the record itself. Sucker M.C's is one of those iconic 10/10 classic 80s Rap songs which doesn't have a video, so this clip is the next best thing innit?

A game-changing song for sure, but its impact is much misunderstood by lazy 'Hip-Hop historians' who like a neatly-packaged narrative. I've harped on about this before, but you can't tell the story of pre-golden era 1980's rap by using simple generational shifts and grand Slay Thy Father gestures. Far from wiping Rap's O.G generation out of existence, Sucker M.C's inspired Spoonie Gee, Love Bug Starski and The Fearless Four to hit up Davy DMX & Larry Smith for some Oberheim DMX drum pattern production on their respective comeback singles, and provoked The Furious Five, Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde and The Cold Crush Brothers into recording their greatest songs as groups.

21 comments:

Spartan said...

Always thought Gallo was much younger than he really was. Had no idea he went that far back making appearances.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Deep in the game like Iran's 2 goals against Wales.

His 4th greatest contribution to popular culture would be The Funeral, natch.

Spartan said...

Never even knew there was a sequel until relatively recently, but I want to check out Freeway II: Confessions of a Trick Baby (1999). Gallo's in that and it appears to be even wilder than the first film, which is really saying something.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

That sounds pretty insane 😄

Anonymous said...

New AZ https://youtu.be/oVlDlVZcPYc

d said...

Prince Vince(10/10 b-boy name imo) laying into michael coleman on his blog(? livejournal? idk) one of my fav things i ever cane across online.

End of The Funeral is one of my most vividest memories. Gallo idk anything about the arts but ur my problematic fav 4ever

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Donal, I think that might have originally been in Grand Royal magazine.

Anon, that new song ain't bad.

Spartan said...

Forgot about Gallo’s King Crimson review where he disses Harmony Korine. 😀

There was a dope random rant he made where he mentioned Nicoletta Machiavelli that I wish I could still find.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

If only he'd spelled Spoonie Gee right that would have been a perfect review.

Never forget his triumphant appearance on MovieTalk:

https://youtu.be/JUbjgTsht4I

Shout out to Anne Billson, though - big fan of her book about The Thing.

Guest said...

turns out there IS an "official video" for Sucker MC's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOKMWSR2Aio&ab_channel=RUNDMCVEVO

It's atrocious. A montage of euro b-boys that look like they've been lifted from a Bomfunk MC's video.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

🤮 Jesus, they must have put that together after the Jason Nevins It's Like That remix video.

D said...

also gallos hiward stern appearance where he gives and then cures eberts cancer>>>>>>>

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Need a Gallo vs Kermode beef in 2023.

Spartan said...

Kermode has been even more insufferable this year.

#teamGallo

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I take no sides, I just want bants.

Anonymous said...

Gallo says some true shit in that Movie Talk clip but did he really say he doesn´t like Cassavetes?! That´s simply not true haha

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Yeah, that was a proper "pull the other one, m8!" moment.

David said...

vincent gallo an early example of white rap fans being/turning right wing

anyway I love that cold crush beat, one of my favs

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

A Pumpkin ghost-production.

Jim Goad another early example.

L.A said...

Treacherous 3 and Run DMC battle is another highlight of Graffiti Rock.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Congrats on the NB collaboration 👏