'Tougher Than Leather' tells the inside story of Run-DMC's astonishing rise to fame from the obscurity of Hollis. Queens to the kleig-lit heights of pop music fame. It is a story that has inspired important music makers for the last 15 years, including the Beastie Boys, Will Smith, Public Enemy, NWA, Master P, Jay-z, Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit and Eminem-all of whom know who opened the door for them. And now it can inspire you. 'Tougher Than Leather' was originally published in 1987 and is reissued here in a new edition, a must have for any serious music fan.
Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"...Short on 'Behind the Music' squabbles, but it's a trove of great moments." -- Miles Marshall Lewis, Blender, January/February 2003
"A must-have for any serious hip-hop fan." -- hhn.com, issue #84
"Enlightening" -- David Mills, WASHINGTON TIMES
"Fascinating look at the beginnings of NYC hip-hop and the early career of that Hollis crew....Thoroughly enjoyable." -- Toph One, XLR8R, January 2003
"It remains one of the unsung classics of early hip-hop books...Bill gives you incredible you-were-there descriptions." -- Jeff Chang, cantstopwontstop, September 24, 2002
"Might well be the most comprehensive biography ever written about a pop act while it was still in its prime." -- Jon Caramanica, Rolling Stone, April 17, 2003
"Vividly recreates the atmosphere of the years during Run-DMC's prime...when their music was at its most vibrant." -- Simon McKenzie, University of Melbourne (Australia) website
A definitive, insightful text. -- Harry Allen, Village Voice
Adler's reissued classic details Run-DMC's rise to stardom and the cultivation of a whole genre. -- Source Magazine
An essential time capsule, Adler is the ultimate tour guide. -- Brian Coleman, Urb
"A must-have for any serious hip-hop fan." -- hhn.com, issue #84
"Enlightening" -- David Mills, WASHINGTON TIMES
"Fascinating look at the beginnings of NYC hip-hop and the early career of that Hollis crew....Thoroughly enjoyable." -- Toph One, XLR8R, January 2003
"It remains one of the unsung classics of early hip-hop books...Bill gives you incredible you-were-there descriptions." -- Jeff Chang, cantstopwontstop, September 24, 2002
"Might well be the most comprehensive biography ever written about a pop act while it was still in its prime." -- Jon Caramanica, Rolling Stone, April 17, 2003
"Vividly recreates the atmosphere of the years during Run-DMC's prime...when their music was at its most vibrant." -- Simon McKenzie, University of Melbourne (Australia) website
A definitive, insightful text. -- Harry Allen, Village Voice
Adler's reissued classic details Run-DMC's rise to stardom and the cultivation of a whole genre. -- Source Magazine
An essential time capsule, Adler is the ultimate tour guide. -- Brian Coleman, Urb
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fresher than ever,
By Lonnie McDonald (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC (Paperback)
I was a highschooler when Run-DMC made their first hits. Now I'm 35 years old and their music seems fresher than ever. But I never knew too much about Run, DMC, and Jam Master Jay as people until I read this book. Now I see that they were just as serious and interesting behind the scenes as they were on records and onstage. And I also learned a lot about the early career of Russell Simmons and the founding of the Def Jam label with LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys. Some day people will study Run-DMC the way that the baby boomers study the Beatles. Until then, this is the book to read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Once The Kings,Always The Kings,
By Chewy (New Orleans, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC (Paperback)
I bought this book when I was in college and it soon went out of print.Thankfully it has returned.Despite a few mistakes in song lyrics, this book faithfully follows our leather clad heroes from childhood to stardom to superstardom.The story ends however at the release of the disasterous yet still somewhat entertaining film "Tougher than Leather".So kick up your shell-toe (no laces,please) adidas and enjoy a long overdue piece of rock and roll history.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book on the subject,
By
This review is from: Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC (Paperback)
This originally came out in the late 80s and could be looked upon as a typical fan bio for younger readers, but it's a tad more than that. It's a pretty good documentation of the early days of rap and Run-DMC's often overlooked role in literally bringing rap back from the dead, gaining fame as they did during an early low point in the genre in 1983. For those of us who were around during that period, this book will bring back good memories. For others, it's a good education.
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Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
There's no way to understand Run-DMC and the kind of music they makeand why kids listen when they speakwithout understanding Hollis, the suburban neighborhood in the borough of Queens in the city of New York where all three members of the crew grew up and where they all continue to live. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Kurtis Blow, Sun City, Krush Groove, Fresh Fest, Los Angeles, Rock Box, Live Aid, Rick Rubin, Furious Five, South Africa, Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, Grandmaster Flash, Long Beach, Rush Productions, Walk This Way, Black Singles, Larry Smith, Melle Mel, Michael Jackson, New Jersey, Disco Fever, Greene Street, Hollis Crew New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
There's no way to understand Run-DMC and the kind of music they makeand why kids listen when they speakwithout understanding Hollis, the suburban neighborhood in the borough of Queens in the city of New York where all three members of the crew grew up and where they all continue to live. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Kurtis Blow, Sun City, Krush Groove, Fresh Fest, Los Angeles, Rock Box, Live Aid, Rick Rubin, Furious Five, South Africa, Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, Grandmaster Flash, Long Beach, Rush Productions, Walk This Way, Black Singles, Larry Smith, Melle Mel, Michael Jackson, New Jersey, Disco Fever, Greene Street, Hollis Crew New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 8
books:
See all 8 books this book cites
1
book
cites this book:
- It's Like That by 'reverend Run' on 12 pages
- Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith by Aerosmith on 4 pages
- Tougher Than Leather by Bill Adler in Front Matter, and page 202
- Iron Maiden (Guitar Recorded Versions) by Wolf Marshall on page 187
- Frank Sinatra by John Frayn Turner on page 158
See all 8 books this book cites
- Rap Attack, No. 3: African Rap to Global Hip Hop by David Toop in Back Matter
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