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The RockBOX
"I couldn’t wait to demonstrate / all the super def rhymes that I create / I'm a wizard of a word, that's what you heard / and anything else is quite absurd!”
The RockBOX is an homage to RUN D.M.C.'s groundbreaking debut album.
The first rap album to be certified Gold, the group's debut brought Hip Hop into the mainstream, introducing what became known as “new-school” rap.
The music video for the song "Rock Box" was the first rap video played on MTV. Through this exposure, the trio transformed Hip Hop fashion, moving away from the flamboyant disco styles of early Hip Hop to represent 1980s New York street fashion with their signature Adidas sneakers, Lee jeans, black Kangol hats, leather jackets, and gold chains. The album also pioneered a minimalist, hard-hitting sound under the production of Larry Smith, utilizing drum machines, sparse samples, and Jam Master Jay's scratching. This was a significant departure from the complex, disco-influenced productions of earlier Hip Hop records. Additionally, the album's lyrics addressed urban realities, offering genuine social commentary that deeply resonated with listeners.
This is evident in the album’s first single, "It's Like That", which broke new ground with its social protest themes and it is widely regarded as the first hardcore rap and new-school Hip Hop song:
"Unemployment at a record high / People coming, people going, people born to die / Don't ask me, because I don't know why / But it's like that, and that's the way it is /
People in the world tryin to make ends meet / You try to ride car, train, bus, or feet / I said you got to work hard, you want to compete / It's like that, and that's the way it is"
“Sucker M.C.’s” is considered one of the first notable diss tracks in Hip Hop history and contains lyrics that every Hip Hop aficionado knows by heart:
"A-with the one, two, three, three to two, one / My man Larry Larr, my name's DJ Run / We do it in the place with the highs and the bass / I'm rockin' to the rhythm, won't you watch it on my face? / Go uptown and come down to the ground / You sucker MC, you sad-faced clown / You a five-dollar boy and I'm a-million dollar man / You's a sucker MC and you're my fan"
"I'm D.M.C. in the place to be / I go to St. John's University / And since kindergarten I acquired the knowledge / And after 12th grade I went straight to college / I'm light skinned, I live in Queens / And I love eatin' chicken and collard greens / I dress to kill, I love the style / I'm an MC you know who's versatile"
"Rock Box" was groundbreaking for its fusion of Hip Hop with rock guitar riffs, setting a precedent for the rap rock genre that would later be popularized by other artists and bands. With Eddie Martinez on the guitar and Larry Smith on the bass, this track was instrumental in broadening the appeal of Hip Hop by incorporating elements of rock music, which helped it gain a wider audience and more diverse fan base:
"Cause Calvin Klein's no friend of mine/ Don't want nobody's name on my behind/
Lee on my legs, sneakers on my feet/ D by my side and Jay with the beat!" ♥
The RockBOX BMBOX comes with 3 mini cassettes and exclusive stickers.
It is a limited edition of 5 (!) All hand-painted and signed by Elena.
Release Date: Aug 6, 2024, at 6:30 pm ET.
Price: 450 EUR.
LIMIT ONE BMBOX PER CUSTOMER!
IF YOU ORDER MULTIPLE, YOUR ORDER WILL BE CANCELLED.
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24h
60m
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