Rick Rubin on How Walk This Way Brought Hip-Hop Into the Mainstream

Who is Rick Rubin on How Walk This Way Brought Hip-Hop Into the Mainstream?

Taken from JRE 1881 w/Rick Rubin:

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Rick Rubin produced Run-DMC's 'Walk This Way' collaboration with Aerosmith, which became the pivotal moment that brought hip-hop into mainstream rock and pop culture
• 02The production approach was revolutionary for combining hard rock elements with hip-hop in a way that appealed to both audiences simultaneously
• 03Rubin discusses how the track broke through racial and genre barriers in music radio and MTV during the 1980s
• 04The success of 'Walk This Way' opened doors for hip-hop artists to reach audiences that previously had no exposure to the genre
• 05Rubin reflects on the cultural significance of the collaboration and its impact on the music industry's acceptance of hip-hop
• 06The conversation covers Rubin's production philosophy and how he approached making hip-hop accessible without compromising its authenticity
• ▶Rick Rubin explains the cultural landscape before Walk This Way0:00:00
• ▶Discussion of how the collaboration between Run-DMC and Aerosmith came together0:15:30
• ▶Rubin describes the production process and creative decisions0:28:45
• ▶The moment the track became a phenomenon and changed everything0:42:20
• ▶Reflection on the lasting impact of Walk This Way on hip-hop's mainstream acceptance0:58:00

The Show

Rick Rubin sits down with Joe to discuss one of the most important moments in hip-hop history: producing Run-DMC's 'Walk This Way' featuring Aerosmith. This track wasn't just a song, it was a cultural turning point that smashed through barriers nobody knew existed. Before this collaboration, hip-hop and rock existed in completely separate worlds. Radio stations wouldn't play hip-hop, MTV barely touched it, and the mainstream audience had no real exposure to the genre. Rubin saw something that others didn't see yet: the potential to merge these two powerful forces.

What made 'Walk This Way' so genius wasn't just that it was a good song, though it absolutely was. It was the strategy and execution behind it. Rubin brought together Run-DMC, who were already incredible artists pushing hip-hop forward, with Aerosmith, a legendary rock band that had street credibility and mainstream appeal. The production created something that felt authentic to both genres while being completely fresh. Rock fans could hear the guitar and the classic Aerosmith foundation they loved. Hip-hop fans got pure Run-DMC energy and authenticity. Nobody felt like they were compromising their taste.

Rubin explains how the track became this unexpected phenomenon that started changing everything. Suddenly MTV had to play it because it was a legitimate rock collaboration. Radio stations had no excuse not to play it. And once people heard it, once they got exposed to Run-DMC's incredible skill and charisma, the whole game changed. This wasn't about watering down hip-hop for white audiences or any of that nonsense. It was about creating something so undeniably good that the walls had to come down.

The conversation touches on how this moment opened countless doors. After 'Walk This Way' proved that hip-hop could reach mainstream audiences without losing its soul, suddenly labels were interested in investing in hip-hop artists. Radio started programming more hip-hop. MTV realized there was an actual audience. This one track became the bridge that made the entire music industry take hip-hop seriously as a commercial and artistic force. Rubin's insight into the industry at that time, his understanding of what was possible, and his ability to execute it perfectly makes this a fascinating look at how one creative decision can reshape culture.

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