Run-D.M.C. “King of Rock” 1985. Profile Records (original pressing). King of Rock was Run-D.M.C.’s second album and boasts some big firsts: it was the first rap album released on the cd format, one of the first hip hop albums to very heavily incorporate the heavy rock and dancehall genres (with Yellowman’s appearance on “Roots, Rap, Reggae” – a top pick of mine), and was the third (which is close to first!) rap record to go to platinum. One other fun fact: the lyrics for “Can You Rock It Like This” were written by LL Cool J when he was only 16. King of Rock went to #52 on the album chart (and to #12 on the hiphop chart though it wasn’t called that at the time) and spawned four singles, all of which charted though not nearly as high as they should have on the main Billboard chart. I’m most familiar and fond of the title track “King of Rock” which is all swagger, riffs and rhymes with a stellar 80’s video featuring Late Night with David Letterman‘s Larry “Bud” Melman (actor Calvert DeForest). Run-D.M.C. also released “You Talk Too Much,” “Jam-Master Jammin’” and the aforementioned “Can You Rock It Like This” which, besides the rockin’ guitar (courtesy of Eddie Martinez who did most of the shred work on the album) has a early/mid-80’s new wave synth vibe – very 16 Candles-esque, a bit reminiscent of Psychedelic Furs “Love My Way.” It’s a great song; that track plus “King of Rock” and “You’re Blind” were all also featured in the 1985 film Krush Groove.