The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers — Ep. 123

Album: Run-D.M.C. – Raising Hell (#123 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest)
Guest: Erik Griffin
Release Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, comedian and actor Erik Griffin joins host Josh Adam Meyers to discuss Raising Hell, the third studio album by Run-D.M.C., which is widely considered a landmark not just in hip hop, but in pop culture history. They explore how this 1986 album “kicked down the doors” for rap music in the mainstream, dissect the cultural context of its release, and reflect on its musical innovations and commercial legacy. The conversation is vibrant, nostalgic, and peppered with personal anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Raising Hell Matters (06:29–17:12)

• Erik Griffin describes discovering Raising Hell as a 14/15-year-old in LA—listening to “K Day” on AM radio was the only way to hear rap at the time.
• Both hosts agree that Raising Hell did not just "open the door," but “kicked down the doors” for hip hop’s mainstream credibility.
  • "I think this is the first real... this put rap on the map really." — Erik (07:54)
  • "They're setting up what the business model is going to be for hip hop." — Josh (14:59)
• The importance of crossing over: The album’s collaborations with rock (especially “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith) not only changed music but demonstrated the genre’s wide appeal.
  • "‘Walk This Way’ is a really important song for hip hop because it made people recognize how the music has a lot of similarities..." — Erik (15:28)

2. Musical & Cultural Context (17:12–26:44)

• The hosts reflect on Rick Rubin’s genius for seeing hip hop’s cross-cultural potential:
  • "Rick Rubin saw the world in a different lens... he saw this music, and he was like, man, no, this is powerful. This is deep." — Erik (17:47)
• Raising Hell as the first hip hop album to break into MTV and mainstream radio—a cultural milestone parallel to Michael Jackson’s mainstreaming of black pop.
  • "They were the first rap group to be nominated for a Grammy. You know, they were the first rap group to be on Rolling Stone, the cover of Rolling Stone, you know, and then they were the first rap group to have an arena tour..." — Erik (22:37)
• Reflection on the mid-80s ("greed is good" era) — the contrast of hip hop’s confident, rebellious energy against Reagan-era social realities.

3. The Impact of “Walk This Way” and Commercial Breakthrough (26:44–37:33)

• How Aerosmith’s involvement revitalized their own career and catapulted Run-D.M.C. into rock radio and MTV rotation.
  • "Aerosmith are in their mid-30s. They're in the... ancient years. Right? And then you have a hip hop group come up to you and say, hey, we want to cover your song and we want you to be in it." — Josh (37:33)
• The album’s fashion influence—Run-D.M.C. made Adidas and gold chains iconic, leading to lucrative endorsement deals and cultural shifts.
  • "This is like the fashion was a character on its own." — Erik (20:24)
  • "Once you do that, you got it." — Erik (21:17)
• Raising Hell connected youth across America, making rap—and its style—unavoidable.

4. Rap’s Mainstream and Underground Tensions (33:20–40:40)

• Not all in the hip hop community welcomed Run-D.M.C.’s crossover—some saw them as sellouts for their pop collaborations and white audience success.
  • "Not everyone in hip hop appreciated what Run DMC was doing. I mean, they were considered like, sellouts." — Erik (35:17)
• The difference between commercial and underground rap at the time; the importance of KRS-One, Eric B. & Rakim, and others who changed rapping’s style and content.

5. Album Analysis & Standout Tracks (50:12–54:13)

• Both hosts revisit the strong tracklist of Raising Hell:
  “Peter Piper,” “It’s Tricky,” “My Adidas,” and “Walk This Way” are specifically highlighted as timeless.
  • "If you got two or three hits off an album, that was a great album... to have five or six jams now—this don't happen." — Erik (30:56)
• The importance of sequencing and front-loading albums with hits in the era of cassettes and vinyl.

6. Run-D.M.C.'s Enduring Legacy (56:02–63:08)

• Commercial stats: Raising Hell reached triple platinum by April 1987 and peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200.
• The Adidas partnership: Tens of millions in value for the brand, and the creation of new paradigms in artist endorsements.
  • "They may not have made money, but they, they... made cultural immortality." — Josh (56:28)
• “You Be Illin’” and street slang—how Run-D.M.C. made slang from the streets into household words.

7. Musical Evolution & Societal Conversations (47:31–51:59)

• The hosts discuss the evolution from party rhymes to more serious, politicized rap (Public Enemy, KRS-One), comparing Run-D.M.C.’s energetic, crowd-pleasing style with later lyrical developments.
  • "Not everybody has to be R.E.M.... some people just like, hey, can we make some fun music and have people, you know, be escapism too?" — Erik (49:12)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Run-D.M.C’s Commercial Influence:
  • "This is the album that, you know, I don't think people would. They would know these songs. They would think those other songs are on this album, you know what I'm saying?" — Erik (14:28)
• On Cultural Bridges:
  • “They’re setting up what the business model is going to be for hip hop moving forward.” — Josh (14:59)
• On Rick Rubin’s Vision:
  • “He saw this music, and he was like, man, no, this is powerful. This is deep... It moves people. It's not a black thing. You know, it’s a cultural thing.” — Erik (17:47)
• On Crossovers:
  • “’Walk This Way’ is a really important song for hip hop because it made people recognize how the music has a lot of similarities...” — Erik (15:28)
  • “Nobody, it's a German-owned soccer, you know, clothing line. But it's those three stripes... and it’s because of this group here, dude.” — Josh (21:27)
• On Notoriety and Sell-Out Claims:
  • “Not everyone in hip hop appreciated what Run DMC was doing. I mean, they were considered, like, sellouts.” — Erik (35:17)
• On Legacy:
  • “I don't think you can tell the story of the music business without this album. I don't think the story can be told. There'd be a gaping hole.” — Erik (73:06)

Album Standouts & Personal Picks (67:34–69:03)

• Favorite Song:
  • Erik: “You Be Illin’” — "That was just the one that stuck with me—you said with your friends, 'Man, you be illin'..." (67:45)
  • Josh shouts out the immediate energy of “Peter Piper” and “It’s Tricky.”
• Is this a “no-skip” album?
  • Erik: “No, it’s a skip record. I mean, what are you supposed to do? Especially if you’re listening to it now. It’s front-loaded.” (69:12)

Lighthearted Banter & Riffs

• Ongoing friendly feud: “The Beatles were the first boy band” debate (63:24–67:24).
• Reflections on fashion trends (“I was never that guy,” says Erik on Adidas and Starter jackets).
• Interludes about personal life, careers, and comedy, keeping the tone loose and candid.

Final Takeaways

Why Raising Hell Still Matters

• For Erik, the album’s significance is ultimate: "You got to listen to the album that opened the door for hip hop to be commercial." (72:41)
• For Josh, it's essential for anyone curious about how a genre breaks out of its niche: "This is obviously a big Mount Rushmore moment for hip hop." (72:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:29] — Memories of discovering the album / Why it was pivotal
• [14:07] — Black/White crossover and mainstreaming of rap
• [17:47] — Rick Rubin and Def Jam’s importance
• [22:37] — Cultural shifts: MTV, Grammys, mainstream acceptance
• [30:28] — Analyzing the tracklist, number of hits, and musical impact
• [35:17] — “Sellout” claims and tensions within the hip hop community
• [50:12] — Favorite tracks & album sequencing
• [56:02] — Album sales, commercial impact, and Adidas deal
• [63:10] — The Beatles as a “boy band” debate

Closing & Plugs

• Erik plugs his podcasts Riffin’ with Griffin and The Golden Hour, his film “Behemoth,” and current stand-up tour dates.
• The hosts celebrate podcasting consistency and reflect on the journey reviewing the top 500 albums.

For New Listeners:

If you want to understand how the sound, confidence, and style of modern hip hop took off—and how Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell wasn’t just music, but a movement that broke racial, genre, and business boundaries—this episode is an essential listen. The chemistry between Josh Adam Meyers and Erik Griffin keeps it both informative and fun, blending sharp music insight with real warmth and a bit of comic rivalry.