By the time Joseph (Run) Simmons, Daryl (DMC) McDaniel and Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell) released their third album, 1986's Raising Hell, they'd already made hip-hop history by releasing the first real hip-hop album (their self-titled debut). This album eclipsed that--and then some. It's hard to imagine now the impact of Run DMC's team-up with Aerosmith for "Walk That Way"; more than revitalising the ageing rockers careers, it made the Hollis, Queens-based trio rap's first superstars and changed the way that rock, pop and rap were classified forever. The album is no one hit wonder, though--packed with classics like "It's Tricky", "Peter Piper", "You Be Illin'" and "My Adidas", it's an absolute classic. --Randy Silver