Crown Royal

by

Run-D.M.C.

Edit

It's almost impossible to imagine a Run-DMC without both of the artists. But it was accomplished with this album in which DMC unfortunately only makes a few token appearances. So I figured the best way to review this album is to evaluate the album song by song, broken down into three parts: Lyrics, Beat, and Guest Artist. (I put one asterik after the titles of the songs where DMC makes an appearance, and two asteriks beside the tracks where he has an entire verse)

1. It's Over (feat. Jermaine Dupri)- One of the best tracks. It's all Run except for interludes by Dupri between Run's verses. Great, fast paced beat as well.

Lyrics- 10 Beat-10 Guest Artist-9

2. Queens Day* (feat. Nas and Prodigy of Mobb Deep)- Great track. This definitely houses the best guest artists and the slow beat, accompanied by piano, is also outstanding.

Lyrics-8 Beat-10 Guest-10

3. Crown Royal*- The only track without a guest artist, it is also one of the weakest. The lyrics and beat are weak, as well as DMC's monologue during the middle.

Lyrics-7 Beat-7 Guest--

4. Them Girls (feat. Fred Durst)- Only Run's verses make this track worth your time. The beat is decent but Durst is horrible.

Run's Lyrics-10 Durst's Lyrics-0 Beat-6 Guest- 2

5. The School of Old (feat. Kid Rock)- Surprisingly, this is a very good track. Kid works well with Run, and the hard rock beat is reminiscent of Raising Hell, which is sampled here.

Lyrics-9 Beat-9 Guest-9

6. Take the Money and Run* (feat. Everlast)- Surprisingly strong as well. If you listen closely, you can here DMC help accent some of the words Run raps (Spooney was the rookie that was new on the SCENE/Used to be a thug now he's doing it CLEAN)

Lyrics-10 Beat-9 Guest-7

7. Rock Show* (feat. Stephan Jenkins)- I don't know what to think of this one. Run is great and DMC appears, but Jenkins is horrible. Plain horrible. Yet, it's still another good rap/rock track.

Lyrics-9 Beat-8 Guest-4

8. Here We Go 2001* (feat. Sugar Ray)- Yep, that Sugar Ray. And yep, they are pretty bad. All is bad with this track, another rap/rock, except for the fact that DMC appears on the hook. (DMC and DJ Run, dum-diddy-dum-diddy-dum-dum-dum)

Lyrics-7 Beat-7 Guest-5

9. Aahh (feat. Chris Davis)- Very good track. Good slow beat, and Davis stands strong against Run, who provides his best verse on the album by far.

Lyrics-10 Beat-8 Guest-9

10. Let's Stay Together (Together Forever)- (feat. Jermaine Durpri and Jagged Edge)- The first single off the album, is also the best. Run looks back at a glorious career that he shared with DMC and Jam Master Jay.(Who supplies master beats on all tracks) Great hook by Jagged Edge. Too bad DMC doesn't appear.

Lyrics-10 Beat-10 Guest-10

11. Ay Papi** (feat. Fat Joe)- DMC finally has an entire verse on this Latin/hip hop track. It's only 1 of 2 actual verses he has on the record, the other being on track 12. Run is very good, as well as Fat Joe.

Lyrics-7 Beat-7 Guest-7

12. Simmons Incorporated** (feat. Method Man)- The last track Run DMC will ever record, it's very strong, and Run, DMC, and Jam Master Jay further prove that they are the Kings.

Lyrics-10 Beat-10 Guest-10

It's hard to believe that Crown Royal will be the last album Run DMC will ever release, due to the murder of Jam Master Jay. So you'll have to hold on to their albums, their legacy, and you'll always have to be Down With The Kings.

Got an early release of this album. It really should be called DJ Run and his friends. I was very disappointed that DMC was really not on this album. I saw an interview recently that he was having some Voice problems and wouldn't participate in Crown Royal. If you saw the halftime show at the NFL AFC Title game you also would have noticed that DMC was not there. It would have made it a better album if he had joined in.

Not much Classic Jam Master Jay. Too many looped tracks and not enough fresh scratchin'. Interesting take of Steve Millers Take the Money and Run. Title Track Rocks. Fred Durst, Kid Rock and Sugar Ray seem a bit out of place.

The Jams are fresh and true to todays Hip-Hop. Guest artists give just enough flavor to blur the line that this is NOT Run DMC.

I recommend it if your a fan of Run - but Wheres DMC?