Down with the King (song)
"Down with the King" | ||||
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Single by Run-DMC featuring Pete Rock & CL Smooth | ||||
from the album Down with the King | ||||
B-side | "Down with the King (Instrumental)" | |||
Released | March 2, 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:00 | |||
Label | Profile | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Pete Rock | |||
Run–D.M.C. singles chronology | ||||
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"Down with the King" is the first single from Run-DMC's sixth studio album Down with the King. It featured Pete Rock & CL Smooth with Pete Rock producing the song.
After three unsuccessful singles from the group's previous album, "Down with the King" became Run-D.M.C.'s second-biggest hit after "Walk This Way", peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming their only single to reach the top spot on Hot Rap Singles chart.
The music video, which was directed by Marcus Raboy, received heavy airplay and featured cameos from Eazy-E, Redman, Kris Kross, Jermaine Dupri, Onyx, Salt-n-Pepa, KRS-One, EPMD, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, MC Lyte, Kid Capri, Das EFX, P.M. Dawn and Naughty by Nature. The song contains samples of James Rado's "Where Do I Go" from the original Broadway cast recording of the rock musical Hair and Run–D.M.C.'s 1988 single "Run's House". Pete Rock and CL Smooth's verses contain reused lyrics from Run DMC's 1983 single "Sucker M.C.'s". "Down with the King" was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 11, 1993.
Track listing[]
A-side[]
- "Down with the King" – 5:00
B-side[]
- "Down with the King" (instrumental) – 5:18
- "Down with the King" (radio version) – 4:15
Charts[]
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
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Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 9 |
Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 1 |
Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 12 |
Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 33 |
References[]
- 1992 songs
- 1993 singles
- Run-DMC songs
- Music videos directed by Marcus Raboy
- Song recordings produced by Pete Rock
- Songs written by Pete Rock
- Songs written by Joseph Simmons
- Songs written by Darryl McDaniels
- Posse cuts
- Songs written by CL Smooth
- 1990s song stubs
- Hip hop song stubs