How did Run-DMC and Aerosmith create the rap-metal hit “Walk This Way”?

In 1986, Run-D.M.C. collaborated with Aerosmith to record a new version of the rock band's 1975 hit "Walk This Way." The project involved recruiting Aerosmith’s vocalist, Steven Tyler, and guitarist, Joe Perry, to perform on the track, which was produced by Rick Rubin.12

This collaboration is widely recognized as a foundational moment for rap metal, a subgenre that fuses hip-hop conventions—such as rapped lyrics and turntabling—with heavy metal instrumentation. The resulting record achieved significant commercial success, becoming the first rap song to reach the Top Five on the pop charts. Its popularity was further bolstered by a prominent music video that became a staple on MTV, helping to establish the commercial viability of rap music within the broader music industry.31