Raising Hell

After touring in late 1985 the group went home to Queens and locked themselves into Chung King studios in Manhattan for three months. Rick Rubin replaced Larry Smith as producer, working with Russell Simmons. DMC said Rubin and Simmons got the production credit but the group really did everything: every rhyme had been written on the road, Rubin handled music and instruments, Jay music and DJing, and he and Run the lyrics. Rubin thought the nearly finished record needed something for rock fans, which gave Walk This Way, with Aerosmith. The singles were My Adidas on 29 May 1986, Walk This Way on 4 July, You Be Illin' on 21 October and It's Tricky on 8 February 1987.

It peaked at 3 on the Billboard 200 and 41 on the UK Albums Chart, and was the first hip-hop album to reach number one on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Platinum on 15 July 1986, it was certified 3x Platinum on 24 April 1987. In 1987 it was nominated for a Grammy, the first nomination for a hip-hop act, and won Best Rap Album at the Soul Train Music Awards. Village Voice critics voted it fifth album of 1986. Christgau gave it A minus and called it their most uncompromising and compelling album, all hard beats and declaiming voices. Pitchfork noted Rubin's added touches, including bells on Peter Piper and a piano line on You Be Illin'. Chuck D has said it is his pick for the greatest hip-hop album, and the reason he signed with Def Jam. Q gave it five stars. The Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry.