Tougher Than Leather

Recorded in 1987 and 1988 at five New York studios, among them Chung King House of Metal, Unique Recording, Electric Lady and Greene Street, and produced by the group with Davy D. and Rick Rubin. Jam Master Jay used a heavier amount of sampling than before, and Run and DMC changed their rapping style, heavily influenced by Rakim. It reached 9 on the Billboard 200 and 2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, and was certified Platinum on 19 July 1988. Its singles were Run's House, Mary, Mary, a cover of the Monkees song, and I'm Not Going Out Like That. Papa Crazy is based on Papa Was a Rollin' Stone.

A film of the same name, directed by Rubin and released on 16 September 1988, was panned by critics. Chuck D wrote in liner notes for the 2000 reissue that the album was a spectacular performance against all odds and expectations. Christgau gave it B plus and wrote that it had not "a duff beat or a forced rhyme." Pitchfork's Breihan called it "a failure, but it's a noble one," and picked out Beats To The Rhyme.