“Beats To The Rhyme” is the fourth track off of Run-D.M.C.’s classic 1988 album Tougher Than Leather.

This song is the epitome of golden-age hip-hop: Rakim-style techniques mixed with samples, samples, and more samples. At first listen, you would think this is an Eric B. & Rakim or a Public Enemy song. But Jam-Master Jay really steps up his game here. Run and DMC don’t do much in terms of rhymes, leaving their DJ the spotlight. Trying to compete with heavyweight producers such as the Bomb Squad and Eric B., Jay uses more samples in this one song than he did on average on Raising Hell. The group makes it a point to sample themselves FOUR TIMES IN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES!!!

It’s a high-energy beat marathon that cuts your pants into shreds and sends a dead serious message to every DJ/producer in the rap game: JMJ is out for blood and you better be scared.

“Beats To The Rhyme” samples James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and “Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing,” Sam Kinison’s “Big Menu,” Dana Dane’s “Cinderfella Dana Dane,” Bob James' “Nautilus,” Herman Kelly & Life’s “Dance To The Drummer’s Beat,” Marva Whitney’s “It’s My Thing,” Public Enemy’s “Yo! Bum Rush The Show,” Kurtis Blow’s “AJ Scratch,” and Run-D.M.C.’s own “Rock Box,” “Hit It Run,” “Sucker M.C.’s,” and “Jam-Master Jay.”