NEW YORK (Island Def Jam
Music Group) - 'Mind On The Road', New Single, Will Be Featured on E/A's 'Madden 2006' Video Game (Coming in August.
- DISTORTION Coincides with Release of 4 Expanded Edition Run-DMC Reissues: Run-DMC (1984), King Of Rock (1985), Raising Hell (1986), and Tougher Than Leather (1988).
Rev Run (aka Joey Simmons, of pioneering rap group Run-DMC), whose brand new family-based reality sitcom Run's House will premiere on MTV this fall, has completed the first solo album of his 22-year career, DISTORTION, which will arrive in stores September 13th on Russell Simmons Music Group/Island Def Jam.
"Mind On the Road," the album's first single pick, will be highlighted in the upcoming E/A football video game "Madden 2006," the latest edition in this mega-successful series. Due for release on August 9th, the video game is expected to sell over 7 million units in North America, resulting in over 1 billion chyroned spins of the song. The video for "Mind On the Road," which was directed by Rev Run / Ghetto Nerd, will make its premiere in July.
"I am extremely honored to be working with Rev Run as he makes his return to the forefront of the hip-hop movement where he belongs," said Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. "As one of rap's founding fathers, Run had a profound influence on the hip-hop generation that came of age in the '80s, as well as the generation that followed them in the '90s. This is the beginning of a brilliant new chapter in Run's legendary career."
"Timing is everything," said Russell Simmons, head of The Russell Simmons Music Group (RSMG), a 50/50 joint label with Island Def Jam Music Group, co-founder of the original Def Jam Records label two decades ago, and original manager and producer of Run-DMC. "The uncompromising loud abrasive rock and roll hip-hop of Run-DMC knocked open the doors to commercial freedom for the rap generation. Their very best efforts were big in the streets and were ahead of their time when it came to the mainstream. The debut album from Rev Run, DISTORTION, is honest, creative, special, refreshing, and still incredibly commercial. The time is now for Rev Run."
Song titles for DISTORTION are as follows: "Mind On the Road," "Boom Ditty," "I Use To Think I Was Run," "Break'em Til It's Broken," "Got A Way," "Home Sweet Home," "Distortion," "Changetime," "Beats To The Rhyme," and "High and Mighty Joe." The album was produced by Whiteboy for Whiteboyz Noize, Inc., and Rev Run. All lyrics were written by J. Simmons, and all music was written by Whiteboy. Featured guests include Timothy Lavigne (guitar on "Distortion," and bass on "High and Mighty Joe"); and Whiteboy & Biff (percussion on "Changetime").
DISTORTION and Run's House mark the return to center-stage for Rev Run. His activities were dramatically curtailed after the tragic murder of close friend and Run-DMC founding member Jam Master Jay on October 30, 2002, just weeks after the group finished a major summer-fall tour with Aerosmith and Kid Rock.
At the time, Run-DMC was touring in support of Crown Royal, their 8th album and first new studio release in 8 years (since 1993's Down With the King). In tribute to Run-DMC's status as godfathers of the hip-hop/hard-rock revolution, Crown Royal attracted an A-list of guests, including Jermaine Dupri, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, Everlast, Fat Joe, Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind, Kid Rock, Method Man, Nas & Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Sugar Ray.
On September 6th, digitally remastered new expanded editions (with previously unreleased bonus tracks) of 4 classic albums by Run-DMC will be released by SONY/BMG's Profile/Arista/Legacy division. The 4 titles, all RIAA platinum best-sellers, will comprise: the debut album Run-DMC (from 1984, which introduced "It's Like That" b/w "Sucker M.C.'s"); a 20th anniversary special edition of King Of Rock (from 1985, with "King Of Rock" and "Jam Master Jammin'"); Raising Hell (from 1986, the first No 1 R&B charting rap album, first Top 10 pop charting rap album, and first platinum rap album, with the Aerosmith collaboration on "Walk This Way"); and Tougher Than Leather (from 1988, with "Run's House" and "Beats To the Rhyme").
MTV's Run's House documents Reverend Run's life as he balances the recording of his first solo album with raising five spirited children, ages 9-21. The Simmons family is comprised of: Run's wife Justine, a former rapper/singer and loving wife and mother; 21-year-old Vanessa, a Ford model, former Miss Teen New York and aspiring actress; 17-year-old Angela, a straight-A student and aspiring fashion designer; 15-year-old JoJo, a talented rapper who loves music and girls; 9-year-old Diggy, star of the basketball team and an aspiring rapper; and 8-year-old Russell, Jr., the mischievous little brother. The Simmons kids "have it all," from a glamorous life to typical teenage insecurities. Just down the street from Run's home in Saddle River, New Jersey, live his brother and sister-in-law Russell and Kimora Simmons, who spend time with the family and vacation with them in St. Barts.
