“It's Like That” by Run DMC vs Jason Nevins

Run-D.M.C.'s "It's Like That" was already history when Jason Nevins got to it: the trio's debut single, released on Profile in 1983, and the record widely credited with kicking off hip hop's new school, all street image and abrasive minimalism. In 1997 the house DJ remixed it, and his version first appeared that year on 10-inch vinyl in the US before catching fire as a sleeper hit in 1998.

The words still carry their original weight, a look at life around the group's own neighborhood, unemployment, prices and death included, that turns hopeful by the end, urging listeners to drop their prejudices and believe in themselves. The remix went on to sell around five million copies worldwide, putting it among the best-selling singles ever.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.