Format CD single
12" single Length 5:00 | Recorded 1992 | |
B-side Down with the King (Instrumental) Released March 2, 1993 (1993-03-02) Genre East Coast hip hop
new jack swing | ||
"Down with the King" is the first single from Run–D.M.C.'s sixth studio album Down with the King. It featured Pete Rock & CL Smooth with Pete Rock producing the song.
Contents
After three unsuccessful singles from the group's previous album, "Down with the King" became Run-D.M.C.'s second-biggest hit after "Walk This Way", peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming their only single to reach the top spot on Hot Rap Singles chart.
The music video, which was directed by Marcus Raboy, received heavy airplay and featured cameos from Eazy-E, Redman, Kris Kross, Jermaine Dupri, Onyx, Salt-n-Pepa, KRS-One, EPMD, A Tribe Called Quest, Kid Capri, Das EFX, P.M. Dawn and Naughty by Nature. The song contains samples of Galt MacDermot's "Where Do I Go" from the original Broadway cast recording of the rock musical Hair and Run–D.M.C.'s 1988 single "Run's House". Pete Rock and CL Smooth's verses contain reused lyrics from Run DMC's 1983 single "Sucker M.C.'s". "Down with the King" was certified Gold by the RIAA on May 11, 1993.
A-side
- "Down with the King" – 5:00
B-side
- "Down with the King" (instrumental) – 5:18
- "Down with the King" (radio version) – 4:15