80s Run DMC Tougher Than Leather NYC t-shirt Extra Large

Chest 23 in.

Length 28 in.

Content: 100% Cotton

Tag Brand: Hanes

This amazing vintage t-shirt is a rare find that celebrates one of the most influential groups of hip hop's golden era, Run DMC. This shirt comes from a deadstock collection belonging to one of Run DMC's bodyguards, who accompanied them on tour and collected a number of one-of-a-kind keepsake t-shirts. This bright red tee is a souvenir from Run DMC's Tougher Than Leather Tour, which was launched in 1988 to promote their album of the same name. This particular shirt commemorates a show in the band's hometown of New York City, and during the tour, the group performed with other legendary hip hop acts including EPMD, Public Enemy, and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.

Run DMC was first founded in 1983 and they made history with their debut self-titled album by becoming the first hip hop group to ever achieve a Gold record. Run DMC was integral to the development of new school hip hop music, and alongside artists like the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J they helped to define the genre throughout the 80s.

Run DMC's fourth studio album and its promotional tour came around the height of the group's popularity. It was released in 1988, after the group had wrapped up their Together Forever Tour with the Beatsie Boys. This was the second time that the two iconic acts had performed together as the Beastie Boys also accompanied Run DMC on their Raising Hell Tour the previous year. Raising Hell was considered by many to be the group's breakout album and it included the wildly successful lead single "Walk This Way" which was a collaboration with the popular rock group Aerosmith. The song became one of the biggest hits of the 1980s, peaking at the No. 4 spot on the Hot 100 and helping to reignite Aerosmith's career.

Tougher Than Leather served as the group's follow up to Raising Hell, and although it reached Platinum status, some fans felt disappointed by the record. This is perhaps only a sign of how iconic Raising Hell was as an album, that their follow up was doomed to pale in comparison. Tougher Than Leather still breached the top ten of the Billboard 200, and contained three charting singles "Run's House", "Mary Mary", and "I'm Not Going Out Like That". The record has since gained more acclaim and is now considered to be a seminal classic that expertly exemplifies the merits of hip hop during the golden era.

Fits like a modern unisex adult Extra Large






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