Thirty-four years ago, Run-D.M.C. broke genre boundaries when they collaborated with Aerosmith on a remixed version of the rock band’s 1975 hit, “Walk This Way.” Initially released on their 1986 album Raising Hell, Run-D.M.C. reunited with Aerosmith on the Grammys stage to perform their rock-hip hop hit on Sunday (Jan. 26).
Wearing their signature Adidas, Run-D.M.C. busted through a brick wall onstage to join Aerosmith, after the band finished performing “Livin’ On The Edge.” During the performance, the artists also held up Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey, in honor of the late athlete, who passed away earlier today (Jan. 26).
Prior to their Grammys performance, Aerosmith was honored as The Academy’s MusiCares Person of the Year, in recognition of both their musical achievements and their philanthropic efforts, including Steven Tyler’s Janie’s Fund, which offers support to female abuse victims.
Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer was absent from the performance, reportedly over a legal dispute. According to Rolling Stone, Kramer accused his bandmates of excluding him from the Grammys festivities by forcing him to audition for the performance.
“I am being deprived of the opportunity to be recognized along with my peers for our collective lifetime contributions to the music industry,” he said in a statement. “Neither the MusiCares’ Person of the Year Award nor the Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement honors can ever be repeated.”
Run-D.M.C.’s contributions to hip hop span across multiple accomplishments. The hip hop group was the first rap act to chart in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 more than once, one of the first hip hop groups with gold, platinum and multi-platinum-selling albums, one of the first hip hop crews to earn a Grammy and the second rap act to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Watch Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith perform “Walk This Way” below