Longevity isn't a realistic goal for most rappers, who are lucky if they aren't considered played out by their third or fourth album. By 1990,
Run-D.M.C.'s popularity had decreased dramatically, and the Queens residents had lost a lot of ground to both West Coast gangster rappers like
Ice Cube,
Ice-T and
Compton's Most Wanted. With its fifth album,
Back From Hell,
Run-D.M.C. set out to regain the support of the hardcore rap audience and pretty much abandoned rock-influenced material in favor of stripped-down, minimalist and consistently street-oriented sounds. Not outstanding but certainly enjoyable, such gritty reflections on urban life as "Livin' in the City," "The Ave." and "Faces" made it clear that
Run-D.M.C. was still well worth hearing. [
Back From Hell was remastered and reissued in 1999.] ~ Alex Henderson