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But in the decades since, the digital underground has kept the track’s spirit alive. Search for "It's Like That" on niche DJ forums or streaming platforms today, and you’ll encounter a peculiar, shadowy suffix: "Raxon E..."
For the DJ digging for that secret weapon, the Raxon edit is the current holy grail. For the casual listener, the Jason Nevins remix remains a perfect time capsule of the late 90s. And for the historian, the 1983 original is a cornerstone of modern music. RUN DMC- Jason Nevins - It-s Like That -Raxon E...
This article dissects the DNA of the original, the genius of Jason Nevins, and the modern reinterpretations—specifically the elusive —that keep RUN DMC’s message resonating on techno floors. Part 1: The Genesis – RUN DMC’s "It's Like That" (1983) To understand the remix, we must first bow to the original. Released in 1983 on Profile Records, It's Like That was a minimalist revolution. Produced by Russell Simmons and Larry Smith, the track featured Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels trading stark, nihilistic bars over a sparse beatbox and a menacing, descending three-note bassline. But in the decades since, the digital underground
| Element | Function | | :--- | :--- | | | Nevins did not re-sing or over-process Run and D.M.C.'s voices. He let their aggressive delivery cut through the mix. | | The "Stutter" Effect | The chopped "like that" created a call-and-response between the past (the vocal) and the present (the edit). | | Mid-90s Filter Sweeps | The use of low-pass filters (borrowed from French touch) gave the track a "breathing" dynamic, perfect for peak-time clubs. | | Bassline Simplicity | A single, rubbery synth note dropped on every beat—monstrous on a proper sound system. | And for the historian, the 1983 original is
As Run and D.M.C. once barked: "You can't forget that, so don't forget that..."
But few could have predicted that 14 years later, a white house DJ would turn this sermon into the biggest dance record of 1998. Jason Nevins was a club promoter and remixer who had honed his craft at the legendary Tunnel and Limelight in New York City. He was part of the "filtered house" wave inspired by Daft Punk and Armand Van Helden. While experimenting in his studio, Nevins stumbled upon the acapella of It's Like That .