Crown Royal didn't show up on many rap fans radar. Although this album shouldn't be considered a classic, this is without a doubt, a hot album. Run-DMC stays true to its Rock/Rap roots with appearences by the hottest MCs and rock artists. Nas, Prodigy, Fred Durst, Kid Rock, Method Man, Fat Joe, and Sugar Ray all appear on a track with Run. Run truly proves that he is still the King with fresh original lyrics. Jam Master Jay shows off his production skills on "Crown Royal", "Queens Day", and "Simmons Incorporated." But this album does have flaws. Producer Jermaine Dupri barfs all over two of the tracks with his ranting and raving. DMC only has two verses and one hook on the entire album. Although DMCs absence is a real negative, the album still sounds fresh. The highlights of the album include the "It's Over", "Crown Royal", "The School of Old", "Ahhh", and "Simmons Incorporated." Everyone of those tracks should of been hit singles. Crown Royal is a great album with fantastic production. Don't believe all the negative hype, and give this one a chance.

EXCELLENT PRODUCTION AND QUALITY TRACKS, GREAT RHYMES, old-school style raps ant their best!...but...

This should have been a SOLO EFFORT by RUN. NOT a Run-DMC album. It passes as an album, buit definitely BOMBS as a RUND DMC album. Fans will NOT hear the rhyme-exhcanges between Run and DMC which made them famous, nor will they hear ANY turnatable magic by the late JMJ.

We know that DMC's voice has been damaged, so he basically co-wrote the songs and had whaterver guest (e.g. kid rock) vocalize them. In understand the DMC situation (kinda), but why the lack of JMJ? And with the lat master gone, that was the last chance they had to let him shine.

So, as an album in general..GREAT content! But again...why bother passing off a RUN cd as "run dmc"?
With JMJ and DMC INVISIBLE on the cd, it's much like having Paul McCartney singing solo and calling the cd "The Beatles".

It's funny to see DMC mentioned so often on the cd as being so great, but he's practically not even on the album! And when you finally DO hear him get a verse in, (the last song), it it very bad quality as if it were prerecorded in the 80's.

Other times, you'll just hear him backing up Run's vocals. His voice isn't as loud and glorious as it used to be, obviously, but I didni't find it so bad that he couldn't have rapped on the album or have his voice boosted up.

i'm giving this album 5 stars, cuz although it's only 4, i won't have the average review being 1 star...
mad hot album, with cool collabs, funky production and some witty bragging rhymes...
and yes, i do love run dmc greatest hits, tougher than leather, and the self titled debut...
cheers

this cd features everlast, jermaine dupri, jagged edge, method man, fred durst, kid rock and some more guests and still this cd came off weak a disapointment run better run back to the pulpit with this lame stuff.