Distortion
The cover features Rev Run wearing a black suit, cape and hat, holding a cane on top of a small rock island. Behind him is a city skyline and a spotlight showing Rev Run's initials. The artist's name and album title appear below him.
Studio album by
Rev Run
ReleasedOctober 18, 2005 (2005-10-18)
Recorded2003-2005
Genre
Length25:27
Label
Producer
Rev Run chronology
Distortion
(2005)		 Rewind
(2014)

Distortion is the only solo studio album by American musician Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons from hip hop group Run–D.M.C. It was originally scheduled to be released in 2003, but was delayed until its release date of October 18, 2005. Production was handled entirely by Whiteboy and Rev Run, who also served as executive producer together with his brother Russell Simmons. The album debuted at number 78 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. Its lead single "Mind on the Road" peaked at number 98 on the Pop 100.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic61/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
HipHopDX2.5/5[3]
Pitchfork5.4/10[4]
RapReviews7/10[5]

Distortion was met with generally favorable reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 61, based on eight reviews.[1]

Mojo reviewer wrote that Rev Run's "bellowed cadences are as timeless and elemental as the blues".[1] AllMusic's David Jeffries wrote: "The skimpy run time is noticeable and downright perplexing coming from an album that ambitiously delivers otherwise".[2] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews.com wrote: "I cautiously recommend Distortion to Run-D.M.C. fans as being a lot better than their unceremonious disaster of a final album Crown Royal while openly admitting anybody younger than 18 may not relate to it and pass right on by to something else".[5] Q reviewer stated: "yet for all the nostalgia, the lurching strut of tracks such as "Boom Ditty" and "Breaktime" remains undeniably potent and contemporary".[1]

In mixed reviews, Blender critic wrote: "despite the occasional misstep... it's a welcome album to anyone who wishes the past 15 years never happened to Run-D.M.C.'s legacy".[1] Sean Fennessey of Pitchfork summarized with: "this album is almost a non-entity".[4] Rolling Stone reviewer wrote: "a CD of biblical rap would have been vastly more interesting than just tepid updates of the Run-DMC sound".[1]

In a negative review, Entertainment Weekly writer described the album as "an awkward attempt that neither improves upon nor updates the trio's original blueprint".[1]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Used to Think I Was Run"
3:07
2."Home Sweet Home"
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
2:15
3."Boom Ditty"
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
2:11
4."Breaktime"
  • J. Simmons
  • Kuleszynski
  • James Brown
  • John Cameron
  • John Zachary
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
1:42
5."High and Mighty Joe"
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
2:04
6."The Way"
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
2:19
7."Don't Stop Y'all"
  • J. Simmons
  • Kuleszynski
  • Barry Bailey
  • Michael Fleming
  • Christine Yarian Perren
  • Darryl Calloway
  • McDaniels
  • Frederick J. Perren
  • George Belton, Jr.
  • Mizell
  • Larry Miller
  • L. Smith
  • Reginald Payne
  • Richard Wyatt
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
2:36
8."Mind on the Road"
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
2:39
9."Take a Tour"
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
2:09
10."Distortion"
  • J. Simmons
  • Kuleszynski
  • Norman Stone
  • Patrick Daugherty
  • Rickie Reynolds
  • Ronnie Smith
  • Stanley Knight
  • William Jett
  • Whiteboy
  • Rev Run
4:25
Total length:25:27

Personnel

  • Joseph "Run" Simmons – main artist, producer, executive producer
  • Timothy Lavigne – bass (track 5), guitar (track 10)
  • Joseph "Whiteboy" Kuleszynski – percussion (track 9), producer, recording, mixing (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7)
  • Biff – percussion (track 9)
  • Jason Goldstein – mixing (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8-10)
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Russell Simmons – executive producer, A&R
  • Louis Marino – art direction, design
  • Nichell Delvaille – art coordinator, photography
  • Joseph Cultice – photography
  • Doug Joswick – packaging
  • Adrienne Muhammad – A&R
  • Tony Austin – A&R

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] 78

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Distortion by Rev Run". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Distortion - Rev Run". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ Tardio, Andres (November 10, 2005). "Rev Run - Distortion". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Fennessey, Sean (October 24, 2005). "Rev Run: Distortion Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Juon, Steve 'Flash' (October 18, 2005). "Rev Run :: Distortion – RapReviews". RapReviews. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Rev Run Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
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