Checks Thugs and Rock n Roll is the debut solo studio album by American musician Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels from hip hop group Run-DMC. It was released on March 14, 2006, through Romen Mpire/Rags 2 Riches Records. He was inspired to put out this album when, at age 35, he found out he was adopted.

Critical reception

AllMusic's David Jeffries felt the record "sounds like the most contrived rock and rap blends that major-label execs declared the future of music back in the mid-'90s, with touches of P.M. Dawn at their most woeful and indulgent", praising tracks like "Lovey Dovey" and "Machine Gun" for allowing DMC and his collaborators to "just hang out and have some fun" but criticized "Watchtower" and "Just Like Me" for its poor sample interpolations and "thin, maudlin lyrics all drowning in excess." He concluded that: "[T]he best thing you can say about this letdown is that DMC's commitment to changing the world and opening eyes is admirable and attractive, but sadly, his skills are blunted and he's not up to the challenge." Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews felt the album paled in comparison to Rev Run's Distortion, criticizing the runtime throughout the track listing, DMC's personality being "replaced by insecurity and self-doubt", and for giving a disappointing performance, concluding that: "Checks Thugs and Rock N Roll is often compelling, but for all the wrong reasons - it's the trainwreck you can't look away from no matter how hard you try. Most listeners will feel their $15 would have been better spent donating to spasmodic dysphonia research that would help others like D rather than listening to a painful album that just makes you yearn for what was and will never ever be again."

Track listing

Personnel Drums: Joey Kramer, Romeo Antonio, Ashwin Sood Drum Programming: Romeo Antonio Bass: Tom Hamilton, Romeo Antonio Guitars: Romeo Antonio, Elliot Easton, Billy Roues Keyboards: Romeo Antonio Multi-Instruments: Kid Rock, Romeo Antonio DJ: Kid Rock Vocals: Sonny Black, Gary Dourdan, Romeo Antonio, Doug E. Fresh, Kid Rock Programming: Shatek King Orchestration, Conducting: Romeo Antonio Violin: Anna Stafford Executive Producers: Romeo Antonio, DMC, Erik Blam Producers: Romeo Antonio, DMC, Kid Rock, DJ Lethal, Shatek King Engineer: Romeo Antonio, Jam Master Jay Mixing: Romeo Antonio, Jean-Marie Horvat, Paul McKenna, Ron Saint Germain, Ashwin Sood Mastering: Nancy Matter

Charts Chart (2006) Peakposition

References

External links