I've always loved Run-D.M.C.'s 'Christmas In Hollis' - it expresses a genuine love of the season and couldn't have been made by anyone other than Run-D,M.C.
Released in 1987, the funky ode became rap's first holiday standard. Its beats and rhythm lock together tightly throughout to deliver a festive vibe with real personality.
The track samples familiar festive tracks like 'Joy To The World', 'Jingle Bells' and surprisingly fuses them with their signature rhythmic verse, adding a retro, swag cover to their carefully cultivated image as leather-cloaked rebels.
‘Christmas In Hollis’, of course, is not your stereotypical Christmas song. It’s funky, soulful, and ditches the childish fanatics, opting instead for some reality. The title refers to Hollis, Queens, the New York City neighbourhood in which the members of Run-D.M.C. grew up, and the track’s story is a simple one, it’s about real people, and what actually happens at Christmas: “Christmas time in Hollis Queens / Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens!”
留言