Good story that gives a detailed description of where these two groups were coming from when they collaborated. A fan of either group should find enough to like here.

A great behind the scenes read.

Whether you're an Aerosmith fan, a Run-DMC fan, or just a music fan in general; this is the perfect book to add to your personal library.

Remember the days when rap and hip hop were fringe tastes rather than a genre on par with any other music? Perhaps a time before musicians streamed videos on YouTube, or even before many created videos for MTV? Washington Post reporter Geoff Edgers provides an interesting tale of that time with his new book, Walk This Way.

Edgers narrative is the story of rap and rock's most famous and important collaboration, but more than that his book serves as a sort of triple biography- of Run DMC, of Aerosmith, and of early rap itself. The chapters alternate back and forth between Run DMC and Aerosmith, covering their origins, following their paths to their 1986 smash hit, and pulling in many of the most important supporting characters as well, including Larry Smith, Jack Douglas, and of course, Rick Rubin.

While Run-DMC's Joseph "Run" Simmons & Darryl McDaniels and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry provide the skeleton of the story, much of the flesh and color is found in the tales of lesser known but no less important players like Run-DMC' DJ Jam Master Jay and the three members Aerosmith's rhythm section, known derisively as LI3 (Less Important Three).

Underlying the entire story are the issues of race and the symbiotic relationship of Run-DMC and Aerosmith. The up and coming Run-DMC were pioneers in the rap world, but still did not break through to widespread mainstream success until propelled by a collaboration with white rock stars, orchestrated by Rubin, the white producer. Aerosmith was washed up and pushed to irrelevance by the effects of their own substance abuse and internal squabbles, until the up and coming Run-DMC breathed new life into their careers and introduced them to the music video era. The subsequent success of each group likely could not have happened without their work together, a reality made more amusing by the fact that neither had even heard of the other very long before they decided to record together.

Overall, Edgers book is an enjoyable look at a place and time that is still in memory for many adults, but might as well have been 100 years ago given the changes in the music and entertainment landscape. Fans of Aerosmith, Run-DMC, early rap, or the 1980s will find much to enjoy in this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Back in high school we got to bring in a book of choice for free reading one week in English class. My choice was Walk This Way: the autobiography of Aerosmith. It may be strange for a child of the 90s to cite Aerosmith as her favorite band, but even now at 35 I can’t get enough! You can see why I jumped at the chance to read Edgers’s book on the collaboration with Run-DMC. Right from the start his writing was engaging and honest. It felt like I was reading Rolling Stone back when it was my favorite magazine. Edgers goes in depth about how the song came to be, and the impact it had on music culture and society at large. I think anyone with any interest in the song or groups that created it will have fun reading this book!

Who would have thought an entire book on one song could work? Edgers chooses wisely here, not only was "Walk This Way" a ground-breaking song but it was put together by a group or interesting people. The book digs deep into the drugs and fights between Aerosmith and the fact that Run DMC really didn't want to do the song.

Interesting look at a part of music history

Geoff Edgers has written a number of books about musicians. Walk this Way was an interesting look into the process of how the song of the same name became a collaboration between very different musicians; Run-DMC and Aerosmith. I remembered my kids watching MTV and the energy of the song and was curious about the back story. I really felt l got serious insight on the players involved and how the song came to be. I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

A deep dive into an enduring genre-linking touchstone.There's a trove of info and intrigue re: Run-DMC's rise and fall alternating with Aerosmith's fall and rise, and some insight into the music industry's heroes and villains. I'm not sure the collab on the title song was as earth-shattering/culture-shaking as Edgers posits, but it's a notion worth contemplating and discussing whilst diving into the best of both bands.