Money is tight. Times are hard.
When Run-D.M.C. dropped "It's Like That" in 1983, they weren't trying to be poets; they were just reporting the news from the street. If you look closely at the it’s like that lyrics, you’ll realize they aren't just catchy rhymes from the early days of Adidas tracksuits. They are a bleak, honest, and oddly hopeful snapshot of a New York City that was basically falling apart.
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Honestly, most people today know the song because of the Jason Nevins remix from the late 90s. You know the one—the high-energy house beat that dominated MTV. But the actual words? They’re heavy. They deal with unemployment, the breakdown of the education system, and the sheer randomness of being born into a world that doesn't always want you to succeed.
The Raw Reality Inside the It’s Like That Lyrics
Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels changed everything with this track. Before this, hip-hop was largely about partying—the "hotel, motel, Holiday Inn" vibe. Then came this stripped-down, aggressive drum machine beat produced by Larry Smith and Russell Simmons.
The opening line hits you like a brick: "Unemployment at a record high / People coming, people going, people born to die." It’s grim. It’s real.
The it’s like that lyrics reflect a specific era of Reagan-era economics where the gap between the rich and the poor was widening into a canyon. When they say "don't celebrate or condone," they are telling the listener to stop looking for easy exits and start looking at the truth.
One of the most interesting things about the song is how it balances nihilism with personal responsibility. You’ve got verses that talk about people being "scared to help their fellow man," which sounds like a total bummer, but then the song pivots. It tells you to stay in school. It tells you to get a job. It tells you that even though the world is a mess, you still have to show up.
Why the 1997 Remix Changed the Narrative
Let’s talk about the remix for a second because it’s why the song is a global anthem today. In 1997, Jason Nevins took those gritty lyrics and put them over a massive electronic beat.
It was a weird move. On paper, a song about systemic poverty shouldn't work as a club banger. But it did. The "It's Like That" remix became a massive hit in Europe before it even touched the US charts.
The video featured a breakdance battle between a male crew and a female crew. It moved the focus away from the social commentary of the lyrics and toward the "vibe" of hip-hop culture. But if you actually listen to the words while you’re dancing, there’s this weird tension. You’re jumping around to lines about how "you might be someone who's living in a world of sin."
The Structure of the Message
The song doesn't follow a standard pop structure. It’s a relentless back-and-forth. Run and DMC finish each other's sentences, a style that became their trademark.
- The Verse on Education: They talk about going to school to learn the "Golden Rule." It sounds simple, but in the context of the 80s, it was a plea for order in a chaotic environment.
- The Verse on Hard Work: "You've got to work hard to make a bill." This wasn't about "hustle culture" in the way we talk about it on Instagram today. This was about survival.
- The "And That's the Way It Is" refrain: This echoes Walter Cronkite, the legendary news anchor. It positions the rappers as the new journalists of the urban experience.
The Semantic Evolution of "It's Like That"
Phrases enter the lexicon for a reason. "It’s like that" became a shrug of the shoulders for an entire generation. It means "it is what it is." It’s an acknowledgment of a reality you can’t change, mixed with the grit to endure it anyway.
When you dig into the it’s like that lyrics, you see the blueprint for what Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five started with "The Message." But while "The Message" felt like a warning, "It's Like That" felt like a manifesto.
It’s about the "ups and downs" and the "pills and thrills." It’s basically saying that life is a series of uncontrollable events, and the only thing you can control is your reaction to them.
Breaking Down the Impact on New School Hip-Hop
Run-D.M.C. are often called the leaders of the "New School." They ditched the sequins and the fur coats for street clothes. The it’s like that lyrics matched that aesthetic. They were loud, they were spare, and they were unapologetic.
They didn't use big, flowery metaphors. They used short, punchy sentences.
"Money is the key to end all your woes."
"Your bills are piled up sky high."
"You're living day to day and you're wondering why."
This directness influenced everyone from Public Enemy to N.W.A. It showed that you could be a superstar by talking about the things your neighbors were complaining about at the bus stop.
A Disconnect in Interpretation?
Some critics argue that the song is too conservative. It tells people to just "work hard" and "stay in school" without fully tearing down the systems that cause the poverty in the first place.
But honestly? That’s looking at it through a modern lens. In 1983, giving people a sense of agency was a radical act. Telling a kid in Hollis, Queens, that they could be "the king of a hill" just by using their brain and their voice was a huge deal.
The song doesn't promise that things will get better. It just says, "It's like that, and that's the way it is." There’s a certain power in that honesty. It’s not a fairy tale.
How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
If you want to understand the DNA of modern music, you have to go back to this recording. Forget the polished production of 2026. Put on a pair of decent headphones and listen to the original 1983 version.
Listen to the echo on the voices. Listen to how the Oberheim DMX drum machine sounds like a heartbeat.
The it’s like that lyrics aren't just words; they are a rhythmic foundation. The way the syllables hit the beat is percussion in itself.
- Listen for the "K" sounds: Notice how "work," "like," and "back" are emphasized to create a snapping sound.
- Watch the interplay: Pay attention to how DMC’s deeper voice provides the "floor" while Run’s higher energy provides the "ceiling."
- Read the lyrics without the music: It reads like a poem. A grim, urban poem.
Final Insights on a Cultural Landmark
The song survived the 80s. It survived the 90s. It’s still being sampled and played today because the core message hasn't aged a day. We are still dealing with the same "ups and downs."
The genius of the it’s like that lyrics lies in their simplicity. They don't try to solve the world's problems in four minutes. They just point at the problems and say, "Yeah, I see it too."
Sometimes, that’s all we need from a song.
To get the most out of this track, compare the original version with the "Sucker M.C.'s" B-side. You'll see how Run-D.M.C. was pivoting from social commentary to pure "braggadocio" rap, creating the two pillars of hip-hop that still exist today. Also, look up the 1984 performance on American Bandstand to see how shocking this sound was to a mainstream audience at the time.
Next Steps for Music History Fans:
- Analyze the drum patterns: Compare the DMX drum machine used here with the Roland TR-808 used on later tracks to see how the "sound" of the street evolved.
- Research Larry Smith: Often overlooked, he was the producer who actually gave the it’s like that lyrics their sparse, heavy atmosphere.
- Track the legacy: Listen to Nas’s "N.Y. State of Mind" immediately after this to see how the "reportage" style of lyricism grew more complex over the next decade.