Run Dmc- Jason Nevins - It-s Like That -raxon E... -
Fourteen years later, American DJ and producer Jason Nevins completely reimagined the track. Released on October 5, 1997, Nevins layered the iconic vocal over an incredibly energetic 120+ BPM four-on-the-floor house beat, injecting elements of Eurodance, big beat, and electronic loops.
Regardless, the name has become a digital ghost, spawning Reddit threads and Discogs sleuthing. For every person who buys the official Jason Nevins remaster, another hunts for the "Raxon E... version" to drop in a warehouse at 3 AM.
Raxon uses a tight, compressed kick drum with a long decay – typical of melodic techno. The clap is dry and sits slightly back in the mix. Hi‑hats are shuffled, not straight, giving a subtle swing that contrasts with the original’s robotic precision. Percussion loops (shakers, woodblocks, a faint clave) appear and disappear, creating a sense of evolution. RUN DMC- Jason Nevins - It-s Like That -Raxon E...
The result is a remix that honors both RUN DMC’s original intent and Jason Nevins’ dancefloor legacy, while standing firmly as a piece of contemporary electronic music. It has been supported by tastemakers like Dixon, Âme, and Solomun, and has found a home in sunset sets at Burning Man and early‑morning floors at clubs like fabric and DC‑10.
Raxon’s take on the classic is a masterclass in tension, restraint, and heavy low-end processing. The edit features distinctive design choices that set it apart on the dancefloor: Fourteen years later, American DJ and producer Jason
Raxon's version keeps the instantly recognizable vocal framework of the original but strips away the late-90s commercial polish. In its place, he introduces: A rolling, driving tech-house and melodic techno low-end. Hypnotic, modern synth stabs that build tension.
: Electronic music icon Sven Väth heavily championed the unreleased edit, famously dropping it during peak hours at major festivals like Time Warp Germany . For every person who buys the official Jason
" It's Like That" was not only a commercial success but also marked a resurgence in Run-DMC's popularity and a moment of crossover into mainstream dance music. The song's impact on 90s music culture and its visibility in clubs and on charts worldwide solidified its place in music history.
The enduring staying power of "It's Like That" comes down to its message. Decades after its initial release, the lyrics addressing poverty, unemployment, and daily hardships still resonate with modern listeners.
The 1998 remix of Run–D.M.C.’s 1983 single “It’s Like That” by producer Jason Nevins serves as a pivotal case study in the convergence of golden age hip-hop and 1990s big beat/electronic house music. This paper analyzes the remix’s production techniques, its commercial revival of Run–D.M.C., and its role in bridging rap audiences with the burgeoning electronic dance music (EDM) mainstream. Contrary to the sparse, minimalist original, Nevins’ version employs loop-based construction, filtered drops, and a four-on-the-floor kick drum, transforming the track into a club anthem. The paper argues that this remix presaged the 2000s wave of dance-rap crossover hits and revitalized the legacy of a foundational hip-hop group.
The track’s raw, almost confrontational tone was revolutionary. It wasn’t about dancing or boasting — it was about economic struggle, urban decay, and resilience. Alongside “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash, “It’s Like That” helped birth socially aware rap.