RUN DMC – It’s Tricky

“It’s Tricky” is the fourth single released from Run-DMC‘s third album, Raising Hell. It was released early in 1987 through Profile Records and was co-produced by Rick Rubin and the group themselves. The song peaked at No. 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. In the UK, the song reached No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

“It’s Tricky”
Single by Run-DMC
from the album Raising Hell
B-side	“Proud to Be Black”
Released	1987
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:03
Label	Profile
Songwriter(s)	Joseph Simmons Darryl McDaniels Doug Fieger Berton Averre
Producer(s)	Rick Rubin Run-DMC
Run-DMC singles chronology
“You Be Illin’” (1986) “It’s Tricky” (1987) “Christmas in Hollis” (1987)
“It’s Like That” (1997) “(It’s) Tricky” (1998) “Rock Show” (2001)
Music video
“It’s Tricky” on YouTube

In 1998, American producer Jason Nevins remixed the song under the amended title “(It’s) Tricky“. This version peaked at No. 74 in the UK while Nevins’ remix of Run-DMC’s song “It’s Like That” spent its fifth week at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.^[1] Nevins’ remix also achieved top-40 placings in continental Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.^[2]

Two decades after the song’s release, the Knack sued Run-DMC on the grounds that “It’s Tricky” sampled their song “My Sharona” without permission.