To understand the remix, we must first bow to the original. Released in 1983 on Profile Records, It's Like That was a minimalist revolution. Produced by Russell Simmons and Larry Smith, the track featured Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels trading stark, nihilistic bars over a sparse beatbox and a menacing, descending three-note bassline.
Key themes of the original:
It was not a party track. It was a mission statement. When RUN DMC performed it, they wore black leather and unlaced Adidas—ghetto armor. The track peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart but laid the foundation for the group's legendary 1984 album, Run-D.M.C..
But few could have predicted that 14 years later, a white house DJ would turn this sermon into the biggest dance record of 1998.
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. RUN DMC- Jason Nevins - It-s Like That -Raxon E...
The keyword "RUN DMC- Jason Nevins - It's Like That -Raxon E..." is more than a messy search string. It is a map of musical evolution. It traces a path from a South Side Queens rap group to a Long Island house DJ to a Dominican techno producer. Each artist added a new layer of polish, speed, and intensity, yet the core remained unchanged.
For the DJ digging for that secret weapon, the Raxon edit is the current holy grail. For the casual listener, the Jason Nevins remix remains a perfect time capsule of the late 90s. And for the historian, the 1983 original is a cornerstone of modern music.
As Run and D.M.C. once barked: "You can't forget that, so don't forget that..."
Thanks to Jason Nevins and even the mysterious Raxon, we never will. To understand the remix, we must first bow to the original
Production Style: In 1997, American producer and DJ Jason Nevins was commissioned to remix the track. He stripped away the original's electro-hip-hop percussion and replaced it with a high-energy, "Big Beat" inspired house rhythm. Key production elements included:
Commercial Impact: The remix was a commercial juggernaut. While the original was a hip-hop staple, the remix crossed over into pop and dance charts globally.
The keyword fragment "Raxon E..." likely stems from:
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. It was not a party track
Jason Nevins was a club promoter and remixer who had honed his craft at the legendary Tunnel and Limelight in New York City. He was part of the "filtered house" wave inspired by Daft Punk and Armand Van Helden. While experimenting in his studio, Nevins stumbled upon the acapella of It's Like That.
The remix process:
The response was instantaneous. Test pressings of the bootleg (originally white label) became anthems at the 1997 Winter Music Conference. When the major labels caught on, Profile Records—initially hesitant—allowed an official release, crediting RUN DMC vs. Jason Nevins.