Run DMC has quit playing catch-up with the new kids they inspired, getting ahead of most of them on Down with the King, their sixth album. This tops recent releases by Ice-T, Ice Cube, Public Enemy and Naughty by Nature, to name a few of the punks these geezers spank here. How'd they do it? They hired superhyped, hi-tech producers Pete Rock, the Bomb Squad and Q-Tip to create some killer backing tracks and devoted a little more thought than usual to the raps. In the process, they ditched the black hats and became gangsters for Christ. Oh well, can't wear Adidas and Kangols forever. (Pat Anders)