Fast forward to today, and Barcelona-based producer Raxon has reinvented the track yet again. Stripping away the bright '90s house synths, Raxon re-contextualizes the timeless vocals with sharp, minimalistic techno elements, rolling dark basslines, and crisp, space-themed production. Under the Radar: The Sven Väth Blueprint

The original Nevins remix is known for its fast tempo (around 128-130 BPM), recognizable vocal hooks, and a relentless kick drum pattern.

The release of “It’s Like That” is widely regarded as a turning point, ushering in a new school of hip-hop. Its streetwise image and hard-hitting sound set the template for countless artists to follow. The song’s influence is so profound that in 2008, VH1 ranked it number 40 on its list of the “100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs”.

: "It's Like That" was the debut single for Run-D.M.C., characterized by its stark, heavy beat and street-level lyrics.

| If you meant… | Explanation | |---------------|-------------| | (media monitoring service) | They charted the song’s massive airplay in Europe. | | Raxor / Razor (misspelling of Razormaid) | Razormaid! remixers released an edit of “It’s Like That” around 1998. | | Raxon (producer/DJ) | No known collaboration. Could be a mislabeled MP3 from early P2P days. |

His version was originally a side project, a "remix for a laugh," but it was so powerful that it was soon picked up for an official release. Upon its release, the remix, credited to ‘Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins’, was an immediate sensation. It became a "sleeper hit," building momentum through 1998 and eventually becoming a global chart-topper.

The story behind this particular piece of audio architecture spans over four decades of musical mutation. To understand why the Raxon Edit generates such immediate frenzy on modern festival stages, one must map out its timeline:

: It retains the iconic "It's like that / And that's the way it is" vocal hook but places it over a gritty, rolling bassline that fits perfectly in a 2026 techno set.

, frequently appearing in DJ sets and leaked or previewed on platforms like SoundCloud

: It transforms the energetic, breakbeat-heavy Nevins remix into a hypnotic techno track with a steady, driving rhythm.

Before this release, hip-hop was dominated by live funk-inspired bands and upbeat, party-centric disco rhymes. Run-D.M.C., alongside their legendary DJ Jam Master Jay, stripped everything away. They introduced an abrasive, minimalist sound consisting of nothing more than a raw Oberheim DMX drum machine beat and aggressive, overlapping vocal delivery.

is a small German independent label, primarily known for house and electronic bootlegs. At the time, they had a reputation for identifying hot, uncleared remixes and giving them a commercial release in Europe, where copyright laws and enforcement differed from the US.

The involvement of is a classic case of "bootleg to blockbuster." Many official histories gloss over the German label's role, but without Raxön taking the risk on an unauthorized pressing, the Nevins remix might have remained a white-label club curiosity. Raxön proved that there was a massive commercial audience for this fusion of old-school hip-hop vocals and new-school electronic production.

Best for a blog, group, or curator focusing on the track's evolution. The Evolution of a Classic: "It's Like That" 🎶

: Lyrical themes focused on unemployment, inflation, and urban struggle.

The Underground Transformation: The Raxon Edit (2023–Present)

Raxon, known for his refined melodic techno and house productions, has created a "Raxon Edit" or "Raxon Remix" of this classic. While often unreleased—frequently appearing in Soundcloud IDs or live set recordings—Raxon’s edit has become a coveted "ID" track in the electronic scene. What Makes the Raxon Edit Different?

The sonic identity of this specific edit relies on three distinct pillars of musical production: Artist Element Original Genre Signature Sound Input to the Edit Golden Era Hip-Hop