The only knowledge RUN DMC had of Aerosmith was "Toys In The Attic" had some nice drums. That's it.
Rick Rubin mentioned the collaboration, they outright refused. Said Aerosmith was some "hill billy bullshyt". Lyor Cohen, who was their manager at the time, also thought it was a terrible idea. Rick Rubin framed the song as trying to legitimize hip-hop as "real music" to the masses so they followed through and did it. Still didn't like it, and wouldn't even perform it at concerts. It wasn't until the song blew up that they grudgingly agreed to perform it.
This speaks volumes on how other, non-black genres were perceived by rappers back then. At worst they were seen as "hill billy bullshyt"....at best they were seen as something that could be incorporated into hip-hop, but never to the point it over shadowed it. Which obviously changed with "Walk This Way".
Fred.
All facts.
@mobbinfms DMC broke the whole story down on the 2nd or 3rd episode of that Netflix doc Hip Hop Evolution