that a step toward rap would be a step away from the traditional Aerosmith brand. Fans had come to expect several things from Aerosmith-rock and roll and an attitude that celebrated the unexpected. Fans expectations were grounded in the bands personality as much as in its music. They expected Aero- smith to evolve and push the envelope of musical creativity without abandoning the basic sounds and familiar tones theyd come to love. Aerosmith and its management decided that the urban rap version of "Walk This Way" made sense. It had the potential of attracting new fans-in terms of age, ethnicity, and musical preference-while strik- ing a chord of familiarity with angel fans, who had been singing the song for over a decade. But Aerosmith would have to hold up its end of the creative and musical bargain to avoid coming off as the oldsters     *Most people have admitted, however, to reading the album liner notes to fig- ure out what Tyler is chanting throughout the song. Even reading along with the song doesnt necessarily explain exactly what the words mean. The authors feel that sometimes it is best not to know all of the sordid details; for you, this might be one of those times.     who originally sang the song but now rode on the coattails of a newer, hipper group. It would be brand reinvention at its finest. In May 1986 the Aerosmith/Run-DMC collaboration hit televi- sion and radio, and climbed to number four on the charts. The video depicts Aerosmith in one room with Run-DMC in another, divided only by a wall. Aerosmith is trying to sing and play its music, but the noise coming from the adjacent room is so loud that the band cant perform. So, Tyler and crew break down the wall and sing the chorus of "Walk This Way" through the shattered plaster and into the world of rap. The video continues with the unified band performing and prancing Tyler-style across the stage together.   Trends That Trickle Up Similar to the way Elvis helped R&B trickle upward from black culture to mainstream culture, Aerosmith acted as a conduit for the passage of rap music from the urban mar- ket to suburban America. Dr. Dre, who played a vital role in raps evolution, explains, "They [Aerosmith] were responsible for getting hip-hop played on MTV." Aerosmith wagered its comeback on the future acceptance of rap and hip-hop by mainstream markets and the impact rap would have on the music industry. It was a smart bet with a big payoff. Rap has captured a huge part of the market for contemporary music, with rappers and urban artists from Eminem to Nelly becoming favorites among wide portions of the population.