What's It All About (song)

"What's It All About"
Single by Run-D.M.C.
from the album Back from Hell
B-side"The Ave."
ReleasedSeptember 14, 1990
Recorded1990
GenreHip hop
Length4:48
LabelProfile
Songwriter(s)Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Jason Mizell
Producer(s)Jam Master Jay, DJ Run, DMC
Run-D.M.C. singles chronology
"Pause"
(1989)
"What's It All About"
(1990)
"Faces"
(1991)

"What's It All About" is the second single from Run-D.M.C.'s fifth studio album, Back from Hell. It was released on September 14, 1990, through Profile Records and was produced by the three members of the group. The song would prove to be the most successful single from the critically panned album, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and number four on the Hot Rap Singles chart.

"What It's All About" uses a sample from the Stone Roses' "Fool's Gold" as a basis for the track.

Track listing

A-side

  1. "What's It All About" – 4:48
  2. "Sucker D.J.'s" – 0:50
  3. "The Ave." – 4:00
  4. "The Ave." (radio version) – 3:55

B-side

  1. "What's It All About" (instrumental) – 5:46
  2. "The Ave." (instrumental) – 4:44