Black Leather – Joan Jett

Black Leather is Joan Jett trying to follow the rock-meets-rap trend of the mid-80s that had begun with the Aerosmith/RUN-DMC duet �Walk This Way." Unfortunately, Jett had yet to learn that the main reason �Walk This Way" was successful because it was not rapped by Aerosmith, but by a truly talented group of hip hop pioneers who took the verse reins while Steven Tyler simply screamed the trademark hook. With �Black Leather," Joan herself raps the entire song, and yes, it's even more awkward than you can imagine. Lyrically, the track delivers the kind of kitchsy goods you'd expect from a song thematically dedicated to its performer's wardrobe; Jett uncomfortably raps, �Black leather, I'm gonna wear it everywhere / cause my name is Joan Jett and I don't care!" All things considered, this is just a really bad idea, and �Black Leather" ends up as nothing more but a rare blemish in an otherwise great musical career...but my god, what a blemish. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide