RUN DMC’s ‘It’s Like That’ Is Reimagined by the LEGO Group and ‘Global Girls Crew’ to Empower a New Generation of Girl Builders

• The new music video and campaign titled “She Built That” encourages girls to redefine and reclaim what it means to be a builder and celebrates their creativity.
• Through “She Built That” the LEGO Group wants to challenge societal stereotypes that can stifle the potential of girls and inspire the next generation of female builders.
• Recent global research reveals that ‘a man on a construction site’ is the most common association kids have with the word ‘builder’. Even today, parents and children are five times** more likely to associate the term ‘building’ with ‘masculinity’ rather than ‘femininity’.
• US teen scratch sensation and spinner-to-the-stars DJ Livia, 15-year-old British drumming prodigy Nandi Bushell, Dutch-Surinamese vocalist Pink Oculus and Chinese alt-pop icon Cacien are part of a Global Girls Crew who have rebuilt the iconic anthem from RUN DMC.
• Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels appear as LEGO® Minifigures, lending their unmistakable voices to the new “She Built That” video.

Billund, Denmark, 4th June 2025: The LEGO Group today launched a new campaign, She Built That. Together with a Global Girls Crew they’ve re-imagined RUN DMC’s trailblazing hip hop track “It’s Like That” into a vibrant celebration of girls’ creativity. Fans can view the “She Built That” music video here.

In a world where “building” is still seen through a gendered lens, the re-envisioned anthem, first launched in 1983 by RUN DMC constructs a new narrative. Titled “She Built That,” the updated lyrics and music video aim to inspire society and girls globally to see themselves as inspiring builders, creators and innovators. The new rendition of the hit brings together standout stars from Gen Z and Gen Alpha, showing how girls are already shaping the world around them in incredible ways.

Regarded as a pioneering anthem of its time “It’s Like That” revolutionised hip-hop, blending street realities with a hopeful message. The LEGO Group’s reimagined version honours the past and paves the way for a future where all girls can confidently declare: “She Built That!”

Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels said: “Run DMC has always stood for breaking barriers and inspiring change. We’re excited to see our classic anthem reimagined as “She Built That”, celebrating the creativity and innovation of girls everywhere. Just as we pushed the limits of hip-hop, we want to inspire a world where every girl recognizes her building power.”

The campaign comes at a time when society’s view of builders is still heavily influenced by gender stereotypes. Despite progress, new global research commissioned by the LEGO Group reveals that when children hear the word “builder” - ‘a man on a construction site’ (39%) and a ‘boy playing with building blocks’ (36%) top the list*.

The survey, which quizzed 32,605 parents and children* across 21 countries**, found that 80% of those adults polled believe society still views boys as naturally better builders than girls. Unsurprisingly, as a result, girls and mums often undervalue their own building skills compared to boys and dads****. The LEGO Group wants to change this.

The research also uncovered a confidence gap in children, with girls rating themselves lower in building abilities than boys. 70% of girls said they find it hard to think of themselves as someone who is good at building things.

Encouragingly, 81% of parents believe it’s time to make the word “building” more gender-inclusive, and children agree - over 92% say everyone should feel capable of building, while 86% believe that early creative support could empower them to change the world.

Lena Dixen, SVP, Product Group, Core Businesses at the LEGO Group, said: “Being a builder goes beyond hard hats and hammers; it’s about harnessing the creative potential within every young person to construct dreams, forge connections, and shape the future. Every girl and woman is a builder - whether it’s assembling teams, tackling challenges, or pushing boundaries. With ‘She Built That,’ we aim to empower the next generation of female builders and help foster a society where all children can realize their full creative potential and receive the recognition they deserve, regardless of gender.”

Led by 17-year-old Chicago-born scratch sensation DJ Livia and star drummer and author Nandi Bushell, from Ipswich in Suffolk, the LEGO Group’s Global Girls Crew is a powerhouse of young creators.

Rewriting the rules of what it means to build, “She Built That” also features alt-pop trailblazer Cacien (Shenzhen, China), hip hop-inspired vocalist and producer Pink Oculus (Amsterdam, Netherlands), and viral dance duo Brooke Blewitt and Jess Qualter (Blackpool, UK).

Nic Taylor, SVP at the LEGO Group and Head of Our LEGO Agency adds: “As we set out to celebrate the incredible creativity of female builders, repurposing RUN DMC's iconic song was a natural choice. 'It's Like That' has always been about challenging norms and inspiring change, and with 'She Built That,' we've infused it with the essence of empowerment and innovation. This reimagined anthem is a movement to redefine what it means to be a builder. We want to inspire girls everywhere to see themselves as creators and pioneers, capable of shaping their world in extraordinary ways."

The Girls Who Built That
DJ Livia – real name Olivia Borjas - is proof that building something extraordinary starts with creativity and belief. Born and raised in Chicago, she has been spinning decks since she was five. Her big break came at just 10-years-old, when the Kardashians booked her to play a birthday party. Now 17, she’s worked with Snoop Dogg and Bad Bunny, rubbed shoulders with the likes of Christina Aguilera and built a following of over 1.2 million on TikTok.

But her journey hasn’t been easy. “There was a time my family was homeless in Chicago,” says DJ Livia. “What kept us going was refusing to give up. That’s what building is to me - and what ‘She Built That’ stands for. It’s about rising up and creating something out of nothing.” Her advice? “You are stronger than your circumstances and you have everything it takes to build your future.”

DJ Livia’s story shows how passion paves a path to success. Nandi Bushell’s is another. She discovered her talent for drumming at just five years old after watching a Beatles video with her family. As a reward for her hard work at school, her parents bought her a drum kit - little did they know it would change her life. Posting drum covers online from her home in Ipswich, England, she skyrocketed to fame, amassing over 75 million views on YouTube. She quickly caught the attention of global rock legends, sparking an extraordinary journey that has seen her perform alongside Lenny Kravitz, battle Dave Grohl in a viral drum-off, and feature in Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee.

Now a global inspiration, the South African-born British musician, singer and author said: "It’s crazy to think I found my passion and purpose before I even left primary school. I built my dream from nothing but a drum kit, a love for music and a belief that anything is possible. Girls can build anything they imagine. The ‘She Built That’ campaign is an invitation to girls everywhere to reclaim the word 'builder' and redefine what it means today.”

To help champion and celebrate girls' creativity, the LEGO Group has launched its latest iteration of Creativity Workshops. As part of this, it is offering a series of exciting workshops for young creators aged 6-12, available at select LEGO Stores and on LEGO.com. Designed to inspire creative freedom, these workshops explore themes like Friendship, Botanicals, and Summer Fun, and will run throughout the year. In addition to in-store workshops, there are also Creativity Workshops at Home, where you can watch online and join in from anywhere. The Friendship workshop is already live, so be sure to check it out! Watch the Creativity Workshops at Home and sign up for the in-store workshops now at www.LEGO.com/CreativityWorkshops.

To mark the launch of She Built That, the LEGO Group is also launching a new game. Players will be able to move their own LEGO minidoll avatar and create their own version of the music video, with lots of special features included such as customizable camera angles, cool backdrops and exciting side quests. The game launches on www.kids.lego.com/she-built-that from today, 4th June.

The LEGO Group will unveil the next phase of the She Built That campaign later this year, looking to further empower girls to build inspiring futures.

For more information, please contact [email protected]