The old school hip hop music band, originally from Hollis, a Queens borough of New York City, takes its unusual name from a combination of its founders, Joseph “DJ Run” Simmons, Darryl “D.M.C. McDaniels and Jason “Jam-Master Jay” Mizell.
Run-D.M.C. joins an stellar group of artists with its hall of fame induction on April 4, 2009 into the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, joining with hundreds of performers inducted in the past two decades. They are only the second hip-hop group, after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, to be inducted.
The spark that ignited the hip hop and rap music revolution was Run-D.M.C.’s 1983 debut single, “It’s Like That,” an instant party song that established the pounding beat and highly lyrical quality that would characterize the sub-genre. Like the overnight success of the song, Run-D.M.C. would be credited with bringing the underground nature of hip hop to the upper ranks of popular culture.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inducts Hip Hop and Rap Music Greats
Almost as important as the hip hop and rap music itself is the fashion influenced by Run-D.M.C. They can be credited with youth culture’s instant fascination with untied shoes, hats and gold chains among fans stretching from downtowns to the suburbs.
King of Rock, the band’s 1985 album, would be its first album certified platinum. Shortly after its release, Run-D.M.C. would be the only group of rap singers to perform at the legendary Live Aid concert, the first internationally broadcast effort by musicians for famine relief in Africa.
Rap Singers Hall of Fame Induction Honors Album Success
However, it would be the band's 1986 release, Raising Hell, that became its most successful album and one of the top selling rap albums of all time. its lead single, “Walk This Way” was a remake of the hard rock classic by Aerosmith. The group would later be joined by Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler and Joe Perry in the studio to overlay lead guitar and vocals. This simple act, symbolic of the cross-over of hip hop and rock music, would be epitomized in the music video which enjoyed heavy play on MTV.
The group would later tour with Aerosmith, release several more albums, experience a flood of personal troubles and tour extensively until a tragic end in 2002 when Jam-Master Jay was shot and killed at his recording studio in Queens.
Cleveland Museum Showcases Hip Hop and Rap Music Greats Run-D.M.C.
The following are the main releases of Run-D.M.C. According to Rolling Stone Magazine:
- 2007, Live At Montreux 2001
- 2005, Run-D.M.C.
- 2005, King Of Rock
- 2003, Ultimate Run-DMC
- 2003, The Best of Run DMC
- 2002, Greatest Hits
- 1999, Crown Royal
- 1993, Down With The King
- 1991, Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983-1991
- 1990, Back From Hell
- 1988, Tougher Than Leather
- 1986, Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C. is a group of rap singers who influenced the course of pop culture and music with the group's breakthrough sound, ability to appeal to young adults from across socio-economic lines and fashion. Its induction into the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame widens the spectrum of musical legends.
Shelley Aylesworth-Spink - Shelley Aylesworth-Spink has worked in support of communications, marketing and advertising for nearly 25 years in the private and public ...
