Run-D.M.C.

12 Best Hip-Hop Christmas Songs Of All Time

24 Dec 2011 08:53:26 EST

From a Run-D.M.C. classic to raps with not-so-merry sentiments, here's MTV News' nontraditional playlist.
By Rob Markman

Sure, Michael Bublé and Justin Bieber are the current Christmas crown holders, but what if your yuletide tastes require a harder edge? While rappers aren't exactly known for spreading holiday cheer, hip-hop has given fans plenty of rap carols. Run-D.M.C.'s 1987 classic "Christmas in Hollis" may be the most-popular, but new-schoolers like Ludacris and Kanye West have kept rap's Xmas tradition alive.

If you've grown tired of listening to Nat King Cole's 1946 "The Christmas Song" or even Mariah Carey's more recent 1994 hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You," MTV News has compiled a 12-song playlist of rap's best Christmas-themed hits.

"Christmas in Hollis," Run-D.M.C.
No doubt the greatest rap carol ever recorded, this 1987 classic found Run and partner-in-rhyme D.M.C. rapping about Christmas in their Hollis, Queens, New York, neighborhood. Who could forget Run spitting about finding Santa's wallet with $1 million in it? Or D.M.C.'s verse that toasted his mother's collard-greens-and-mac-and-cheese Christmas dinner?

"Christmas Rappin'," Kurtis Blow
Run-D.M.C. may have done it best, but Kurtis Blow did it first when he recorded "Christmas Rappin' " in 1979. It's not hard to figure out how Kurtis Blow became rap's first bankable solo star — he represented something fresh and original. Putting a new twist on the Christmas carol, Blow rapped, "Don't you give me all that jive about things you wrote before I was alive/ 'Cause this ain't 1823 or even 1970." Take that Santa!

"Christmas in Harlem," Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, et al
Leave it to Kanye West to present the grandest rap carol with "Christmas in Harlem." Not only did the song feature the Louis Vuitton Don and his G.O.O.D. Music team, 'Ye also grabbed Dipset MCs Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Vado in addition to Musiq Soulchild, Cyhi da Prynce and Teyana Taylor to join in on the festivities. Produced by Hit-Boy, the six-minute, 32-second track found each of the rappers giving a different take on the holidays. Yeezy, who plays Bad Santa, recounts a December 25 sexual escapade, while Jim Jones goes on a shopping spree. Sounds like a hodgepodge, but in the end it all came together quite nicely.

"Christmas Rap," the Treacherous 3
Every hip-hop fan should watch the 1984 cult classic "Beat Street" at least once in life. Kudos to those old enough to remember the Treacherous Three's hilarious "Christmas Rap," on which the Bronx, New York, MCs collaborated with Doug E. Fresh and dissed Santa for putting bootleg gifts under the tree.

"Ludacrismas," Ludacris
If Ludacris was cast in the 2007 holiday film "Fred Claus," why wouldn't he add to the movie's soundtrack? On "Ludacrismas," the ATL MC gets busy by rapping lyrics like, "I tell 'em all I want for Christmas is two gold front teeth." If not for the beat's persistent sleigh bells, this one could bang all year round.

"Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto," Snoop Dogg
Who says gangstas can't roast chestnuts on an open fire? In the 1990s, Death Row Records made their bones making murderous music, but even the label's menacing Suge Knight got into the holiday spirit. In 1996 he dropped the amazingly titled Christmas on Death Row. While the album's cover featured Santa in an electric chair, the actual disc had some more appropriate holiday tunes. Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and the late Nate Dogg collaborated on the funky "Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto." Looks like murder wasn't always the case.

"Deck da Club," the Ying Yang Twins
Leave it to the Ying Yang Twins to transform "Deck the Halls" into a crunk club anthem. The highlight is when Kaine and brother D-Roc take the melody from "Jingle Bells" and apply it to the gentlemen's club, singing, "We gonna keep on spendin' that dough, just to see her do her thang/ Makin' her booty roll, but just don't spill my drank." Strippers celebrate Christmas too.

"Bad Santa Intro," Jim Jones featuring Sen and Shoota
No rapper has consistently represented more for St. Nick than Dipset's Jim Jones. In 2008, Jimmy dropped A Tribute to Bad Santa the second holiday album in his catalog. It was totally street though and included the standout "Bad Santa Intro," where Capo rhymed about sending commissary to his friends locked in prison and the rising price of snow and poverty in the 'hood.

"Jingle Bellz," Juelz Santana and Starr
Jim Jones isn't the only Dipset MC who gets into the holiday spirit. Juelz Santana got cozy with R7B singer Starr on a remixed version of "Jingle Bells" — with a z at the end, of course. I mean, who wouldn't want to go dashing through the snow in a four-door white Bentley?

"Cold Chillin' Christmas," the Juice Crew
In the 1980s, Marley Marl's Juice Crew was a lyrical juggernaut. Comprised of MC Shan, Roxanne Shanté, Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, Craig G and Kool G. Rap, the Juice Crew released some of the rawest raps in their day. They also showed diversity in 1988 by releasing "Cold Chillin' Christmas." Definitely worth a listen.

"The Christmas Song," David Banner
Mississippi MC David Banner has never been one to bite his tongue, and on "The Christmas Song," he stays true to form. On December 23, 2003, Banner released his second solo album, MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water, and on it was the grim-sounding "Christmas Song." Don't let the song title fool you: DB did not spread any holiday cheer. Instead, on the song's hook, he sings, "It's wintertime and we still cannot find a job/ We fill out applications but you treat us like we're slobs/ So we rob and we steal 'cause we're tryna get a meal." Santa better watch his back.

"Merry Muthaf---in' Xmas," Eazy-E
Now you know Eazy-E couldn't just do a traditional Christmas carol. The West Coast legend did make a classic, however, when he recorded "Merry Muthaf---in' Xmas," a pornographic yet hilarious interpolation of "Jingle Bells." Trust us, it's not for the squeamish.

Which is your favorite Christmas hip-hop song? Tell us in the comments!

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Run-DMC Recall 'My Adidas' Impact, 25 Years Later

11 Nov 2011 20:02:17 EST

'It was bigger than just talking about how many pairs of sneakers we had,' Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels tells MTV News.
By Alvin Blanco

NEW YORK — A quarter century after Run-DMC dedicated a song to their sneaker brand of choice, DMC is still rocking his Adidas for hip-hop.

On Friday morning (November 11), Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of the seminal Queens rap group was in the Harlem USA clothing store on 125th Street signing autographs for fans who purchased a special Adidas Originals Superstar 80s model commemorating the 25th anniversary of Run-DMC's "My Adidas."

The song was released in 1986 and appears on Run-DMC's triple-platinum Raising Hell album. The hit record was inspired by more than just bragging and boasting about their collection of kicks, though.

"It was a song that was about our sneakers, but it was bigger than just talking about how many pairs of sneakers we had," DMC told MTV News. "It came from the place of people would look at the b-boys, the b-girls and go, 'Oh, those are the people that cause all the problems in here.' And, 'Those young people are nothing but troublemakers and those young people don't know nothing.' So they was judging the book by its cover, without seeing what was inside of it."

DMC continued, "So me, Run and [Jam Master] Jay was like, 'Yeah, we going to make a record about our Adidas.' Yeah, we wear Adidas [with] no laces, we got gold chains, we got Cazals and all of that, but I go to St. John's University. These Adidas stepped onstage at Live Aid. People gave and the poor got paid. It was about taking the image of the b-boy and b-girl and letting the world know we're a people of vision, we're inspiration, motivation, we're educated too. So it's kind of a kick in the face to the people that was hating on hip-hop."

Run-DMC's lyrical certification of "shelltoe" Adidas led to the first-ever endorsement deal between a music act and an athletic company. The limited-edition "My Adidas" Superstar 80s model is the same shoe Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay wore back in the day with special details like the JMJ logo on the heel, "1986" stitched on the side and a gold lace lock designed to look like a dookie-rope gold chain. Only 1,986 of the shoes will be made for sale to the public.

Back in 1986, Run-DMC said seeing all their fans rock Adidas sneakers and gear on the strength of their co-sign was actually a bit disconcerting. "It was scary," DMC said. "We was going through Detroit, through Boston, through Chicago, through LA, through Virginia; every city we went to on the Raising Hell Tour, we would look out the back of the tour bus and everybody had the Adidas [track] suits from head to toe. The Cazals, the hats, the Kangols, and they had those Adidas on. You would think we would sit in the back of the bus and go, 'Yo, we gonna get paid!' "

However, the trio were aware of the responsibility their tastemaking influence carried. "Me, Run and Jay, we sat back and said, 'We gotta watch what we do and we gotta watch what we say,' " DMC said. "Because the music, the image, the concepts was so powerful, if they're going to wear Adidas because we say it's cool, that means they would drink, abuse, fight because of this. We got nervous. I always remember Jay said, 'Yo, this hip-hop stuff is really powerful, man. We gotta watch what we say and what we present to the world.' "

Share your memories of Run-DMC's late-'80s heyday in the comments!

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DMC And Shake Remember Run DMC's Jam Master Jay

30 Oct 2011 13:03:59 EDT

It's been nine years since the tragic shooting that cut down the life of the iconic DJ in his Queens recording studio.
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Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels Recalls Notorious B.I.G.'s 'My Downfall'

19 Oct 2010 15:08:36 EDT

'When Biggie called for me to go put this hook on the record, I was souped,' DMC tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rahman Dukes

Mixtape Daily: Cornerstone Credentials

For the king of rap, Notorious B.I.G., it was imperative the king of rock, DMC, bless him with a few of his domineering bars on the classic double-disc set Life After Death. At the pinnacle of B.I.G.'s career and arguably his best recording material to date, it was only fitting he bring it back to the essence of rap and reignite one of the culture's most memorable voices.

"When Biggie called for me to go put this hook on the record, I was souped," Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels recalled in the MTV offices Monday. "I got a call from Diddy, and Puff was like, 'Yo, D, we wanna make that the chorus.' "

The hook, originally snatched from the Run-DMC record "Together Forever," saw D back in the recording booth where he and partner Rev Run made countless smash records. "But that's not all/ MCs have the gall/ To pray and pray for my downfall," D spewed on the track's chorus.

"My Downfall" would go on to be one of the defining moments on Life After Death. B.I.G.'s lyrics spoke of a man battling turmoil among his rap peers, and DMC, no stranger to fame and misfortune, gladly accepted the opportunity to appear on the track.

"Here is the hottest dude at that time, in the era of that generation, wants to use my little piece of my rhyme," D marveled. "Because when I said that, he understood. See, only kings can understand what that meant: Shut 'em down, step back, because they pray for your downfall."

Although DMC didn't have the pleasure of getting in the studio with the late, great Notorious for "Downfall," the song left an impression on the iconic MC.

"It's funny, he said the same thing Will Smith and 50 Cent — all said the same thing to me when I met them: 'Man, one day, I hope to be as big as you," D reflected. "But it was an honor, having the opportunity to do that with Biggie."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Rev Run's Son Jojo Arrested For Marijuana Possession

11 May 2009 11:09:00 EDT

'Jojo is all right. It's working itself out," Run tells MTV News.
By Gil Kaufman

You probably didn't want to be at "Run's House" on Saturday morning. That's because on Friday night, Joseph Simmons Jr., 19, known to millions as "Jojo," was arrested on Manhattan's Upper West Side after allegedly buying marijuana and trying to run away from the cops, according to a spokesperson for the New York Police Department.

After being spotted by police allegedly purchasing marijuana and then rolling it into a joint, the aspiring rapper attempted to evade arrest by throwing his BMW in reverse, almost backing into a police cruiser. The younger Simmons, who is the leader of a rap crew called Team Blackout, struggled with police attempting to apprehend him.

The NYPD spokesperson said Simmons was booked on a felony charge of attempted reckless endangerment (for backing into the police car), two misdemeanor charges of criminal use of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest and a violation for marijuana possession.

Reverend Run, Simmons' father and the legendary co-founder of of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trio Run-DMC, called MTV News on Monday morning (May 11) with an exclusive comment on the incident. "I didn't always have this collar around my neck," Run explained. "I come from a rap, rock and roll background. Jojo is all right. It's working itself out. We're pulling together as a family going forward. You live and learn." Run also said his son was released without bail on Saturday.

The younger Simmons could not be reached for comment at press time, but he Tweeted around 3:55 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, "I'm alright everybody!" His dad Tweeted early Saturday morning, "you can learn many things from your Children ... (Patience for instance)."

New York's Daily News reported on Sunday that Simmons was released on his own recognizance after a Manhattan judge dismissed the felony charge of attempted reckless endangerment.

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Metallica, Run-DMC Join Rock, Rockabilly, Soul Legends In Hall Of Fame

05 Apr 2009 03:44:00 EDT

Wanda Jackson and others highlight genre's rebellious roots at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
By Gil Kaufman

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is all about honoring the past achievements of legendary artists who helped build the rebel foundation of the genre. But on Saturday night (April 4) in Cleveland, it was a pair of contemporary artists who showed the crowd how those wild and wooly seeds sown by a ragtag group of rockabilly shouters, soul stirrers, boogie-woogie piano bangers and country hollerers more than half a century ago have grown to include everything from hip-hop to heavy metal.

One of the night's highlights was a moving induction speech from Eminem, making a rare public appearance to honor his musical heroes, Run-DMC, only the second hip-hop act to enter the Hall. "Two turntables and a microphone, that's all it took to change the world," Em said, his all-black ensemble inspired by the Queens trio's signature look. Praising their music's ability to spread hip-hop around the world, Em said there was something about the sound made by rappers Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and late DJ Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell that "grabbed hold of my ears and changed my life."

Repeating the simple refrain, "two turntables and a microphone," like a mantra, Em described Run-DMC as, "something fresh, something tough. Something dangerous. Something beautiful and something unique. Two turntables and a microphone."

Run and DMC graciously accepted the award surrounded by their families and that of Mizell, paying irreverent homage to Run's brother, Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons, for his wacky idea of mixing rock and rap. DMC, who learned just a few years ago that he was adopted, also urged the crowd, "The best thing y'all can do is give love to a kid, because that kid may grow up and be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame one day."

This year's ceremony was back in Cleveland, home of the Hall of Fame building, for the first time since the first-ever induction ceremony in 1997. And for the first time, the general public was allowed to buy tickets to the event, held at Cleveland's Public Auditorium. That suited honorees Metallica just fine, as the Bay Area masters of metal repeatedly gave shout-outs to the thousands of head-banging followers who have made them one of the biggest metal bands in rock history.

Appearing onstage with ex-bassist Jason Newsted for the first time in more than eight years, as well as with the father of late bassist Cliff Burton, guitarist/singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo, all reflected on the job they likened to a brotherhood built on rock-and-roll fantasies.

"I think rock and roll is about possibilities and about dreams," Ulrich said, as the band took the stage following a funny, profane, reverent induction by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. "The fact that the six of us can be up on the stage tonight, snot-nosed kids, outcasts, loners who grew up in very different parts of the world, in very different situations and make it here tonight, to this wonderful night in front of all these people down here ... Rock and roll truly is about possibilities. Look at us. Metallica's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Can you f---ing believe that?"

Hetfield encouraged young musicians, "Dream big and dare to fail. ... I dare you to do that. Because this is living proof that it is possible to make a dream come true."

The band concluded with a murderous set that began with their classic, genre-defining metal anthem, "Master of Puppets," and segued into a menacing, vein-popping trip through another modern heavy metal cornerstone, "Enter Sandman."

The show opened with inductees Little Anthony and the Imperials harmonizing on a medley of classic songs, including their swaying doo-wop staple "Tears on My Pillow." Founding singer Anthony Gourdine, 69, hit his signature falsetto notes, working the stage despite a shoulder injury he sustained Friday morning.

The group was inducted by Hall of Famer and Motown legend Smokey Robinson, who said of his lifelong friends, "It is a joy for me to be here for what I consider a long-overdue event. ... I think they are one of the greatest groups to have ever decided to sing together."

British guitar god Jeff Beck, 64, became a rare two-time honoree — he was previously inducted as a member of the Yardbirds — when he was called up again by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in honor of his 40-year career of electric six-string wizardry in genres ranging from rock to blues and fusion jazz. Joined by Page, Beck gave the crowd a taste of his blistering chops with a thundering blues-jam meltdown take on Zep's "Immigrant Song."

Also inducted was Queen of Rockabilly Wanda Jackson, 71, who blazed a trail for female rock singers with her raw, uninhibited work on such early hits as "Let's Have a Party." She was inducted by country royalty Roseanne Cash, daughter of the late Johnny Cash, who proclaimed, "For girls with guitars, myself included, Wanda was the beginning of rock and roll. Everyone who cares about roots music and rock and roll reveres Wanda. But in particular, every young woman I know, musician or otherwise, worship her as the prototype, the first female rock star."

Cleveland native and soul giant Bobby Womack, 65, ("Looking for a Love," "Across 110th Street") was inducted by the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood, which was fitting, since Womack wrote the Stones' first #1 UK hit, "It's All Over Now." Womack reminisced about being a guitar player for Sam Cooke. "The last song he wrote, he made a statement, and that statement was 'A Change Is Gonna Come.' ... When I think about it, that subject has come up again. A change has come," referring to the election of Barack Obama.

Among the sidemen inducted on Saturday night were Muscle Shoals band keyboard master Spooner Oldham (Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan) and two members of Elvis' band, bassist Bill Black and legendary drummer D.J. Fontana.

The night ended with the obligatory all-star jam, which featured all the members of Metallica, plus Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Flea, Page, Beck and Wood cranking up the aggression for a snarling, guitar-geek-nirvana version of the Yardbirds' "Train Kept A-Rollin'."

Artists are eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first record, and inductees are selected by a panel of 500 "rock experts" who evaluate each candidate.

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Eminem Inducts Run-DMC Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame With Poetic Tribute

05 Apr 2009 00:44:00 EDT

'Two turntables and a microphone, that's all it took to change the world,' Em says of his heroes.
By Gil Kaufman

On the night when Run-DMC became only the second hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it was fitting that the group that blazed the trail between rock and rap in the 1980s was invited into the rarified club by a hip-hop icon of the modern era whose career is built on their bedrock: Eminem.

His sartorial style inspired by his heroes, from the black leather jacket, shirt and pants, to the black fedora tilted on his head, Eminem bounded onto the stage with a pimping swagger and crossed his arms in a Run-DMC style as he leaned into the microphone.

"Two turntables and a microphone, that's all it took to change the world," the reclusive Detroit MC began. "Three kings from Queens made rap music in the b-boy stance a global phenomenon," he said of the group's members, rappers Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and late DJ Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell. (Head to the MTV Newsroom to read the e-mail JMJ's close friend Eric "Shake" James sent to MTV News while he witnessed the ceremony.)

After the first time he heard the group's "hard beats and bold rhymes," at age 11, Eminem recalled that "something about the big drums and the strong raps that grabbed hold of my ears and changed my life." Clearly humbled by the honor, Slim Shady's speech had a lyrical groove as he added, "Something fresh, something tough. Something dangerous. Something beautiful and something unique. Two turntables and a microphone," staring out at the crowd and rubbing his hands together as if savoring the treat of setting up his heroes for the glory they so richly deserve.

Recalling how their 1985 video for "King of Rock" had them crashing a fictional Rock and Roll Museum and being told they didn't belong in such a museum, Eminem said, "And 25 years later, man, here we are. They didn't take no for an answer, much the same way as they didn't give up when much of the world refused to recognize rap as real music. They were the first rock stars of rap. They were the first movie stars of rap. They were the first rap group played on MTV. ... They were the baddest of the bad, the coolest of the cool. Two turntables and a microphone."

Em talked about not knowing what he wanted to do in life while growing up in Detroit and then hearing Run-DMC and realizing "that you could write your own rules, which is something that still inspires me, as well as every rap other artist, constantly." And then the crowd finally caught on to the rhythm of Slim's callback refrain and repeated along with him, "Two turntables and a microphone."

"I remember being in ninth grade when Raising Hell came out," he recalled, and wryly added, "Two years later, I still remember being in ninth grade when Tougher Than Leather came out. I had skipped school, if you can believe that, to go buy Tougher Than Leather on cassette the day it came out. As soon as I heard 'Run's House,' man, it was pretty much a rap for me. Marshall Mathers became Eminem. It was the first time Run-DMC had changed my life, but it wouldn't be the last. Two turntables and a microphone."

Bringing the group's indelible career into the present, Em paid tribute to late DJ Mizell's mentorship of Slim's protégé, 50 Cent. "Jay shaped the way 50 wrote, the way he rapped and the way he thought," Em said of Fif, whose early works were overseen by Mizell. "Again, Run-DMC changed my life. Without them I wouldn't have met one of my closest friends."

Eminem closed by saying that the group's impact can be felt everywhere. Echoing one of the group's most famous couplets from "King of Rock," Em concluded, "There's three of them, and if you grew up on hip-hop like I did, they are the Beatles."

With their friends and family surrounding them onstage, Rev Run first thanked Mizell's mother for always allowing the young trio to practice at her home and never asking them to turn down the volume. He also thanked his brother, hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons, who convinced the group to change their name from the Sure Shot Three and to mash rock with their rap.

Paying touching homage to his adoptive parents, DMC urged the crowd to give love to foster children. "If my birth mother never gave me up, my real mother would have never came and got me," he said, hitting on one of the topics that has become his abiding passion since the group broke up in 2002 following Jay's still unsolved murder. "There would be no Run-DMC; there would be no rap music the way it is today. ... But forget about all that celebrity stuff, y'all. This little boy, Darryl McDaniels, wouldn't be standing here tonight telling y'all that. The best thing y'all can do is give love to a kid, because that kid may grow up and be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame one day."

Mizell's mother, Connie Mizell, also reminisced lovingly about how her late son tore up every one of her turntables learning how to scratch, and she didn't mind. And how "the boys" would be tearing it up in the next room as she studied in the adjoining room, and she didn't mind. "Nothing happens before time," she said. "It wasn't time when Jason was living. It was time after he'd gone. Because you see the blessings is still going on. He is not forgotten."

The group did not perform at the ceremony, in keeping with their pledge not to play live again following Mizell's death.

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Run-DMC Will Not Perform At Rock Hall Induction, DMC Confirms

03 Apr 2009 07:50:00 EDT

Rapper can't imagine hitting the stage without late DJ Jam Master Jay.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Run-DMC are set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this weekend, and one-third of the legendary group confirmed to MTV News that they will not perform (as is customary during the ceremony) but instead a video tribute will play to mark the occasion.

Rev Run previously spoke to MTV News in January following the Queens collective receiving word of their honor. The "Run's House" star said the decision about whether the group would perform would be left to DMC. After the murder of their DJ, Jam Master Jay, the remaining group members made the decision to never perform again as Run-DMC, out of respect for their fallen friend.

"For me, I tell people, 'Do you want to see me and Run running around without Jay?' " DMC told MTV News earlier this week. "They tell me I could get Grandmaster Flash [to fill in]. But I can get any DJ in the world if I want. It wouldn't be right. I can't replace my drummer."

D said the Rock Hall will produce a video tribute to the group, although he didn't have a hand in the segment. He's been busy worrying about what he'll say when he reaches the podium. He joked that the representatives for the event "scared" him with their advice for his speech.

"They said, 'You have all the time in the world. We don't want you to be too long, but we don't want you to be too short,' " he said, laughing. "Then they said, 'You should write something.' I said I wasn't gonna write something; I was gonna freestyle it. But then they scared me again with [clears voice], 'Make sure you get it right, because you only get to do this once.' "

DMC -- who, following the group's retirement, has ventured into a more rock-based sound -- said he's honored to be entering the Hall with Metallica and Bobby Womack. He called himself a fan of the former and said the latter was a "super superstar."

"For me, personally, I just love what gods are gonna be in the room," DMC said. "I'm a rock-and-roll fan, from Led Zeppelin to Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix.

"And Metallica? Oh my God," he continued. "I grew up as a kid looking up to Bobby Womack. Do you know how big he was? He was so far from me as a super superstar, because my mother and father followed him. That's crazy. Now I'm thinking about it, and it's just crazy."

Fellow Queens native and longtime peer LL Cool J agreed. He said the upcoming Run-DMC induction makes him "incredibly proud," as he recalled how the trio took him under their wing during his first tour experience. Stepping back as a fan, LL admitted, he'd like to see the fellas perform to celebrate the honor. But he respects the decision they've made.

"When I think about them performing -- and I would never encourage them to do something that they wouldn't do -- but I really wish they would consider getting video footage of Jay cutting and figure out a way to sync that up so that they could perform to it," LL told MTV News. "Kind of like the way Natalie Cole did it with her father. I really wish they would consider that. If I was Run, I would. I think it would be epic. That would be big."

Despite a Run-DMC performance missing from the itinerary, Run's older brother and group patriarch Russell Simmons said the trio's legacy will stand on its own. He said Run-DMC ushered in the era of rappers becoming actual recording artists. Prior to second-wave groups like Run-DMC, Simmons cited acts like the Cold Crush Brothers, DJ Hollywood and Eddie Cheeba as performing artists who largely composed numbers to hit the stage. Run-DMC, he said, were influenced by those groups, and it registered in their songs, which were incredibly authentic. Simmons, who built Def Jam into the most iconic rap label in history, said it was Run-DMC's authenticity that ultimately will be the indicator of their legacy and influence.

"They may have looked like the Blues Brothers to rock-and-roll guys, but that was some real Brooklyn sh-- right there [the way they dressed and presented themselves]," Simmons explained. "That's some Hollis, Queens, stuff. They were paying homage to where the music was coming from [the streets]. They drew the line in the sand. They weren't crossing over; they made people come to them. And with that, they really inspired the whole community. They did a lot to contribute to the sentiment of authenticity, which ultimately became the earmark of the culture as a whole."

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Run-DMC, Metallica Lead Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees

03 Apr 2009 06:51:00 EDT

Eminem will induct Run-DMC at ceremony on Saturday in Cleveland
By Gil Kaufman

In years past, there were always a few things you could count on at the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony: some salty induction speeches (like Madonna's last year), bands awkwardly reuniting with members past and trying to make nice but not performing together (as Van Halen did when they were inducted) and others who gladly performed but refused to make nice (as when Blondie were inducted into the Hall in 2006).

This year's ceremony — which takes place on Saturday night near the actual Rock Hall in Cleveland for the first time in more than a decade — promises a little bit of all three scenarios as the Hall welcomes such icons as Metallica, Run-DMC and Jeff Beck.

The likeliest suspects for onstage tension, hard-rock icons Metallica, have already said they're not interested in any drama, as evidenced by their decision to invite ousted bassist Jason Newsted to perform with them alongside current bassist Robert Trujillo. Frontman James Hetfield has promised that instead of tension, the group will make the night a celebration of their long career.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1981, Metallica rose from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest and most influential heavy-metal bands on the planet. Their 1983 debut, Kill 'Em All, is widely considered one of the first thrash-metal albums, thanks to its blitzkrieg riffs and breakneck tempo. Their subsequent albums — 1984's Ride the Lightning, 1986's Master of Puppets and 1988's ... And Justice for All — saw the band expanding not just their sound, but their audience. Their self-titled 1991 album (also known as The Black Album for its iconic onyx cover) made them one of the biggest bands in the world, with a long run at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, selling a staggering 22 million copies worldwide. Last year, they released the return-to-form Death Magnetic, which also debuted atop the Billboard charts and was one of 2008's biggest-selling albums.

Though they no longer perform together and are rarely seen in the same room, founding Run-DMC members Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels will take the stage Saturday night after being inducted by none other than Eminem in one of his first major public appearances in several years.

As only the second induction of a hip-hop group to enter the hall, the inclusion of the Queens, New York trio — DJ Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell was murdered in a still-unsolved 2002 ambush — is ironic, given that Run-DMC's 1985 video for "King of Rock" shows them wreaking havoc in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, nine years before the actual museum opened.

The trio famously formed in Hollis, Queens, in the early '80s and released their debut single, "It's Like That," in 1983. Their first three albums (1984's self-titled debut, 1985's King of Rock and 1986's Raising Hell) are considered to be among the most important hip-hop albums ever released. With their stylish dress, sample-heavy tracks and streetwise lingo, the group is often credited with bringing hip-hop to the mainstream. They gave the genre credibility when they teamed up with Aerosmith for the hit "Walk This Way," were the first rap group to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and were one of the first hip-hop acts to have videos in constant rotation on MTV.

Run-DMC disbanded in 2002 following Mizell's murder, but in 2007, MTV's Hip-Hop Brain Trust named them the Greatest Hip-Hop Group of All Time.

The roster of inductees also includes guitar legend Jeff Beck, 64, the laconic Englishman who is one of the rare breed of rock legends to make it into the Hall as a solo artist and a bandleader — honored in 1992 for his work with the Yardbirds, in which he succeeded fellow Hall of Famer Eric Clapton.

Beck — known for his dynamic playing, intricate rock instrumentals and later excursions into jazz rock and jazz fusion — is perhaps best known for his work with the blues rock godheads the Yardbirds, who produced such landmark singles as "Heart Full of Soul" and "I'm a Man," during his tenure. He also led the Jeff Beck Group, whose first incarnation featured Rod Stewart on vocals and later Rolling Stones member Ron Wood.

Among other honorees are early doo-wop vocal group Little Anthony & the Imperials, led by powerful vocalist Anthony Gourdine, 69, who is heard on such indelible hits as "Tears on My Pillow" and such later pop-soul hits as "Goin' out of My Head."

The Hall will also welcome the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, 71, who blazed a trail for female rock singers with her raw, uninhibited work on such early hits as "Let's Have a Party" and "Right or Wrong." Rounding out the performers list is soul/gospel powerhouse and Cleveland native, Bobby Womack, 65, who began his career playing guitar in Sam Cooke's band and went on to a long career as a session guitarist (Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles), songwriter (Wilson Pickett, Janis Joplin) and solo star in the 1970s with such gospel-tinged soul hits as "Woman's Gotta Have It" and "If You Think You're Lonely Now."

Also entering the Hall in the sidemen category is Bill Black, the late bassist for Elvis Presley who was present at the recording of the King's first single for Sun Records in July 1954 and who is credited with helping to come up with the rocked-up arrangement for Presley's signature early single, "That's All Right." Joining Black in that category is Elvis' legendary drummer, D.J. Fontana, 78, considered the first rockabilly drummer and best known for his laid-back, no frills style.

The sidemen category will also welcome Muscle Shoals Sound progenitor keyboardist/vocalist Spooner Oldham, 65, who has played on such landmark tracks as Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" and Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," as well as sessions with everyone from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to Cat Power and the Drive-By Truckers.

Among the scheduled presenters at the ceremony in the Public Auditorium in Cleveland are Jimmy Page, the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood, Flea (who will induct Metallica) and Smokey Robinson.

Artists are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record, and inductees are selected by a panel of 500 "rock experts" who evaluate each candidate.

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DMC Wants To Open For Lil Wayne

02 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EDT

'There's a whole 'nother excitement,' legendary ex-Run-DMC member says about moving from rap to rock.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Lil Wayne's venture into rock music has landed one huge fan in hip-hop icon DMC.

The Queens rapper — who, as one-third of legendary group Run-DMC, is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this weekend by Eminem — said he applauded the Cash Money lyricist's genre experimentation. In fact, as DMC preps the final touches on his second solo album, the rock-tinged The Origins of Block Music, due out in June, he has an idea he wants to propose to Wayne.

"When he drops that album and goes on tour, I would love to open for him," DMC told MTV News. "I would open for Lil Wayne. I'm only DMC, I'm not Run-DMC. It'd be a privilege. I take joy in the creation of new music — I did what I did with Run-DMC, but now I'm starting from the bottom."

DMC's first solo outing, 2006's Checks Thugs and Rock N Roll, featured collaborations with rockers like Kid Rock and Sarah McLachlan on the somber "Just Like Me." The album was put together during a dark moment in the rapper's life, while he was reeling from the murder of Jam Master Jay, the death of his father and the discovery that he had been adopted. He turned to alcohol and described his music as being suicidal, saying he felt "all alone" at the time.

For The Origins of Block Music, DMC has a number of rap producers onboard to give the project a "fun" feel. Underground legend Freddie Foxx, DJ Premier and Public Enemy's Chuck D are set to contribute to the album. The first single, "She Gets Me High," is produced by newcomer Sonix, and D said he hopes to release the song on May 31 — his birthday.

Having had a hand in writing songs like "King of Rock" and performing at infamous punk venues like Manhattan's CBGB's, D said he understands Wayne's move to rock right now.

"There's a whole 'nother excitement," he explained. "For me, hip-hop and rock and roll are brother and sister. I like the instruments, the sound of the guitars, the harmonica ... I love Neil Young, he makes b-boy records [to me], 'cause the drummer will hit the breakdown and he'll start breaking down on his harmonica like he's Doug E. Fresh.

"Rick Rubin told me, 'Just find the musical sounds that fit who you are and tell your stories to that,' " D added. "So I don't separate the two."

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