United States 
Montana Tucker to Join Teen Summit on Israel and Antisemitism at Park Avenue Synagogue
1 year ago
Run-DMC, an American hip-hop group, pioneered new-school hip-hop music and helped usher in the golden age of hip-hop while becoming one of the most famous and influential acts in the genre's history, securing numerous industry firsts and groundbreaking brand partnerships.
Run-DMC's track "My Adidas" not only celebrated their footwear choice but also led to an unprecedented $1.6 million endorsement deal with Adidas, making them the first music group to ever partner with a major athletic brand. This partnership established a long-term relationship between Adidas and hip-hop culture, being described as the "beginning of what we have come to know as hip-hop fashion."
Run-DMC collaborated with rock band Aerosmith on a cover of "Walk This Way." The music video, which famously showed a wall separating the two bands being broken down, symbolized the fusion of rap and rock and significantly boosted the careers of both acts.
In 1999, Run-DMC recorded the theme song for the WWF wrestling stable D-Generation X, titled "The Kings," which was featured on the 'WWF Aggression' album.
Run-DMC made an appearance in a rare version of Moby's music video for "Bodyrock."
In September 2021, Darryl McDaniels signed with Nickelodeon to perform music for the NOGGIN SVOD series 'What's The Word?', a 15-episode series featuring an animated version of McDaniels teaching children reading and vocabulary skills. Nickelodeon also collaborated with McDaniels for a consumer products line deal.
Darryl McDaniels launched his own graphic novel series called DMC under the publishing company Darryl Makes Comics, LLC.
Run-DMC, consisting of Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell, formed in Hollis, Queens, New York City in 1983. The group quickly became recognized for their musical style, which moved away from disco and funk-oriented sounds towards a more aggressive, less-danceable approach characterized by sparse, hard-hitting beats. This distinct sound contributed to the foundation of hardcore hip-hop. Their debut single, “It’s Like That/Sucker MCs,” released in late 1983, was well-received, peaking at No. 15 on the R&B charts. The subsequent eponymous debut album, “Run-D.M.C.” (1984), marked a significant milestone as the first hip-hop group to achieve a Gold record. They further solidified their impact with hit singles such as “Jam-Master Jay” and “Hard Times.” Their innovative track “Rock Box” (1984) successfully fused hip-hop with hard rock, establishing a core sound for the group and paving the way for the rap rock sub-genre of the 1990s. Beyond music, Run-DMC revolutionized hip-hop fashion, moving away from flashy, glam attire to a more “street” style featuring Kangol hats, Cazal glasses, leather jackets, and unlaced Adidas shoes.
The group continued their success with the album “King of Rock” (1985), which became the first hip-hop group album to go Platinum and featured the first hip-hop music video, for the title track, played on MTV. A pivotal moment in their career was the 1986 album “Raising Hell,” which became the first multi-platinum hip-hop record. This album included the groundbreaking collaboration “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith. The song charted higher than Aerosmith’s original version, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100, and significantly boosted both groups’ careers. This collaboration is considered vital in uniting hip-hop and rock music. “Raising Hell” also contained the song “My Adidas,” which led to a historic $1.6 million endorsement deal with Adidas, marking the first major product endorsement deal for a hip-hop act and defining hip-hop fashion for decades.
Run-DMC’s career progression included multiple industry firsts: they were the first hip-hop act on the cover of Rolling Stone, performed at Live Aid, and received a Grammy Award nomination. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. The group officially disbanded after the murder of Jam Master Jay in 2002. However, Simmons and McDaniels have made sporadic appearances together, including a final performance in August 2023 at the Hip Hop 50 celebration concert, reinforcing their lasting legacy in music and culture.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
