HomeFeaturesEntertainmentBlack History NJ: Darryl McDaniels (aka DMC)

Black History NJ: Darryl McDaniels (aka DMC)

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels has been a cultural unifier all his life. As one-third of the pioneering rap group Run-D.M.C., McDaniels — who happens to be a proud, longtime northern New Jersey resident — helped break down cultural barriers in the ’80s by crossing rap music over into the mainstream.

Run-D.M.C. fused rap beats with hard-rock riffs, combined with a lyrical flow that all walks of life could relate to. The groundbreaking group produced music that everyone could sing and/or rap along with themselves. Essentially, everyone loved Run-D.M.C.


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Breaking Ground

During their ’80s heyday, Run-D.M.C. achieved a lot of rap-artist firsts. They won first gold album (1984’s Run-D.M.C.); first platinum album (1985’s King of Rock); and first multi-platinum album (1986’s Raising Hell). They were the first rap group on American Bandstand and the cover of Rolling Stone; and they were the only rap act to perform at Live Aid in 1985.

And then Run-D.M.C. literally smashed through the color wall on MTV with their 1986 crossover hit Walk This Way. In it, they appear side-by-side with Aerosmith, the rock band who wrote the song in the ’70s. By that point, Run-D.M.C. were no strangers to the rap-meets-rock groove, having already laid down the template in their breakthrough 1984 single, Rock Box, which featured original guitar licks from Eddie Martinez, who went on to play and tour with Robert Palmer and David Lee Roth.

McDaniels understands how uplifting his achievements have been to people over the years, regardless of their race, color, or creed. “I think what I’ve done musically and artistically inspires people because I’m inspired by all the greats before me — artists such as Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Neil Young, John Fogerty, and hometown hero Bruce Springsteen,” DMC told Best of NJ.

NJ Pride

darryl dmc mcdaniels“They are the voices of the people, and they represent what many generations can do with the arts in ways politics and religion fail to do. Combining the essence of that real-deal rock and roll with the purpose of hip-hop allows me to be a continual inspirational powerhouse. This rock & roll/hip-hop thing I do is not for fortune and fame, but to inspire people to create a better place, style, and vibe throughout all areas of our lives.”

These days, McDaniels keeps busy by running his own comic-book imprint called Darryl Makes Comics (or DMC, for short), as well as chairing the Felix Organization, a nonprofit he cofounded that champions the rights of adoptees and foster children. (Sometime after he entered adulthood, McDaniels learned he was put up for adoption when he was 3 months old.)

A Rapper and a Writer

darryl dmc mcdanielsHe has also penned two best-sellers: 2001’s autobiographical King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life With Run-DMC (Thomas Dunne), and 2016’s Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide: A Memoir (Amistad).

Throughout it all, McDaniels has kept himself grounded by respecting his roots. “The real hip-hop pioneers before me — like the Universal Zulu Nation, The Furious Five, The Funky 4 + 1, Treacherous Three, The Cold Crush Brothers, and many others — continually remind me that I have a responsibility to all people, young and old,” he said. “Their messages empower me to be able to be a force in the world, and the communities I live in and come in contact with.”

The onetime steadfast New Yorker is, in fact, quite the proud northern New Jersey resident. (McDaniels was born in Harlem in 1964, and subsequently grew up and made his mark in Hollis, Queens.)

“Jersey is really a great place to live. The people here are really cool, helpful, and friendly; and everyone isn’t like the folks from the TV show The Sopranos!” he laughed. “I have excellent access to Routes 80 and 46, and that helps get me into and out of the city [NYC] with ease. We also have great schools, and many recreational opportunities for the kids and youth. The libraries here are awesome too — for young people as well as older folks.”

Not Done Yet

darryl dmc mcdanielsBy the way, Darryl McDaniels isn’t known as the “King of Rock” for nothing, as he can often be seen sporting t-shirts adorned with band logos for the likes of AC/DC, The Beatles, Metallica, Nirvana, and Led Zeppelin, among others. “I couldn’t believe the band The Fountains of Wayne was named after the actual fountain store that I drove by almost every day,” he said. “It’s not there anymore, but that proves hands down that Jersey rocks!

In honor of that fine distinction, McDaniels came up with an original rap, just for the Best of NJ audience:

“I’m like Bruce on the loose
Bob Dylan when I’m illin’
Hip Hop ’n Rock N Roll
When in Jersey, I am chilling!”

Yep, he’s still got it.

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Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Roger Kisby
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Ricky Powell / Wikimedia Commons
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