The year was 1983 — 40 years ago.
Darryl McDaniels, or DMC, made music history with his buddies from Queens, Run a.k.a Russell Simmons and the late Jason Mizell, better known as Jam Master Jay.
As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, DMC is still in the place to be.
During the early 1980s, few could have imagined that hip-hop would become a global phenomenon.
When Run-D.M.C. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2009, McDaniels gave an emotional speech.
“It’s like I say every day, when I go to speak to kids, I tell these kids ‘don’t let your situation define who you are,’ especially the foster kids and the homeless kids because a lot of them go through life just thinking ‘oh I’m just a foster kid nobody loves me,’ but I’m living proof, as I stand before you not as a celebrity or a famous rapper but what I represent here tonight is purpose and destiny,” he said.
Today, Darryl McDaniels is still winning awards and spreading his emotional message about purpose and destiny.
On June 22, he visited the Schomburg Center in Harlem to receive an award from the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce during their kick off celebration for Harlem Week.
This 59-year-old legend is still passionate about children and he shares powerful life lessons in his best-selling picture book, “Darryl’s Dream.”
“Every person has a dream, especially our little kids but sometimes they get distracted because they’re so busy worried about ‘do I fit in, let me do things that I don’t want to do to be cool and accepted,’” he said.
In between visiting schools, this hip-hop pioneer is proud to be a key part of the genre's 50-year legacy.
“What hip-hop did 50 years ago, we changed the communities for the better,” he said.“Hip-hop didn’t just create rappers and DJs and breakdancers and graffiti artists and beat boxers when you look at the last 50 years. Outside of the arts, we got doctors, lawyers and journalists and directors.”
“We represent not just so incredible on the microphone and Jay on the turntables, but we represent possibilities,” he added.
Run-D.M.C. was the first rap group to achieve a gold record and a platinum record. McDaniels credits the group’s success to their down to earth appeal.
“It was a little different from the way hip-hop is known in the entertainment business. When you see these rappers, you see fame, fortune and riches, but when people saw me, Run and Jay, they saw themselves. They said, ‘that guy Jay reminds me of my uncle,’ ‘that guy Run reminds me of my best friend in my class.’ When people saw Run-D.M.C., they saw the possibility to be whatever it is they wanna be. That’s what hip-hop said to me. That’s why I stand before you as the mighty king of rock,” he said.
Jason Mizell was murdered in 2002 at the age of 37.
With every performance, Russell Simmons and Darryl McDaniels are adamant about keeping their beloved DJ’s legacy alive.