DMC Proves He’s Still a Microphone Fiend

“Born to rock around the clock. You can’t say I’m not. And in case you forgot..I’m the Kiiiiiing of Rock.”

As if anyone could forget. Those opening lines from Run-DMC’s “Hit It Run” describe the career of Darryl “DMC” McDaniels in a nutshell. The word “seminal” isn’t strong enough to describe the influence that DMC, along with Rev Run and the late Jam Master Jay have had on the culture of hip-hop. They were the first group to land gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums and also the first rap act to garner airplay on MTV. Their influence on fashion was undeniable — from the fedoras, to the fat gold chains and of course, the Adidas. The group was ultimately honored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 as the second hip-hop act to be inducted, with the first being Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.

Run-DMC officially disbanded as a group in the wake of Jam Master Jay’s murder in 2002, but they would occasionally reunite for performances. DMC would overcome alcoholism, depression andspasmodic dysphonia — a disorder that causes involuntary spasms of the larynx. These days, DMC also stands for Darryl Makes Comics, as McDaniels recently formed a company to embrace his childhood love for comic books. He’s a motivational speaker, and he’s still showcasing the devastating mic control he’s been known for over the course of these past 30 years.

Read the rest of the review over at Scene