Group
Run‐D.M.C.
- From
- Hollis, United States
- Active
- 1982–2002
- Rating
- ★ 3.6
- Releases
- 69
- east coast hip hop
- hip hop
- rap rock
- hardcore hip hop
- new jack swing
- old school hip hop
About
Run-DMC (also formatted Run-D.M.C., RUN DMC, or some combination thereof) was an American hip-hop group formed in Hollis, Queens, New York City in 1983 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-DMC is regarded as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip-hop culture and especially one of the most famous hip-hop acts of the 1980s. Along with Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, and Public Enemy, the group pioneered new-school hip-hop music and helped usher in golden age hip-hop. The group was among the first to popularize the MC and DJ relationship.
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With the release of Run-D.M.C. (1984), Run-DMC became the first hip-hop group to achieve a Gold record. Run-D.M.C. was followed with the certified Platinum record King of Rock (1985), making Run-DMC the first hip-hop group to go platinum. Raising Hell (1986) became the first multi-platinum hip-hop record. Run-DMC's cover of "Walk This Way", featuring the group Aerosmith, charted higher on the Billboard Hot 100 than Aerosmith's original version, peaking at number four. It became one of the best-known songs in both hip-hop and rock. Run-DMC was the first hip-hop act to have their music videos broadcast on MTV, appear on American Bandstand, be on the cover of Rolling Stone, perform at Live Aid, and be nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Run-DMC at number 48 in its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 2007, they were named The Greatest Hip-Hop Group of All Time by MTV and Greatest Hip-Hop Artist of All Time by VH1. In 2009, Run-DMC became the second hip-hop group (after Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, 2007) to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2016, the group received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2018, Raising Hell was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Members
-
DJ Jam Master J'Son turntable
-
Stanley Brown additional, keytar
-
DJ Ruckus additional, turntable
-
Sam Jacobs additional, percussion
-
Eddie Martinez additional, guitar
-
Daniel Shulman additional, bass guitar
-
Larry Smith additional, bass guitar
-
Bobby Tench additional, guitar
-
Bobby Walker additional, drums (drum set)
-
DJ Charlie Chan Soprano additional, turntable
Discography
Albums
EPs
Singles
-
Christmas In Hollis (Sped + Slowed) Apple Music
-
Storm Before the Calm
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Yeah Its Like That / Let Me Clear My Throat
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It's Tricky 2003
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Rhythm Is a Dancer (Check This Out)
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Let's Stay Together (Together Forever)
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Take the Money and Run
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It's Over
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It’s Tricky
-
In The Beginning (No Further Delay)
-
It’s Like That
-
Down With the King Apple Music
-
ooh, Whatcha Gonna Do
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Faces / Back From Hell (Remix)
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What’s It All About / The Ave
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Ghostbusters
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Run's House / Beats To The Rhyme
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Christmas In Hollis Apple Music
-
Christmas in Hollis / Let the Jingle Bells Rock
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It's Tricky Apple Music
-
My Adidas / Peter Piper
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Walk This Way / My Adidas
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Walk This Way Apple Music
-
You Be Illin’ (remix)
-
King of Rock Apple Music
-
Can You Rock It Like This
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Rock Box
-
It's Like That
Compilations
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The Instrumentals, Vol. 2 Apple Music
-
The Instrumentals, Vol. 1 Apple Music
-
The Mixes
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The Box Set Series
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The Essential Run‐D.M.C.
-
S.O.U.L.
-
Walk This Way: The Best of
-
The Music of Run-D.M.C.
-
It's Like This: The Best Of
-
Playlist: The Very Best of Run‐D.M.C.
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Original Album Classics
-
Best Of
-
The Best of Run‐D.M.C.
-
Collections
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Artist Collection
-
Ultimate Run DMC
-
The Best of Run DMC
-
Greatest Hits Apple Music
-
High Profile: The Original Rhymes
-
Rock Box
-
Kings of Rap
-
The Best Of
-
Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983–1991
Other
Links
Listen
Official
Concerts
Collaboration
Also known as
Run D.M.C. · Run Dmc · Run-DMC
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 5ecc3f72-20a6-47a0-8dc5-fb0b3dadeea0
- ISNI
- 0000000121576947
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 8 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.