On February 01, 2006, we had the opportunity to speak with DMC, Darryl McDaniels, one of the members of Run-DMC, for a in-depth interview about his life, career, and new album (Checks, Thugs And Rock & Roll). During the 41 minute and 22 second interview, DMC went on to talk about the passing on of his father and musical partner Jam Master Jay, thoughts of suicide, and the recent discovery of his adoption at birth.
How do you feel about New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina?
DARRYL MCDANIELS (RUN-DMC):Katrina happened and you see from a wide perspective the poverty, the despair, and the inconsistencies. This has not happened only with Katrina. This is how society is. Not only in New Orleans, but it is like that in Manhattan. It is like that in Texas. It is like that in Georgia. People live like that everyday. We are supposed to be this nation of humanity and then you have these rappers that go on TV that say everything is good. They are like, "See what I am driving, you know what I'm sayin'. See how I am living, you know what I'm sayin'. MTV Cribs, you know what I'm sayin'. All these reality shows, you know what I'm sayin'. " First of all, I know what you're sayin' because what you're sayin', ain't sayin' much. I know what you're doin', but it is not much. Katrina should be a wakeup call for people, rappers, all the corporations, the priests, and the parents to put your money where your mouth is. Don't just give out turkeys on Thanksgiving Day. Give them out everyday. The problem with people is that we wait until something to happen. We have the rich and famous and then we have people that have to continue to live like that. Katrina was a wakeup call because the politicians say things like they will make education better. They will help poverty. They will improve the healthcare system. They make all these promises, but at the end of the year nothing has happened. Hip-Hop has become very powerful. It has dominated pop culture. Sure, all these guys are rich and famous. Chuck D said money is powerful, but the powerful things are the things we got. We got cameras. We got microphones. We can do interviews. Now they are even letting rappers make movies. We dominate. We have power. So it is time to put our money where our mouths is. We don't need people coming into the hoods and building basketball courts. We need schools. We need to build another youth center. We need hospitals. We need universities. If we all come together and not only give turkeys out on Thanksgiving Day, but everyday, we can then make a difference.
Are you working on any other projects such as movies, books, shows or anything else?
DARRYL MCDANIELS (RUN-DMC):I have a cartoon that is going to be a series. I am working on a screenplay. I am also working on a movie about my life story.
When people think of Hip-Hop, they think of Run-DMC, as you guys are known as the founding fathers of it. What advice do you give to aspiring musicians and artists? Would you tell them to follow their dreams or would you tell them to stay in school?
DARRYL MCDANIELS (RUN-DMC):There is a whole subculture out there of dudes that really believe that they are going to be successful in Hip-Hop. You have these kids on the streets and all they do is run around with their demos and go to clubs. They got to go get their rims. They got to go get their jewelry. They got to get the new Sean Carters. They got to get the new $400 jeans from Asia. There is a whole subculture of a generation below us, not doing anything. You can't just go running around with your demos. If you don't get a job, go get a vocation. You know? Go do something. Go take a pottery class. Take an electric course or something. Because you have all these kids running around with their demo tapes, freestyling on the corners, going to clubs, and living in this fantasy world. What I tell these kids is 2 things. Do what you do, but also go get that day job, vocation, or take a class. You don't need to be an entertainer to live that life that you see on TV. You can be a doctor. Doctors have mansions too. Be the lawyer. You can be 50 Cent's and Terrell Owen's lawyer. You can be the director. You can be the screenwriter. I tell the kids that Hip-Hop is more than what you see and hear on the records.
If you could leave your fans with one lasting thought, what would it be?
DARRYL MCDANIELS (RUN-DMC):For anyone that has ever asked for an autograph or asked for a picture. Anyone that has ever stopped me in the streets to tell me how our music has changed their lives. These aren't my fans. These are my friends. One of the records on the album is "Just Like Me." So what I mean is that you guys aren't my fans, but my friends. I ain't above y'all. You guys are just like me.
