"Run DMC is arguably the greatest group in hip-hop history." The opening statement of Run DMC's official website biography says. This group of three forever changed the hip-hop scene. All three, Darryl McDaniel, Joseph Simmons, and Jason Mizell, became the first hip-hop group to star on MTV. They can be associated with the "hardcore hip-hop" of the 1980's.
             The members of Run DMC grew up in middle-class Queens, New York. Joseph Simmons, known as Run for "running at the mouth", was the youngest of three brothers, and grew up with both parents who each held steady jobs. His brother Russell Simmons, the co-founder of the Def Jam empire, was the one who got Run DMC's career headed in the right direction. Russell started small, promoting rap shows around New York, and then became a manager, establishing Rush Productions. Russell brought home the first major artist to sign with him, Kurtis Blow. Not long after meeting Kurtis Blow, Joe started to DJ at local rap shows for him, going by the name "DJ Run Love, the Son of Kurtis Blow".
             Darryl McDaniels, who later picked up the name DMC, grew up with two parents, his father an engineer and his mother a nurse. Darryl and Joe grew up as childhood friends. Russell encouraged the two boys to rap together in the Simmons home. Joe, at age 13, eventually shared tapes of him performing with Kurtis Blow and convinced Darryl to join him onstage. Darryl started out shakily rhyming, but got better and better each time he got onstage. After graduating high school, they recruited their old basketball buddy, and neighborhood friend, Jason Mizell or Jam Master Jay. While Darryl and Joe were gaining rap experience, Jay was working earning money working as a club disc jockey. Darryl, Joe, and Jay stayed in touch as they went off to college. Joe attended St. John's University to study sociology and Darryl went to LaGuardia Communi...