Darryl McDaniels

Darryl Matthews McDaniels (born May 31, 1964), also commonly known by his stage name DMC (or D.M.C.), is an American rapper.

He is a founding member of the hip hop group Run-DMC, and is considered one of the pioneers of hip hop culture.

McDaniels grew up in the New York City neighborhood of Hollis, Queens.

He was born to an unwed mother who surrendered him to the New York Foundling home.

He was a ward of the Foundling, in foster care, until placed with the McDaniels when he was one month old and eventually adopted by them.

They raised him as a Catholic, and he attended St. Pascal Baylon Elementary School.

He later attended Rice High School in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.

He subsequently attended St. John's University in Queens, New York City.

McDaniels listened to rock music and folk music in his youth, and he first became interested in hip hop music in the 1970s after listening to recordings of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

In 1978, McDaniels taught himself to DJ in the basement of his parents' home, using turntables and a mixer that he bought with his older brother, Alford, after having a comic book sale in their neighborhood.

During this period he adopted the stage name Grandmaster Get High.

Later that year, McDaniels sold his DJ equipment, after his friend Joseph "Run" Simmons acquired his own turntables and mixer.

After Jam Master Jay – who had a reputation as the best young DJ in Hollis – joined the group, Run encouraged McDaniels to rap rather than DJ.

Gradually, McDaniels came to prefer rapping to mixing records, and adopted the nickname of "Easy D".

In 1981, he dropped the "Easy D" moniker in favor of "DMcD", the way he signed his work in school, and then to the shorter "D.M.C."

This new nickname alternately stood for "Devastating Mic Control" or "Darryl Mac", his nickname since childhood as referenced in the lyrics of the song "King of Rock".

In 1984, the trio released their self-titled debut album and became very successful in the hip-hop industry.

The group's success continued to grow and reached its peak with their third album Raising Hell.

The album went to No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, making Run-D.M.C. the most popular hip-hop group at the time.

During this time, McDaniels began to build a reputation as a heavy drinker.

He was known to drink up to eight 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor a day and was arrested twice for public intoxication and driving while intoxicated.

In 1987 Run-D.M.C. wrote "Christmas in Hollis" for A Very Special Christmas.

The music video for "Christmas in Hollis" was shot in Hollis, Queens.

Run-D.M.C. filmed the video during their 1987 tour.

DMC's mother made a guest appearance in the video.

In 1997, McDaniels began to develop a deep depression.

He became extremely unhappy with the rigorous routine of touring and performing, and with being away from his wife and newborn son.

He began to rely heavily on prescription drugs and alcohol to ease the pain.

While on tour, McDaniels noticed his voice was giving out.

He was later diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a vocal disorder which causes involuntary spasms of the larynx muscles.

He believes it was caused by the aggressive way in which he performs his lyrics compounded with the years of heavy drinking.

Meanwhile, McDaniels began to have creative differences with his bandmates in Run-D.M.C., which by then, was well past its prime as a commercially successful hip-hop group.

A longtime fan of artists such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Harry Chapin, McDaniels wanted to move towards a slower, softer sound which suited his now troubled voice.

Run wanted to continue with the aggressive, hard rock-edged, sound that the group was known for.

Feeling depressed and suicidal, McDaniels heard Sarah McLachlan's song "Angel" (1997) on the radio.

The song touched McDaniels so deeply that it inspired him to reassess his life and career.

He credits McLachlan and her album Surfacing (on which "Angel" appeared) with saving his life.

With a new outlook on life, McDaniels decided to write his autobiography.

These disagreements caused McDaniels to sit out most of the recording of Crown Royal (2001).

He appeared on only three songs.