Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels

Innovator, Motivator, Philanthropist, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels changed music and made history when he broke down cultural barriers with his legendary band Run-DMC. Forty million record sales and half a billion streams later, he continues to inspire & impact the world…

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels is a legendary music icon who first impacted the world over 35 years ago. From the first rap group to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine to the first to appear on MTV, Run-DMC changed music, culture, fashion, language and made American history. It would be hard to overstate his influence on popular culture.

Forty million record sales and half a billion song streams later DMC still continues to create, inspire and motivate. In 2009, as a founding member of Run-DMC, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2016 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy given to “performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.”

In 2014 he launched a comic book company called Darryl Makes Comics, a new journey that helps bridge the gap between the worlds of hip-hop and the fantastic adventures he got wrapped up in as a youth. The company’s first full length graphic novel hit stores in October 2014. His company has since followed up with a new release annually, and he speaks multiple times a year at various comic conventions.

McDaniels recently released his first children’s book “Darryl’s Dream” on Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books (RHCB), in partnership with Nickelodeon and ViacomCBS Consumer Products.

McDaniels is also the co-author of two critically acclaimed books: his memoir entitled, “Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide” (2016/Harpers/Amistad) giving him another platform to talk about his past struggles with depression and helping those, especially men of color, remove the shame of asking for help. He recently partnered with U Will, the app that allows college students immediate access to a therapist. He also penned the autobiography “King of Rock; Respect, Responsibility and My Life with Run-DMC” (2001/ Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martins) as well as an award-winning solo album “Checks, Thugs & Rock and Roll.”

That album produced the hit single “Just like Me” featuring Sarah McLachlan; a song DMC wrote after discovering he was adopted, that spoke to his new revelation and began his journey down another life path, in search of his birth mother. While his search struggle was captured in the 2007 Emmy Winning VH1 documentary “DMC: My Adoption Journey,” the process gave DMC tremendous insight and purpose, prompting him to become an advocate for adoption and children in foster care.

In 2006 he co-founded the Felix Organization with Hollywood casting agent Sheila Jaffe- a nonprofit that works to provide inspiring opportunities and new experiences to enrich the lives of children who are growing in the foster care system.

All the while, DMC’s music continues to inspire! In 2017 he released the eagerly anticipated special vinyl-only limited edition EP, “Back From the Dead- The Legend Lives” on National Record Store Day/ Black Friday, November 24, with the 4-track power-bolt featuring iconic collaborations from the rock and hip hop worlds including Chuck D (Public Enemy), John Moyer (Disturbed), Rome (Sublime), and Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash), and others. The Deluxe Package (a limited rollout of 4000, individually numbered and pressed in red vinyl) with the cover artwork for Back From The Dead portraying DMC as a zombie, was designed by award winning Walking Dead graphic novel artist Tony Moore.

McDaniels has recently released two singles “America” and “Ghetto Metal”, on the DMC imprint King of Rock Entertainment, in advance of a new album entitled “AMERICA” that will feature songs with Joan Jett, Sammy Hagar, Travis Barker (Blink 182), Chuck D, Sum 41, DJ Hurricane (Beastie Boys), Ice-T, Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Mick Mars (Motley Crue), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) and more.

In between his work as a musical artist and producer, published author and speaker, or his work with his nonprofit, McDaniels finds time to talk with kids across the country about respect, responsibility, and self-awareness. One of his many memorable engagements included an invitation in 2015 by former President Obama to speak at the White House to a group of young men about fatherhood.

McDaniels has also appeared before Congress and various State legislatures in support of adoptees and foster children, worked with former First Lady Michelle Obama on part of her “Get Fit” Campaign, was a featured speaker at the 2016 Kennedy Forum #Young Minds Matter event on Mental Health, and was a featured speaker at the 2017 SXSW Music Festival and 2017 Kennedy Center Honors.

He is also an Advisory Board Member for Hip Hop Public Health, an organization whose mission “is to foster positive health behavior change through the transformative power of hip-hop music.” Their recent focus has been on creating awareness of the importance of being vaccinated against COVID-19.

For his numerous philanthropic endeavors, DMC has received numerous awards including the Hard Rock’s Love All Serve All Award, the Doing Art Together (DAT) Honoree Award for his contributions to helping under-served communities in NYC in the classroom and life, and the coveted CHILDREN’S RIGHTS Champion Award for his tireless work on behalf of foster children through his nonprofit The Felix Organization, as well as his work providing other year-round opportunities for children in foster care.

In addition to the Felix Organization and Hip Hop Public Health, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of The Madison Square Garden Company, including the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media, to make dreams come true for children facing obstacles.