by Art Eddy

Hip-Hop legend. Artist. Musician. Innovator. Father. There are many facets that make up 

or as we know as DMC from the beloved Rap group Run-DMC. For over 30 years he, Run, and Jay’s music has influenced so many people. From “Rock Box” to “Walk This Way” and countless other hits DMC help shape the music industry.

Not only making a name in the music and entertainment industry Darryl works on an even more important cause. It is to help foster kids. He is the co-founder of the nonprofit, Felix Organization. DMC has been invited to the White House by President Obama to address youth groups on responsibility and he’s appeared before Congress in support of adoptees and foster children. In my interview with DMC you will understand why President Obama sought out Darryl’s help.

Recently Darryl’s long love for comic books has come to the forefront in the entertainment industry. Working alongside his partner and collaborator Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, “DMC #1,” the first full length graphic novel made its way to comic book shelves this past October. DMC received an impressive response when he debuted his book at the New York Comic Con.

I was honored to have the opportunity to talk with a true Rap legend about creating his own comic book, his influence in the world of Hip-Hop, helping out foster kids, and fatherhood.

Art Eddy: Before we talk music and fatherhood I want to ask you about your first comic book called “DMC.” What inspired you to create your own comic book?

Darryl McDaniels: Before Hip-Hop changed my life I was a little kid going to Catholic school. I was a straight A student. I loved the first day of school. I loved everything about reading, writing, and arithmetic. If I wasn’t in school I was reading and drawing my comic books.

A year ago a friend, Riggs Morales and I were talking about music. He asked me what it was like when I was a kid. I said I was a little school kid and I read comic books. As soon as I said comic books the conversation turned from music to comic books for two hours. He said that I should do a comic book. I told him that it would be corny.

He said that he understood what I was saying and that a Hip-Hop comic book is corny. He said don’t do it like the rapper DMC, but the little kid Darryl, who grew up loving comic books. He convinced me to do it. He said that my whole life was a comic book. People always said that Run-DMC were like our heroes.

Ten years ago “Rolling Stone” did an interview where they just asked what makes Run-DMC so great. You had fellow rappers, artists, writers, and educators just comment on the Run-DMC phenomenon. Chris Rock said, ‘Run and Jay were cool. DMC was like a super hero. From the way he sounds to his looks to his delivery.’ My joke was oh my God I have been discovered.

So Riggs said just take who you are and instead of this universe where you are the king of Hip-Hop where you met Run and Jay, but in the comic book your powers would really be super powers. I just took everything that inspired me from reading Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and The Avengers my whole life and put it with my life as a Hip-Hop artist and a musician and as the kid of Darryl McDaniels. The whole blueprint of Spider-Man, Superman, and the Hulk we applied to my life. It is a dream come true.

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