Run-DMC is commonly considered to be the bridge between old school rappers like Grandmaster Flash and the modern rap era. Joseph Simmons (Run), Darryl McDaniels (DMC) and Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay) emerged from Hollis, Queens, N.Y. With their gold chains and Adidas, they were the first rappers to earn a gold album (Run-DMC in 1984), the first to earn a platinum album (King of Rock in 1985), the first to go multi-platinum (Raising Hell in 1986), the first to have their videos played on MTV, the first to appear on "American Bandstand," and the first to grace the cover of Rolling Stone. Runs' older brother, Russell Simmons, already had a career in the music business with his label Def Jam as the management group Rush Production, which represented rappers Kurtis Blow and Whodini. Under Simmons' management, the group hit the big time, bringing rap to mainstream America - even appearing with Aerosmith in a remake of the Boston rockers' hit "Walk This Way" in 1986.
The group released Tougher Than Leather in 1988 and Back From Hell in 1990, both of which did not enjoy the commercial success of previous releases. In the wake of personal problems, both Run and DMC became born again Christians after the release of Back From Hell. In 1993 they released Down With the King. Eight years later, Run-D.M.C.'s long - awaited "comeback" album finally surfaced. In October 30th 2002 Jam Master Jay was murdered at a New York recording studio.