Tougher Than Leather: Eminem Inducts Run-D.M.C. Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Hip-hop legends Run-D.M.C. were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with soul legend Bobby Womack; heavy metal gods Metallica; doo-wop pioneers Little Anthony & the Imperials; innovative guitarist Jeff Beck; and the first lady of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson. Eminem, who came to the stage clad in classic Run-D.M.C. style — a black leather jacket, lace-less adidas, and a black fedora, inducted the trio that forever altered the hip-hop landscape and influenced virtually every rapper that came after them.
Rev. Run’s brother (and former Run-D.M.C. manager), Russell Simmons was on hand to show support and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry was also there to witness the ‘Kings from Queens’ induction. It was “Walk This Way,” Aerosmith’s groundbreaking and chart-topping 1986 collaboration with Run-D.M.C. that helped expose rap to rock audiences — not to mention expose Aerosmith to a new generation of fans.
“We were blips in each other’s careers, but they gave us a [boost] and we gave them a [boost],” said Perry. “It’s great, they were going to get here one way or another, and I’m glad to see them [here.]”
Rev. Run and DMC were humbled and proud of the honor, but understood that Run-D.M.C.’s legacy was cemented long ago — in the hearts of the fans at least. “We were the audience. People looked at Run, D and Jay [and] what we were saying, the way we dressed, what we talked about, [our] whole swagger. People saw us and they saw themselves,” DMC explained. “Whether they were in Beverly Hills or in a dirt-poor ghetto, they looked and said ‘I know that guy.’ or ‘Yo, that’s me.’ We appealed to everybody at a time when people said rap was black ghetto music and about poverty and all of that. We saw a bigger picture.”
From their classic debut to their final swan song, Crown Royal, 18 years later the trio that was Run, DMC and the late Jam-Master Jay stayed true to themselves and to the music that made them superstars. “It was never a question in our minds of how long it was gonna last,” said Rev. Run. “Everybody else was worried about [it]. They were thinking too much. You ever read the book The Power of Now? We were only thinking about the ‘now.’ We were kids and happy. We were having fun.”
Hip-hop has been the dominant force in popular music for nearly two decades — largely because of Run-D.M.C.’s breakthroughs and their commercial and critical success.
Artists are eligible for Hall of Fame nomination after they reach the 25th anniversary of their recording debut.
