Hip hop icons Run DMC have reflected on their sudden rise to fame exclusively to ClashMusic.
One of the most important hip hop groups of all time, Run DMC proved that rap was more than just a novelty. The band’s tough, street stance was matched by pioneering beats and lyrics which expanded what the genre was capable of.
Releasing some seminal material, Run DMC were catapulted into the charts courtesy of their rendition of ‘Walk This Way’. Achieving overnight fame, Reverend Run reflected that this has both positive and negative elements.
“I wasn’t ready for the intensity of Run DMC – make an album, go on tour, make an album, go on tour and so on. I felt like there was no stopping” he explained.
“Managers will push you and you can’t take control of your life if you aren’t in control. I was just a kid, so I enjoyed it, but you do feel completely overwhelmed. I think in general, people don’t know when you’re exhausted. You just have to be careful and tell people that you’re tired, that’s the bottom line.”
Becoming a hugely influential group, Run DMC kept ahead of the pack with a series of forward thinking albums. “It can feel good sometimes, being known as a pioneer in music. But you don’t want to get caught in a time warp and that’s all they talk about – what you used to be. That’s not me. That’s not Rev Run” he insisted.
“But if you only held on to Run DMC and that’s your whole life, for me that’s just not enough. I’m Rev Run now. I’m on Twitter – I do my thing. You don’t need to diversify – you should just go find out what your passion is now. Find out what are you supposed to be doing at this part of your life.”
Check out Reverend Run on Twitter HERE.
Read the entire interview HERE.
