Koolest
05-01-06, 01:58 PM
With your legendary past, what do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in the world of Hip-Hop?
Wow...that’s a good question. Well, before Jay died, it wasn’t the first to go gold, the first to go platinum, first on MTV or first on Rolling Stone, but longevity. We’ve seen it all. We’ve seen gangster-rap. We’ve seen Hammer come. We’ve seen Vanilla Ice, Tupac and Biggie come. We were here through it all. We stayed relevant. We always did what was being done before rap records were being made. For us (our greatest accomplishment is) longevity for sure. But for me now, I’m fortunate enough to still be here...
I wanted to speak on Jay. It was a tragic loss for everyone, but being such a close friend, can you shed light on the impact Jam Master Jay had on you while he was alive and after his passing?
First of all, the reason why Run DMC looked the way we looked and acted the way we’d act was because of Jay. He was the vibe, the aura of Run DMC. He gave us street-credibility and made Hip-Hop acceptable universally legit, if you understand what I’m sayin’. If you think about it, musically, he was the guy that said “Let’s do ’Walk this Way’ over.” We were like “Naw, we gon’ sample the beat and we gon’ say the rhymes...” (Starts doing rhymes.) Jay was always the visionary. He was not afraid to do what we had to do creatively and represent. He wasn’t afraid to be an individual. But at the same time-he wasn’t afraid to be outstanding.
What’s your relationship with Run like now?
I see him on TV more than I do in person, but it’s just that after Jay (passed away) we had two different paths to walk now at this point in our lives.
You stayed away for a good while...What kept you away?
Well, personal things like alcoholism, I found out that I was adopted, Jay being murdered, my father died. I (have) been through a lot in the last ten years. It wasn’t all good like people were thinking. Yes, I’m the King. Yes, I’m a pioneer. Yes, I got fame and fortune. Yes, yes, yes all the things you want to say about me. But at the end of the day, like I say on the Sarah Mclachlan record, the most important thing I am to you guys is that I’m just like you. And I'm going to keep it real because Hip-Hop is about keeping it real. I was going through some things. But see everything that I went through makes me who I am, where I come from and all of that. Bottom line: before I was able to evolve as an artist, I had to evolve as a person. So, from ‘96 up until now, it was all about “What is this DMC thing meaning now? Where do I go with it and when I get there, what the hell am I going to do with it?”
You talk about keeping it real, which is important. You’ve been quite open about alcoholism, but what is it like today? Does it still try to peak in and disturb your day or are you just calm and enjoying life more than before?
From ‘91-2000, which is actually when I found out I was adopted, I did not have a drink. I started drinking probably in 1976 or something. I started drinking when I was probably 12. But in 1991, I had pancreatitis, I think people know the story. I had a bad case of pancreatitis because I used to literally drink a case of 40’s myself a day, in addition to going to the clubs and drinking Bacardi and Coke way back when. So, I went to the doctor and he said “You have two choices. You can drink and die or not drink and live.” So from 1991-2000… no drinking. I didn’t have to go to rehab and didn’t need no help. I would just look at a drink and know, “If I drink that, I’ll die!” So, it was easy! But then I found out I was adopted, and at the same time, I found out what kind of music I wanted to make, what kind of person I am. So I was reborn again. But in my mind, it was party time. So I was telling everybody that said “D, you buggin’ out. You can’t drink!” (I said) “I feel good. I look good. I’m exercising. I’m making the music I want to do. I’m making a solo album. The world is coming together. Blahzay-Blah. It’s party time!” But (what) I didn’t know (is that) I started drinking because I didn’t know how to deal with the adoption thing. But I didn’t know that at the time. So, from 2001-2004 I was drinking 24/7. But then in 2004, people were telling me to go to rehab, that I need help. I did the whole denial thing: “I don’t need no ****ing help!” But then one day in 2004, I realized not only am I killing myself, I can’t get no higher. There’s something else I should be doing. Once I got in rehab, it wasn’t just go and get detox. The rehab I went to was like college. They taught you about your brain, body functions, genetics, nerve endings, what alcohol does....So I got an education. Out of all of that, you have 50 things up on the blackboard. You’re going to teachers and psychologists. I had to narrow it down to which alcoholic am I? That’s Me. I do that! So, once I realized and once I looked in the mirror and confronted myself and said “Okay, I have to do something else besides drinking.” But it was a journey. It wasn’t easy. That’s why I talk about it because at the end of the day, even if you’re not alcoholic, you probably have an uncle or a brother...you could relate to that. See, my album is about issues. Everybody is claiming “It’s so good, it’s Hip-Hop!” No! Some things in Hip-Hop is good, but in life, there’s a lot of issues people aren’t addressing. Hip-Hop is a culture. It's a way of life. There are not enough people talking about life. So, what I did...I could sit here and talk to the world about what I don’t like about Hip-Hop and I guarantee you everybody will agree with me. But they’re scared to agree with me, so they call it hating. No! The reason you’re calling me a hater is because I’m telling the truth and you can’t take it! Instead of doing that, I said “What is Hip-Hop not talking about?” The war in Iraq...Personal situation...So, I looked in the mirror and I said “This happened to me. That happened to me.” Whatever I experience waking up in the day, I’m going to make records about it. At the end of the day, if you listen to my album whether you’re six or sixty years old or whether you’re black, white or Puerto Rican...
There was a point in your life where you had to deal with suicidal thoughts. What would be your advice for the youth today, dealing with similar issues?
This is my advice: You feel like there’s nobody you can talk to who can feel what you’re feeling. Before you can commit suicide, you have to search till you find that person who can feel what you’re feeling. The only reason why you're feeling how you’re feeling is because you’re talking to the wrong person. That’s why I put it on a record for millions to hear. So, if they need to talk to me, come find me. People say I’m a pioneer, a legend, a godfather, I may be all those things you say...the King whatever...but at the end of the day, like I said in the Sarah Mclauchlan record: “There’s a lot of people just like me!” I’m just like you homie. I'm just like you sister. I’m just like you brother. White/Black-I’m just like you. I’ll sit there and talk to you about it because I’m ashamed of what it is. A lot of people thinking of this, they hold it in, which is the wrong thing to do. By you letting somebody know you feel like that, it could help somebody else. So, my advice is: (You can say) “My mother don’t understand me. My girlfriend don’t understand me. My teachers don’t understand me.” You have to go look in the park. Go online, pick up the telephone book. Go to “Suicide Anonymous” or whatever it is. Talk to people who are just like you.
Why did you choose to share your adoption journey with cameras? Were you out to help others who were struggling with the same predicament?
Well, first t was like this. I found out I was adopted five years ago. I didn’t move on it. I didn’t act on it. I just hit the bottle. So, after I stopped drinking, I said for me, this isn’t about saying my life isn’t my life. My parents are parents. But I needed to find out how I came into this world. So, dealing with emotions of “Why did my mother give me up? Why did my parents take me? Why am I DMC?” I went through all of that. But then I was thinking that I really need help because I really can’t comprehend this on an emotional and mental level. So this lady I know, who is also adopted, let me know they have adoption discussion groups. So I started attending the meetings and basically we just go there, people from all walks of life: Professional people, normal people, 9-5 people, athletes, entertainers, actors, garbage men and everything, right. We’d just sit there and talk about being adopted. But at the meetings, I started learning about all the adoption issues: the laws, the sealed records, birth certificates, the hospitals, the private eyes. So I learned about this and realized that there is no instructional guide to being adopted. So, being me and who I am in this position...What happened was VH1 called me up and said “Would I like to do the Surreal World?” I said, No, thank you for the invite. But I don’t believe in reality TV on that level because, if I do anything, whether it’s music, or it’s a video or a television show, it’s going to have meaning and purpose. Then I said “I got an idea! From what I learned at my adoption meetings, maybe I can document me search for my parents so they'll have a blueprint for their search. If I document my search not only will it help me, but it will help other people.” See, I was going to do it anyway, this just let me help other people.
How did your journey affect your adoptive family and your wife?
Well everybody, believe it or not, was really supportive because everybody knew my life is my life but I needed to know, because everybody lese knew where they came from. There were little things where I felt “What am I doin’? My Mother is going to think I don’t love her.” I felt it so I know she felt that. But I let her know, “Mom, you’re my Mother. You and Dad are my parents. I love y’all. There’s nobody more important than y’all. This is just the lady that gave me birth. This lady gave me life but you allowed me to live it.” In the beginning it was a little shaky. Even my brother was like, “Listen, man-You’re the adopted one. You gotta do what you gotta do. I’m not adopted. I don’t want to know what's going on over there. I love you, though but I don’t want to go over there because it’s all unfamiliar to me.” But you know, if I was your brother, you’d feel like “I love you Darryl, but why you doing this to me? What? Mom’s not good enough for you?” So, those thoughts were there.
Being a pioneer, how do you see Hip-Hop’s evolution? Do you feel it’ headed in the right direction or do you think it’s going the wrong way?
No...Hip-Hop is really...Wait! I don’t want to criticize it. Only thing Hip-Hop has to do is continue to be Hip-Hop, right? But right now, it’s forgotten what Hip-Hop really represents: the way of life, right? The artform: the graffiti, the art, the dance, the music. Right now everybody's trying to be red. They’re wasting their time because everybody’s trying to see who could be the best at being red as opposed to who could be the best at being blue, pink, yellow, brown, or purple. Everybody’s trying to be the best at one thing! That’s not what Hip-Hop is about. You don’t have to look a certain way, talk a certain way...Hip-Hop originally was, “Yo, what’s your flavor?” See, it’s all different flavors but we’re all the same. You have De la Soul, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Special Ed, The Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, Will Smith, Tribe Called Quest, Kool G. Rap, NWA, Dr. Dre... Everybody was different, but we’re all representing the same thing. Right now, we’re all the same representing the same thing. That’s a false representation of what Hip-Hop is about. Hip-Hop don’t need to do nothin’ except being Hip-Hop. This is the question I give to everybody. I always get the younger rappers coming up to me saying, “Yo, DMC, where do you think Hip-Hop is going?” I tell them this: “It’s not where it’s going, young man. It’s where you’re going to take it.” You should see the look of confusion on their face. They're thinking, “What do you mean D?” Listen, you don’t have to be 50 Cent, Jay-Z or Kanye or any of the guys you see in the video to represent. You have to represent you. You don’t get that. They think, “I gotta rap like these guys. I gotta get tattoos like these guys. I gotta carry guns like these guys. I gotta buy whips like these guys.” The list goes on and on. Man, you don’t have to do nothin’ except keep it real!
How do you respond to fans who criticize your comeback and dismiss it as “He’s too old to rhyme or to be relevant”? They may not even know the past but...
Right...“What the hell is this old rapper guy? I heard of him, but what is he doing?” I can only tell them this, “Rap is what I do, not what I am.” They might not know this, but this is the answer: it’s for them to find out. Once they do, then maybe they’ll get it. Does Bruce Springstein stop doing Rock & Roll because he’s 50. Does Bob Dylan stop doing what he does because he’s 50? And people say The Rolling Stones need to stop, but here’s something nobody knows about them, critics and writers that think y’all know it all...Whatever you see Mick Jagger and them doing now, they was doing the same thing at 11 years old, before they even had a record deal. That’s what it’s about. Are you true to the game or are you true to the game. So, this is what I do. This is my life. This is my music. As I grow, I just change up what I’m talking about but I'ma keep doing it because my heart pumps Hip-Hop!
Also, you came through and talked about “Who’s hot now?” But let me ask you, “Who do you think is hot now, but that will have longevity as well?”
Wow...Well, let me ask you: You have a whole lot of hot cats in the last five years. Are people still talking about them? If they do, are they talking about their music or what they’re doing and who they're dating. So you think, De La Soul, you could go “I just seen them last week in the House of Blues.” Wu-Tang Clan? They back on the road right now. I was in DC the other night and guess who comes on stage? All of them mother****ers was on stage ding that **** that they do that‘s real. Every guy who’s been dominant in the last five years, are we still talking about them? Nope! But you see Chuck D, you see him, you remember. You see Nas or even further back. If you see Special Ed, Big Daddy Kane...You seen what he did on Hip-Hop Honors! What’s crazy is all the young kids in the hood was like, “Who’s that?” (Laughs) That’s what I mean...Who’s hot now? Even the producers, they just fall back into obscurity...
Wow...that’s a good question. Well, before Jay died, it wasn’t the first to go gold, the first to go platinum, first on MTV or first on Rolling Stone, but longevity. We’ve seen it all. We’ve seen gangster-rap. We’ve seen Hammer come. We’ve seen Vanilla Ice, Tupac and Biggie come. We were here through it all. We stayed relevant. We always did what was being done before rap records were being made. For us (our greatest accomplishment is) longevity for sure. But for me now, I’m fortunate enough to still be here...
I wanted to speak on Jay. It was a tragic loss for everyone, but being such a close friend, can you shed light on the impact Jam Master Jay had on you while he was alive and after his passing?
First of all, the reason why Run DMC looked the way we looked and acted the way we’d act was because of Jay. He was the vibe, the aura of Run DMC. He gave us street-credibility and made Hip-Hop acceptable universally legit, if you understand what I’m sayin’. If you think about it, musically, he was the guy that said “Let’s do ’Walk this Way’ over.” We were like “Naw, we gon’ sample the beat and we gon’ say the rhymes...” (Starts doing rhymes.) Jay was always the visionary. He was not afraid to do what we had to do creatively and represent. He wasn’t afraid to be an individual. But at the same time-he wasn’t afraid to be outstanding.
What’s your relationship with Run like now?
I see him on TV more than I do in person, but it’s just that after Jay (passed away) we had two different paths to walk now at this point in our lives.
You stayed away for a good while...What kept you away?
Well, personal things like alcoholism, I found out that I was adopted, Jay being murdered, my father died. I (have) been through a lot in the last ten years. It wasn’t all good like people were thinking. Yes, I’m the King. Yes, I’m a pioneer. Yes, I got fame and fortune. Yes, yes, yes all the things you want to say about me. But at the end of the day, like I say on the Sarah Mclachlan record, the most important thing I am to you guys is that I’m just like you. And I'm going to keep it real because Hip-Hop is about keeping it real. I was going through some things. But see everything that I went through makes me who I am, where I come from and all of that. Bottom line: before I was able to evolve as an artist, I had to evolve as a person. So, from ‘96 up until now, it was all about “What is this DMC thing meaning now? Where do I go with it and when I get there, what the hell am I going to do with it?”
You talk about keeping it real, which is important. You’ve been quite open about alcoholism, but what is it like today? Does it still try to peak in and disturb your day or are you just calm and enjoying life more than before?
From ‘91-2000, which is actually when I found out I was adopted, I did not have a drink. I started drinking probably in 1976 or something. I started drinking when I was probably 12. But in 1991, I had pancreatitis, I think people know the story. I had a bad case of pancreatitis because I used to literally drink a case of 40’s myself a day, in addition to going to the clubs and drinking Bacardi and Coke way back when. So, I went to the doctor and he said “You have two choices. You can drink and die or not drink and live.” So from 1991-2000… no drinking. I didn’t have to go to rehab and didn’t need no help. I would just look at a drink and know, “If I drink that, I’ll die!” So, it was easy! But then I found out I was adopted, and at the same time, I found out what kind of music I wanted to make, what kind of person I am. So I was reborn again. But in my mind, it was party time. So I was telling everybody that said “D, you buggin’ out. You can’t drink!” (I said) “I feel good. I look good. I’m exercising. I’m making the music I want to do. I’m making a solo album. The world is coming together. Blahzay-Blah. It’s party time!” But (what) I didn’t know (is that) I started drinking because I didn’t know how to deal with the adoption thing. But I didn’t know that at the time. So, from 2001-2004 I was drinking 24/7. But then in 2004, people were telling me to go to rehab, that I need help. I did the whole denial thing: “I don’t need no ****ing help!” But then one day in 2004, I realized not only am I killing myself, I can’t get no higher. There’s something else I should be doing. Once I got in rehab, it wasn’t just go and get detox. The rehab I went to was like college. They taught you about your brain, body functions, genetics, nerve endings, what alcohol does....So I got an education. Out of all of that, you have 50 things up on the blackboard. You’re going to teachers and psychologists. I had to narrow it down to which alcoholic am I? That’s Me. I do that! So, once I realized and once I looked in the mirror and confronted myself and said “Okay, I have to do something else besides drinking.” But it was a journey. It wasn’t easy. That’s why I talk about it because at the end of the day, even if you’re not alcoholic, you probably have an uncle or a brother...you could relate to that. See, my album is about issues. Everybody is claiming “It’s so good, it’s Hip-Hop!” No! Some things in Hip-Hop is good, but in life, there’s a lot of issues people aren’t addressing. Hip-Hop is a culture. It's a way of life. There are not enough people talking about life. So, what I did...I could sit here and talk to the world about what I don’t like about Hip-Hop and I guarantee you everybody will agree with me. But they’re scared to agree with me, so they call it hating. No! The reason you’re calling me a hater is because I’m telling the truth and you can’t take it! Instead of doing that, I said “What is Hip-Hop not talking about?” The war in Iraq...Personal situation...So, I looked in the mirror and I said “This happened to me. That happened to me.” Whatever I experience waking up in the day, I’m going to make records about it. At the end of the day, if you listen to my album whether you’re six or sixty years old or whether you’re black, white or Puerto Rican...
There was a point in your life where you had to deal with suicidal thoughts. What would be your advice for the youth today, dealing with similar issues?
This is my advice: You feel like there’s nobody you can talk to who can feel what you’re feeling. Before you can commit suicide, you have to search till you find that person who can feel what you’re feeling. The only reason why you're feeling how you’re feeling is because you’re talking to the wrong person. That’s why I put it on a record for millions to hear. So, if they need to talk to me, come find me. People say I’m a pioneer, a legend, a godfather, I may be all those things you say...the King whatever...but at the end of the day, like I said in the Sarah Mclauchlan record: “There’s a lot of people just like me!” I’m just like you homie. I'm just like you sister. I’m just like you brother. White/Black-I’m just like you. I’ll sit there and talk to you about it because I’m ashamed of what it is. A lot of people thinking of this, they hold it in, which is the wrong thing to do. By you letting somebody know you feel like that, it could help somebody else. So, my advice is: (You can say) “My mother don’t understand me. My girlfriend don’t understand me. My teachers don’t understand me.” You have to go look in the park. Go online, pick up the telephone book. Go to “Suicide Anonymous” or whatever it is. Talk to people who are just like you.
Why did you choose to share your adoption journey with cameras? Were you out to help others who were struggling with the same predicament?
Well, first t was like this. I found out I was adopted five years ago. I didn’t move on it. I didn’t act on it. I just hit the bottle. So, after I stopped drinking, I said for me, this isn’t about saying my life isn’t my life. My parents are parents. But I needed to find out how I came into this world. So, dealing with emotions of “Why did my mother give me up? Why did my parents take me? Why am I DMC?” I went through all of that. But then I was thinking that I really need help because I really can’t comprehend this on an emotional and mental level. So this lady I know, who is also adopted, let me know they have adoption discussion groups. So I started attending the meetings and basically we just go there, people from all walks of life: Professional people, normal people, 9-5 people, athletes, entertainers, actors, garbage men and everything, right. We’d just sit there and talk about being adopted. But at the meetings, I started learning about all the adoption issues: the laws, the sealed records, birth certificates, the hospitals, the private eyes. So I learned about this and realized that there is no instructional guide to being adopted. So, being me and who I am in this position...What happened was VH1 called me up and said “Would I like to do the Surreal World?” I said, No, thank you for the invite. But I don’t believe in reality TV on that level because, if I do anything, whether it’s music, or it’s a video or a television show, it’s going to have meaning and purpose. Then I said “I got an idea! From what I learned at my adoption meetings, maybe I can document me search for my parents so they'll have a blueprint for their search. If I document my search not only will it help me, but it will help other people.” See, I was going to do it anyway, this just let me help other people.
How did your journey affect your adoptive family and your wife?
Well everybody, believe it or not, was really supportive because everybody knew my life is my life but I needed to know, because everybody lese knew where they came from. There were little things where I felt “What am I doin’? My Mother is going to think I don’t love her.” I felt it so I know she felt that. But I let her know, “Mom, you’re my Mother. You and Dad are my parents. I love y’all. There’s nobody more important than y’all. This is just the lady that gave me birth. This lady gave me life but you allowed me to live it.” In the beginning it was a little shaky. Even my brother was like, “Listen, man-You’re the adopted one. You gotta do what you gotta do. I’m not adopted. I don’t want to know what's going on over there. I love you, though but I don’t want to go over there because it’s all unfamiliar to me.” But you know, if I was your brother, you’d feel like “I love you Darryl, but why you doing this to me? What? Mom’s not good enough for you?” So, those thoughts were there.
Being a pioneer, how do you see Hip-Hop’s evolution? Do you feel it’ headed in the right direction or do you think it’s going the wrong way?
No...Hip-Hop is really...Wait! I don’t want to criticize it. Only thing Hip-Hop has to do is continue to be Hip-Hop, right? But right now, it’s forgotten what Hip-Hop really represents: the way of life, right? The artform: the graffiti, the art, the dance, the music. Right now everybody's trying to be red. They’re wasting their time because everybody’s trying to see who could be the best at being red as opposed to who could be the best at being blue, pink, yellow, brown, or purple. Everybody’s trying to be the best at one thing! That’s not what Hip-Hop is about. You don’t have to look a certain way, talk a certain way...Hip-Hop originally was, “Yo, what’s your flavor?” See, it’s all different flavors but we’re all the same. You have De la Soul, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Special Ed, The Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, Will Smith, Tribe Called Quest, Kool G. Rap, NWA, Dr. Dre... Everybody was different, but we’re all representing the same thing. Right now, we’re all the same representing the same thing. That’s a false representation of what Hip-Hop is about. Hip-Hop don’t need to do nothin’ except being Hip-Hop. This is the question I give to everybody. I always get the younger rappers coming up to me saying, “Yo, DMC, where do you think Hip-Hop is going?” I tell them this: “It’s not where it’s going, young man. It’s where you’re going to take it.” You should see the look of confusion on their face. They're thinking, “What do you mean D?” Listen, you don’t have to be 50 Cent, Jay-Z or Kanye or any of the guys you see in the video to represent. You have to represent you. You don’t get that. They think, “I gotta rap like these guys. I gotta get tattoos like these guys. I gotta carry guns like these guys. I gotta buy whips like these guys.” The list goes on and on. Man, you don’t have to do nothin’ except keep it real!
How do you respond to fans who criticize your comeback and dismiss it as “He’s too old to rhyme or to be relevant”? They may not even know the past but...
Right...“What the hell is this old rapper guy? I heard of him, but what is he doing?” I can only tell them this, “Rap is what I do, not what I am.” They might not know this, but this is the answer: it’s for them to find out. Once they do, then maybe they’ll get it. Does Bruce Springstein stop doing Rock & Roll because he’s 50. Does Bob Dylan stop doing what he does because he’s 50? And people say The Rolling Stones need to stop, but here’s something nobody knows about them, critics and writers that think y’all know it all...Whatever you see Mick Jagger and them doing now, they was doing the same thing at 11 years old, before they even had a record deal. That’s what it’s about. Are you true to the game or are you true to the game. So, this is what I do. This is my life. This is my music. As I grow, I just change up what I’m talking about but I'ma keep doing it because my heart pumps Hip-Hop!
Also, you came through and talked about “Who’s hot now?” But let me ask you, “Who do you think is hot now, but that will have longevity as well?”
Wow...Well, let me ask you: You have a whole lot of hot cats in the last five years. Are people still talking about them? If they do, are they talking about their music or what they’re doing and who they're dating. So you think, De La Soul, you could go “I just seen them last week in the House of Blues.” Wu-Tang Clan? They back on the road right now. I was in DC the other night and guess who comes on stage? All of them mother****ers was on stage ding that **** that they do that‘s real. Every guy who’s been dominant in the last five years, are we still talking about them? Nope! But you see Chuck D, you see him, you remember. You see Nas or even further back. If you see Special Ed, Big Daddy Kane...You seen what he did on Hip-Hop Honors! What’s crazy is all the young kids in the hood was like, “Who’s that?” (Laughs) That’s what I mean...Who’s hot now? Even the producers, they just fall back into obscurity...