The DMC Mental Health Symposium brings together music, mental wellness, and motivation in an unforgettable event led by hip-hop pioneer Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. As a founding member of the legendary group Run-DMC, Darryl broke barriers in music, fashion, and culture—selling over 40 million records and amassing a billion streams. Beyond the music, his journey has been deeply personal and inspiring, and we are pleased to host this Q&A and community discussion.
DARRYL “DMC” MCDANIELS
Innovator, Motivator, Philanthropist, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels changed music and made history when he broke down cultural barriers with his legendary band Run-DMC. Forty million record sales and over a billion streams later, he continues to inspire & impact the world…
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels is a legendary music icon who first impacted the world 40 years ago when RUN DMC made their recording debut “It’s Like That/ Sucker MCs.” From the first rap group to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine to the first to appear on MTV, he helped changed music, culture, fashion, language and made American history. It would be hard to overstate his influence on popular culture.
Forty million+ physical record sales and over a billion song streams later, DMC still continues to create, inspire and motivate. In 2009, as a founding member of Run-DMC, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2016 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy given to “performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.”
He recently launched a new cookie company in 2023 called Darryl Makes Cookies featuring his favorite cookies, and continues to delight fans through his comic book company Darryl Makes Comics, offering readers a journey that helps bridge the gap between the worlds of hip-hop and the fantastic adventures he got wrapped up in as a youth. The comic company’s first full length graphic novel hit stores in October 2014 and has since followed up with a new release every year.
In addition to his cookies and comics, Darryl released his first children’s book in 2021 entitled “Darryl’s Dream” on Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books (RHCB), in partnership with Nickelodeon and ViacomCBS Consumer Products and is working on a second release.
Darryl is also the co-author of two critically acclaimed books: his memoir entitled, Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide (2016/Harpers/Amistad) giving him another platform to talk about his past struggles with depression and helping those, especially men of color, remove the shame of asking for help. To help advanxe this important platform, he has partnered with Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness solution supporting 3 million students at 400 schools, as a mental health advocate.
Darryl released the hit single “Just like Me” featuring Sarah McLachlan; a song he wrote after discovering he was adopted. The song spoke to his new revelation and began his journey down another life path, in search of his birth mother. While his search struggle was captured in the 2007 Emmy Winning VH1 documentary DMC: My Adoption Journey, the process gave DMC tremendous insight and purpose, prompting him to become an advocate for adoption and children in foster care.
In 2006 he co-founded the Felix Organization with Hollywood casting agent Sheila Jaffe- a nonprofit that works to provide inspiring opportunities and new experiences to enrich the lives of children who are growing in the foster care system.
http://www.thefelixorganization.org
All the while, DMC’s music continues to inspire! In 2017 he released the eagerly anticipated special vinyl-only limited edition EP, Back From the Dead- The Legend Lives with the 4-track power-bolt featuring iconic collaborations from the rock and hip hop worlds including Chuck D (Public Enemy), John Moyer (Disturbed), Rome (Sublime), and Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash), and others. The Deluxe Package (a limited rollout of 4000, individually numbered and pressed in red vinyl) with the cover artwork for Back From The Dead portraying DMC as a zombie, was designed by award winning Walking Dead graphic novel artist Tony Moore.
Darryl recently released the single “Me and My Microphone” featuring Chuck D, Ice-T, Jazzy Jeff and produced by Bumpy Knuckles. (LISTEN) The single has a corresponding comic featuring each of the hip hop icons as superheroes.
Available on the DMC imprint King of Rock Entertainment, the single is in advance of his new album AMERICA that will feature songs with Joan Jett, Sammy Hagar, Travis Barker (Blink 182), Chuck D, Sum 41, DJ Hurricane (Beastie Boys), Ice-T, Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), Mick Mars (Motley Crue), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) and more. The first single “She Gets Me High” is scheduled for release in Spring 2025.
In between his work as a musical artist and producer, published author and speaker, philanthropist and advocate, McDaniels finds time to talk with kids across the country about respect, responsibility, and self-awareness. One of his many memorable engagements included an invitation in 2015 by former President Barack Obama to speak at the White House to a group of young men about fatherhood.
Darryl has also appeared before Congress and various State legislatures in support of adoptees and foster children, worked with former First Lady Michelle Obama on part of her “Get Fit” Campaign, was a featured speaker at the 2016 Kennedy Forum #Young Minds Matter event on Mental Health, and was a featured speaker at the 2017 SXSW Music Festival and 2017 Kennedy Center Honors to name a few.
He is a member of Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock Artist Council and is an Advisory Board Member for Hip Hop Public Health, an organization whose mission “is to foster positive health behavior change through the transformative power of hip-hop music.” He helped create early awareness on the importance of being vaccinated against COVID-19.
https://hhph.org/communityimmunity.
For his many philanthropic endeavors, DMC has received numerous awards including the Hard Rock’s Love All Serve All Award, the Doing Art Together (DAT) Honoree Award for his contributions to helping under-served communities in NYC, and the coveted CHILDREN’S RIGHTS Champion Award for his tireless work on behalf of foster children through his nonprofit The Felix Organization, providing opportunities for children in foster care.
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels also serves on the Board of Directors of The Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of The Madison Square Garden Company, including the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media, to make dreams come true for children facing obstacles.
For More Information Visit: www.thekingdmc.com
IG: @kingdmc
FB:
https://www.facebook.com/DarrylDMCMcDaniels
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