depression
drinking problem
early lyrics
early music with Jay
early music with Joe (Run)
early success and shows
education and youth
Live Aid
L.L. Cool J and
Long Beach riot and
marries Zuri
meets Jason Mizell
meets Joe Simmons (Run)
memoir of
Michael Jackson and
nickname and
photos of
records first singles
religion and
Rolling Stone cover and
Rubin and
Run and, after death of Jam
Run’s rape trial and
solo music of
splits from Run, and Crown Royal
voice problems if
Mack, Craig
McLachlan, Sarah
Madonna
Magic, Mr.
Marley, Bob
Martinez, Eddie
“Mary Mary,”
MCA (Beastie boy)
Melle Mel (Melvin Glover)
Melman, Larry “Bud,”
Menello, Ric
Miller, Steve
Miller, Tracy
Mizell, Connie
Mizell, Jason, Jr.
Mizell, Jason (Jam Master Jay). See also specific albums, films, songs, and tours
Adidas deal
Beastie Boys and
children of
Chuck D and
contract with Def Jam
contract with Profile
D.M.C’s split from group, and recording Crown
early life and schooling of
early music as youth
early success and early shows with Run-D.M.C.
first recordings with Run-D.M.C.
girlfriend Lee and first child
joins Run-D.M.C.
life after Crown Royal and falling out with Run
Live Aid and
L.L. Cool and
Long Beach riot and
look of
marriage to Terri
meets Darryl McDaniels (D, or D.M.C.)
meets Joseph Simmons (Run)
Michael Jackson demo and
money problems and
murder of
name adopted
photos
rise to top to battle Treacherous Three
Rolling Stone cover
Run’s solo deal with Profile and
solo projects during Run-D.M.C.’s decline
Mizell, Jesse
Mizell, Marvin
Mizell, Terri
Monkees
Moore, J.B.
MTV
Video Music Awards
Murphy, Eddie
“My Adidas,”
Naughty by Nature
Nellie D
Nevins, Jason
NWA
Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Onyx
Orange Krush
Original Concept
Owen, Frank
“Paul Revere” (Beastie Boys song)
“Pause,”
Perry, Joe
“Peter Piper,”
Phat Farm
Playboy
Plotnicki, Steve
Powell, Ricky
Premier, DJ
Pretty Tone
Prince
Profile Records
“Proud to Be Black,”
Public Enemy
“Public Enemy No. 1” (Chuck D)
Raising Hell (third album)
Raising Hell tour
Rakim
Ramones
“Rebel Without a Pause” (Public Enemy song)
Red Alert
Reed, Lou
Reeves, David. See Davy DMX
Reggie Reg
Reid, L.A.
Reid, Vernon
Rev Run Records Presents (Run album)
Rhymes, Busta
Richie, Lionel
Robbins, Cory
Robinson, Joe
Robinson, Sylvia
Rock, Ad
Rock, Chubb
Rock, Kid
Rock, Pete
Rock, Scott La
Rock, Sha
Rock, T La
“Rock Box,”
video
“Rocket in the Pocket,”
“Rock Show,”
“Rock the Bells” (L.L. Cool song)
Rolling Stone
Rome, Tony
Rubin, Rick
Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay. See also McDaniels, Darryl; Mizell, Jason; Simmons, Joseph; and specific albums, films, songs, and tours
albums and
Big in 2002 Lifetime Achievement award
breakthrough hit “Walk this Way,”
decline in, with release of Tougher
Def Jam–Columbia deal and
Def Jam proposes final album
Def Pictures and
early performances after “It’s Like That,”
films and
final tour 2002 and end of group
first single sold
first single with Jam Master Jay
first video
Ghostbusters and “Pause” single
Hip-Hop Hall of Fame and
independent projects and
JDK label and
legal battles with Profile
Live Aid
Michael Jackson demo
MTV concerts
named and signed by Profile
officially retired
returns to fame with remix of “It’s Like That,”
rises to top to battle Treacherous
Rolling Stone cover
The Show documentary
tours
TV commercials
TV performances
videos
Run-D.M.C. (first album)
Run-D.M.C.-Greatest Hits (album)
Run-D.M.C.: Live at the Ritz (MTV concert film)
Runny Ray
Run. See Simmons, Joseph
“Run’s House,”
Run’s House tour
Rush Associated Labels (RAL)
Rush Productions (Management)
Rusty Waters
Saddler, Joseph
Sade
Sadler, Eric
Santana
Scared Stupid (film)
Schultz, Michael
Sex Pistols
Shakur, Tupac
Sheila E.
Shocklee, Hank, DJ
Shocklee, Keith
Show, The (documentary)
Simmons, Daniel
Simmons, Danny, Jr.
Simmons, Evelyn
Simmons, Joseph (Run). See also specific albums, films, singles, tours, and videos
Adidas deal
bankruptcy
Beastie Boys and
book deal
brother Russell starts recording albums
death of Jam and
decides not to tour anymore
depression and
early attempts to record
early desire to record with Darryl
early education and performing
early music with Darryl (D.M.C.)
early performing with Blow
early success and shows
hard times, with decline of band
Kurtis Blow and
Live Aid
L.L. Cool J and
Long Beach Riot and
marriage to Justine
marriage to Valerie
meets Darryl McDaniels (D.M.C.)
meets Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay)
Michael Jackson and
parent’s divorce and inability to record
photos
Profile vs. Def Jam records and contract
Public Enemy and
rape charges and
records first singles with D and signed to Profile
&n
bsp; relationship with D
relationship with D., after death of Jam
religion and
rise to top to battle Treacherous
Rolling Stone cover
solo deal with Profile
split with D.M.C. and recording of Crown Royal for Arista
starts own labels
Simmons, Kimora
Simmons, Russell
Adidas deal and
American Bandstand and
as early party promoter
as manager of Run-D.M.C
Beastie Boys and
becomes fulltime manager with Blow’s hits
Columbia (CBS) deal and
death of Jay and
Def Jam Records and
Def Pictures and
documentary by
early bookings for Run-D.M.C. and
early neighborhood meetings
early record producing
early Run-D.M.C. recordings and
failure of plan for Tougher than Leather
first records groups with Ford
first Run-D.M.C. single and and signing with Profil
ignores Run and D.M.C.’s desire to record
Jay’s money problems and
JMJ records and
legal battles with clients
legal battles with Profile
L.L. Cool and
meets Rick Rubin and signs Beastie Boys
Michael Jackson deal and
Phat Farm clothing line
Public Enemy and
RAL and
recent years of
robbed
Run-D.M.C. albums and
Run-D.M.C. films and
Run-D.M.C. tours and
Run-D.M.C. videos and
Run’s rape charge and
split with Rubin
split with Sony
tensions between Run and Jay
Simmons, Valerie
Simmons, Vanessa
Sin Assassins
Skaggz, Boe
Slayer
Slick Rick
“Slow and Low” (Beastie Boys song)
Smalls, Biggie
Smith, Darnell
Smith, James Todd. See L.L. Cool J
Smith, Larry
Smith, Will
Smooth, C.L.
Smooth Ice
Solo Sounds
Sony
Soulsonic Force
Soul Tempo
Soul Train (TV show)
Special K
Spicer, Jimmy
Springsteen, Bruce
Stains, John
Starski, Luv Bug
Stephney, Bill
Stettler, Charles
“Sucker MCs”
Sugar Hill Gang
Sugar Hill Records
Sugar Ray
“Sun City,”
Teller, Al
“T’em Girls,”
“30 Days,”
Thompson, Ryan. See Doc
Tilton, Robert
“Together Forever,”
Together Forever tour
Tom Tom Club
Toppin, Rudy
Tougher than Leather (Adler)
Tougher than Leather (fourth album)
Tougher Than Leather (second film)
Townsend, Robert
Treacherous Three
Two-Fifth Down
Tyler, Steve
Tyson, Mike
Underwood, Blair
Universal Pictures
Vandross, Luther
Van Zandt, Steven
VH1 Big in 2002 Awards
Virgin Records
Walker, April
Walker, Ricky
Walker Wear
“Walk this Way,”
video
Weaver, J. B.. See D, Schooly
“What’s It All About,”
White, Ray
Whodini
Williams, Eric “Shake,”
Williams, Vanessa
Wonder Mike
Wu-Tang Clan
Yo! Bum Rush the Show (Public Enemy album)
Yo! MTV Raps (TV show)
“You Be Illin’,”
“You Talk Too Much,”
Zoë Brothers
Zoë Ministries
Zulu Nation
Acknowledgments
To Robert Guinsler: Thanks for being an excellent agent and an even better friend. You believed in this project, and created an opportunity for me to tell a story six years in the making. I appreciate everything you’ve done. Editor Stacy Barney: You were patient and supportive, gave me extra time, and never stopped believing in this book. Thanks. Run: Thank you for being so generous with your time. D.M.C.: Thank you for your honesty and unfailing support of this work. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with you. Bill Adler: Thanks for the copy of Tougher Than Leather and more. (I owe you a copy of TTA.) Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin: You guys worked hard, and in the mid- to late 1980s created some of the greatest hip-hop of all time (together or apart). Both of you turned this music into an industry that provided opportunities for people like me, and for that I’m grateful. I’d also like to thank King Ad Rock (and the other Beastie Boys), Chuck D, Bill Stephney, Hank Shocklee, Doctor Dre (creator of the 808 Bass sound), Kool Moe Dee, T La Rock, Spinmaster Finesse, Runny Ray, Hurricane, Glen Friedman, Tracy Miller, Cory Robbins, Larry Smith, Adam Dubin, Grandmaster Flash, Whodini, the Fat Boys, Kool Lady Blue, Ryan “DJ Doc” Thompson, Spyder D, Mark Skillz, and the many people who spoke off the record, providing insights into the greatest rap group of all time, the greatest manager, and two of the greatest record labels (Profile and Def Jam). The following works also proved helpful and come recommended to anyone interested in learning more about the evolution of rap music: Rap Attack by David Toop, Yes Yes Y’All by Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahearn, The New Beats by S. H. Fernando, Moguls and Madmen by Jory Farr, The Hip-hop Years by Alex Ogg and David Upshal, King of Rock by D.M.C. and Bruce Haring, It’s Like That by Reverend Run and Curtis L. Taylor, and Life and Def by Russell Simmons and Nelson George. I’d also like to thank Jon Shecter, David Mays, Edward Young, Reginald C. Dennis, James Bernard, Rob Tewlow, Jeremy Miller, Darryl James, Bonz Malone, Sheena Lester, Adam Dolgins, Rob Kenner, Cheo Coker, Allan S. Gordon, Michael Gonzalez, Havelock Nelson, Frank Owen, Jody Hotchkiss, Nelson George, Glennfoye Stewart, Enrique Melendez, Mike Kirkland, Danae DiNicola, and the late George Jackson (rest in peace). Finally, for helping me through a difficult period, David Patrick Crowley, Matthew Clifton (for spotting me in the gym, the beats, and the support), Kathy Carney, Carlos Flores, and Rachel Flores. And the readers, for all the support over the years.
RONIN RO
March 2005
About the Author
Ronin Ro is an award-winning author and music journalist. He has written for Spin, Rolling Stone, USA Today, Playboy, Vanity Fair, and Vibe. He is the author of five other books, including the critically acclaimed Have Gun Will Travel: The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records.
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ALSO BY RONIN RO
Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution
Bad Boy: The Influence of Sean “Puffy” Combs on the Music Industry
Street Sweeper
Have Gun Will Travel: The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records
Gangsta: Merchandizing the Rhymes of Violence
Credits
Jacket design by Laura Klynstra Blost
Copyright
RAISING HELL. Copyright © 2005 by Ronin Ro. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduce
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ePub edition October 2005 ISBN 9780061750694