Behind the Music

Episode Synopsis

A look at one of rap music's most successful pioneer groups. They were just three kids from Queens, NY who wanted to rock the house and ended up rocking the world. They were the first rap group to go gold...to go platinum...to go multi-platinum...to have a music video on MTV... to get on the cover of "Rolling Stone." Yet, they would later be left behind by the new groups they inspired. In 1999, the group made a stunning comeback, but as they prepared for their year-2000 album release, internal conflicts nearly drove them apart. Reverend Run (Joey Simmons), DMC (Darryl McDaniels) and Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell) discuss growing up in Hollis, Queens; how Run's brother, Russell Simmons, helped them land their first record deal; DMC's turn to alcohol to cure his stage fright; Run's bout with depression and the rape allegations against him that were later dropped. Currently, Run-DMC are trying to deal with their differences, as DMC moves into another musical direction that conflicts with the group's original sound. Includes interviews with the group's family, LL Cool J, Chuck D, Bill Adler, Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons and Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit).