Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels

Pioneer of Hip Hop Culture & Founding Member of Run-DMC; Author & Founder of Darryl Makes Comics Publishing; Mental Health & Foster Care Advocate

Travels From Travels From:
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels Biography

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, an American rapper and founding member of the influential hip-hop group Run-DMC, has made significant contributions to the music industry. McDaniels, who grew up in the New York City neighborhood of Hollis, Queens, first developed an interest in hip-hop in the 1970s, teaching himself to DJ and eventually transitioning to rapping. Run-DMC's third album, "Raising Hell," reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, cementing their place in hip-hop history.

Throughout his career, McDaniels has been open about his struggles with depression, alcoholism, and drug abuse. He also has been diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a vocal disorder that has affected his performance style. Nevertheless, he has continued to create music and contribute to the industry in various ways, including launching his own record label, IME Records, in collaboration with producer Wade Martin and venturing into the comics industry with his own publishing imprint, Darryl Makes Comics. McDaniels' first book under this imprint is a 90-page graphic novel set in 1985 featuring him as a superhero.

In addition to his music and comic book ventures, McDaniels has also made appearances on television shows such as "Saturday Night Live" and in video games like Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. He has collaborated with numerous artists, including Adoptee Zara Philips, with whom he released the song "I'm Legit," and has also worked with the band Generation Kill on a project called DMC Generation Kill. In his music, McDaniels has often addressed important social issues, such as COVID-19 vaccination, which he promoted with a song and animated video titled "Let's All Get the Vaccine."

McDaniels' accomplishments extend beyond music and entertainment. He has written his autobiography, "King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life with Run-DMC," and a children's book called "Darryl's Dream." Additionally, he authored “Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide," 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. He also partnered with U Will, the app that allows college students immediate access to a therapist.

McDaniels testified before the New Jersey State Legislature in support of legislation to restore adopted adults' access to their original birth certificates and has co-founded The Felix Organization, a non-profit that serves children in the foster care system. For his work with this organization, McDaniels received the Congressional Angels in Adoption award.

Over the years, McDaniels' work has been widely recognized. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and has received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the recording field. In 2024, McDaniels was featured in the "Kings From Queens: The Run DMC Story" docuseries that details the groups influence on music, fashion, and culture.

BOOK Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/25/2024.

Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels Videos

  • Hip-Hop Legend: Darryl “DMC” McDaniels | Sherri Shepherd
    #LegendaryOnSherri! Darryl “DMC” McDaniels shares stories from the upcoming Peacock docuseries “Kings From Queens: The RUN DMC...
  • How to Find the Superhero Within | Darryl "DMC" McDaniels on ...
    Darryl “DMC” McDaniels is one of the most iconic hip-hop artists of all time. One- third of the legendary trio Run DMC, he played a pivotal role...
  • Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels - Sarah McLachlan Saved My Life - YouTube
    Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels recounts how Sarah McLachlan helped lead him out of a dark place when he found out he was adopted, culminating ...

Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels Books

  • Darryl's Dream
    Darryl's Dream
  • Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide: A Memoir
    Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide: A Memoir
  • King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life with Run-DMC
    King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life with Run-DMC

Speaker Lists Featuring Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels

FAQs on booking Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels

  • How do I book Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels

    Speaking fees for Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels speak about?

    Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Black Heritage, Celebrity, Civil Rights, Entertainers, Entertainment, Family & Parenting, Mental Health, Music, Social Activism, Social Justice.
  • Where does Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels travel from?

    Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ice-T, Daymond John, Malcolm London, Hill Harper and Common. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP