Rev Run
Joseph "Run" Simmons of Run-DMC, the group that took hip-hop into the mainstream, later a minister and reality TV star.
Key albums
Run-D.M.C. (Run-DMC)King of Rock (Run-DMC)Raising Hell (Run-DMC)
Key tracks
It's Like ThatRock BoxKing of RockMy AdidasWalk This Way (with Aerosmith)It's Tricky
Who is Rev Run?
Rev Run (Joseph Simmons) is a rapper from Hollis, Queens, New York, and co-founder of Run-DMC. He is the brother of Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons.
Known for
Run-DMC's classic albums, from Run-D.M.C. (1984) to Raising Hell (1986), with "My Adidas" and "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith. Later he became a minister and starred in the reality series Run's House.
Style
Loud, punchy back-and-forth raps with DMC over hard drums and rock guitars. Short, shouted lines that made every song feel like a chant.
Impact
With Run-DMC, Rev Run brought hip-hop to MTV and rock radio and made sneakers and street style part of the culture.
