Though the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was first established in 1983, it took 12 years before it finally settled on an actual home. On September 2, 1983, Yoko Ono and Little Richard cut the ribbon to officially open the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The hall, designed by legendary architect I.M. Pei, the Hall houses seven floors of music history and memorabilia, from Keith Moon's velvet suit to Janis Joplin's 1965 Porsche. Though the criteria for getting into the Hall is sketchy at best, in recent years they've done a better job about embracing older rock pioneers from the '50s and more underground and hip-hop acts from the modern era.
This year's inductees included Jeff Beck, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Run-D.M.C., Metallica and Bobby Womack. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been slow to embrace metal, so the welcoming of Metallica is especially interesting and should open up the category to more than just them and Black Sabbath. (It seems like Slayer and Sepultura are long overdue for some proper acknowledgment.) Metallica brought speed metal to the masses and made hard music radio-friendly, but they almost certainly couldn't have gotten to the top of the metal mountain without the help of some (typically disturbing) music videos. "One" put them on the map and "Enter Sandman" gave birth to a million video clichés (though nobody did them with more conviction than the boys in Metallica), but they continue to push the envelope today. Though it was somewhat overhyped, Metallica's 2008 album Death Magnetic was a satisfying jolt of old-school metal, and the video for "The Day That Never Comes" was a grim and satisfying effort that belongs among the best rock clips ever made.
As a tribute to their contributions to music, Run-DMC will receive their own street in Queens, New York, where the group first came together. 205 Street, in the Hollis neighborhood, will be renamed "Run-DMC Way." The re-naming will also act as an appreciation for Run-DMC member Jam Master Jay, as 205 Street is the location of the mural that memorializes the DJ, who was killed in a still-unsolved shooting in 2002.
By Jenna Talavera and Kathleen Newman-Bremang
Chris Brown is scheduled to appear in court today for his arraignment on felony charges of assault and making criminal threats. The singer could face more than four years in prison for his alleged altercation with girlfriend Rihanna. Will his attorneys enter a plea or ask for another extension?
With T.I. facing a prison sentence of one year and one day, Mixtape Monday has put together a track list of some of the MC's hottest tracks. Check out the behind-the-scenes info that Tip and top Atlanta DJs gave us about making the songs. And this is only part one!
Run-DMC officially became Kings of Rock when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday. Read our recap of the historic night and catch what Eminem had to say about the iconic group. Then read some heartfelt words about the induction from Eric "Shake" James, a close friend of the late Jam Master Jay.
MTV caught up with Zac Efron at ShoWest, and the former Disney heartthrob talked about everything from girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens to bonding with his "17 Again" co-star Matthew Perry.
Minutes after Run-DMC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tonight, we got an e-mail from Eric "Shake" James, one of the late Jam Master Jay's closest friends, who was at the ceremony in Cleveland:
To me this is the greatest night in hip-hop!!! Run-DMC in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, wow! Remember the "King of Rock" video? "You don't belong here; this is for rock stars only." Now we're here, and we do belong!!!
Even though my best friend in the world, Jason Mizell, couldn't be here, I look up in the sky and feel him smiling and watchin' down!!! 1st to go gold, 1st on MTV and still making moves!! I see his boys, and I know he'd be (and is) so proud of them and his wife, Terri!!!! What an honor this is!!! We love and miss you, Jason!!!
By Lindsay Wallace
Run-DMC won't perform at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction this weekend, out of respect for the deceased Jam Master Jay. Instead, the show will air a previously recorded tribute to the band.
The Pussycat Dolls are re-releasing Doll Domination with the same old tracks, plus a few new ones, like that "Jai Ho" remix.
For you gaming fans, the man behind PS3's new game "Infamous" reveals his initial doubts about players' morality.
Last night was the series finale of "ER," and over in the Movies Blog, we took a look back at the doctors' career evolutions. Who do you think was most successful beyond their "ER" days?
On the Splash Page, MTV News exclusively reveals that Chris Pine is actually not yet a part of the anticipated "Green Lantern" film. In fact, the new "Star Trek" star told us he hasn't even read a script.
If you thought Rickey Henderson's Hall of Fame induction a few days ago was a no-brainer, Run-DMC's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nod was even more of foregone conclusion.
Rickey — an MLB human highlight reel who patrolled left field with the flare of a cocky boxing champ — was a first-ballot inductee. If Run-DMC were equated to MLB heroes, the trio from Hollis, Queens, would be the Yankees — all 26 championships. They are undeniably the Greatest Hip-Hop Group of All Time, and their accolades — all 25 years' worth — are well-deserved.
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By Steven Roberts
We have been looking through the MTV News archives all day trying to find old-school footage of Metallica and Run-DMC, two of the 2009 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I think that we may have stumbled upon one of the greatest interviews we've ever done.
Back in 1985, MTV News sat down with a young Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay. They'd already released their second album, but they still lived with their parents. This was before "Yo! MTV Raps," before MTV News named them Greatest Hip-Hop Group of All Time, before the tragic death of Jay and waaaaay before "Run's House" and "Daddy's Girls." From what I'm told (I was born three months after this interview), MTV didn't even play rap videos back then.
The majority of the interview features the group walking around Hollis with their Adidas unlaced, rapping to the camera as legions of fans and neighbors begin to follow behind. Jam Master Jay carries a boombox, blasting their work, as Run and DMC spit back and forth.
Since half of my office crammed into the edit to watch it already, I figured I'd give you guys a chance to watch.
By Steven Roberts
Traditional glasses aren't viewed as something "cool." If years of consuming pop-culture have taught us anything, it's that glasses are worn by the socially awkward, the inept: dweebs, dorks and nerds!
While spectacles are worn by people with less-than-perfect vision who are willing to deal with ridicule in order to see well, the cool and beautiful are willing to sacrifice bumping into a small child or two for the sake of vanity. A startling trend has emerged, however: Rappers are wearing glasses.
Rappers are known for being boisterous, braggadocios and badass — they can't walk around looking like Lewis and Gilbert from "Revenge of the Nerds," can they? Sure, artists like DMC and E-40 have worn glasses throughout the years, but they had their own individual style. DMC had Cazal frames, a gold dookie-rope chain and a leather jacket, and E-40 makes up words that sound silly at first, but ultimately catch on and everyone says them. Read more...
The Stooges buzz-sawed through a pair of Madonna songs at her induction last year, but maybe, hopefully, possibly, 2009 will be their turn to take the stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The legendary Detroit punk band, which reunited in 2003, is among the nominees for the 2009 Hall of Fame, along with Metallica, Run-DMC, guitarist Jeff Beck, disco-funk band Chic and "Low Rider" rockers War. Other nominees include 1950s doo-wop group Little Anthony and the Imperials, early rock singer Wanda Jackson (often referred to as "The First Lady of Rock and Roll") and 1970s soul singer Bobby Womack.
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By Danielle Beavers
Darryl McDaniels, a.k.a. DMC of the group Run-DMC, was hospitalized in New Jersey on Wednesday after suffering from pain and swelling in his left arm.
"Doctors discovered two major blood clots, and he is undergoing surgery today," publicist Tracy Miller told MTV News. "They are very glad they caught it early. Doctors have chosen to remove the clots, as opposed to dissolving, to ensure a better recovery.
DMC has been in the studio working on another album, as well as continuing to promote adoption of foster children. He won an Emmy last year for the VH1 documentary "DMC: My Adoption Journey," about his search for his birth mother.
We wish him the best!
