After Dinner Speakers: Run DMC, Greg Rusedski, Eve Pollard

Run-DMC is commonly considered to be the bridge between old school rappers like Grandmaster Flash and the modern rap era. Joseph Simmons (Run), Darryl McDaniels (DMC) and Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay) emerged from Hollis, Queens, N.Y., and sparked a movement in popular music with an impact similar to the British Invasion in the early '60s. With their gold chains and Adidas, they were the first rappers to earn a gold album (Run-DMC in 1984), the first to earn a platinum album (King of Rock in 1985), the first to go multi-platinum (Raising Hell in 1986), the first to have their videos played on MTV, the first to appear on "American Bandstand," and the first to grace the cover of Rolling Stone. The trio grew up as childhood friends, and entertained dreams of entering the music business when they entered college in 1982. Runs' older brother, Russell Simmons, already had a career in the music business with his label Def Jam as the management group Rush Production, which represented rappers Kurtis Blow and Whodini. Under Simmons' management, the group hit the big time, bringing rap to mainstream America -- even appearing with Aerosmith in a remake of the Boston rockers' hit "Walk This Way" in 1986. The group released Tougher Than Leather in 1988 and Back From Hell in 1990, both of which did not enjoy the commercial success of previous releases. In the wake of personal problems, both Run and DMC became born again Christians after the release of Back From Hell. In 1993 they released Down With the King, and, proving their continued respect and influence in the rap community, the album included collaborations with such rap luminaries as Naughty By Nature, EPMD, the Bomb Squad, Diamond D, Specialist (Mad Cobra), Chyskills (Onyx), Q Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, Rage Against the Machine, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, KRS-One, PM Dawn, Paris, Salt 'n Pepa and Redman. Eight years later, Run-D.M.C.'s long - awaited "comeback" album finally surfaced. Crown Royal features guest appearances by a slew of contemporary stars, including Kid Rock, Everlast and Fred Durst.