Ice Cube, Beastie Boys & More Reflect on Run DMC’s Impact in ‘Kings From Queens’ Documentary Trailer
Written by djfrosty on January 18, 2024
Walk this way for the kings from Queens! The trailer for Peacock’s three-part docuseries Kings From Queens: The Run DMC Story about the influential hip-hop trio of Joseph Simmons (aka Rev Run), Darryl McDaniels (DMC) and Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay) has arrived, and Billboard has the first look.
In the teaser for the documentary — which reflects on Run DMC beginnings in the ’80s in New York City’s Queens, the group’s successes, struggles and more — hip-hop heavyweights discuss the impact the iconic act has had on the musical landscape.
“They’re the reason that hip-hop is as big as it is right now,” Ice Cube explains in the trailer of Run DMC, who was the first rap group on MTV.
“They changed the sound of music, the audience for rap music,” Mike D of the Beastie Boy asserts.
And as Run DMC’s Billboard Hot 100 hit “It’s Tricky” — which peaked at No. 57 in April 1987 — plays, rapper-actor Ice-T notes, “That was the moment I knew hip-hop was going to be huge — they brought more people to the genre.”
Other exclusive interviews featured in the Peacock docuseries include LL Cool J, Chuck D, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Questlove, Jermaine Dupri and more. Kings From Queens, Billboard can also exclusively report, will premiere Thursday, Feb. 1, exclusively on Peacock. The series is also executive produced by Rev. Run and DMC. (Jam Master Jay was fatally shot at his Queens, NYC, studio in October 2002.)
“I am very happy that the world is going to see our great story,” Rev. Run said in a statement. “So thankful for all that participated in helping us over the years. I started out as a young DJ Run and ended up impacting the world with my group RUN DMC. I am blessed to have been on this amazing journey.”
DMC also shared his thoughts on the purpose of the project. “This documentary series will reach, teach and educate people on the RUN DMC dynamic,” he said in a statement. “I know people will see themselves in our journey and I am hopefully that the next 50 years of hip-hop will be a movement of positive improvement and creativity, in the same way we changed music and the world.”
Over the course of the group’s career, Run DMC had three albums that reached the Billboard 200‘s top 10: Raising Hell (No. 3, 1986; the album also earned a Grammy nod for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal), Tougher Than Leather (No. 9, 1988) and Down With the King (No. 7, 1993). Over on the Hot 100, the trio placed five songs, including the hit cross-genre cover/collab of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” (No. 4) and “You Be Illin’” (No. 29).
Watch Billboard‘s premiere of the Kings From Queens: The Run DMC Story trailer below: