Question 1

Did Run-DMC write their own songs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where the credits exist. Darryl McDaniels is on 29 of the 85 album tracks, Joseph Simmons on 26 and Jason Mizell on 23, usually together. Two albums, Back from Hell and Down with the King, publish no per-track writing credits anywhere, which leaves 31 tracks with nobody recorded.

Question 2

Who wrote "Walk This Way"?

Accepted Answer

Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, in 1975. Run-DMC's version with Aerosmith reached number 4 on the Hot 100 in 1986.

Question 3

Who wrote "My Adidas"?

Accepted Answer

Darryl McDaniels and Joseph Simmons with Rick Rubin.

Question 4

Why do two albums have no writers listed?

Accepted Answer

The Wikipedia articles for Back from Hell and Down with the King publish track listings with samples and producers but no writers, and neither the Discogs releases nor MusicBrainz carry per-track writers for them. Both are marked unverified with a note rather than filled in from guesswork.

Question 5

Who else wrote with them?

Accepted Answer

Larry Smith on 16 tracks and Russell Simmons on 13, both on the first two albums, and Rick Rubin across Raising Hell.

Question 6

How many albums did they make?

Accepted Answer

Seven studio albums between 1984 and 2001. The live records, remix sets and compilations sit outside this catalogue.

Question 7

Which single did best in America?

Accepted Answer

"Walk This Way" reached number 4 on the Hot 100, "Down with the King" number 21 and "You Be Illin'" number 29.

Question 8

What were the firsts?

Accepted Answer

First hip-hop group to go gold, first to go platinum, first multi-platinum hip-hop record, and the first hip-hop act on MTV, American Bandstand, the cover of Rolling Stone and Live Aid.

Question 9

Are they in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Accepted Answer

Yes, inducted in 2009, the second hip-hop group after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. They received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Question 10

What happened to Jam Master Jay?

Accepted Answer

Jason Mizell was killed in October 2002, and the group stopped after his death.