Darryl Matthews McDaniels (born May 31, 1964), better known by his stage name DMC, is an American rapper. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Run-DMC, and is considered one of the pioneers of hip hop culture.
McDaniels grew up in Hollis, Queens. He was born to an unwed mother who surrendered him to the New York Foundling home.[citation needed] He was a ward of the Foundling, in foster care, until placed with the McDaniels and eventually adopted by them. They raised him as a Catholic. He attended Rice High School in Manhattan and later enrolled in St. John's University in Queens.
McDaniels first became interested in hip hop music after listening to recordings of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. In 1978, McDaniels taught himself to DJ in the basement of his parents' home, using turntables and a mixer that he bought with his older brother, Alford, after having a comic book sale in their neighborhood. During this period he adopted the stage name "Grandmaster Get High".

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