Darryl 'D.M.C.' McDaniels: 5 Songs I Loved as a Kid - Rolling Stone

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Darryl ‘D.M.C.’ McDaniels: 5 Songs I Loved as a Kid

Run-D.M.C. rapper reveals his rock roots

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Read Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels' thoughts on five rock classics he loved growing up.

Courtesy of HarperCollins

In his latest book, Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels chronicles his struggles with drug addiction and severe depression. Here, the Run-D.M.C. rapper delves into his Seventies-rock roots with a list of songs that moved him as a child.

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Aerosmith, “Walk This Way”

I heard it on the radio in the 1970s but didn't know what the hell it was. It has the illest-sounding breakbeat a DJ could play back in the day. 

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Led Zeppelin, “Stairway to Heaven”

This is more than a rock song! It's sensory overload, like a movie! The lyrics are so descriptive, they take you on a journey.

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Steve Miller Band, “The Joker”

This song is no joke, and that bass line is killer! I originally thought it was a cowboy song. Every time I hear it, I picture Clint Eastwood. 

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Queen, “We Will Rock You”

An adrenaline blast of hard rock & roll power. I don't just apply it to sports. I use it to help me play the game of life. 

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The Doobie Brothers, “Black Water”

To this day, I get chills when I hear this. I didn't know until recently that Michael McDonald was once in this group. That pushed his cool factor through the roof! 

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