Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels brings children's book and life lessons to Linden students

LINDEN - No longer sporting his big glasses — he wears contacts now — Darryl "DMC" McDaniels has something to say to kids. Those big glasses are a part of him, and shaped who he is. It's one of the things that made him who he is — made him special.

And everyone has things that make them special, McDaniels went on.

For more than an hour Tuesday, McDaniels, who is best known as the DMC in the pioneering hip-hop group Run-DMC, had students and staff at School No. 4 transfixed as he inspired them to "walk this way" to get an education and make their dreams a reality. The event was sponsored by My Brother's Keeper, a district mentoring organization.

With rhyme and reason, McDaniels captivated his audience, telling the tale of who and why he is. DMC is the protagonist of his latest endeavor "Darryl's Dream." The children's book tells the tale of an 8-year-old boy in third grade who wears glasses, gets bullied and teased, but wants to show his love for poetry at the school talent contest.

The picture book — about "creativity, confidence and finding your voice" — tells McDaniels' story, which he stressed, is no different than their story. He is them, he said.

Being with the students was better than being at the Grammys, American Music Awards and MTV Music Awards, McDaniels said, as they were "the most precious, the most powerful and the most necessary individuals to the success of this world."

He has dozens of firsts and accolades attached to his name — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, designer company partnership, Grammys. But, none of that matters, McDaniels said.

"If I was able to do that in my 57 years on this earth, 40 in the music business — imagine what you all can do. I'm not better than you. I'm not greater than you. I'm not smarter than you. I'm not even more talented than you. But what I am is this — I'm a real life-show-and-tell."

McDaniels encouraged the children — and adults — to be true to themselves. But there is one detail that makes it all possible. And the "how-to" may not be "tricky" after all.

Education.

"I am just an example of what happens when you take advantage, when you appreciate and when you when you value," continued McDaniels, who as a kid in Queens was a straight-A student who went onto St. John's University. "When you see the potential of every educational, artistic, creative opportunity that comes your way. I am not above you — I am you."

Paying attention to the words rolling off McDaniels was the third-grade at No. 4, along with some some middle and high school students. Third graders at the district's seven other elementary schools took part via livestream.

'truly a rock and roll legend'

McDaniel's knows all about dreams. According to friend and Superintendent of Schools Marnie Hazelton, McDaniels encourages and elevates dreams in everyone.

"Throughout the years, throughout my journey in education, whenever I wanted him to come in to speak to my kids, it took only one email, or one phone call, and he always said, 'Yes,'" said Hazelton, a self-avowed Run-DMC fan. "And it has not changed. He is truly a rock and roll legend and he has a heart as big as the universe."

Asking the last question in the Q-and-A at the end of McDaniel's presentation, 8-year-old Zyaire Jordan asked if McDaniels can dance.

"No," said the hip-hop legend. "I cannot. Can you?"

"Yes," said Zyaire. "It's what I want to do. I want to sing and dance." The two talked a little bit more. Then McDaniels announced he is going to pay for dance lessons for Zyaire.

"You get his mom and dad's information for me OK?," McDaniels said to Zyaire's teacher Marilyn Hernandez, who teared up. "I'm covering it. He's got glasses like me. We are the same."

Zyaire lit up.

"I am feeling the happiest I ever felt," Zyaire said afterward. "More than I was before. I want to sing and dance. It's what I want to do. I love all kinds of dance. I want to do it all."

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McDaniels regaled his audience with not only the story of his own journey, but with the story of hip hop itself. There would be no hip hop or rap today without Run-DMC. And while that is true, McDaniels stressed there would be no Run-DMC without an education.

'I said you got to work hard, you want to compete'

McDaniels told the children that they inspire him — they teach him.

"I've been on this earth 57 years and learning and appreciating knowledge does not end," he said. "I am still excited about life and I am still excited to learn. And that all started in a building just like this one with people, teachers and principal and parents and rules and regulations and things that you must do to prepare all of you to be the great people you already are."

Every third-grader received a copy of McDaniels' book, "Darryl's Dream", which was published in January.

He is the Darryl of his children's book, maybe minus the big love of poetry, he admitted.

"When I was a kid, I got teased bullied and picked on," said McDaniels, who wore glasses since second grade. "People teased me because I had something different about me. … The reason why I've done all the things I've done over the years is to tell all of you, regardless of what anybody thinks all of you are perfect just the way you are."

It was teachers who encouraged McDaniels to pen "Darryl's Dream" — so more kids could hear his message.

McDaniels gave his listeners an assignment as "assignments don't end when you get out of school."

"It's just practice to prepare you for whatever it is that you want to be doing," he said, adding that failures that come along "will be even better than the wins." "There will be disappointments. And I still do something today that I learned in second grade. When I don't know something, I ask for help. I realized there is no shame in putting your hand up and asking for help."

McDaniels credited his own success to the fact that he valued education.

"I listened to the people that was telling me what to do to get to where I wanted to be and I also understood that I have an assignment that never ends. And here's another thing, even if you get it wrong, you succeed. Don't do nothing with the fear of getting it wrong, it's OK to get it wrong."

Email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels brings children's book to Linden kids