Photographic print of Run-DMC at MTV Video Music Awards: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A color photograph of Run, DMC, and Jam Master Jay at the 2002 Video Music Awards with Tom Freston in the background.

The group is pictured standing beneath the partially visible Radio City Music Hall marquee, from left to right: Run, Jam Master Jay, DMC. All three men are wearing black brimmed hats with a black ribbon, black leather jackets and pants, a black shirt under the jacket, and white Adidas sneakers. Run has both hands at the middle of his chest, Jay is pointing towards the camera with his proper right hand, and DMC has both hands down at his side, but is making a peace sign gesture with his proper left hand. They are standing on a red, black and blue carpet. Tom Freston is directly behind the group, looking at the camera. A larger crowd of people is visible in the background. On the verso is an inscription by Bill Adler identifying the subject, location and date.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: August 29, 2002
• Photograph by: Ronnie Wright, American
• Subject of: Rev. Run, American, born 1964
• Subject of: Darryl Matthews McDaniels, American, born 1964
• Subject of: Jam Master Jay, American, 1965 - 2002
• Subject of: Run-D.M.C., American, 1981 - 2002
• Subject of: Tom Freston, American, born 1945
• Subject of: MTV, American, founded 1981
• Type: color prints (photographs)
• Type: portraits
• Medium: dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 14 × 10 15/16 in. (35.5 × 27.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 13 1/2 × 9 in. (34.3 × 22.8 cm)
• Place depicted: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Rappers (Musicians)
• Topic: Television
• Object number: 2015.132.5
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Ronnie Wright Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.