Photographic print of Run-DMC-JMJ and Russell Simmons at the Rush offices: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black and white photograph of Run-DMC with Russell Simmons.

The four men are pictured in standing poses in front of a wall covered in graffiti. Jam Master Jay is on the far proper right side of the image. He stands with his arms crossed over his chest, his head slightly leaning back and to his left, his gaze directed up slightly at the camera. He wears a dark-colored Adidas track suit and brimmed hat. Behind and to his left is Run, who stands with his thumbs tucked into the pockets of his jeans. He wears a dark-colored jacket and brimmed hat. In front of him and to his left is Simmons, who stands with his hands in front of him, his left hand lightly gripping his right wrist. Simmons wears a light-colored button-up shirt under a striped sweater vest. Behind and to his left is DMC, who stands leaning against the wall, with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He wears a dark-colored leather jacket, eyeglasses, and a black brimmed hat.

The photograph is signed by the photographer just below the bottom right corner of the image. The only inscriptions on the back is a small [35] marked in black ink on the bottom left corner.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: April 1985
• Photograph by: James Hamilton, American, born 1946
• Subject of: Run-D.M.C., American, 1981 - 2002
• Subject of: Jam Master Jay, American, 1965 - 2002
• Subject of: Rev. Run, American, born 1964
• Subject of: Russell Simmons, American, born 1957
• Subject of: Darryl Matthews McDaniels, American, born 1964
• Subject of: Rush Communications, American, founded 1983
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 10 15/16 × 14 in. (27.8 × 35.6 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 7 1/2 × 11 1/8 in. (19 × 28.2 cm)
• Place captured: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Business
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Rappers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2015.132.222
• 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: © James Hamilton Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.