Christmas in Hollis 1987 by RUN DMC: A Big Hit!
“Christmas in Hollis” is a single by the Rap group Run-DMC that was included on two 1987 Christmas compilation albums featuring various artists: “A Very Special Christmas.” Hollis refers to Hollis, Queens, where Run-DMC is from. Interestingly, when first asked, Run-DMC refused to contribute to A Very Special Christmas (the album was supposed to benefit the Special Olympics). Thankfully, they changed their mind. Other contributing artists to the album included Whitney Houston, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and Bob Seger.) In 2000, thirteen years after it was first released, it reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Is this the most famous Christmas song ever for a Rap Group?
Christmas in Hollis Summary
The music video for “Christmas in Hollis” was legendary. It takes place at the North Pole (although it was not filmed there); it was filmed in Hollis, Queens. At the end of the video, Santa is seen flying away with his sled being pulled by a dog. The video was directed by Michael Holman with cinematography by Mark Richardson, both New York University film students at the time, and features a cameo appearance by Bannah McDaniels, DMC’s adoptive mother. “Christmas in Hollis” won Rolling Stone’s Best Video of the Year award in 1987, beating out Michael Jackson’s “Bad” directed by Martin Scorsese.
The track samples Clarence Carter’s 1968 holiday song “Back Door Santa,” as well as “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bells,’ and “Joy to the World,’ and features an Acme siren. Run-DMC was famous for sampling various artists. Now, it is something all Rap artists do. “Christmas in Hollis” was included as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Tougher Than Leather. It was on the A-side of Tougher than Leather, with the hit “Walk This Way.” On the B-Side were the songs “Peter Piper” and “King of Rock.”
Run-DMC
Run-DMC was probably the artist who put rap music into the mainstream. “Christmas in Hollis” was their Christmas song. The group was formed in 1983 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. The group pioneered new-school hip-hop music and helped usher in the golden age of hip-hop. The group was among the first to highlight the importance of the MC and DJ relationship.
With the release of the self-titled album Run-D.M.C. (1984), Run-DMC became the first hip-hop group to achieve a Gold record. The Album Run-DMC was followed by the certified Platinum record King of Rock (1985), making Run-DMC the first hip-hop group to go platinum. Raising Hell (1986) became the first multi-platinum hip-hop record.
Run-DMC’s cover of “Walk This Way”, featuring the group Aerosmith, reached higher on the Billboard Hot 100 than Aerosmith’s original version, peaking at number four. The song became one of the best-known songs in both hip-hop and rock. Run-DMC was the first hip-hop act to have their music videos broadcast on MTV, to appear on American Bandstand, to be on the cover of Rolling Stone, to perform at Live Aid, and to be nominated for a Grammy Award.
There have been many other honors for the group that sang “Christmas in Hollis.” In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Run-DMC at number 48 in its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. In 2007, they were named The Greatest Hip-Hop Group of All Time by MTV and Greatest Hip-Hop Artist of All Time by VH1.[10] In 2009, Run-DMC became the second hip-hop group (after Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, 2007) to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[11] In 2016, the group received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.[12] In 2018, Raising Hell was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Conclusion
“Christmas in Hollis” is one of the most famous Christmas songs ever, by the most noteworthy Rap group of all time. It is odd that a Rap group is singing a Christmas song, but it is good. The music video of Run’s House with their adoptive mother and Santa and an Elf is a must-watch. Run-DMC want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
