Honestly, hip-hop and Christmas used to be like oil and water. Before 1987, if you told a rap fan that the baddest trio from Queens was going to drop a holiday track, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the room. It sounded like a total sell-out move. You’ve got Run-DMC, the guys who made leather jackets and unlaced Adidas the universal uniform of cool, potentially rapping about reindeer? It felt risky.
But then run dmc christmas music happened, and it didn't just work—it changed the DNA of holiday playlists forever.
The song that almost didn't happen
Back in '87, Bill Adler, who was the director of publicity for Rush Productions, had this idea. He wanted the group to contribute to a charity album called A Very Special Christmas. It was a heavy-hitter project meant to benefit the Special Olympics, featuring icons like Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.
At first? Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell flat-out said no. They didn't want to be a punchline. They were "New School" pioneers, not a novelty act. They weren't about to recite "The Night Before Christmas" over a beat.
Adler was persistent, though. He knew Jam Master Jay was the key. He brought a stack of records over to Jay’s house, hoping something would spark. When Jay heard the horns on Clarence Carter’s 1968 track "Back Door Santa," everything shifted. He chopped that sample up, layered in some "Frosty the Snowman" and "Jingle Bells" accents, and created a beat that was undeniably funky. Once the track was bumping in the studio, the emcees couldn't resist.
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What makes "Christmas in Hollis" a masterpiece?
Most holiday songs are pure fantasy. They’re about North Pole magic or Victorian-era sleigh rides. Run-DMC did something different. They made it local.
Christmas in Hollis works because it splits the narrative between the mythical and the real. Run takes the first verse with a story about finding Santa’s wallet in a park in Queens. It’s got a million dollars in it. Being a good guy, he tries to give it back, but Santa leaves a note saying the cash is his to keep. It’s a classic rap "come up" story, just with a festive twist.
Then DMC steps in and brings it home. Literally.
He raps about his mom's cooking. We’re talking:
- Chicken and collard greens
- Rice and stuffing
- Macaroni and cheese
This wasn't some script. DMC’s mother, Bannah McDaniels, actually cooked like that. She even appeared in the music video, famously chasing a mischievous elf out of the kitchen with a broom. That video, by the way, was shot on a shoestring budget of about $800 by Michael Holman. Despite the low cost, it beat out Michael Jackson’s "Bad" (directed by Martin Scorsese!) to win Rolling Stone’s Video of the Year in 1987.
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Beyond the big hit: "Christmas Is"
While "Christmas in Hollis" is the undisputed heavyweight champion of run dmc christmas music, it isn't their only foray into the season. In 1992, they contributed a track called "Christmas Is" to the A Very Special Christmas 2 compilation.
It’s a bit harder, a bit more "90s boom-bap," but it carries that same mission of giving back. People often forget that these tracks weren't just about topping charts—they were about the Special Olympics. By 1998, the first A Very Special Christmas album was certified quadruple platinum. It raised millions.
The legacy of the Queens trio
It’s 2026, and you still can’t go through December without hearing those iconic horns. The song has been in everything from Die Hard (the ultimate "is it a Christmas movie?" debate starter) to The Office and Ted Lasso.
Why does it hold up? Because it’s authentic. It didn't try to "fix" hip-hop for a white, suburban audience. It brought the holiday to the neighborhood. It proved that you could be "hard" and still love your mom’s cooking and the spirit of giving.
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How to celebrate Run-DMC style this year
If you want to do the holidays right, you’ve got to move past the standard "Jingle Bells" loops. Start by digging into the original A Very Special Christmas vinyl—the one with the Keith Haring cover art. It’s a piece of history.
Next steps for the ultimate hip-hop holiday:
- Watch the "Christmas in Hollis" music video in HD. Look for DMC’s mom and that weirdly charming $800 elf.
- Track down the Clarence Carter sample. Listen to "Back Door Santa" to see how Jam Master Jay’s genius turned a gritty blues track into a festive anthem.
- Add "Christmas Rappin'" by Kurtis Blow to your playlist. It was the first, released in 1979, and it paved the way for Run-DMC to take the genre mainstream.
- Support the cause. The A Very Special Christmas series is still tied to the Special Olympics. Buying the music actually does some good.
Don't just let the radio dictate your vibe. The beauty of run dmc christmas music is that it feels like a party in a basement in Queens, no matter where you are. It’s about family, community, and the dopest beat to ever feature a sleigh bell.