Credit: Luigi Novi

Creative minds produce some of the best music, and they’re also pretty impressive when it comes to dreams.

In 1986, during an interview to promote their groundbreaking album Raising Hell, Run-DMC got into the subconscious. Members Run, Jam Master Jay, and DMC sat in the neighbourhood they grew up in, Queens, NYC, and shared stories, including a poignant dream DMC had one night.

“I had a crazy dream I was on the road with Michael Jackson,” he said, “We went into a room, and we didn’t have to be at the show till five or something, and there was three Chinese girls in there tending to all my needs; it was real crazy, ironing my clothes.” 

DMC, real name Darryl McDaniels, elaborated further, “I went and took a shower, and I’m in the shower naked, and in the dream someone said, ‘Someone’s coming, someone’s coming.’ And I couldn’t see the face, but someone came in there with a knife. And it was like, what’s that movie? Alfred Hitchcock. Psycho. And then I just woke myself up. Word”.

So, what does it mean?

Well, the timing of the dream was interesting. In 1986, Run-DMC were experiencing a meteoric rise in music. The album they were touring with then would go on to be a multi-platinum record. The tour itself would feature LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys. Off the back of so much hype, even Michael Jackson approached the group.

Run-DMC went to have dinner with Jackson at a Hollywood recording studio, where they got to meet MJ’s famous pet chimpanzee, Bubbles. They ate swordfish, cauliflower, broccoli, and brown rice while Jackson discussed the possibility of making a record together. He recognised the impact hip hop was having in the world and wanted to create a song. Unfortunately, the project never materialised due to scheduling conflicts.

On a deeper level, DMC’s dream may have represented a sense of vulnerability he felt about entering mainstream music. As his group became more popular, the idea of touring with Michael Jackson may have reflected some fear about competing with music icons. It could have symbolised a fear about selling out, too, as Run-DMC always prided themselves on being authentic, but as they performed an arena tour, perhaps they felt like they were becoming part of the industry machine.

The dream about Michael Jackson could have been about both anxiety and aspiration for DMC: he wanted to have the same musical influence as MJ, but didn’t want to compromise his sense of self in the process. The dream additionally highlights a peculiar moment in music history when hip hop and pop were beginning to converge. Run DMC’s track ‘Rock Box’ featured a guitar riff that was equivalent to Eddie Van Halen’s riff on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’. Despite their differences, the two genres were using similar techniques to innovate and push music forwards. 

While we’ll never know the full meaning of DMC’s dream, we can continue to dream about what a Run-DMC/Michael Jackson record would have sounded like. It’s one of those ‘what if’ situations that keeps hip hop heads and pop fans alike awake at night.