Run-D.M.C. (or Run DMC) was a major pioneering hip hop group during the 1980s, founded by Joseph "DJ Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and the late Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell.

The group had an enormous impact on the development of hip hop through the 1980s and is credited with breaking hip hop into mainstream music. The three members of Run-D.M.C. grew up in the neighborhood of Hollis in the New York City borough of Queens, USA.

Run-DMC remained relatively quiet throughout the end of the '90s. Rumors of a new album had been in speculation since Jason Nevins' remixes had peaked the charts in 1998, although new rumors of solo projects were also appearing - as well that Run-DMC had broken up.

In 1999, Arista Records bought out Profile Records, and although the group had started recording new material the album's status appeared to be in arrears for almost two years. Eventually, a date was finalized and Crown Royal released in 2001.

The album was not greeted with open arms by the group's fan base, as guest artists (including Everlast, Fred Durst, Nas, Jermaine Dupri and even Sugar Ray) had seemed to replace DMC all together. In fact, only the title track does not contain a guest artist.

The album had two singles, "Let's Stay Together (Together Forever)" which featured Jagged Edge and "Rock Show" which featured Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind.

Run-DMC opened for Aerosmith and Kid Rock for the Girls of Summer Tour in 2002. While this saw the return of Run-DMC performing at large scale arena venues, the nasaly voice of DMC was gone.

On October 30th 2002, Jam Master Jay was shot and killed by an unknown gunman in his recording studio in Queens, New York. The shooting of Jam Master Jay was rumored as being drug related, although the DJ's involvement with discovering and recording the gangster rapper 50 Cent is also speculated as the motive.