DMC’s Metal Roots — Sabbath, Priest, and the Rock DNA Behind “She Gets Me High”

DMC sits down with Metal Walt for a deep dive into his heavy metal and hard rock origins — from the music he heard growing up to discovering the power of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest.
In this wide-ranging conversation, DMC explains how rock music was already embedded in early hip-hop culture, why songs like “Rock Box” proved that rock was part of Run-DMC’s DNA from the start, and how that foundation eventually led him to create metal and hard rock music in his own lane.
The interview also touches on DMC’s 2026 solo metal single “She Gets Me High,” his connection to NYC hardcore, playing with Agnostic Front, performing with Sammy Hagar, and opening for Lou Reed — reinforcing a lifelong relationship with rock, metal, and underground culture.
00:00 Show Open & Pre-Roll Tease
02:12 What Music Sounded Like in DMC’s House Growing Up
03:47 Discovering Rock on WABC and the First Metal Obsession (Black Sabbath)
07:00 Rock and Early Hip-Hop Culture — DJs, Crates, and Crossover
09:12 “Rock Box” and Why Rock Was Always in Run-DMC’s DNA
12:05 “Walk This Way” — History, Impact, and the Permission Moment
23:14 When DMC Decided to Start Making Rock Music
25:59 DMC and the HellRaisers — Live Reactions and Reality
29:14 Rock DNA Across Classic Run-DMC Songs (King of Rock, It’s Tricky, Mary, Mary, Why You Buggin’)
34:06 “She Gets Me High” — DMC’s Solo Metal Direction and Lineup
45:02 Hardcore Roots — Agnostic Front, NYC, and Underground Energy
54:11 Legacy, Creativity, and What DMC Is About Today
01:07:11 Wrap-Up & Where to Follow DMC

Metal Mayhem ROC
Website: https://metalmayhemroc.com/
DMC
Website: https://thekingdmc.com/