Today In Hip Hop History: Run-D.M.C. Dropped Their Classic ‘Christmas In Hollis’ Single 37 Years Ago

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On this day 37 years ago, Run-D.M.C. released their holiday-themed single “Christmas in Hollis”. The song was initially featured on the star-studded charity compilation album A Very Special Christmas, alongside Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Stevie Nicks, to name a few. Produced by Run-D.M.C. and Rick Rubin, this track has become a Christmas favorite among hip-hop fans everywhere, and it is one of hip-hop’s first mainstream holiday singles.


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In Hip Hop music, finding an artist who would be down with recording a Christmas-themed single for a commercial cause is hard. Even Run-D.M.C. was opposed to the idea. D.M.C. spoke out, saying, “Nope. We’re not doing it. That’s what they try to do to Hip Hop. They commercialize you and try to make you corny.”

When asked to record “Christmas in Hollis,” they eventually warmed up to the idea and paved the way for a whole new seasonal branch of Hip-Hop that fans across the world have come to enjoy. In honor of this day, we have compiled a list of the top five holiday songs in rap music. 

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Salute to the greatest hip Hop duo of all time and a special Rest In Peace to Raymond “Lil Lep” Lopez, the b-boy pioneer who played Santa’s elf” passed away earlier this month.