As a core member of trailblazing hip-hop group Run-DMC, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels stands as an OG pioneer of rap and rock crossover, and as such, a hero to modern-day genre-smashers the Fever 333. The students fight hand and hand with the teacher on the latter's new remix of "Animal," which they unleashed today, May 15th. For the reimagined version, producers J Randy and Nellz deconstructed the STRENGTH IN NUMB333RS original with Fever 333 frontman Jason Aalon Butler and DMC trading bars.
"Fever 333 gives me an opportunity to empower inspire and fight for all!" DMC enthused. "Hip-hop, punk rock, and hard rock and rock & roll allow me to represent truth, equality, and goodness in a rebellious righteous religious way. I got a fever right now ... and I'm proud to bring heat with Fever 333!"
Butler added, "I learned most of what I know and utilize in my life musically, socially, and intellectually via hip-hop music. I was obsessed with the idea of taking the adversity of the culture experienced and turning it into a song that moved to the beat of the human pulse while telling a story in a way that only adversity influenced culture could — in other words: real. I used to buy bootleg mixtapes from the cd man outside the barber shop every week and while I knew about Run-DMC it wasn't until I heard 'Rock Box' on one of those weekly mixes that I got it. The moment I heard that mpc kick and snare hit in the track then into the distorted guitars and that intro solo. There was something that was literally perfect to me and my love of hip-hop and rock music suddenly made sense. I was obsessed. I studied the flow. The clothes. The culture that DMC and his group created and, no word of a lie, I applied what I learned from him to what you hear now in Fever 333. So it should come as no surprise when I say that this is one the greatest honors and achievements of my life in so many ways. I never thought 20 years ago when I heard DMC say, 'I couldn't wait to demonstrate all the super def rhymes that I create' that he would be demonstrating on a track with my band. This shit is too crazy. All praise to the legend Darryl McDaniels for lettin' em know — there's a fever coming ..."
To accompany the song, the group have launched a limited-edition 333 DMC merch collection, including a classic bucket hat and T-shirt. All proceeds will benefit the Felix Organization co-founded by DMC and award-winning casting director Sheila Jaffe to help children in foster care.
