A Dig of the Day: Run-D.M.C. – Christmas In Hollis
Author: Rasha Sensei
It’s not Christmas without that legendary sound from Queens! Today, we’re taking it back to 1987 when Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay proved to the world that hip hop and the holiday spirit are a perfect match — without losing an ounce of street credibility.
”Christmas In Hollis” isn’t just your average holiday tune; it’s a banger that defined an entire era and became a staple of pop culture. The story goes that Bill Adler (Def Jam’s publicist at the time) brought a crate of Christmas records to JMJ, looking for inspiration. Jay dropped the needle on Clarence Carter’s 1968 track “Back Door Santa,” and as soon as that funky horn riff kicked in, he knew they had a winner. With Rick Rubin’s sharp production and additional samples of “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells“, they created a sonic masterpiece.
The song also gained massive cult status through cinema. We all remember the iconic scene from “Die Hard” when Argyle blasts this track in the limo while driving Bruce Willis. When John McClane asks, “Don’t you got any Christmas music?”, Argyle famously replies, “This IS Christmas music!”.
From the iconic music video featuring the mischievous elf to the lyrics about finding Santa’s wallet in the park, this track solidified Run-D.M.C.’s status as boundary-breaking innovators. Even after nearly four decades, it remains the ultimate holiday anthem.
Crank up the volume and feel that Hollis, Queens vibe. Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating!
