Darryl Matthews McDaniels was born on May 31, 1964, in Queens, New York. His birth parents are unknown. At the age of 3 months, Byford and Banna McDaniels adopted him. He attended Catholic schools in New York City and after graduation, he attended St. John's University in Queens, New York. During this time in 1984 he recorded his first album appropriately titled "RUN-D.M.C." In 1991 he met the love of his life, Zuri L. (Alston) McDaniels, while walking in New York City; they married a year later on September 28, 1992. Their son Darryl M. McDaniels, Jr. (DSon) was born on July 27, 1994, at LaGuardia Hospital in Queens, New York. They presently reside in New Jersey.