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Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide

A Memoir

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

In this surprising and moving memoir, the legendary rap star and cofounder of Run D.M.C. keeps it a hundred percent, speaking out about his battle with depression and overcoming suicidal thoughts—one of the most devastating yet little known health issues plaguing the black community today.

As one third of the legendary rap group Run D.M.C., Darryl “DMC” McDaniels—aka Legendary MC, The Devastating Mic Controller, and the King of Rock—had it all: talent, money, fame, prestige. While hitting #1 on the Billboard charts was exhilarating, the group’s success soon became overwhelming. A creative guy who enjoyed being at home alone or with his family, DMC turned to alcohol to numb himself, a retreat that became an addiction. For years, he went through the motions. But in 1997, when intoxication could no longer keep the pain at bay, he plunged into severe depression and became suicidal. He wasn’t alone. During the same period, suicide became the number three leading cause of death among black people—a health crisis that continues to this day.

In this riveting memoir, DMC speaks openly about his emotional and psychological struggles and the impact on his life, and addresses the many reasons that led him—and thousands of others—to consider suicide. Some of the factors include not being true to who you are, feelings of loneliness, isolation, and alienation, and a lack of understanding and support from friends and family when it’s needed most. He also provides essential information on resources for getting help. Revealing how even the most successful people can suffer from depression, DMC offers inspiration for everyone in pain—information and insight that he hopes can help save other lives.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from June 20, 2016
      McDaniels, one-third of the legendary rap group Run-DMC, confesses his private demons in his no-holds-barred tell-all. The entertainer writes about his home base of Hollis, Queens; his childhood as a nerdy comic book geek; his strict Southern parents; and using alcohol to numb his crippling stage fright while performing with his bandmates, Joseph "Run" Simmons and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, in the early 1980s. Holding very little back, he talks about the group's origins in 1981; scoring the first gold hip-hop record, Run-DMC, in 1984; earning the first platinum record, King of Rock, in 1985; and topping it with the multi-platinum Raising Hell in 1986. While the group appeared to be soaring until Jay's death in 2002, McDaniels says he was unraveling from emotional turmoil due to losing his voice, creative differences with the band, addictions, losing Jay, and finally learning he was adopted. Remarkably candid, very hip, and genuinely soulful, McDaniel's star-studded memoir of depression and hopelessness ultimately transitions into a reflective, inspirational mediation of rebirth and renewal. Agent: Carol Mann, Carol Mann Agency.

    • Library Journal

      January 1, 2016

      McDaniels was a third of the multi-platinum-winning music group Run-DMC. But success brought the severe depression and suicidal thoughts he discusses here, even as he offers coping advice--important, because suicide is a leading cause of death among African Americans. With a 75,000-copy first printing.

      Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Library Journal

      July 1, 2016

      Most people realize that the public and private personas of our favorite performers clash; but there are, it seems, different rules for rappers. In a genre predicated on the premise of "keeping it real," these personas are unified by both fan expectations and industry pressures. Here McDaniels (DMC), one-third of pioneering hip-hop group Run D.M.C., shows how devastating such restrictive thinking can be. The self-proclaimed "nerd" and "people pleaser" discusses the meteoric rise and fall of his iconic group and his strained relationship with bandmate Joseph "Run" Simmons. His descent into alcoholism and depression are written with such candor that it feels as though one is reading his personal diary. DMC not only deftly and concisely explains the Run D.M.C. formation and breakup but also intersperses inspirational wisdom for others struggling with difficult life circumstances as well. This important read isn't "just" a memoir; it is also a self-help book that opens the door for conversations about mental health. VERDICT Recommended for Run D.M.C. fans and anyone interested in reading about overcoming personal demons. [See Prepub Alert, 11/30/15.]--Tamela Chambers, Chicago Pub. Schs., IL

      Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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