Run-DMC legend reads children's book to students at Philadelphia elementary school

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A hip-hop icon brought the beats to the books at an elementary school in North Philadelphia on Tuesday.

A member of the legendary rap group Run-DMC stopped by Mary McLeod Bethune School to read his children's book, showing students that storytelling is the ultimate track.

"He was proud of his poem, but he wondered, 'Was it really that good?'" Darryl McDaniels read from his book in front of a crowd of kids.

Action News was there as McDaniels, also known as DMC, read pages from his new book 'Darryl's Dream.'

"You can do anything that your mind can imagine. So you ready to take this journey with me?" McDaniels enthusiastically asked the classroom of students.

His goal was to get students excited about reading, but the book was also deeply personal.

The 60-year-old wrote the book to share his story of being bullied because he liked school and writing poetry.

"Children need to learn they are perfect just the way they are. They don't need to follow others or be like anybody else," he said. "Because they are who they are, the unique person they are, they can grow up to be whatever it is they want to be."

The book's main character, Darryl, is a quiet third-grader who loves poetry and has big dreams. But before he can accomplish those goals, he has to find his confidence and face his bullies.

McDaniels says it was language and the arts that helped him build his own confidence as a child.

"We had poetry and music and education and creativity and dance inside of us. We were able to use those resources to build finance for us, to build education for us," he explained.

It's a message he told Action News' Sharrie Williams that he wants to convey to young people.

"Not only did I become a rapper, I became one of the greatest rappers in the history of our culture. So this is to inspire, motivate, and show the kids who they are," McDaniels explained.