We Speak Events
Run DMC Announces One-Off 2018 UK Gig
US legendary hip-hop group, Run DMC is set to return to the UK stage for the first time in three years for a rare one night only exclusive show on Thursday 5th July 2018 at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London.
Bursting onto the scene in the early ‘80’s and widely acknowledged as one of the first artists to pioneer the new school hip-hop sound; MC’s Joseph ‘Run’ Simmons, Darryl ‘D.M.C’ McDaniels and the late DJ Jason ‘Jam Master Jay’ Mizell, are greatly recognised as the most influential and famous acts in the history of hip-hop culture.
Achieving notable firsts in the world of hip-hop music and credited as being the most responsible for pushing hip-hop into mainstream popular music, Run DMC was the first rap act to receive a Grammy Award nomination, a No.1 R&B charting rap album, the first rap act to have a music video rotation on MTV and to feature on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine; plus the first rap act to sign to a major endorsement deal with Adidas. Run DMC were also the second rap act to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Releasing their groundbreaking debut rap album ‘Run-D.M.C’ in 1984, the rap group scored major success with three Top 20 singles including their debut single ‘It’s Like That/’Sucker MC’s’, followed by ‘Hard Times’ and ‘30 Days’. Catapulting the group into a global phenomenon with an unprecedented sound of raw hip-hop mixed with hard rock, on their fourth single ‘Rock Box’, would become the cornerstone of the group’s sound, paving the way for the rap rock movement in the ‘90’s.
Run DMC’s followed up rock influenced album titled ‘King of Rock’ released in 1985 was greatly received spending 56 weeks on the US Billboard charts with singles ‘King of Rock’, ‘You Talk Too Much’ and ‘Can You Rock It Like This’ reaching the Top 20.
The group’s third and breakthrough album ‘Raising Hell’, produced by musical genius Rick Rubin in 1986, trumped all perceived notions of commercial viability for hip-hop music, by achieving triple platinum status and receiving attention from quarters that had previously ignored and dismissed hip-hop music as a fad. ‘Raising Hell’ became the group’s most successful selling album and one of the best selling rap albums of all time, peaking at No.3 on the Billboard charts and achieving double platinum status. The lead and cover single ‘Walk This Way’ with Aerosmith’s lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry scored Top 10 status in over eight countries and was ranked number 293 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Run DMC continued to produce successfully selling albums over the next 14 years with records like ‘Tougher Than Leather’, ‘Back From Hell’, ‘Down With The King’ to their last studio album ‘Crown Royal’ in 2001; releasing popular hits such as ‘Run’s House’, ‘What’s It All About’, ‘Down With The King’ and ‘Let’s Stay Together’.
With over 20 years of pioneering hits, unparallelled solo success, plus collaborating with the music industry’s notable hip-hop and rock music stars from Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Kid Rock, Method Man, Nas, Stephan Jenkins (Third Eye Blind), and Sugar Ray; the legendary rap group of all time will return to London for the most anticipated concert of the summer.
Tickets for this EXCLUSIVE one off show start from £38 and will be available to purchase at www.ticketmaster.co.uk, www.axs.com and www.eventimapollo.com from Wednesday 24th January 2018.
We Speak Entertainment
BET MEDIA GROUP HONORED BLACK LGBTQ+ TRAILBLAZER WITH A POWERFUL NIGHT OF CELEBRATION, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
FROM BOB THE DRAG QUEEN’S GROUNDBREAKING RECOGNITION TO HOPE GISELLES’S INSPIRING REMARKS– THE 3RD ANNUAL BET BLACK + ICONIC SOIREE HIGHLIGHTED THE BRILLIANCE AND IMPACT OF BLACK LGBTQ+ LEADERS

(New York, NY)– May 28, 2025 – The 3rd Annual BET Black + Iconic Soirée made its Washington, D.C debut with inspiring evening celebrating the past, present, and future of black LGBTQ+ excellence. The 2025 theme, “Excellence Ascending,” paid tribute to cultural change makers leading with authenticity, courage and purpose.
Hosted by entertainment journalist and Access Hollywood anchor Scott Evans, the Soirée gathered trailblazers across activism, arts, business, and media for a powerful evening of storytelling , performance, and legacy-building.
Highlights from the BET Black + Iconic Soriée Included:
- Ashlee Davis, J.D. received the Executive Realness Award for her trailblazing work in civil rights leadership, including her legacy of impact across government and corporate sectors.
- Hope Giselle, a powerful advocate and author was named Emerging leader for her unrelenting work championing visibility and inclusion for Black trans communities.
- Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, was honored as Active Advocate for her decades of leadership advancing reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ rights.
- Ashlee Marie Preston, a nationally recognized activist and media strategist, accepted the Creative Visionary Award, saluted for using her voice to shift narratives and build intergenerational coalitions.
- Bob the Drag Queen, Emmy-winning entertainer and global icon, received the Culture Trailblazer Award, closing the evening with a heartfelt speech about identity, freedom, legacy.
- The Center for Black Equity and the Take Resource Center each received $5,000 through the BET Thrive Fund Recognition, honored for their work advancing Black LGBTQ+ wellness, equity and community organizing.
The night also featured a soul-stirring medley performance by Broadway powerhouse Avery Wilson, fresh off stage from The Wiz revival. Presenters included Eva Marcille (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Carter The Body (All The Queen’s Men, BET+), Bryan Terrell Clark (Diarra from Detroit, BET+), and Arrington Foster (The Family Business, BET+), each bringing star power and heartfelt tributes to the evening’s honorees.
“From the very beginning, we knew this couldn’t be just another event,” said Tiyale Hayes, EVP of Insights and Multiplatform Analytics and Co-Lead of Social Impact at BET, During his opening remarks. “It had to an intentional space to uplift stories too often silenced and celebrate contributions that have shaped the world in powerful ways.”
The evening also spotlighted Gilead Sciences, a long standing partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Gilead’s Rashad Burgess, Vice President of U.S. Advocacy and Health Equity, emphasized and the importance of equitable healthcare access, visibility, and long-term impact for Black LGBTQ+ communities.
Additionally, the event welcomed Truth Initiative as a new partner of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée. Dr. Kendrick Dartis, Vice president of Outreach and Engagement, addressed the urgent issue of tobacco use in Black and LGBTQ+ communities and emphasized the need for culturally relevant cessation support. He also announced a $5,000 BET Thrive Fund donation, sponsored by Truth Initiative, to Us Helping Us– a D.C.- based non profit dedicated to advancing health equity.
BET Black + Iconic Soirée stands as defining moment in the 45th anniversary year of the media group– underscoring its mission to center Black culture, honor its LGBTQ+ communities, and drive meaningful, measurable impact.
Join the conversation using #BlackAndIconic and relieve the nights most powerful moments on BET’s official social channels. The Televised premiere date and time will be announced at a later date.
ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP
The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ:PARAA;PARA), is the worlds largest media company dedicated too entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Back audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international. For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements visit bet pressroom.com.
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