Joseph "Run" Simmons made it big in the 1980s with the multiplatinum, Grammy-nominated rap group Run-DMC. Despite his fame, he was looking for something more—so he turned to the church and became an ordained minister in 1994.
Now Reverend Run, or Rev Run, is back in the spotlight with his family of seven in the MTV reality series Run's House. For 12 hours a day, cameras follow the highs and lows of Rev Run, his wife, Justine, and their five children—23-year-old Vanessa, 19-year-old Angela, 17-year-old Joseph, 12-year-old Daniel and 10-year-old Russell.
Family life is a big priority in Rev Run's house. From holding family meetings to taking everyone bowling, Rev Run makes sure they pencil in quality time together. "Family doesn't happen automatically," he says. "We work on family."
Rev Run says his family wants to show viewers that a family that plays together, and prays together, stays together. "I told the family, 'Let's show what we do on a day-to-day basis to America, to show how we're an organized, happy family. So for us, it was a service," he says. "People say, 'I wouldn't want cameras in my house,' but we didn't look at it like that. We wanted to show what we do to inspire."
Published 04/02/2007
