Christmas in Hollis
| "Christmas in Hollis" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Run–D.M.C. | ||||
| from the album A Very Special Christmas | ||||
| B-side | Peter Piper | |||
| Released | November 25, 1987 | |||
| Format | Vinyl, Cassette | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop, rap rock, comedy, Christmas, children's music | |||
| Length | 2:59 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Writer(s) | Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Jason Mizell | |||
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin, Run–D.M.C. | |||
| Run–D.M.C. singles chronology | ||||
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"Christmas in Hollis" is a single by Run–D.M.C. that was included on two 1987 Christmas compilation albums featuring various artists: A Very Special Christmas (A&M 3911) and Christmas Rap (Profile 1247). A&M Records originally released the song as a single in 1987 off of the A Very Special Christmas album. The track was produced by the group along with Rick Rubin, and has become popular during the holiday season. It reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2000, 13 years after it was first released. The title refers to Hollis, the neighborhood in Queens where the members of Run-D.M.C. grew up. When Bill Adler first asked Run-D.M.C. to be involved with "A Very Special Christmas" they refused. After Bill gave the band the idea for "Christmas in Hollis" they changed their minds and agreed to be on the album.[1]
The track samples Clarence Carter's 1968 holiday song "Back Door Santa", as well as "Frosty the Snowman", "Jingle Bells", and "Joy to the World". The song features a slide whistle.
Media usage
- The song was used in the 1987 movie Less Than Zero.
- The song was used in the 1988 film Die Hard, played by the limousine driver Argyle while he drives John McClane to Nakatomi Plaza.
- The song was used as part of UK catalogue retailers Argos Christmas 2014 campaign.
- It was also used in the TV shows Chuck, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Lip Sync Battle, Orange Is the New Black,[2] Hindsight and The Night Before.
- The music video can be seen on UP TV Network during December.
- In 1996 Run-D.M.C. performed "Christmas in Hollis" on "All That".
- "Christmas in Hollis" was included as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of "Tougher Than Leather".
The song was used in the 2015 holiday comedy "The Night Before" featuring stars such as Seth Rogan and Joseph Gordon Levitt.
The song was also used in the 2015 Christmas ad for the Nissan car lineup.
Music video
The music video for "Christmas in Hollis" takes place at The North Pole and Hollis, Queens, New York. At the end of the video Santa is seen flying away with his sled being pulled by a dog.
Single track listing
A-side
- "Christmas in Hollis"
- "Walk This Way"