It's the holiday season, so we are unwrapping what makes the music video and the song "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC so great!

Topics discussed:

1. "Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter - the beat behind the song
2. How "Christmas in Hollis" made it on the A Very Special Christmas album
3. Breaking down the song and the video
4. Video director Michael Holman's under-appreciated contributions to hip hop
5. "Christmas in Hollis" in the movies and TV

Also check out:

Our episode on the Run-DMC documentary Kings from Queens. More on Christmas in Hollis at Defector, AV Club, Vice, and BET.

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie.

And remember:

Don't hate...ice skate!

Check us out:

Save the date: March 18, 2026 for SET IT OFF at SteelStacks!

Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree.

Hip Hop Movie Club on:

Facebook

Instagram

Threads

Bluesky

Substack (newsletter)

Website