With the story of Biggie Smalls in theaters now, the rap world is gaining some momentum in Tinseltown. The Hollywood Reporter states that 'Notorious' screenwriter Cheo Hodari Coker is attached to adapt Bill Adler's "Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC -- The Authorized Biography" for DJ Classicz, the urban arm of Davis Entertainment. DJ Classicz President Dallas Jackson optioned the book recently and will produce it with production partner John Davis.

'Tougher' will explore the history of hip-hop's first superstars: Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, who was shot to death in his Queens studio in 2002.

With hits such as "It's Like That," "It's Tricky," "My Adidas" and "Walk This Way," Run-DMC exploded from the Queens neighborhood of Hollis onto the international stage, thanks to the help of future mogul Russell Simmons. An early MTV staple and platinum-selling act, the group influenced much of rap's future royalty. Retired since Mizell's death, Run-DMC will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4.

Coker this week signed on to pen the Imagine/Universal car-culture project 'Lowriders.'

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