Darryl “DMC”  McDaniels, one third of the legendary rap group RUN DMC, yesterday (January 24)  helped convince a New Jersey Senate panel to approve a bill that would allow adult adoptees to obtain their original birth records.

Under New Jersey law, adoptees can only see a birth certificate with their adoptive parents' names. 

If the bill is approved by the full Senate, future adoptees will be able to get birth certificates with the names, ages, birthplaces, birth dates and occupations of biological parents.

In 2000, while gathering information for his autobiography, DMC's adoptive mother revealed to the then 35-year-old that he was adopted. 

The revelation sent DMC on a journey to find out more about his biological family, and  his search was captured via an Emmy Award winning documentary called My Adoption Journey.

According to New York News Day , DMC gave an  emotionally wrenching testimony Thursday that moved the Senate panel to vote unanimously to release the bill.

“This is really about identity and truth of a human being's existence,” DMC told the Senate panel.  “We never start a book from Chapter 2, as adoptees we live our lives from Chapter 2.”

“Your being able to come before this c ommittee I think will make a significant difference,”Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington) told DMC.