Chris Rock wrote the foreword for a new book of photos of the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC, “Together Forever,” by punk lensman Glen E. Friedman.

Writes Rock: “I was a DJ way before I told jokes. Run-DMC’s ‘Sucker M.C.’s’ taught me a lot about controlling the audience. I learned things about control and timing from playing the record at block parties that I use to this day.”

He first heard the Beasties on the soundtrack to “Krush Groove,” in which he had a small role, while Friedman was first introduced to Michael Diamond and Adam Yauch outside CBGB in 1981 by Yauch bestie and tastemaker Arabella Field.