BRADFORD City Library welcomed one of its more unusual guests this afternoon - hip-hop pioneer Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC.

The superstar was talking to pupils from two schools about his latest passion, comic books, and his visit soon transformed into an inspirational talk on superheroes, the importance of education and his rap career.

He even busted out a verse of classic Sucker MC's - likely to be the first time a multi-million album selling rapper has performed in the library.

His appearance was part of the Thought Bubble Festival, which celebrates the importance of comics. Pupils from Ryecroft Primary School, in Holme Wood, and St Francis Primary School, in Bolton, were invited to the library for the creating superheroes workshop which also featured top comic artist Lisa Wood, also known as Tula Lotay.

Children were given the opportunity to create their own superheroes, with their own backstories.

McDaniels, known to his fans as DMC, told the children if they took the most of the opportunities they were given in school, they too could become superheroes.

Talking about superpowers, he said: "The most powerful force in the world is education. With an education you can go anywhere you want, do anything you want to do and be anything you want to be."

VIDEO: Watch DMC inspiring children here

Run DMC rose to fame in the 1980s and is cited as being one of the first bands to break through to the mainstream. Breakthrough hits Walk This Way, It's Tricky and It's Like That helped the group sell more than 30 million albums and become the first rap band to be played on MTV. Run DMC was inducted in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

DMC, who started writing his own comics two years ago, said before he got into music he was a huge comic book fan.

Despite the tough image many rappers portray, he said he had a happy childhood, did well in school and always planned on going to college. It was his love for English that got him into rapping.

He said he was drawn to hip-hop culture as he grew up, dding that the breakdancers he saw in his Queens home seemed like real life superheroes.

Speaking to the children, he said: "Hip-hop wasn't created by a record company, it was created by young people just like you.

"If you have a skill it isn't just for you, it is important you share it with the world.

"Your schools and your education can make you superheroes. When I stand before you, I am not better than you, I'm not more talented than you, I may be 51-years-old, but I am you. I just represent the possibility of what can happen when you make the most of every advantage and every opportunity given to you."

After his talk he posed for pictures with library staff and teachers. He also spent time rag rugging, adding to the library's Remembrance Day themed reading rug.