The New York Daily News says investigators in the Run-DMC homicide case are backing off the theory Jason Mizell's death was part of an East Coast-West Coast rap war Mizell, a founding member of the ground-breaking rap group, Run-DMC, was shot and killed last week in his Queens recording studio "I think it's local," the News quoted one investigator saying. "I don't think it's a rap war. I think this guy was in serious debt." Mizell's former Run-DMC bandmate Joseph (Run) Simmons agreed. "Run-DMC didn't have an East-West thing," Simmons told the cable news channel New York 1. "We were more like the king of the whole industry. We were like overseeing everything. But as far as somebody having a beef with Run-DMC, never." Cops are focusing on local thugs in Hollis, Queens, and have questioned and cleared one man to whom the 37-year-old married father of three owed at least $10,000, the News reported After Mizell was slain, police brass ordered cops to watch over the city's best-known hip-hop figures -- especially rapper 50 Cent, a Mizell protege The rapper canceled his Thursday night show after receiving what cops called a "credible threat." But 50 Cent's manager said he doubted the threat was linked to Mizell's slaying "There's a threat against anyone in this business every day," manager Chris Lighty said
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