October 31, 2002
Jam Master Jay, a founding member of the pioneering rap trio Run DMC, was shot and killed at his recording studio near the New York neighborhood where he grew up, police said.
Two men were buzzed into the second-floor studio shortly before shots were fired inside its lounge at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30,2002, police said. As of early Thursday, police had made no arrests.
The 37-year-old disc jockey, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was shot once in the head in the studio's lounge and died at the scene, said Detective Robert Price, a police spokesman.
Urieco Rincon, 25, who was not a member of Run DMC, was shot in the leg, police said. About five other people in the studio at the time were not hurt.
``Rest In Peace Jam Master,'' Run DMC's official Web site read early Thursday, underneath a picture of Mizell.
Mizell served as the platinum-selling group's disc jockey, providing background for singers Joseph Simmons, better known as Run, and Darryl McDaniels, better known as DMC.
The group is widely credited with helping bring hip-hop into music's mainstream, including the group's smash collaboration with Aerosmith on the 1980s standard ``Walk This Way'' and hits like ``My Adidas'' and ``It's Tricky.''
``We always knew rap was for everyone,'' Mizell said in a 2001 interview with MTV. ``Anyone could rap over all kinds of music.''
Mizell is the latest in a line of hip-hop artists to fall victim to violence. Rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur were murdered within seven months of each other in 1996 and 1997 - crimes that some believe were the result of an East Coast-West Coast rap war.
But Run DMC and their songs were never about violence. The group promoted education and unity.
In 1986, the trio said they were outraged by the rise of fatal gang violence in the Los Angeles area. They called for a day of peace between warring street gangs.
``This is the first town where you feel the gangs from the minute you step into town to the time you leave,'' Mizell said at the time.
Mizell's friends and fans gathered near the studio, located above a restaurant and a check-cashing business. The crowd included many people from the Hollis section of Queens, where the members of Run DMC grew up.
``They're the best. They're the pioneers in hip hop,'' said Arlene Clark, 39, who grew up in the same neighborhood. ``They took it to the highest level it could go.''
Chuck D, the founder of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, blamed record companies and the advertising for perpetuating ``a climate of violence'' in the rap industry. ``When it comes to us, we're disposable commodities,'' he said.
Doctor Dre, a New York radio station DJ who had been friends with Mizell since the mid-1980s, said, ``This is not a person who went out looking for trouble. ... He's known as a person that builds, that creates and is trying to make the right things happen.''
Leslie Bell, 33, said the band members often let local musicians record for free at the studio, and had remained in Queens to give back to the community.
``He is one great man,'' said Bell. ``As they say, the good always die young.''
Publicist Tracy Miller said Mizell and McDaniels had planned to perform in Washington, D.C., on Thursday at a Washington Wizards basketball game. Mizell had performed on Tuesday in Alabama, she said.
Mizell was married and had three children, she said.
Run DMC released a greatest-hits album earlier this year. In 2001, the rappers produced ``Crown Royal,'' breaking an eight-year silence.
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::: UPDATE :::
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2002
New York Tabloid Fingers Prime Suspect In Jam Master Jay Killing
While theories concerning a lookout and prime suspect have surfaced in the fatal shooting of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, police will say only that their investigation continues, and that they have yet to name a suspect. Meanwhile, an additional
$250,000 reward is being offered in hopes of bringing the culprits to justice.
The Sunday edition of the New York Post reported that an associate of the iconic DJ may have served as a lookout while Jay, born Jason Mizell, was shot to death.
The alleged associate is believed to have tipped the killers off when Jay arrived at his 24/7 studio in Queens, according to the Post. He then waited outside while the perpetrators committed the crime. The man believed to be an accomplice to Jay's murder is thought to be hiding out in Washington, D.C. He was only identified as "a convicted drug dealer."
The paper also said that Jam Master Jay may have been killed for a dispute over money, and fingered an individual named Curtis Scoon as the prime suspect in the investigation and the man wanted by police for questioning. In last Monday's New York Times, it was reported that police were hoping to question a man � only identified at the time as being from "the South" � in connection with the killing. The Times report said he had been feuding with the acclaimed turntable technician.
Attorney Marvyn Kornberg, who recently represented Justin Volpe in the Abner Louima assault case, said last week that a man believing he was the subject of the Times report acquired his services. Kornberg said his client will not be talking to police unless he is arrested and charged.
On Tuesday, Detective Bernard Porter Jr. of the 103rd precinct said he could not confirm the report about Scoon, and that police still did not have any suspects. They are still soliciting members of the community for information on Jam Master Jay's slaying.
"We're always interested in hearing what the streets are talking about who may have been involved," Porter said. "It's our job to prove or disprove what the streets are saying."
People may be enticed to come forward with a new reward that has been posted. Charles Fisher, founder and chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council, said his organization recently received an anonymous donation of $250,000 to be used as reward money. This compensation is independent of the $62,000 that has already been put up by the New York Police Department and a coalition spearheaded by Russell Simmons.
Fisher, who started his organization shortly after Russell Simmons held the inaugural Hip-Hop Summit in June 2001, said the donor did not want to have any dealings with the authorities, but felt comfortable leaving the money in his care.
"He [said] he would be willing to support what we're doing and contributed this money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderers of Jam Master Jay, but it would have to be through our private number [which is] 718-264-9092," Fisher said of the mystery person. "This is almost like the street tip line. Everything is confidential, you don't deal with law enforcement, you'll be dealing directly with the streets.
"People trust us enough to know that we have a working relationship with the police and we're like the press � we don't give up our sources," he continued. "But we turn information over to the police. We don't want to do the police's job, I'm not going out to arrest anybody. I just want the information."
Over the weekend, flyers were posted throughout Queens urging anyone who knew about the pioneer's slaying to contact the authorities. A $62,000 reward was listed as an incentive. "America's Most Wanted" also leant a hand to the investigation � the program ran a segment about the killing on Saturday.
Anyone with information can call the 103rd Precinct Detective Squad at (718) 657-8822 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
Update
1-27-03
A new Adidas trainer created solely in homage of the murdered rapper and DJ Jam Master Jay, and designed by his children, has gone on sale.
The 'sneakers' were designed by Jay's three sons Jr. (16-years-old), T.J. (11) and Jesse (7), in collaboration with Adidas and have been limited to 5,000 pairs. A cartoon image of Jay is featured on the tongue of the shoe with the words Jam Master Jay: 1/21/65 - 10/30/02.
All profit made are set to benefit the Scratch DJ Academy which was founded by Jam Master Jay.
The idea is somewhat of a thank you gesture from Adidas after Run-DMC resurrected the brand and made it cool again during the 80's and the B-Boy era. Adidas are thought to be releasing a different colour of the shoe every year on Jay's birthday.
PAGE 5
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2002
New York Tabloid Fingers Prime Suspect In Jam Master Jay Killing
While theories concerning a lookout and prime suspect have surfaced in the fatal shooting of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, police will say only that their investigation continues, and that they have yet to name a suspect. Meanwhile, an additional
$250,000 reward is being offered in hopes of bringing the culprits to justice.
The Sunday edition of the New York Post reported that an associate of the iconic DJ may have served as a lookout while Jay, born Jason Mizell, was shot to death.
The alleged associate is believed to have tipped the killers off when Jay arrived at his 24/7 studio in Queens, according to the Post. He then waited outside while the perpetrators committed the crime. The man believed to be an accomplice to Jay's murder is thought to be hiding out in Washington, D.C. He was only identified as "a convicted drug dealer."
The paper also said that Jam Master Jay may have been killed for a dispute over money, and fingered an individual named Curtis Scoon as the prime suspect in the investigation and the man wanted by police for questioning. In last Monday's New York Times, it was reported that police were hoping to question a man � only identified at the time as being from "the South" � in connection with the killing. The Times report said he had been feuding with the acclaimed turntable technician.
Attorney Marvyn Kornberg, who recently represented Justin Volpe in the Abner Louima assault case, said last week that a man believing he was the subject of the Times report acquired his services. Kornberg said his client will not be talking to police unless he is arrested and charged.
On Tuesday, Detective Bernard Porter Jr. of the 103rd precinct said he could not confirm the report about Scoon, and that police still did not have any suspects. They are still soliciting members of the community for information on Jam Master Jay's slaying.
"We're always interested in hearing what the streets are talking about who may have been involved," Porter said. "It's our job to prove or disprove what the streets are saying."
People may be enticed to come forward with a new reward that has been posted. Charles Fisher, founder and chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council, said his organization recently received an anonymous donation of $250,000 to be used as reward money. This compensation is independent of the $62,000 that has already been put up by the New York Police Department and a coalition spearheaded by Russell Simmons.
Fisher, who started his organization shortly after Russell Simmons held the inaugural Hip-Hop Summit in June 2001, said the donor did not want to have any dealings with the authorities, but felt comfortable leaving the money in his care.
"He [said] he would be willing to support what we're doing and contributed this money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderers of Jam Master Jay, but it would have to be through our private number [which is] 718-264-9092," Fisher said of the mystery person. "This is almost like the street tip line. Everything is confidential, you don't deal with law enforcement, you'll be dealing directly with the streets.
"People trust us enough to know that we have a working relationship with the police and we're like the press � we don't give up our sources," he continued. "But we turn information over to the police. We don't want to do the police's job, I'm not going out to arrest anybody. I just want the information."
Over the weekend, flyers were posted throughout Queens urging anyone who knew about the pioneer's slaying to contact the authorities. A $62,000 reward was listed as an incentive. "America's Most Wanted" also leant a hand to the investigation � the program ran a segment about the killing on Saturday.
Anyone with information can call the 103rd Precinct Detective Squad at (718) 657-8822 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
PAGE 5