(Photo Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
October 30, 2002. Jam Master Jay walks into his studio in Queens at 6 p.m. EST. Waiting for his artist Rusty Waters to show up, he decided to sit down and play some games of Madden 2002.
It was just over an hour later where he was then attacked at his studio and fatally shot, shocking the hip hop world.
“Kick off shoes, jump on the jock/Listen to the Jam Master as he starts to rock/His name is Jay and he’s on his way/To be the best DJ in the US of A/J-a-why are the letters of his name/Cutting and scratching are the aspects of his game/So check out the Master as he cuts these jams/And look at us with the mics in our hands/Then take a count, 1-2-3/Jam Master Jay, Run-D.M.C./He’s Jam Master Jay, the big beat blaster”
Jam Master Jay was best known as one of the biggest DJ’s in New York City and 1/3 of the famed group Run D.M.C.
Together the group helped bring hip hop to a mainstream audience with the success of some of their biggest hits including “King Of Rock.” “Walk This Way,” “Runs House,” “Rock Box” and more.
That’s not all he did though. He also helped find and sign two popular hip hop acts that have etched their name as part of the genre’s history: Onyx, and some rapper from Queens known as 50 Cent.
Not only that his legacy remains alive by allowing a place where DJ’s can learn the art and craft of DJ’ing and producing with the Scratch Academy.
It has been 15 years since the murder of Jam Master Jay. Although there were multiple witnesses in the studio that day, there have not been any new leads to bring police to make an arrest leading the NYPD to declare the case a cold case.
His son TJ Mizell has kept his fathers legacy alive by following in his footsteps as one of the most respected DJ’s in the world.
With years passing since his tragic murder, the family and the hip hop community continues to hold out hope for resolution in this case.
RIP Jam Master Jay aka Jason William Mizell.