Run DMC's Jam Master Jay shot to death in Queens, NY

[BurbankKarl]

Kind of shocked to hear this one...Run DMC kept their music relatively clean when all the Gangsta Rap hit in the last 80s...

NEW YORK — Legendary hip-hop DJ Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot and killed in Queens on Wednesday (October 30), according to the group's camp.

Police have confirmed that two men were shot inside a studio on Merrick Boulevard at 7:30 p.m. local time and say the victims have not been identified.

According to police, one man was dead on arrival after being rushed to a local hospital. Representatives for Run-DMC claim the victim was Jam Master Jay, a.k.a. Jason Mizell.

Police did not disclose the condition of the other victim.

Right before the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards in August, Darryl McDaniels, a.k.a. Jay's longtime musical compatriot DMC, said that the Queens group was going to hit the studio and road for an album and tour in commemoration of their 20th anniversary (see "Run-DMC Plan Return To B-Boyism On Anniversary LP").

Run-DMC, who recently wrapped a tour with Kid Rock and Aerosmith, were scheduled to perform Thursday (October 31) as part of the half-time festivities at a Washington Wizards home game.

[MassExodus]

Drunken dorm room filled to the bricks with kids reciting

"round the back, through the hoop, then you scream TOUCHDOWN ! - you be illin..."

RunDMC and the band that sang "white lines" were about the only "rap" entities accepted by white, college kids in the mid to late 80's.

Fond rememberences, sad about what has happened.

[Teacher317]

I'm link-challenged, but if you go to www.timesunion.com, the story is right there.

To do a link, type:
<*a href = "www.timesunion.com"*> and then <*/a*>,
without the * symbols.
In between them, you type whatever words you want to appear as your link: Hip-hop DJ attacked in Albany

Hip-hop DJ attacked in Albany

[AppyPappy]

The country is at war and you people worry about balck gangster rapists. Crazy!

Educate yourself.

[LoneGOPinCT]

Drunken dorm room filled to the bricks with kids reciting

"round the back, through the hoop, then you scream TOUCHDOWN ! - you be illin..."

RunDMC and the band that sang "white lines" were about the only "rap" entities accepted by white, college kids in the mid to late 80's.

I remember it well, although it's a bit blurred!

I can remember back in my junior/senior years of high school ('87+'88) we used to play Run DMC (alternating with AC/DC) during warm-ups before our basketball games. Bear in mind, we were in lily-white suburbia and used to play a few inner-city teams. It would be too easy to say that our warm-up music got the opponents all pumped up before the game and that's why we lost. The fact is that they would have kicked our a$$es anyways. But looking back on it, it was kind of funny to see players on both sides mouthing the words to the songs. How the times change!

[Constitution Day]

So sad.
Thinking of Run DMC reminds me of my high school days listening to "old school" rap like Doug E. Fresh, Whodini and the early Beastie Boys.

RIP, Jam Master Jay.

[marshmallow]

When I hear the phrases "non-gangsta-rap" and "anti-violence rap", I'm reminded of similar oxymorons like "white witches" or "Christian gays".

The whole genre is saturated with violence. It is synonomous with it.

[MassExodus]

Ba Dum .. da Lum .. Be Dum ..Be Dum ...BASS !! ...White Lines ... Pure as the driven snow - blowing through my mind.- "Baby"

It's all creeping back to me, through the haze of grey years - like a smelly forgotten warm up jersey. lol.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I've got Christmas in Hollis on MP3 on my puter

[KneelBeforeZod]

"But Run DMC and their songs were never about violence. The group promoted education and unity.

In 1986, at the height of their popularity, 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."

-Fox News

[Space Wrangler]

Well, I don't know what Run DMC was into behind the scenes, but for the most part they had a pretty clean 'public persona', basically meaning that they never got any bad publicity that I can recall. They weren't gangsta rap, but more what I would call 'old school' rap. These are pretty much THE guys who brought rap mainstream to white suburban high school kids, of which I was one in the mid-80's. I always liked their music, and saw them in concert one time in 1986, and for the most part it was pretty clean. So, in answer to your question, I'd have to say this is a 'bad' thing, but like I said, I haven't followed them in years.

[RabidBartender]

Some posters are amazingly ignorant. They have never heard Run DMC, but because they are 'rappers', they are gangstas and thugs? Some of you folks sound pretty f-ing stupid talking about someting you don't know anything about. Try keeping your mouth shut next time before you spout off your ignorance.

from RunDMC Lyric archives: http://www.ecr.mu.oz.au/~mckenzie/index2.html

Jam Master Jay

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-Y 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
He gets better cause he know he has to
In '84 he'll be a little faster
And only practice makes a real Jam Master
We're live as can be, not singing the blues
We got to tell you all the good news
The good news is there is a crew
Not 5, not 4, not 3, just 2
Two MC's who are claim the fame
And all other things won't be the same
Because it's about time for a brand new group
Run-D.M.C to put you up on the scoop
We make the fly girls scream in ecstacy
We rock the freshest rhymes at a party
We put all the fellas in a daze
It's everyone that we amaze
And we got the master of a disco scratch
There's not a break that he can't catch
Jam Master Jay that is his name
And all wild DJ's he will tame
Behind the turntables is where he stands
Then there is the movement of his hands
So when asked who's the best, y'all should say:
Run-D.M.C and Jam Master Jay
Jam Master Jay is the one in charge
It's up to him to rock beats that are truly large
He is the master of the scratch and cut
So move your arms, so move your legs
So won't you move your butt
We're not talking ground, we're not talking sky
We're not talking low, we're not talking high
We're not talking big, we're not talking small
We want all of the people on off the wall
We're not talking night, we're not talking day
But we're talking 'bout Jam Master Jay

[Mixer]

Gangster rap can be hazardous to your health. Again, you reap what you sow. Live by violent lyrics, die by violent actions.

WRONG!!!! These were the guys that went around the world encouraging kids to get out of gangs.

[Mixer]

Any songs that I, a 41 year old white guy, might know?

They brought Aerosmith out of retirement back in the 80s with a remake of "Walk this way"

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

FOX news reported he pioneered the"record scratching sound"and i'm sure that will go into the annals of history as one of mankinds greatest contributions along with "snoop doggie do do"!

[Mixer]

The country is at war and you people worry about balck gangster rapists. Crazy!

While the country was on high alert from the sniper attacks in the DC area, I seem to remember the World Series games getting quite a few minds off of it for a while. I guess what I am trying to say is that you can't discuss the war 24/7. Sometimes other stuff happens too ;-)

[diotima]

"Doug, you're fresh, you're on."

[Mixer]

RunDMC and the band that sang "white lines" were about the only "rap" entities accepted by white, college kids in the mid to late 80's.

You forgot The Beastie Boys and LL Cool J. Maybe I wasnt as white as I thought back then ;-)

[Constitution Day]

"Six minutes..."

[MassExodus]

You forgot The Beastie Boys and LL Cool J. Maybe I wasnt as white as I thought back then ;-)

You're right. Shame on me for forgetting "Goin back to Cali" & "She's Crafty" etc.