A day after rap pioneer Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was gunned down in a New York studio, the hip-hop community was in pained shock Thursday after its latest episode of violence claimed someone whose career has been far removed from the so-called thug life.
Unlike the gangster ethos embraced by many of today’s top rap acts, the rhymes of the trio Run-DMC in hits such as “My Adidas,” “Rock Box” and “It’s Tricky” were party music with street style and blended hip-hop with rock bombast. As members of the Queens, N.Y., group aged, their topics drifted more and more to the inspirational and the positive.
That made the slaying of the 37-year-old deejay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, especially jolting for fans and peers alike, even as police said Thursday evening that the motive for the shooting was unknown.
“For nearly 20 years, Run-DMC has been the closest thing to gospel artists that the contemporary music community has had,” said music magnate Russell Simmons, whose recording empire found an early star in Run-DMC. “They talked about God and their higher selves, the importance of staying away from drugs, and generally inspirational and uplifting subject matter. They represented everything good and positive about hip-hop.”
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the rap deejay was killed by a single shot to the head Wednesday evening, reportedly while playing a video game with Uriel Rincon, 25, who was shot once in the leg. Rincon, who was treated at a hospital and released, was one of five witnesses questioned by detectives, who were trying to reconcile differences in their accounts.
“Questioning is ongoing,” Kelly said. “There were conflicting reports whether there were one or two invaders, shooters.”
Police also disclosed that as a precaution, they advised another Queens rap artist, 50 Cent, to skip a scheduled show at a Times Square club. 50 Cent, whose birth name is Curtis Jackson, had been a friend of Jay and had been wounded in a shooting two years ago in Queens. He also had been involved in a number of public scuffles with other rappers, including Queens rap star Ja Rule.
On Thursday, top rap stars were offering words of grief and testimonies to the potency of the Run-DMC songbook. The more famous two-thirds of Run-DMC are Joseph Simmons–the brother of Russell Simmons–and DMC, whose real name is Darryl McDaniels. The group released the album “Crown Royale” last year after an eight-year hiatus.
“This is a great loss,” rapper and music executive Sean “P. Diddy” Combs said in a statement. “Jam Master Jay was a pioneer, he led the way for a whole new genre of talent. Not only was he a great artist, but he was a great man who will be deeply missed.”
He also was hailed Thursday by fans who gathered outside the scene of the shooting to leave candles, flowers and Adidas sneakers, a reference to one of the group’s hit.
One of the victim’s three children, Jason Mizell Jr., told reporters at the scene that the crime is confusing. “There’s no reason,” he said.