In memoriam to the slain rap-pioneer

DJ Jam-Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot dead in New York City’s Borough of Queens, while working in a studio. One third of the pioneering rappers had helped the crew set many a milestone in the hip-hop’s short-but-turbulent history: Run-DMC actually brought rap to the mainstream, were the first rap-act to get a platinum disc (1M sales in the States), the first rap act to be regularly featured on MTV, the first rappers to grace the Rolling Stone mag’s cover…

Twenty years after formation the band was still working and touring despite their type of ‘old skool’ rappinghood being outta favour for a while. The trio’s last hit in the UK was ‘It’s Like That’, reworking of their debut disc credited to Run-DMC Vs Jason Nevins, that hit charts in the first quarter of 1998 and prompted ‘Together Forever – Greatest Hits 1983-1998’ a few months later.

Jam-Master Jay was born Jason Mizell in 1965; by 1982 he hooked up with DMC (Darryl McDaniels) and Run (Joe Simmons) whose brother, Russell (owner of Rush Productions and future co-chairman of seminal Def Jam label), was persuaded to allow them into a studio. Their eponymous debut album, as well as the follow-up, ‘King Of Rock’ (1985), stalled outside the USA’s top 50.

But, the 1986’s ‘Raising Hell’ become their ticket to paydirt: the album soared to the 3rd album position Stateside and their single ‘Walk This Way’, featuring Aerosmith, propelled them to the higher echelons of the charts (#4 US and No. 8 UK) to cement their legend and set a template for all the rap-rock crossovers. They even extolled the Adidas virtues (in ’86!), a tenner of years before Korn!

[50 Cent was JMJ’s protege who, after the untimely demise, has moved over to the Shady/Dre stable.]

Each death makes someone’s life poorer and emptier; an artist’s causes global commiseration.