Informations about dead rappers & much more,related to hip-hop
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015
JAM MASTER JAY
Date of birth:January 21,1965 Place of birth:Brooklyn,New York,U.S. Date deceased:October 30,2002 (aged 37) Place of death:Jamaica,Queens,New York,U.S. Cause of death:Murder
About Jam Master Jay: I don't even have to say that he was one of the greatest rappers (DJs) ever.As a part of worldwide famous hip-hop group Run-D.M.C.,which already became famous in 1984,with the hits like ''Sucker MC's'' and ''It's Like that'',it's only reasonable to say that,they were one of the hip-hop pioneers.They are also responsible for breaking the hip-hop music into the mainstream.To this day,they are listened by,not only hip-hop fans,but also by music lovers in general.
In my personal view,i can say that,I am more of a gangsta rap (golden era) fan,than an old school rap fan,so I'm not a very big connoisseur of Jam Master Jay's life.But I can say that he was a pure genius,and I enjoy listening to Run-D.M.C. songs.It's also important to say that,Jam Master Jay was most probably responsible for the big success of 50 Cent,by believing in him when nobody did.Which unfortunately most likely got him killed.
Generally about Jam Master Jay: Jam Master Jay (real name Jason William Mizell) was born on January 21,1965,in Brooklyn,New York,U.S.Since his childhood,he showed his music talent by learning to play trumpet,bass,guitar and drums.At the age of 10,he moved out to Hollis,Queens,where he discovered the turntables,which soon led to his DJ career at the age of 13.
He was DJing at the at the bars and parties,and was part of several garage bands,before joining the Run-D.M.C. in 1982. The group was established when 2 rappers,Joshep ''Run'' Simmons (younger brother of the co-founder of Def Jam Records,Russell Simmons),and Darryl ''D.M.C.'' McDaniels,graduated from highschool.They were first rapping for Jam Master Jay on the parties (at the time,DJ's were much more appreciated than rappers),and then asked him to join the group,so he could DJ for them.
The group's debut album,''Run-D.M.C.'',was released on March 27,1984.The album was very successful,and its 2 singles,''It's Like That'',and ''Sucker M.C.'s'',completely changed hip hop music,making it mainstream.After the ''King of Rock'' album,from 1985,which was,as the title says,more of the rock,than hip hop sound,''Raising Hell'' was released in 1986.It was one of the most appreciated albums in hip hop history.The album went triple-platinum,and was listened,even by large amount of non hip hop fans.Some notable hits from this album were,''It's Tricky'',''Walk This Way'',and ''My Adidas''.
After this success,the group will release 3 more albums,''Tougher Than Leather'',in 1988,''Back from Hell'' in 1990,and ''Down with the King'' in 1993,before the group's breakup.
Jam Master Jay already established his own record label,''Jam Master Jay Records'' in 1989,and started to work with new upcoming talents.One of them was,now worldwide famous rap group Onyx,and later JMJ has discovered the talent of now one of the most successful rappers in general,50 Cent. Shortly before his death,Jam Master Jay and the other 2 members of Run-D.M.C.,reunited.It was in 2001,just a year before JMJ was fatally shot.After reunification,Run-D.M.C.,had some comeback concerts and they also released their comeback,and as it turns their last studio album named ''Crown Royal''.The album had a medium success,most likely because there were guest stars (like Nas,Fat Joe,Method Man,etc.) featured in every song,except the tittle track. After Jam Master Jay's death,Run and DMC,the remaining two members of the Run-D.M.C.,disbanded the group,stating that there is no point for the existence of the group,without Jam Master Jay.
Jam Master Jay's Death: On October 30,2002,Jam Master Jay was working in a recording studio,in Jamaica,Queens.At approximately 7:30 pm,unindetified man entered the studio with his accessory (which is belived it was Ronald ''Tenad'' Washington),and fired the shots in JMJ.He died shortly after,because of severity of the wounds.The other person in the studio,Urieco Rincorn was shot in the ankle,but survived.The assassinator was never found (drug dealer named Curtis Scoon was only suspect at the time,but charges against him were dropped),and alleged accessory ''Ronald ''Tenad'' Washington'',was arrested,but later released due to the lack of evidence.It's interesting to mention,that Tenad was a suspect in the 1995 murder of Randy ''Stretcht'' Walker,a former associate of 2pac,who was accused by 2pac himself,for betrayal,after 1994 shooting in Quad Studios.It is also common belief,that JMJ's murder was ordered by Kenneth ''Supreme'' McGriff,a convicted drug dealer.The same guy who was convicted for ordering the murder of Mobb Deep affiliate E-Moneybags.He was also the main suspect for connections in attempted murder of 50 Cent.50 Cent himself claimed that Jam Master Jay's murder is connected to attempt of his murder in 2000.The motive for shooting both 50 Cent and Jam Master Jay,was 50 Cent song ''Ghetto Qu'ran''(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FhVdohucJ4),in which he revealed all criminal activities in Jamaica,Queens,including Supreme's.After this song,50 Cent was shot 9 times,but survived.Since they weren't able to kill him,it's rumored that Supreme and his long time friends,Irv and Chris Gotti (owners of the Murder Inc.),put 50 Cent on the industry blacklist.But Jam Master Jay defied them,because he believed in 50 Cent,and that's probably the reason why he was killed.
In 2003,Kenneth ''Supreme'' McGriff was investigated for murder of JMJ,but soon was released,because of the lack of evidence.Neither Supreme,neither Gotti brothers (which is the reason why 50 Cent started the beef with Murder Inc.),or anybody else for that matter,was convicted,because there is just no proof for that.However McGriff was convicted in 2007,for some other crimes.
Who ever was an assassinator of Jam Master Jay,he surely didn't have any respect,what so ever for this hip hop legend.
Jam Master Jay discography: 1984: Run-D.M.C. 1985: King of Rock 1986: Raising Hell 1988: Tougher Than Leather 1990: Back from Hell 1993: Down with the King 2001: Cr own Royal (all with the Run-D.M.C.)
Jam Master Jay filmography: 1985: Krush Groove 1988: Tougher Than Leather 1993: Who's The Man?
