After more than two decades, the hip-hop community finally received a glimmer of closure as two suspects Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr. were convicted for the murder of legendary Run-DMC DJ, Jam Master Jay. The shocking crime that shook the music industry in 2002 has remained unsolved until now. But how did this long-awaited justice come about?
The legacy of Jam Master Jay and the iconic rap group Run-DMC has left an indelible mark on hip-hop culture. As pioneering DJs, they revolutionized the music industry with their innovative sound and style. Their contributions to the genre continue to resonate today.
READ ALSO: Vikings Justin Jefferson Sued For Trying to Get IG Model Andrea Galea to Have an Abortion
Run-DMC, consisting of Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell, burst onto the scene in the 1980s with their unique fusion of rock and rap. They were instrumental in popularizing hip-hop as a mainstream genre by crossing over into pop culture. With hits like “Walk This Way” featuring Aerosmith, they bridged the gap between rap and rock music.
However, despite their immense success, tragedy struck when Jam Master Jay was shot dead in his recording studio in 2002. For more than two decades after this devastating event, justice eluded his family, friends, and fans. The case remained unsolved until recently when two suspects were finally convicted of his murder.
This development brings some closure to the painful chapter in hip-hop history. It serves as a reminder that even legends like Jam Master Jay are not immune to violence and crime. The conviction of the suspects highlights the dedication of law enforcement to pursuing justice for victims and their families, no matter how much time has passed.
On Tuesday, a jury found Ronald Washington, 59, and Karl Jordan Jr., 40, guilty nearly 22 years after the high-profile murder and they are planning to appeal their convictions.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed that the cash-strapped DJ, real name Jason Mizell, turned to drug dealing on the side to make ends meet.
Prosecutors said that, at the time, Mizell was moving drugs for cash, quietly acting as a middleman between cocaine suppliers and street dealers for at least six years before his death.
Mizell, who was the master DJ scratching records and dropping beats for MCs Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, struggled to make a living after the prominent hip-hop group’s fame died down in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“The money wasn’t coming in,” prosecutor Miranda Gonzalez told jurors in the federal trial in Brooklyn.
Ironically, Mizell once even recorded a “Say No to Drugs” public service announcement with his Run-DMC bandmates.
Michael Rapley, one of the five people present in the Queens studio at the time of the shooting, told the jury that Mizell lent money to “everybody that was around him” and even paid for his mother’s funeral.
The legendary DJ tried to keep his drug dealing lifestyle under wraps, but closer to his death, he began carrying a gun, Stephon Watford, Mizell’s cousin, testified.
The resolution of this case sends a powerful message: no matter how much time has passed, we will not forget those who have been taken from us. It also serves as a reminder that persistence and determination can lead to justice, even when it seems like all hope is lost.
Flip to the next page for pictures of the suspects Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan Jr…
