13 years ago today (10/30/02), legendary hip-hop DJ Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot and killed in Queens. Jay. Born Jason Mizell, Jay was fatally shot inside a studio on Merrick Boulevard in Queens and to this day nobody has yet to be convicted of the murder. Jay, who formed RUN DMC along with Jam Master Jay, Run (Joseph Simmons) and DMC (Darryl McDaniels) is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture. They were the first group in the genre to have a gold album (Run–D.M.C., 1984) and be nominated for a Grammy Award. They were the first to earn a platinum record (King of Rock, 1985), the first to earn a multiplatinum certification (Raising Hell, 1986), the first to have videos on MTV. Watch the video for “Rock Box” from their their third album.
