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More than 20 years after Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was shot to death, the suspects responsible for his death in October 2002 have been found guilty.
On Tuesday, Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington were found guilty of murder while participating in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy and a firearms-related murder, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
In relation to these crimes, both face a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Jordan was Jam Master Jay’s godson and Washington was a childhood friend of the accomplished Run-DMC musician.
According to the trial’s findings, Jam Master Jay was murdered after purchasing nearly 10 kilos of cocaine from a supplier in the Midwest and was going to negotiate a drug deal worth nearly $200,000. Jordan and Washington were initially involved in the deal, but after a disagreement with Jam Master Jay, they were excluded, leading them to plot to kill him.
Jay Bryant, the third man charged with murder of Jam Master Jaywill be tried in a separate trial in 2026. And while it’s good to see that the men responsible for Jam Master Jay’s death are being brought to justice, the four-week trial revealed some shocking details about the man many Run fans -DMC they thought. They knew.
Here are some of the most shocking things we learned about the iconic DJ.
Jam Master Jay led a double life
As evidenced by the convictions of the suspects, Jam Master Jay was deeply involved in drug distribution and worked specifically as a drug broker while also working publicly as a DJ, entertainer, and music executive.
This was a shocking revelation as Jam Master Jay was considered a role model who spoke out against drugs and even recorded a “Say No to Drugs” PSA with Run-DMC.
For the last six years of his life, Jay dealt drugs for cash and acted as a connection between cocaine suppliers and street dealers, according to the New York Times.
Had financial problems
The main reason Jam Master Jay got involved in the drug game seems to be because he was struggling to financially support his family and friends. According to the New York Times, Jay gave money to “everyone around him.”
Michael Rapley, who was present when Jay was shot to death in his Queens studio, told the court that Jam Master Jay paid for his mother’s funeral.
Jay was always helping others, and although he still made money working with the group during the 1990s and early 2000s, it still wasn’t enough to support everyone he loved.
During his time as a drug broker, Jam Master Jay still owned a record label.
Despite his financial difficulties, Jam Master Jay still attempted to help younger hip-hop artists through his record label JMJ Records. One of the people who was present at the time of her death was a teenage singer who stopped by the studio to play her demo.
He met with 50 Cent just days before his death.
Just a couple of days before he was shot and killed, Jay connected with 50 Cent in Chicago and celebrated the Queens rapper signing an album with Shady Records, the label owned by Eminem. The DJ had a previous relationship with the up-and-coming hip-hop star in the late ’90s and even produced a song that was later released on JMJ Records.