Mourning DJ Jam Master Jay

Jason Mizell, a.k.a. Jam Master Jay

Hip-hop fans globally will truly mourn the loss of DJ Jam Master Jay, legendary rap DJ and hip-hop pioneer for the people he called "turntablists" across the world.

Jason Mizell, a.k.a. Jam Master Jay, was fatally shot inside a studio in Queens, N.Y., on Oct. 30 at age 37.

I remember, at age 5, watching Run-D.M.C. on the classic hip-hop video show "Yo! MTV Raps," with Fab Five Freddy. It was the '80s, and Run D.M.C. was my male version of Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella.

The phenomenal group was the first in rap to go platinum and be on compact disc. They were also the first to cross over, with the single "Walk This Way," joined by the legendary rock group Aerosmith. Run-D.M.C. seemed to take the world by storm while rocking with signature black hats, leather blazers and shell toe Adidas.

"It's Tricky," "Rock Box" and "You Talk Too Much" were classics, and not your typical commercial rap songs. Their beats were raw and their lyrics made everyone aware of rap's takeover of the music industry.

Jam Master Jay founded Scratch Media Productions to help educate amateur DJs, and along with DJ Premier, Evil Dee and other rap DJs, taught classes at Scratch DJ Academy in New York City.

You can listen to the radio today and experience the impact of Run D.M.C. on the hip-hop nation.

"Peter Piper" is used as a sample to keep you dancing on rap artist Missy Elliott's current single, "Work It."

Because Run-D.M.C. made "My Adidas," writing rhymes about sneakers became accepted. Without Run D.M.C., it might not have been too cool for rap artist Nelly to get to stompin' in his current single "Air Force Ones."

Run-D.M.C. made you realize that Jam Master Jay, with his scratching and mixing, was not just the average hype man for a group. He was Run-D.M.C.'s band partner and, as we said in the '80s, homeboy.

There will be an eerie feeling each Halloween Eve in the hearts and minds of hip-hop fans everywhere.

In honor of this incomparable hip-hop DJ, I offer a lyric from Run-D.M.C.'s "Jam Master Jay:" "So when asked who's the best, y'all should say: Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay."

Trina Logan is a student at North Carolina A&T University and writes for the A&T Register.