One for our classics section! Jam Master J talks about the positive influence of Rap Music! The Legendary hip hop group RunDMC & JMJ sits with Joe Claire to talk on BET’s Rap City.
Jason William Mizell (January 21, 1965 — October 30, 2002), better known by his stage name Jam Master Jay, was an American musician and rapper. He was the DJ of the influential hip hop group Run–D.M.C. During the 1980s, Run-D.M.C. became the biggest hip-hop group and are credited with breaking hip-hop into mainstream music. For working turntable magic on classic guitar records, he was ranked No. 10 on Spin’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. On October 30, 2002, while recording new music at his studio in Jamaica, Queens, New York, Mizell was shot and murdered by an unknown assailant. He was 37 years old.
Career
He first started playing at parks and later played at bars. He also began throwing small parties around the area. Once he got a pair of Technics 1200s he improved rapidly since he was able to practice at night with headphones on when he was supposed to be sleeping.
Mizell became a DJ because he “just wanted to be a part of the band”. Prior to joining Run-D.M.C. he played bass and drums in several garage bands. In 1982 he hooked up with Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels just after they graduated from high school and agreed to DJ for them because he wanted to be part of the band. On Run-D.M.C’s album Raising Hell, Mizell played keyboards, bass, and live drums in addition to his turntable work. Mizell remained in his childhood neighborhood in Hollis, Queens his entire life.
In 1989, Mizell established the label Jam Master Jay Records, which scored a success in 1993 with the band Onyx. He also connected Chuck D with Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin. After achieving relative prominence, Mizell was known to use the alias Jay Gambulos so as to avoid unwanted public attention. He is also related to the Mizell Brothers, a popular production team for Gary Bartz, Johnny “Hammond” Smith, and others.
In 2002, Mizell founded the ‘Scratch DJ Academy’ in Manhattan to “provide unparalleled education and access to the art form of the DJ and producer.”
On consecutive Christmas holidays, Mizell survived a car accident and a gunshot wound to the leg.
Yesterday would have been the late, great Jam Master Jay’s 49th Birthday! Join us in supporting his foundation: http://www.jammasterjay.org to support music education.
Azrael & Inkspill are a hip-hop duo from Vancouver, BC who began writing tracks together in 2010. Collectively known for their high energy live performances and complimentary rap styles, it was decided on from the get-go that they stay planted in the aesthetic they both grew up on and not succumb to the cookie-cutter rap music flooding the modern airwaves.
Their first album together, “Mur-Diddly-Urdlers”, recruits mega producers Ryan Stinson, mikedecline, Metawon, The Dirty Sample & Sythe to provide a menacing backdrop for them to slice through. Sonically, it bumps in the low end region, going from one end of the spectrum on the deep, slow burn of “Ginettes On The Couch”, to the waltzy and playful “Carnival”, and onto the menacingly frenetic double-time jam “Enter The Reaper”. The album is dangerous but decidedly tongue-in-cheek throughout. Azrael’s smooth baritone style is an apt compliment to Inkspill’s rapid and oozing flow.
In this video Saigon explains how even though it was probably a mistake to have a baby with a girl he wasn’t with, it was the best mistake he ever made because of his 20 month old son Lil B.
Chicago emcee/producer International Maverick’s latest visual entitled ”Black Diamonds” the track was produced by himself, video directed by Tommy Smalls, the track is the 7th of 15 visuals he plans on releasing for his project entitled ”Dreem Katcher” available via www.internationalmaverick.com
Teaser Video of UK producer Dan Kent’s debut mixtape ‘Feels Like Fire’ which is out for free download very soon.
Tracklist
1. Feels Like Fire ft Kuniva of D12, Flexplicit & Kof
2. Hard Times ft Fix Dot’m, Capo & Big Chess
3. It’s My Dream ft Wiley
4. Switch It Up ft Fret Deezy, Krept & Konan
5. Walking Away ft TR Fernandez & Youngs Teflon
6. Only Me ft Elro, Smiler, Random Impulse & Blaise
7. Open Letter ft Harry Shotta
8. Still Here ft Cashis, Tabanacle & Sean Strange
9. Can’t Make Us Weak ft Renee Soul & Jimmy Jitsu
10. The Hustle ft Barn-B
11. Thats How It Goes ft Casscade
12. Tired Eyes ft Ragoe, Don Jaga, Stubborn & Tom Prior
13. Perfect ft Jimmy Jitsu, Strange Neighbour & Emar
Dan Kent ft. Kuniva (D12), Flexplicit & KOF | Feels Like Fire [Music Video]: SBTV
Dan Kent ft. Harry Shotta – Open Letter [Official Video]
Brooklyn’s own VNova releases his high anticipated street album, “Hidden in Plain Sight Volume 2” (HIPS2), today. The album is hosted by Streetsweeper’s DJ Scope and DJ Chizzle. HIPS 2 has features from ChaseWild, Malcah, and BOE and production from Jimmi Kendrix, Needlz, Spittabeatz, Sean Don, Frequency, Seige , Notes, G Casso and Denaun Porter. The Album can be found on Audiomack and Soundcloud below.
‘Hidden in Plain Sight Volume 2’ is a tribute to 90’s style hip-hop with its rough samples and a gritty New York City sound. Stream and download VNova’s HIPS 2 here
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