Jam Master Jay was that dude! Period. Coming up in the mid-80s and listening to hip hop, JMJ was omnipresent. It was virtually impossible-if not completely impossible-to not be touched by Run DMC and Jay’s influence during those times. Hip Hop was still trying to get its groove in popular music as a whole and it was still a style of music that was considered more of a fad than a genre. Yet, Run DMC rose above its predecessors as the “cream of the crop” Hip Hop group of the ’80s-arguably of all time. They set in motion popular Hip Hop as we still know it and the dj, as not just a back drop, but an integral part of the group.
Where Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa came from the park jams and helped bring Hip Hop to the airwaves through more synthesized music, Jam Master Jay took it to a next level. To use a basketball analogy, Flash and Bam were the Magic and Bird compliment to the art form. They were still using the breaks and cutting them in over the live instrumentation which was the focal point of their compositions; JMJ, the Michael Jordan, analogously speaking, was cutting up “doubles” of a record-park jam style-live on wax. It had a more uncut, street feel to it. He took the assist from Flash and Bam and it was no looking back for Hip Hop. I mean, “Peter Piper,” which has more than stood the test of time is simple genius: two copies of Bob James’ “Take Me To The Mardi Gras” cut back and forth over an 808 drum loop. You can even hear, at times, where the record and the programmed drum loop are slightly off. It’s not a mistake, it’s just the essence of Hip Hop. When I first heard that song on a GE front loading tape recorder (yes, tape recorder!) back
in 1985, I lost my mind. I had no idea of what I was listening to but I knew it was something special. And 25 years later, it’s still something special because Jay is special.
Jason Mizell took djing to a WHOLE ‘nother level. He made the dj the band and inspired generations (i.e. DJ Cash Money, Jazzy Jeff, Mr. Mixx, etc) of djs to want, in plain truth, to be like him. All of your favorite djs-now and then-can claim inspiration from JMJ. There may never be a dj like him who had the mixing and cutting skills, but also the unmatched showmanship rarely before seen in Hip Hop.
So, in honor of “his home going,” we pay respect to THE best dj that ever graced our presence in this wonderful art form we call Hip Hop. And always remember: “Jay Master Jay makin’ out our sound, the turntables might wobble but they don’t fall down.” Keep on rockin’ it, J. Word up!!!
- Chris
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