Hip-Hop Fridays: Coalition to Support the Family of Jam Master Jay Pays Tribute to the Positive Legacy of Hip-Hop, Run-DMC Announces Its Retirement

New York, N.Y. - November 6, 2002 - At a press conference this morning in New York City, a coalition of artists of all genres, industry executives, corporate supporters and non-profit organizations announced that it will provide assistance to the grieving family of Jam Master Jay.

Artists, industry executives and radio and TV personalities in attendance included: Rev. Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniel, Russell Simmons, Co-Founder, Island Def Jam Music Group and Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), Lyor Cohen, CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group, Sean "P.Diddy" Combs, Busta Rhymes, Kevin Liles, President, Def Jam/Def Soul, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President, HSAN, David Mays, publisher of The Source Magazine, King Ad-Rock of The Beastie Boys, DJ Hurricane, Andre Harrell, Doug E. Fresh, Ed Lover and Dr. Dre, Spinderella of Salt-n-Pepa, Chuck D, Marilyn Crawford, CEO of Primetime Omnimedia, Big Tigger of BET, Foxy Brown, MC Serch, Kedar Massenburg, President and CEO of Motown Records, Chubb Rock, DJ Kut of Power 105, Juelz Santana of Diplomats and Michael Saunders of Power 105.

The coalition outlined several initiatives to help support the positive legacy of Jam Master Jay. The initiatives are:

* Raise funds towards the purchase of Jam Master Jay's home so the family can maintain residence.

* Provide financial assistance towards the college education of Jam Master Jay's children.

* Develop an incentive for members of the community to come forward with information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for this tragic death.

"I want to thank everyone for their love and support during this very tough time," said Terri Corley-Mizell. "The police department has been especially supportive and I want to extend my thanks to them as well."

"The tragic death of Jam Master Jay should serve as a reminder of the condition of poverty, ignorance and lack of opportunity inherent in our urban communities across the country," said Russell Simmons, Co-Founder, Island Def Jam Music Group and Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. "Young black men are being murdered in Hollis, Queens and elsewhere every single day, but no one ever hears about them because they aren't famous. What the music reflects is the environment in which people live. Hopefully, the death of Jam Master Jay will remind us all that we need to address the disease plaguing our urban communities and not the symptoms."

"The wide array of hip-hop artists and industry executives here today reflects the commitment of the hip-hop family to show some love and support to the family of Jam Master Jay," said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of HSAN.

Marilyn Crawford, CEO of Primetime Omnimedia, pledged corporate support and challenged corporate America to join the effort.

"Corporate America profits from hip-hop consumers. Now it's time for corporate America to give back to the community," said Crawford.

In addition to these three initiatives, the coalition announced the launch of a city wide distribution of posters and flyers printed in both English and Spanish asking members of the community to contribute to the fund.

"Jam Master Jay was a good and decent person, a great DJ and I consider him a mentor," said Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, CEO of Bad Boy Records. "I want to lend my support to his wife Terri, and reinforce that the hip-hip community has come together in a show of unity."

"I've been on world tours with Jam Master Jay and want to reiterate that he was a great man who encouraged the hip-hop community to reflect on the positive life that he lived," said Doug E. Fresh.

"Jam Master Jay helped set the tone for the younger generation," said Foxy Brown. "I speak for the new generation of hip-hop artists when I say that we lost a great mentor."

With Jam Master Jay's passing, Run-DMC officially announced their retirement from both touring and recording.

In announcing the retirement, Rev. Run stated, "As a tribute to the positive legacy of Jam Master Jay, we started together and we want the Run-DMC legacy to always reflect the three of us together."

Donations to the trust fund can be sent to:

The Mizell Children's Fund
C/o Terri Corley-Mizell
PO Box 3497
New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040

The crime solver tip line for information regarding the murder of Jam Master Jay is 800-577-TIPS.

Friday, November 8, 2002

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