Master Jay, part of the pioneering rap trio Run DMC, has been shot and killed at a New York City recording studio. In a statement last night the group's publicist confirmed Master Jay, real name Jason Mizell, had died. A police spokesman, Detective Robert Price, told reporters he had been shot once in the head and was dead at the scene. He said the shooter remained at large and police had no information on a motive. A second man, identified by police as 25-year-old Urieco Rincon, was shot in the leg and was taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital. Mizell was married and had three children.
Run DMC are widely credited, of course, with being key in bringing hip hop to the mainstream, the band's collaboration with Aerosmith - 'Walk This Way' - being very important in the history of the genre.