Two Men Convicted in 2002 Murder of Run-DMC Rapper
The Facts
Almost 22 years after he was killed at his recording studio in Queens, New York, on Tuesday two men were convicted for the murder of hip-hop icon Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell.
An anonymous federal jury in Brooklyn found Mizell's godson Karl Jordan Jr., 40, and the musician's childhood friend Ronald Washington, 59, guilty of his 2002 murder. The verdict reportedly sparked a commotion in the courtroom once it was read.
The Spin
Narrative A
While long-awaited justice for the slaying of Jam Master Jay is welcome, it comes at a cost to his legacy and to his family after the trial revealed the icon's engagement in drug trafficking despite the public image he tried to maintain.
Narrative B
Just because Jam Master Jay was involved in drug trafficking, that doesn't take away from his laudable achievements as a musician. Many artists, particularly from the hip-hop community, are products of their environment, and we wouldn't get their great art without the hardships from which they came.
