Jam Master Jay killing: Men convicted of murder nearly 22 years after Run-DMC's rapper's death
USA TodayMAR 2024
Two Men Convicted in 2002 Murder of Run-DMC Rapper
Image copyright: Lynn Goldsmith/Contributor/Corbis Historical via Getty Images
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.