TRUE TO HIS NAME: JAM MASTER JAY
THE KING OF ROCK
In New York, there are a few legends whose personas are ingrained into those who grew up in the area. With stars like Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z and Nas, there’s a certain mysticism around their names. Fans don’t talk about them as people anymore; they’re closer to myths—those that turned their negatives to positives, ya dig? Well, when we’re talking about God-tier icons from New York, the name Run-DMC is always on that list—close to, if not at the top of it.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential groups in hip-hop history, Run-DMC were founded back in 1983 by Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and DJ Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell. Known for breaking barriers and smashing stereotypes, Run-DMC helped pioneer the modern MC-DJ relationship
