DJ JUSTO, Rest In Peace
Published May 16, 2005
When I got online Saturday, I saw the news. I gasped out loud and Rae asked me what was wrong. I said "Justo is dead". I couldn't say more. I couldn't even cry. I couldn't let my thoughts drift to DJ Threat (R.I.P.), who I worked with at Gee Street Records, who also passed away in a vehicular accident. The only thing I could do was go to the club, check out some DJs and soak up my sorrows with Hip Hop. Justo is one of the only people who has a high profile in the industry that treated me the same before I was at the source, while I was associate editor at the source, and after I left the source.
The Mixtape Awards, in my opinion, have been the most important events in Hip Hop. Justo and the Mixtape Awards took the emphasis off mainstream radio and back onto the true promoters of Hip Hop in the streets - the mixtape DJs. Justo was also responsible for a lot of the diversification within Hip Hop, in that he included DJs from all regions in the awards, without being New York-centric. I hope that the legacy of the awards will live on, and that everyone in the Hip Hop will take a moment of silence to remember DJ Justo (Justo Faison) and his selfless contributions to our music and culture.
"Many within the Hip-Hop nation are shocked, saddened and even in denial about the death of Justo Faison. Tragically, Faison, the founder of the successful Mixtape Awards, was killed in a car crash sometime early morning Saturday (May 14).
Details remain vague, but sources confirmed with AllHipHop.com that Faison passed away in Virginia, while working doing promotions in the evening. According to some sources, Faison was departing Richmond and was extremely tired while driving to an undisclosed destination.
Faison founded the Mixtape Awards in 1996 and helped highlight and reward a previously unrecognized component of the music business - the mixtape. "Justo was like a brother to me," DJ Kay Slay told AllHipHop.com. "At one time he helped manage me for free. Justo was the only person we had standing up for the DJ's from the heart and he will be missed." At presstime, a funeral fund, spearheaded by Kay Slay and Kid Capri, was already being erected for the pioneer. One source said it is time for the DJ's to return the favor to Justo. "The DJ's need to step up to the plate on this one. Justo gave his life to them." details of the fund were forthcoming."
- DJ JUSTO, Rest In Peace
- Published: May 16, 2005
- Type: News
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: DJ, Music: Hip-hop
- Writer: Miranda Jane
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- Miranda Jane's personal site
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This is Crazy, I am currently in England and have been out of the loop. I am just finding out. Just O was an inspiration to me when I was trying to get my music conference up and running. It is sad to hear of his death. Quiz / Quiz Media / The Third Coast Conference
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I just heard about the tragic loss of another true hip-hop pioneer. Justo was a cat that had a true love for it. From my days as a radio DJ in Richmond VA I remember Just-O as being committed to DJ's and making sure they ALWAYS had what they needed. Justo and his neverending mission of keeping the DJ first will truly be missed.............
RIP Justo Faison 5/14/05