"Yo Jay (wicky-wicky-rrruurrh)" Farewell

Jam Master Jay is buried:

Jam Master Jay's family and friends wore black hats, leather jackets and unlaced Adidas shoes in his honor yesterday at a Queens funeral that included plenty of praise, too many tears and one pumped-up cheer for Run-DMC's slain DJ.

The 37-year-old rap pioneer - whose real name was Jason Mizell - was shot to death in his Jamaica, Queens, studio on Oct. 30.


No suspects have been arrested, but he may have been shot in an ongoing argument about a set of rap lyrics, police sources told The Post yesterday.


Inside the Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York in Jamaica, his close-knit family, friends and thousands of fans celebrated his life and achievements.


"Jam Master Jay was not a thug," said his partner in rap, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels. "Jam Master Jay was not a gangster. He was a unique individual.


"He was the personification and embodiment of hip-hop."


McDaniels talked of Mizell's love for playing video games - sometimes up to 22 hours in a single day - and his dedication to being stylish at all times.


"Jam Master Jay dressed so well that the fellas hated to go shopping with him," he said as the audience laughed. But mostly, McDaniels told the congregation of Mizell's love for the music and his positive outlook on life.


He ended his brief talk, with rap mate Rev. Joseph "Run" Simmons by his side, and recited the lyrics to "Jam Master Jay."


He asked the audience to join in at the appropriate time and at the closing everyone yelled out the DJ's name in triumph.


Simmons gave a comforting prayer.

"What is there to be comforting for?" he asked. "Jam Master Jay helped build hip-hop - and his job is finished.

"This is Jay's biggest hit," Simmons said. "This is the most press he's ever gotten. This is his last DJ gig today."

Mizell's family sat in the front row, just steps from the casket where the father of three laid. His wife, Terri, cradled sons Terry, 11, and Jesse, 6, in her arms as the songs brought tears to everyone's eyes.

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Article Author: Eric Olsen

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