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October 30, 2002

is a day that will live in infamy. That is the day Hip-Hop lost a giant, Jam

Master Jay, due to a gunshot wound to the head in his Jamaica, Queens studio,

blocks away from a police precinct.

Jay’s death

is symbolic to us. The anger that arose in America after those terrible attacks

on New York City was awakened in those that loved Hip-Hop when that someone

murdered Jam Master Jay.

There were many theories

floated. Drug deals, watch deals, rap feuds, neighborhood beefs, all of which

confused the public and most likely, the police.

Jam Master Jay’s death

is the same as Tupac and Biggie’s. We won’t ever stop until we get

closure as to who is gunning down Hip-Hop’s heroes.

DMC needs no introduction.

We contacted Reverend Run for a statement, but he politely declined to comment.

We caught DMC in Milwaukee,

Wisconsin on the political trail today (October 30) with the Democratic National

Committee.

They tapped “The King

of Rock” to help get young people to the polls and vote for their Presidential

candidate, John Kerry.

Here we talk with DMC about

Jam Master Jay’s life and death and what he’s doing politically.

AllHipHop.com: What were

you doing when you first found out Jay was killed?

DMC: I was lying in my bed

watching the news. I saw it, but then I was like this can’t be true. There

had been a rumor in 1986 that Jam Master Jay was shot. It wasn’t true,

it was right around the world tour for Raising Hell. So when I heard it, I was

like ‘oh it’s another rumor.’ Maybe it was somebody that got

shot in Jay’s studio, but I didn’t think it was Jay.

AllHipHop.com: When you

did find out that it was Jay, how did you react?

DMC: I still didn’t

believe it. I live in New Jersey, so I jumped in my car and ran out to Queens.

When I got there it was like ‘oh s**t.’ The craziest thing was I

couldn’t get in touch with anyone. Even when I believed it, I didn’t

believe it. (Click

to hear a clip)

AllHipHop.com: What are your earliest memories of meeting Jay?

DMC: When I first met Jay,

it was in the park. He was playing basketball. We played a game of basketball

and then later that night, he brought the turntables and started DJ’ing.

I was like ‘oh wow, this guy does it all!’ He balls, he DJ’s,

he’s well rounded.

AllHipHop.com: And how old

were you when this took place?

DMC: I think I was, like

15 years old. Jay was the big DJ in the neighborhood; I think he was like 14

years old. I’m a year older than Jay.

AllHipHop.com: Shortly after,

you guys started working together in Run-DMC?

DMC: Well me and Run went

to the studio and made a record, “It’s Like That” and “Sucker

M.C.’s.” And then we needed a DJ. We said “yo, we could use

Jay as a DJ.” And not only was he a DJ, but he was rolling with the Hollis

Crew. They could be like our security so no one would rob us when we started

making money. So it was actually like security and he was a DJ.

AllHipHop.com: What effect

did losing Jay have on Run-DMC?

DMC: Jay was the flavor

of the group. It was how we represented. Jay gave us that real street element.

We represented for Hollis because of Jay and, because of Jay we put Hollis on

the map.

AllHipHop.com: What effect

do you think Jay had on Hip-Hop?

DMC: Jay made people realize

the DJ wasn’t just about playing records. He was a part of the group.

It’s a damn shame they don’t let people know there would be no Hip-Hop

without the DJ.

AllHipHop.com: You’re

out in Milwaukee with the Democratic National Committee?

DMC: Yeah, DMC is representing

for the DNC. Trying to get people to vote. A lot of people believe that votes

don’t count, but we can make a difference. We just have to get up and

vote.

AllHipHop.com: What do you

think about the events that are taking place before the elections, specifically

the armies of lawyers and the missing votes in Ohio?

DMC: I think politics is

one big lie. That’s why I don’t believe in politics, I believe in

people. And it’s people that will make the difference, not the politicians.

I’m not out here trying to sell records; I am out here trying to show

people they can make a difference.

AllHipHop.com: When did

you realize you wanted to use your celebrity power to make a statement?

DMC: I wish I would have

started doing it earlier. I didn’t know how much power I had. People listen

to us as rappers. Hip-Hop in general will influence everything, right down to

how people walk and talk. We need to think about what’s going on in the

world, to make change in the world, because we can make a difference.

AllHipHop.com: The elections

are coming up. Obviously your going to cast you vote for Kerry. Should Bush

win these elections, what are you predictions for the next four years?

DMC: I predict total chaos.

You think it’s bad now? Please do not let that man get back into office.

You gotta begin with Kerry. I have a new slogan “‘V-O-T-E ‘Vote

out the Enemy!’”