Becky Campbell, mother of the deceased DJ Threat,
remembers her son and wants others to continue to honor him as she hosts a yearly
dinner on the date of his death. While on the rise, the DJ was tragically killed
in a 2001 motorcycle accident.
The non-profit Jason Campbell Foundation held
the event at the Westbury Manor in Long Island, New York to help send four lucky
scholarship recipients to music school.
"We have a bigger dinner May 12 every year,
the day of his accident," Mrs. Campbell told AllHipHop.com. "We gather
as many celebrities together to give away scholarships in our community to people
who follow their musical dreams. Producers, engineers, DJ’s, musicians, we help
everyone in our community."
As an aspiring executive, Threat had accepted
a position at Hot 97 and held executive positions with Ruff Ryders and Atlantic
Records when he was killed.
Four $1200 scholarships are given in his honor
and were handed out the evening of the dinner. Mrs. Campbell said that money
for the scholarships was provided in part by funding from the music industry.
"Most of the records labels donate,"
she said. "Enuff, The Heavyhitters, Rene Mclean and RPM Marketing, Atlantic
Records, Jive Records, Shady Records and others make this and our other events
possible."
The evening the foundation also bestowed DJ Smooth
Danali with the "DJ Threat Heart Award," because his success has been
reminiscent of the late DJ, organizers was.
"Jason [was] doing three big things (DJing,
Hot 97 and Atlantic Records), so we recognized Smooth Denali because he is making
big moves like Threat was," Campbell said.
In addition to the dinner, the scholarships and
the award ceremony, the Jason Campbell Foundation sends 165 kids from Long Island
to a summer music course, that also teaches the use of turntables. The non-profit
organization hosts an all-age day in the park.
I was so devastated by the whole thing, but I
didn’t want to bury his dream," Campbell lamented. "But I promised
him ‘I will bury your body because I don’t have a choice, but I won’t bury your
heart or the work of your hands."
For more information on the Jason "DJ Threat"
Campbell Foundation call 631-273-4274.
