The late hip-hop icon Jam Master Jay will be honored at the VH1 Big in 2002 awards show scheduled to air Dec. 15 at 9pm. According to the Associated Press, Kid Rock will serve as the musical director of the tribute as Grand Master Flash, Chuck D and others pay homage to the legendary Queens-bred DJ.
Jam Master Jay (nee’ Jason Mizell) was shot execution style in his recording studio on Oct. 30.
The murder was the first of three killings affecting the hip-hop community as a rap promoter was gunned down in the Bronx a few days later and Merlin Santana, known for his role as Romeo from the Steve Harvey Show, was killed in a botched robbery in Los Angeles.
The awards show will honor the year’s best in popular culture as Drea de Matteo and Michael Imperioli of “The Sopranos” share the hosting duties. Other participants scheduled to perform include Christina Aguilera and Norah Jones.
Although reports suggested a suspect has been identified in the murder of Mizell, no arrests have been made at this time.
