Jam Master Jay Funeral

NEW YORK (RUN DMC Fans Website) - A wealth of prominent artists in the hip-hop community turned out to pay their last respects to slain Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay in New York on Tuesday (Nov. 5).

LL Cool J, Public Enemy's Chuck D, Queen Latifah, and Russell Simmons, among others, attended the ceremony at the Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Queens.

"Jam Master Jay was not a thug," Darryl McDaniels (DMC) told those gathered at the church. "Jam Master Jay was not a gangster. Jam Master Jay was a unique individual. He was the embodiment of hip-hop."

McDaniels also performed a rap from the group's song "Jam Master Jay" from its 1982 self-titled debut. Those in attendance reportedly joined in, shouting the DJs name at the end of the rap.

Outside the church, thousands of fans also lined the streets under a heavy police presence, many of whom carried boom boxes blaring tracks from Run-DMC. Jam Master Jay -- real name Jason Mizell -- will be buried at Westchester County cemetery.

Meanwhile, no arrests have been made in Mizell's murder, although police have made some progress in the investigation by releasing a description of a suspect and questioning others.

On Monday (Nov. 4), the formation of a coalition to help the surviving members of Mizell's family and assist in the police's investigation was announced. The coalition includes McDaniels and Joseph Simmons of Run-DMC, Jay-Z, Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Irv Gotti, Def Jam Co-Founder and Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Russell Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam Records Lyor Cohen, President of Def Jam Records Kevin Liles, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, among others.

Not only is the coalition raising funds for a reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Mizell's assailant, but also to pay off Mizell's home mortgage and education costs for his three children.

On Monday evening, Busta Rhymes, the Beastie Boys, Doug E. Fresh, members of EPMD, and actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, among others, turned out for the public wake for Mizell at the Foster-Phillips Funeral Home, also in Queens.