November 1, 2002 — For nearly 20 years, Run-DMC has been the closest thing to gospel artists that the contemporary music community has had. They talked about God and their higher selves, the importance of staying away from drugs, and generally inspirational and uplifting subject matter. They represented everything good and positive about hip hop.

Jam Master Jay was a longtime family man and one of the founders of the group that knocked down all of the doors for hip hop, and a dear friend of mine. I loved him. I will miss him. He is irreplaceable. Before the media rushes to attribute this to East Coast - West Coast violence, they should examine Run-DMC's two decades of contributions and Jam Master Jay's personal character. This has nothing more to do with so-called East Coast - West Coast violence than the sniper murders in Washington did. We at the Hip Hop Summit Action Network offer our sincere condolences to his wife and children.