Opening statements are set to begin on Monday in the federal murder trial of Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, who stand accused in the 2002 killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay. The case marks the first trial among a series of long-unsolved slayings of major rap stars.
Jay, born Jason Mizell, was a member of the influential hip-hop group Run-DMC, along with Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels and Joseph Simmons, known as DJ Run and Rev. Run. They achieved groundbreaking success in the 1980s, becoming the first rappers with gold and platinum albums and a Rolling Stone cover. Run-DMC's collaboration with Aerosmith on the hit song 'Walk This Way' shattered barriers between rap and rock, ultimately catapulting the group to extraordinary fame. In 2009, Run-DMC was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
