Finally, A Clue in the Jam Master Jay Murder: Neck Tattoo

A major clue in the murder of Run-DMC turntabler Jam Master Jay has been revealed. According to Jay's longtime partner Randy Allen, who was in Jay's Queens recording studio at the time of the October 2002 killing there, one of the two gunmen had "a tattooed neck." Allen was in the studio's control room and didn't witness the shooting, but his sister, Lydia High, did: She was ordered to the floor by the assailants, and told her brother she saw a tattooed-neck man shoot Jay. The second man has been named as convicted drug dealer Ronald (Tinard) Washington, however he has not yet been charged with any crime relating to the murder. According to the New York Daily News, High went into protective custody four years ago, although her attorney hasn't heard from her in a year.

Allen revealed that Jay (full name: Jason Mizell) was taking a break and playing video games at the time of his murder, and that High indicated Jay recognized one of the two men when they entered the studio -- he even slapped hands with him in greeting. Like the murder investigations of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., efforts to find the killers have been rebuffed by uncooperative, anti-snitchin' witnesses, and while this clue is a solid break, neck tattoos are fairly popular. Even the guy who won Project Runway last year had one. Five years after the murder, though, it's encouraging to hear of new clues, and Allen insists the case can be cracked: "It's not like we're talking about somebody who flew in from L.A. We're talking about people right from the neighborhood."

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter