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CNN Live At Daybreak

Jam Master Jay Killing Under Investigation

Aired October 31, 2002 - 06:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: WBLS Radio in New York City was one of the first stations in the country to play Run DMC. Champaine just got off the air at the station. She joins us live by phone.
Champaine, give us your reaction.

CHAMPAINE, WBLS RADIO, NEW YORK: Well, good morning, Carol.

Just got off the air and I tell you, overwhelming response to the news of hearing about another senseless killing in the world of music. I mean we've witnessed the passing of Biggie and Tupac and recently with Aaliyah and Left Eye and now to find out about Jam Master Jay, being a pioneer in the world of hip-hop and bringing it into mainstream music. Our listeners are just overwhelmed, can't believe that they're waking up or ending their evening to another senseless killing.

COSTELLO: Well, and, Champaine, it was -- police say it was execution style. You know this hints at a number of things, maybe gang violence, we don't know; but it's something that keeps on tainting the world of hip-hop and black music.

CHAMPAINE: Well you know the world the way it is, not only in music, just how violent the world is in itself, the way people are and they act towards each other, it could be -- it could have been a young kid looking to get his start. And knowing how Run DMC was always into the community and helping other people and keeping it in their neighborhood and hanging out and working in local studios, we just don't know...

COSTELLO: Yes.

CHAMPAINE: ... and we can't speculate on that. But you know,...

COSTELLO: Yes, but it seems like he was a specific target.

CHAMPAINE: Yes.

COSTELLO: Police are saying that actually another musician was with him. He was pushed out of the way and Jam Master Jay was the target. Do you know anything in his background that...

CHAMPAINE: No, I don't. It's like I said, I -- we've never -- in my 20 years here at BLS, we've never heard anything negative about Run DMC, never, never Jam Master Jay. So I guess we'll all just have to wait to see how the story unfolds and it will tell the story and the truth. COSTELLO: Yes, tell us what legacy he leaves behind.

CHAMPAINE: Well being a part of a group that was the pioneers of rap music and bringing rap and hip-hop to mainstream, not only on radio but on TV as well with MTV, first group to receive platinum albums. They also helped revive the careers of Aerosmith and I know Jam Master Jay helped another group, Onyx, get signed. Also working with another artist, plus doing work in the community.

COSTELLO: Yes.

CHAMPAINE: And just being a pioneer. How artists today like Puffy and DMX and Jermaine Dupree and Nas all looked up to them and listened to them when they were younger and as they helped pave the way for the artists of today.

COSTELLO: Certainly so.

Champaine, thank you for taking the time to talk to us about this, we appreciate it.

CHAMPAINE: Thank you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jam Master Jay, 37 years old, dead today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 31, 2002 - 06:11   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: WBLS Radio in New York City was one of the first stations in the country to play Run DMC. Champaine just got off the air at the station. She joins us live by phone.
Champaine, give us your reaction.

CHAMPAINE, WBLS RADIO, NEW YORK: Well, good morning, Carol.

Just got off the air and I tell you, overwhelming response to the news of hearing about another senseless killing in the world of music. I mean we've witnessed the passing of Biggie and Tupac and recently with Aaliyah and Left Eye and now to find out about Jam Master Jay, being a pioneer in the world of hip-hop and bringing it into mainstream music. Our listeners are just overwhelmed, can't believe that they're waking up or ending their evening to another senseless killing.

COSTELLO: Well, and, Champaine, it was -- police say it was execution style. You know this hints at a number of things, maybe gang violence, we don't know; but it's something that keeps on tainting the world of hip-hop and black music.

CHAMPAINE: Well you know the world the way it is, not only in music, just how violent the world is in itself, the way people are and they act towards each other, it could be -- it could have been a young kid looking to get his start. And knowing how Run DMC was always into the community and helping other people and keeping it in their neighborhood and hanging out and working in local studios, we just don't know...

COSTELLO: Yes.

CHAMPAINE: ... and we can't speculate on that. But you know,...

COSTELLO: Yes, but it seems like he was a specific target.

CHAMPAINE: Yes.

COSTELLO: Police are saying that actually another musician was with him. He was pushed out of the way and Jam Master Jay was the target. Do you know anything in his background that...

CHAMPAINE: No, I don't. It's like I said, I -- we've never -- in my 20 years here at BLS, we've never heard anything negative about Run DMC, never, never Jam Master Jay. So I guess we'll all just have to wait to see how the story unfolds and it will tell the story and the truth. COSTELLO: Yes, tell us what legacy he leaves behind.

CHAMPAINE: Well being a part of a group that was the pioneers of rap music and bringing rap and hip-hop to mainstream, not only on radio but on TV as well with MTV, first group to receive platinum albums. They also helped revive the careers of Aerosmith and I know Jam Master Jay helped another group, Onyx, get signed. Also working with another artist, plus doing work in the community.

COSTELLO: Yes.

CHAMPAINE: And just being a pioneer. How artists today like Puffy and DMX and Jermaine Dupree and Nas all looked up to them and listened to them when they were younger and as they helped pave the way for the artists of today.

COSTELLO: Certainly so.

Champaine, thank you for taking the time to talk to us about this, we appreciate it.

CHAMPAINE: Thank you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jam Master Jay, 37 years old, dead today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com