Murder Trial Lays Bare a Hip-Hop Pioneer's Double Life

Before he was killed in 2002, Jam Master Jay of the hip-hop trio Run-DMC faced financial difficulties. As the group’s popularity declined, he turned to drug dealing to make ends meet. Despite being a public advocate against drug use, he led a double life as a drug middleman while maintaining his public roles. Jay financially supported friends, family, and co-workers, even paying for a friend’s mother’s funeral. He continued to earn money through performances with Run-DMC.