He keeps that HIP-HOP running

THERE’S NO questioning Jam Master J’Son’s pedigree. In Bangkok for a gig at Live RCA on Wednesday, he’s the son of the late Jam Master Jay of the pioneer hip-hop group Run-DMC, and he’s been touring the world with the trio’s surviving members, Joseph Simmons and Darryl McDaniels.
Jason Mizell Jr’s dad died 13 years ago, gunned down in a recording studio in a crime never solved, but the mighty oak produced a very talented acorn indeed.
Jam Master J’Son honed his DJ skills at clubs and parties around the globe and is currently a star of the reality show “Seeds of Hip-Hop”, continuing his father’s legacy with his own blend of across-the-board musical elements.
We got to ask him what it was like growing up with a superstar of the genre. “He died when I was 16,” J’Son says. “He never forced music on me. I was always into football and basketball. He knew I was going to a big, tall guy and thought I’d grow up to be a football player or something like that.
“I did my first party when I was 18 and since then I’ve progressed really fast in music. It didn’t take time to learn anything at all. I guess I had it in me all the time and I just needed a little nudge.
“I also had access to these great, legendary people that I could sponge off of. I did it so much, to the point that, when Run and D [Simmons and McDaniels] got back together, they gave me a shot to go on the road with them.”

ARE YOU REPLACING YOUR DAD IN THE GROUP IN A WAY?
No, it’s not like that. There are four DJs now for Run-DMC. When my dad died, Run went his way and D went his way, and they both had their own DJ for 10 years. So now, when Run-DMC comes together, everyone wants their own DJ. So, to avoid conflict, all the DJs get a turn.
As a tribute to my dad, they invited me and my brother [TJ Mizell] onstage to play. My brother does his own thing now, but I just stayed on to tour with Run and D.

HOW DID YOUR CAREER IN MUSIC START?
In college I never even went to a party until freshmen year, mid-term. Then I went this club where, on the front of the club, they had a mural with Left Eye, Biggie, Eazy-E and Jam Master Jay, and I was like, “Wow!” So I get in line and I was, like, “Hey, you got my dad in front of the club!” And the owner was, like, “Oh yeah? $20.”
A couple months later the same place had this college talent show where there were people from the radio and guys that owned the main clubs in town, and this time he asked me who I was and I told him, “I’m Jam Master Jay’s son. We met before and you brushed me off.” He said, “Come back to the club tomorrow and I’ll give you a shot.” So I went home, burned 21 tracks on a CD and went back to do a party. He fired his DJ and hired me after that one party. I dropped out of college and I’ve DJ’d every night since then.

DO PEOPLE EXPECT YOU TO PLAY HIP-HOP ALL THE TIME?
Sure, people think, “He’s Jam Master Jay’s son, so it’s gotta be hip-hop.” But I play EDM, trap, everything that I like. It all depends where I’m at and what party I’m doing. I don’t have a genre.

WAS IT HARD GETTING OUT OF YOUR DAD’S SHADOW?
At first people were excited that I was Jam Master Jay’s son, but now I think they like me for me. If I was terrible they’d have had something bad to say – that I was trying ride on my dad’s name – but I’m really good at what I do, so that’s refreshing to a lot of people.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THE HIP-HOP SCENE NOW COMPARED TO YOUR DAD’S TIME?
It’s progressing in a whole other way. Hip-hop started out with b-boy and rap, and now we have artists like Drake and Young Thug. I don’t see where it’s going. Hip-hop is still fresh – it started out not even 30 years ago and became a new genre of music. I just love the way it’s evolving right now.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO’S TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE SCENE?
Before you try to introduce your music to the world, have your craft perfected. It keeps people from downplaying you. Just be ready, because the world is ruthless. Perfect your craft and you’ll be alright.