NEW YORK (AP):
THOUSANDS OF fans lined up before the watchful eyes of police Monday night to pay their last respects to hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay.
The line stretched for three long blocks outside the funeral home where the slain Run-DMC founder lay in his signature black leather, gold jewellery and white Adidas sneakers.
"I grew up listening to them," Brooklyn social worker Sharon Kline said Monday. "I felt like it was important to pay respects."
Detectives investigating the deejay's unsolved, execution-style shooting scanned a crowd of tearful friends and family and onlookers who were hoping to spot celebrities.
Traffic stalled for blocks along Linden Boulevard in New York's Queens borough, where members of the group grew up. Low-slung, chrome-fitted sport-utility vehicles crawled by, honking their horns in short bursts and blasting Run-DMC songs.
Spectators toting video cameras and homemade signs screamed as celebrities such as Busta Rhymes left the funeral home.
Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was to be buried yesterday after a funeral service.
The DJ worked the turntables as Joe 'Run' Simmons and Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels rapped on a string of hits.
He had been mentoring younger artistes in recent years in the second act of a career that helped make hip-hop commercially viable. Run-DMC had platinum albums, a 1987 Grammy nomination, movie appearances and a line of clothing.
