Rapper Jam Master Jay shot dead at his studio

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jam Master Jay, a founding member of the pioneering rap trio Run DMC, was shot and killed Wednesday at his recording studio near the New York neighborhood where he grew up, police said.

As of early Thursday, police had made no arrests.

The 37-year-old disc jockey, whose real name was Jason Mizell, was shot once in the head in the studio's lounge and died at the scene, said Detective Robert Price, a police spokesman.

Urieco Rincon, 25, who was not a member of Run DMC, was shot in the leg, police said. About five other people in the studio at the time were not hurt.

Mizell served as the platinum-selling group's disc jockey, providing background for singers Joseph Simmons, better known as Run, and Darryl McDaniels, better known as DMC. The group is widely credited with helping bring hip-hop into music's mainstream.

Chuck D, the founder of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, blamed record companies and the advertising for perpetuating "a climate of violence" in the rap industry. "When it comes to us, we're disposable commodities," he said.

Publicist Tracy Miller said Mizell was married and had three children.