DJ Jazzy Jay

A true architect of hip hop, DJ Jazzy Jay helped shape the culture from its earliest days in the Bronx. Starting as a Zulu King dancer at age 13 with Afrika Bambaataa’s Universal Zulu Nation, he soon became a pioneering DJ and a member of the Jazzy Five, recording the seminal track “Jazzy Sensation.”

By the early 1980s, Jay was electrifying New York clubs like the Roxy, the Ritz, and Danceteria, and hosting on WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM. In 1984, he joined forces with Rick Rubin to launch Def Jam Recordings, co-producing its first single, “It’s Yours” with T La Rock. He also introduced Rubin to Russell Simmons, sparking a partnership that changed the course of hip hop. In 1985, he released Def Jam’s third single, “Def Jam” b/w “Cold Chillin’ in the Spot,” featuring Simmons on vocals.

Jay went on to found Strong City Records and Jazzy Jay’s Studio that nurtured artists like Diamond D, Fat Joe, Brand Nubian, and A Tribe Called Quest. His legacy has been celebrated in the acclaimed documentaries Scratch and 5 Sides of a Coin.

He has called Brooklyn home for over 25 years.