In 2002, I promoted a DJ battle at the now defunct Roxy and asked Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay to serve as the MC for the night. Over the years, I’ve met many of my musical idols and working with Jay was a dream come true. I remember Jay rolled into the venue with his posse before the start of the show and was all smiles. He wore a SF Giants jersey and his trademark hat. All he asked for was a bottle of vodka to get the party started, and I was happy to oblige. On stage, he was funny and knew how to work the crowd. When the event was over, Jay saw me backstage, gave me a hug and said he had a lot of fun hosting the battle. I was so stressed out from dealing with the owners of the club all night, but his energy elevated my spirit. A photographer friend of mine who was backstage saw us and snapped a picture. She captured a moment I’ll never forget.

The other day I found that picture, and I was reminded of the tragic demise Jay met the following year. Five years ago today Jay was gunned down (shot in the back of the head, actually) in a recording studio in Hollis, Queens. Despite the presence of several witnesses (one account states that Jay hugged one of the assailants moments before the gun was fired), the murderers are still at large. In April a suspect was named, but the case remains unsolved.

Five years on Rev. Run has a successful hit “reality” show on MTV and DMC has been busy with various projects. But the pain relating to this unsolved case still affects those who knew Jay and were touched by the music he made in Run-DMC.

"I have bitterness for a lot of people, but I just keep it to myself now," Jay's sister, Bonita Jones, told the Daily News. "I really just want some closure. I want to know who did it and why they did it. Somebody out there knows."