Jam Master Jay: A Legacy in Three Stripes

“Run DMC first said a DJ could be a band. Stand on it’s own feet. Get you out your seat.” — Chuck D of Public Enemy in ‘Bring the Noise’

On the evening of October 30, 2002, Jason Mizell was working with one of his artists in his hometown Queens recording studio when a man, who later, during eye witness accounts, loosely identified as an acquaintance of Mizell, opened fire, fatally shooting him in the head.

Mizell, of course, is globally known as Jam Master Jay. DJ for world famous hip hop pioneers RUN DMC.

Jay’s death struck a chord not just in the hip hop industry but throughout the entire music industry, entertainment industry and beyond. Jay was one of the most celebrated DJ’s of his era in one of the most important and influential groups of his era.

Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay created a trio with substantial impact in the hip hop community and while creating a significant trend in popular culture and sneaker culture. These “three stripes” created the 4th member of the group. That 4th member was their customary white & black adidas Superstars.

While the Superstar was initially released in 1969 and used on the hardwood, it was the groundbreaking and iconic style of the three guys from Hollis, Queens which garnered the Superstar enormous visibility and a Hall of Fame style spot in the annals of popular culture.

This past week, on Thursday January 21st, Jay would have been 51. One of Jay’s best friends, Eric “Shake” James (@ShakeJMJ) wanted to create a tribute to his departed friend and what better way to do so than to use his Milwaukee based adidas exclusive boutique, Clicks, and collaborate with the brand to create a tribute silhouette. Clicks used the iconic Superstar silhouette, be it this time in the clean, white on white colorway. The shoe is accented with black and gold labeling on tongue with a silhouette of one of Jay’s turntables bookended by his signature Fedora and name. Heel branding includes a black and gold accented patch spotlighting the famed trefoil logo and “JAY” below it. The packaging is exquisitely detailed as it mimics a milk crate filled with vinyl. A staple of any DJ from the era.

Jam Master Jay’s influence both in music and in the style of hip hop is one which has been heralded in the kick game in the years following his tragic passing. Adidas took some of its most popular, successful and best looking silhouettes and created living memorials for Jay.

First, in celebration of Jay’s 38th birthday in 2003, adidas and Jay’s wife and sons came to collaborate on the signature shoe adidas had created for them some 16 years prior, the Ultra Star. Jay’s sons helped design the all black colorway featuring Jay’s photo on the tongue. JAM MASTER JAY is written in bold caps along the lateral side running parallel to the first stripe.

In 2007, adidas took its Brougham and Ultra Star Silhouettes and created special 5 year anniversary tributes to Jay in conjunction with that year’s J.A.M. Awards. The Brougham was offered in 3 colorways and the Ultra Star in a colorway reminiscent of the iconic RUN DMC Superstar.

The following year, adidas released and entire JMJ package consisting of a pair of a Polo, Jacket and Superstars. The all black upper is patent along with transluscent stripes depicting the outline of Jay along with the acronym JAM. The midsole has the repeating JAM branding as well. The tongue depicts a similar silhouette of Jay.

For the 25th anniversary of RUN DMC’s “Raising Hell” LP and “My Adidas” single, adidas released another commemorative Superstar, using the Superstar 80s silhouette again in the iconic white and black colorway, however now with rear branding of the year “1986” along with Jay’s DJ initials “JMJ” on the heel collar. Gold chain dubre (deubré or dubret, whichever spelling you prefer) and My Adidas tongue branding round out this perfectly executed Superstar. In my opinion, this is one of adidas’ best looking RUN DMC/JMJ offerings.

I would be remiss to leave out that this is one of the scale shoe statues which resides in Portland welcoming you to the adidas Village.

 

Finally this past Summer, Shake, again in conjunction with adidas and New York creative agency Brandfire, created another perfectly execute tribute to Jay. This time in the Superstar and Pro Model. Again, white/black iconic colorway, gold and black accents with adidas branding along with the trefoil in a gold record with JAY’s name in bold again on the heel collar.

Jay’s legacy will continue to live on as his contributions to hip hop and style do as well. No other singular person has been celebrated as much or as often within sneaker culture on the shoes we wear. No non-signature athlete anyway.

Let us know what your favorite JMJ silhouettes are or how you feel adidas can honor him more in the future in the comments below and on social.

 

The post Jam Master Jay: A Legacy in Three Stripes appeared first on KicksOnFire.com.