With a beautiful, loving family and an incredibly successful music career, Rev Run looks like he has it all.
But those who have followed the hip hop pioneer long from the start know that as well as highs, Rev Run has experienced the lowest of lows.
Rev Run first achieved stardom as part of the legendary group Run-DMC.
The Tragic Loss of Rev Run’s Friend Jam Master Jay
The group’s eventual break up was soon followed by the horrifying loss of one of their members, and a close friend of Rev Run.
It’s been more than two decades since Jam Master Jay of Run DMC fame had his life taken away from him in his recording studio.
But this year, the men thought to be responsible for his tragic passing were finally convicted.
In February 2024, as reported in AP News, one of the most talked about and mysterious cases in hip hop history finally came to a close.
Who Killed Jam Master Jay of Run DMC?
An anonymous jury in Brooklyn found Jam Master Jay’s close associates Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington guilty of taking the legendary DJ’s life in 2002.
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In all that time, investigations into the incident proved complicated and confusing.
The authorities were led in several directions thanks to various tips, rumors and theories throughout the years.
Top prosecutor Breon Peace told reporters about the difficulties authorities had experienced trying to solve the case.
He said, “It’s no mystery why it took years to indict and arrest the defendants”.
The reason he gave was that vital witnesses to the crime “were terrified that they would be retaliated against if they cooperated with law enforcement.”
He added, “Their strength and resolve in testifying at this trial were a triumph of right over wrong and courage over fear.”
Suspects Arrested For The Killing of Jam Master Jay
Although much time has passed since the attack, the story is no less tragic.
This was especially true because Jam Master Jay lost his life at the hands of two people he considered to be close friends.
One of them, Karl Jordan Jr, was actually his godson, while Ronald Wahington was an old friend who was living at the DJ’s sister’s home at the time.
18 years after the hit, both men were finally arrested in 2020, and went on to plead not guilty to the charge.
After the jury read the verdict, Ronald yelled at the jurors that they had just sentenced two innocent people.
The supporters of his fellow defendant also started shouting at the jury after the decision was read out.
Both men’s lawyers also restated their belief in their innocence.
One of Ronald’s lawyers stated, “My client did not do this. And the jury heard testimony about the person who did.”
Jam Master Jay’s Family Happy With Verdict
In 2003, Ronald had given an interview to Playboy in which he claimed to have heard the shots from outside the studio.
He also said that he saw Karl Jr, who he called Little D, running out of the building.
Despite protest from the defendants and their legal teams, the family of Jam Master Jay were relieved to hear the verdict given.
His cousin, Carlis Thompson, said that he felt like a “2000 pound weight” had been lifted after the decision.
However, AP also reported that the family were saddened that the DJ’s mother had not lived to see the conviction.
Jam Master Jay was thought to have been attacked after getting involved in trafficking illegal substances to pay off debts.
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Or as Assistant US Attorney Artie McConnell explained it, he got involved to take care of the people who depended on him.
Many of those same people might now finally find peace, decades after losing one of hip hop’s great pioneers.
Jam Master Jay And Rev Run’s Beef
In the years leading up to Run-DMC’s split, a rift had started to grow between Jam Master Jay and Rev Run.
After several years of very little recording, Rev Run was eager to get back in the studio.
However, Jam Master Jay’s ongoing battle with substance addiction made it hard for him to return to work.
Despite the tension between the two legends that helped bring about the group’s demise, the loss of Jam Master Jay hugely affected Rev Run.
Rev Run’s Daughter Died
However, more tragedy would eventually follow that Rev Run couldn’t have even imagined.
Despite the many successes of their marriage and children, Rev Run and his wife Justine’s lives have also been marked by tragedy.
Their daughter Victoria was born in 2006 with a birth defect called omphalocele.
Justine gave birth via a C-section, but tragically, Victoria didn’t make it.
Rev Run’s Wife Justine Opens Up About Death of Daughter
Justine opened up about her loss in the couple’s book.
She described Victoria in the book as a part of her that she felt every day.
Following the loss of Victoria, the couple adopted their daughter Miley.
In an interview with Ebony magazine, Justine said that adopting is amazing.
And that all the women who cannot have babies should know that.
Rev Run And Justine Simmons Wrote A Book
After the end of the hugely popular reality show Run’s House, Rev Run and his wife Justine Simmons seemed to disappear.
But the truth is that they have kept very busy in recent years.
In 2020, the couple made headlines again as they promoted their new book, Old School Love, And Why It Works.
While promoting the book, they were interviewed by Ebony magazine about the lessons they had learned together on love, loss, and faith.
The book received a glowing review, with Rev Run and Justine being told that it was rare that a celebrity-authored book came so highly recommended.
Rev Run Reveals Intimate Details About Marriage
The interviewer spoke glowingly of reading about Rev Run and Justine’s old fashioned courtship, which made them feel hopeful that such a thing exists.
When asked what made them want to share the most intimate details of their marriage, Rev Run tried to explain.
He said that people had been asking them to do a book for ages.
He continued, “So we wanted to be very transparent and give people as much help as we could as to the dynamics of why we’re here, and how we arrived at this place together”.
Justine Simmons Admits To Having Marriage Help
Justine agreed with her husband, saying that they really wanted to help people with their marriages.
She went on to say that they wanted to give it their all and say, ‘This is what we are doing and, hopefully, if you try this way, it could help you in your own marriage’.
Justine also shared that she and her husband had help themselves throughout their relationship.
She said that they know it’s not easy.
And she admitted that they were blessed to have mentors that were trying to make their marriage work.
And because of that, they had something to look at.
Rev Run And Justine Are Marriage Role Models
The couple went on to talk about how their time in reality TV had changed how they were perceived.
When asked if they were that couple in their social circle that people went to for advice, Rev Run stated that it wasn’t just their social circle.
He said, “We feel it when we walk down the street. We feel people wanting to look up to us. Because of the television show, it almost feels like the world, whether they know us or not, feels that way”.
While Justine admitted that one or two couples had come to them, she chose not to reveal any names.
She also said that the main thing they tried to do was lead by example.
After keeping their marriage and family strong for so many years through so much tragedy, Rev Run and Justine have proved themselves an example worth following.
