Friends, family, and fans of late rap star Jam Master Jay (real name: Jason Mizell) have formed a coalition to raise money for the Mizell family, to pay for education for his three children, and to help bring the investigation of the artist’s murder last Wednesday to a close.
Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-D.M.C., New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Jay-Z, Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Irv Gotti, Island Def Jam CEO Lyor Cohen, and rap impresario Russell Simmons have pledged funds and joined the coalition, which has already set aside $50,000 as a reward to anyone whose information leads to the arrest and conviction of Mizell’s killer or killers.
“This broad-based coalition was forced to provide immediate financial help to Jay’s family,” Russell Simmons said in a statement. “The coalition is seeking to raise the necessary money to pay off the mortgage for the family’s home for Jay’s wife, Terry Corley-Mizell. Many of us lost a dear friend and an inspiration when Jay was killed. The work of the coalition is to see to it that his family gets the assistance it needs as they try to overcome this tragedy.”
As previously reported, donations can be made to the coalition at Mizell Children’s Fund, c/o Terri Corley-Mizell, P.O. Box 3497, New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040.
— Troy Carpenter, N.Y.

Osbourne, his wife Sharon, son Jack, and daughter Kelly have come to worldwide acclaim thanks to their MTV reality show “The Osbournes,” the second season of which premieres Nov. 26.
The AMAs are chosen by public voting in 21 categories. Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, and the late Aaliyah led last year’s winners with two each.
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

The second annual event will be hosted by Ronan Keating and will air on BBC1 in the U.K. the following night. Winners are chosen by the public via phone, e-mail, or text messaging.
— Lars Brandle, London