Rap Master Trades Rapid-Fire Barbs With Gang Members

Jam Master Jay, a master of rap music, was spitting out the message and making up the words as he went.

“You in the fast lane, man. You gonna hit the wall and you gonna die, man,” the musician snarled at a self-described “gang-banger,” as radio and live audiences listened.

The crowd gave a little cheer. The spectators had gathered to hear Run-D.M.C., the hit rap group, lend support to an anti-gang campaign on a live radio broadcast from a South Los Angeles housing development Tuesday.

Launches Attack

The telephone caller had launched into an attack on the group, saying that gangs were none of their business, and that he needed to belong to a gang for protection.

The Jam Master, whose real name is Jay Mizell, exploded in a torrent of emotion that drowned out the caller.

“What about all the little brothers and sisters get shot because you all stupid gang-bangers drive by and make a mistake and kill somebody’s daughter or somebody’s son?”

His voice went out over radio station KDAY and loudspeakers for the crowd of about 250 gathered before a small tent shelter on a lawn at Ujima Village, a 300-apartment complex.

The theme of the anti-gang gathering was “cease fire for life.”

“You want your mom to get shot?”

The gangster was adamant.

‘Wanna Kill Me’

“Listen man, I got dudes that wanna kill me, man, know what I’m saying? I got dudes that wanna blow my head off.”

“Just because you joined it, that don’t make it right, man,” Mizell yelled. “You need to live another life, man. I’m talking to the brothers and sisters out there who want to change,” he implored emotionally.

The rap band failed to convert that caller, or some other self-described gang members who called in. But the band--whose last album sold 3 million copies--drew an audience for the message that Leon Watkins was trying to get out.

Watkins, who runs the L.A. Family Hot Line, was launching the “cease-fire” program in an effort to sway younger, less committed gang members into abandoning the life that has led to a massive drug-dealing problem and has been blamed for 138 gang-related killings in Los Angeles County so far this year.

The program offers jobs, drug rehabilitation, academic help and aid in eliminating criminal records so they will have an easier time finding work, Watkins promised.

Can Erase Records

City Atty. James K. Hahn, alternating at the microphone with a disc jockey and the rap band, assured listeners that “few people know it, but if there is a blot on your criminal record, you can do something about it.”

Under state law, those with only misdemeanor convictions who can show that they have served their sentence and probationary period and have been leading a crime-free life, can have their convictions expunged, Hahn said. Those whose records have been expunged are legally entitled to say on employment applications that they have never been convicted of a crime, he said.

His office is ready to work with Watkins in considering expungements for reformed gangsters, Hahn said.

“Just because you made a mistake you don’t have to pay for it for the rest of your life,” Hahn told listeners.

Watkins said he had enlisted 15 organizations in the campaign, including business groups and city and state agencies ready to supply at least 800 jobs.

Contribute $6,000

Run-D.M.C. appeared on the radio show and made a brief inspection tour of a $6,000 outdoor basketball court the band contributed to the housing project.

Run-D.M.C. has taken part in a number of anti-gang and anti-drug activities around the United States after a series of violent incidents connected to the band, and to rap music, resulted in bookings being canceled. The band was dropped from the 1986 “Street Scene” festival in downtown Los Angeles, and a concert at the Hollywood Palladium was canceled after violence at a Long Beach appearance left 40 injured.