1ST ANNUAL J.A.M. AWARDS

Thursday, November 29, NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom hosts the inaugural J.A.M. Awards in an effort to commemorate the life and legacy of legendary Run-DMC spin doctor Jam Master Jay and the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music. The awards show, whose name is an acronym for justice, arts and music, will feature a who's who list of hip-hop personalities including Snoop Dogg, Marley Marl, Mobb Deep, De La Soul, Papoose, Raekwon, Q-Tip, DMC, Kid Capri, EPMD, Lord Finesse, Bumpy Knuckles, DJ Kay Slay and Jim Jones, among others. The J.A.M. Awards were set up in memory of Run DMC's Jam Master Jay, to support music and arts education among urban schools, and will honor those displaying outstanding efforts in the areas of social justice, arts and music. Chuck D, Dr. Cornell West and Will Smith are the nominees in the Justice Award category, while Spike Lee, Robert L. Johnson and Lee Quinones are up for the Arts Award. Meanwhile Nelly, Wyclef Jean and Kanye West will compete for the third award of the night, the Music Award. Check out www.jammasterjay.org for more info..