John Byas, professionally known as Jazzy Jay, is a pioneering American hip hop DJ and producer born on November 18, 1961, in Beaufort, South Carolina. Relocating to the Bronx at a young age, he immersed himself in the burgeoning hip hop scene of the 1970s. As an early member of Afrika Bambaataa's Universal Zulu Nation and the Jazzy Five, he contributed to the seminal track "Jazzy Sensation." In the mid-1980s, Jazzy Jay co-founded Def Jam Recordings, collaborating with Rick Rubin to release the label's first single, "It's Yours" by T La Rock and Jazzy Jay. His influential role in hip hop history is further highlighted by his appearance in the 1984 film "Beat Street" and his induction into the Technics/DMC DJ Hall of Fame in 2000. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazzy_Jay?utm_source=openai))