Jay Bryant, 52, pleaded guilty Monday to a federal murder charge in connection with the 2002 killing of Jam Master Jay, the DJ of the pioneering hip-hop group Run-DMC.

Bryant's admission in court marked the first time anyone had publicly acknowledged orchestrating the murder of Jason Mizell, known professionally as Jam Master Jay. The killing had stymied investigators for more than two decades.

According to court proceedings, Bryant told the judge that he helped other people gain entry to a recording studio where they ambushed the DJ. The plea represents a significant development in a case that remained unsolved for nearly a quarter century.

Jam Master Jay was a founding member of Run-DMC, one of hip-hop's most influential groups. The trio helped bring rap music into the mainstream during the 1980s with hits like "Walk This Way" and "It's Tricky."

Bryant did not identify the other individuals involved in the killing during his guilty plea. The case had long frustrated law enforcement officials and the hip-hop community, who sought justice for one of the genre's pioneering figures.