Def Jam Recordings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Def Jam Recordings
Parent company	Universal Music Group (UMG)
Founded	1984; 41 years ago (1984)
Founder	Rick Rubin Russell Simmons
Distributor(s)	Republic (United States) Universal Music Group (International) 0207 Def Jam/EMI (United Kingdom) Island Def Jam (France) UMe (Reissues) Def Jam Africa (South Africa and Nigeria)
Genre	Various, predominantly on Hip hop and R&B
Country of origin	United States
Location	New York City, New York, U.S.

Def Jam Recordings, often called just Def Jam, is a famous American record label. A record label is a company that helps musicians record, produce, and sell their music. Def Jam is owned by Universal Music Group, a very large music company. It is based in Manhattan, New York City. The label is best known for its hip hop and R&B artists.

Def Jam also has offices in other parts of the world. There's 0207 Def Jam in London, UK, and Def Jam Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria. Many popular artists have released music through Def Jam. Some current artists include Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, Alessia Cara, Big Sean, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy.

The Story of Def Jam

How Def Jam Started (1983–1994)

Def Jam was started by Rick Rubin in 1983. He began the label in his college dorm room at New York University. His first release was a song by his own band. Soon after, Russell Simmons joined him. They met through friends and shared a love for music.

The first official songs with the Def Jam logo came out in 1984. These included "I Need a Beat" by LL Cool J and "Rock Hard" by the Beastie Boys. These songs sold very well. This success led to a big deal with CBS Records in 1985.

Def Jam also created a smaller label called OBR Records for R&B artists. Later, Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen created Rush Associated Labels. This helped manage Def Jam and its other smaller labels. They signed artists like Redman and Onyx. In 1986, Def Jam even signed a thrash metal band called Slayer. Lyor Cohen became the president of Def Jam in 1988. Rick Rubin left to start his own new label.

By 1992, even with popular artists like Public Enemy, Def Jam faced money problems.

Growing with PolyGram (1994–1998)

In 1994, another company called PolyGram bought half of Def Jam. This helped Def Jam become part of Island Records. Def Jam continued to work on its own music choices, while Island helped with sales. This partnership was very successful. They released many popular albums from artists like Montell Jordan, LL Cool J, and Method Man.

PolyGram bought more of Def Jam, showing their strong belief in the label. The company was renamed the Def Jam Music Group. LL Cool J released a very successful album called Mr. Smith in 1995. Def Jam also signed new artists like Foxy Brown and Case, who also had hit albums.

In 1997, Def Jam bought half of rapper Jay-Z's label, Roc-A-Fella Records. This meant Jay-Z and his partners owned part of their label, while Def Jam helped distribute their music.

Also in 1997, Def Jam signed DMX. His first album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot, came out in 1998. It was a huge hit, selling millions of copies. DMX released another successful album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, later that same year.

The Island Def Jam Music Group (1998–2000)

In 1998, PolyGram was bought by Seagram, which owned Universal Pictures. This led to the creation of the Universal Music Group (UMG). UMG then bought the rest of Def Jam from Russell Simmons. UMG combined many record labels, including Def Jam, Island, and Mercury Records, to form the Island Def Jam Music Group. Even though they were part of a bigger group, Def Jam, Island, and Mercury still worked as separate labels.

Lyor Cohen became a co-president of this new group. Kevin Liles took over as president of Def Jam. In 1998, Def Jam started a new R&B label called Def Soul Records. This label signed artists like Dru Hill, the Isley Brothers, and Musiq Soulchild.

In 1999, Def Jam also started distributing music for Murder Inc. Records, a new label started by former Def Jam executive Irv Gotti. Artists like Ja Rule and Ashanti released music through this partnership. Ja Rule's first album, Venni Vetti Vecci, was a big success.

In December 1999, DMX released his third album, ...And Then There Was X. It was his third album in a row to reach number one on the charts.

In 2000, Def Jam launched Def Jam South. This label focused on Southern rap music. It distributed music from labels like Disturbing tha Peace, which included artists like Ludacris.

Def Jam in the 2000s

The early 2000s saw Def Jam expand globally. They opened Def Jam Germany in 2000, which signed German rappers. However, this German division closed in 2002.

Another international branch, Def Jam Japan, also started in 2000. It signed Japanese artists like Ai and Teriyaki Boyz, and even the South Korean boy band BTS.

In 2001, Ja Rule released his third album, Pain Is Love, which was very popular.

In 2003, Def Jam faced some legal challenges related to Murder Inc. Records. Also that year, DMX released his fifth album, Grand Champ. It was his fifth number one album, but also his last with Def Jam. Def Jam also released the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY, which featured many of their artists.

In 2004, Def Jam fully bought Roc-A-Fella Records. This label helped launch the career of Kanye West with his debut album, The College Dropout. Jay-Z was appointed president of Def Jam in December 2004. Under his leadership, Def Jam helped start the careers of R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo.

Jay-Z left his role as president at the end of 2007 to start his own company. Shakir Stewart became executive vice president in 2008, but sadly passed away later that year.

Def Jam in the 2010s

In 2011, Joie Manda became the new president of Def Jam. Motown Records also joined the Island Def Jam umbrella. In 2014, the Island Def Jam Music Group was reorganized. Def Jam, Island, and Motown became separate labels again, all under Universal Music Group.

Steve Bartels served as CEO of Def Jam until 2017. In 2018, Eminem's manager, Paul Rosenberg, became the new chairman and CEO.

In 2019, Def Jam expanded into Southeast Asia, signing artists from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. They also re-signed LL Cool J and DMX, who had been away from the label for many years. Later that year, Def Jam also launched in the Philippines.

Def Jam in the 2020s

In February 2020, Paul Rosenberg stepped down. Jeffrey Harleston took over as interim head. In November 2020, Def Jam created a new UK label called 0207 Def Jam. They also expanded to Africa with Def Jam Africa.

On April 9, 2021, DMX passed away. A month later, Def Jam released his album Exodus, which was released after his death.

Later in 2021, Snoop Dogg became an executive consultant for Def Jam. In August 2021, Tunji Balogun was named the new chairman and CEO, starting in 2022.

In late 2022, Def Jam ended its partnership with Kanye West's label, GOOD Music. This happened after some public comments made by Kanye West.

In 2023, the artist Jeezy completed his contract with Def Jam. The label also signed Washington, D.C. rapper Wale. In 2024, the group Clipse also announced they signed with Def Jam.

As of 2024, Universal Music Group reorganized its labels. Def Jam Recordings is now part of a new group called The REPUBLIC Collective, alongside Republic Records, Mercury Records, and Island Records. Each label still works independently.

Leaders of Def Jam

CEOs and Chairpersons

Presidents

Executive Vice Presidents of A&R

Current Artists

See also

In Spanish: Def Jam Recordings para niños

• Krush Groove
• Def Jam Recordings discography