Def Jam Recordings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Def Jam Recordings
Parent company	Universal Music Group
Founded	1984; 41 years ago (1984)
Founder	Rick Rubin Russell Simmons
Distributor(s)	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 is a famous American record label. It is owned by Universal Music Group. Based in New York City, Def Jam is known for its hip hop and R&B music.

The label also has offices in other countries. There is a UK branch called 0207 Def Jam in London. There is also Def Jam Africa in South Africa and Nigeria.

Many popular artists are currently signed to Def Jam. These include Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, Alessia Cara, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and YG.

Company History

How Def Jam Started (1983–1994)

Def Jam was created by Rick Rubin in his college dorm room. His first music release was with his punk-rock band, Hose. Soon after, Russell Simmons joined Rubin. They were introduced by a mutual friend. Rubin saw Simmons as a leader in hip hop music.

The first official Def Jam songs were "It's Yours" by T La Rock & Jazzy Jay. Then came "I Need a Beat" by LL Cool J and "Rock Hard" by the Beastie Boys in 1984. These songs sold very well. This led to a big deal with CBS Records through Columbia Records.

Def Jam also started a smaller label called OBR Records for R&B artists. Oran "Juice" Jones was the first artist on OBR. He had a hit song called "The Rain". Later, Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen created Rush Associated Labels. This group managed Def Jam and its other labels. Famous groups like Nice & Smooth and EPMD joined this group. Other artists included Redman and Onyx.

In 1986, Def Jam signed Slayer, a thrash metal band. Their albums were released through a different distributor. As the 1980s ended, Def Jam signed Public Enemy. This group became very popular and also caused some debate with their lyrics. Lyor Cohen became president of Def Jam in 1988. Rick Rubin then left to start his own label, Def American Recordings.

By 1992, Def Jam faced money problems. This was despite having popular albums from Public Enemy and EPMD.

Joining PolyGram (1994–1998)

In 1994, PolyGram bought a part of Def Jam Recordings. This brought Def Jam under the Island Records group. Def Jam continued to handle its own artist choices and promotions. This partnership was very successful. Many artists like Montell Jordan, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, and Method Man had multi-platinum albums.

PolyGram bought more of Def Jam, increasing its ownership. Rush Associated Labels was then renamed the Def Jam Music Group. LL Cool J released his successful album Mr. Smith in 1995. The label also signed Foxy Brown. Her first album, Ill Na Na (1996), sold over a million copies. Case also released a gold-selling debut album in 1996.

In 1997, Def Jam bought a part of Roc-A-Fella Records. This gave co-founders Jay-Z and Damon Dash some ownership. Def Jam helped distribute and market their music.

Also in 1997, Def Jam signed DMX. His first album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot, came out in May 1998. It quickly became number one and sold millions of copies. DMX released a second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, in December 1998. This album also debuted at number one and sold millions.

The Island Def Jam Music Group (1998–2000)

In 1998, Universal Music Group bought PolyGram. Universal then bought the rest of Def Jam Recordings from Russell Simmons. Universal Music Group combined many record labels. These included Def Jam, Island, and Mercury Records. They formed the Island Def Jam Music Group. Even though they were part of this bigger group, Def Jam, Mercury, and Island still worked as separate labels. In 1999, Def Jam signed rapper Ja Rule.

Lyor Cohen became a co-president of the 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 Kelly Price. Def Soul also released music by Musiq Soulchild and 112.

In 1999, Def Jam also started distributing music for Murder Inc. Records. This new label was run by Irv Gotti. Artists like Ja Rule and Ashanti were on Murder Inc. Ja Rule's first album, Venni Vetti Vecci, was released through this partnership. It became a platinum album.

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. The album has sold millions of copies.

The next year, Def Jam launched Def Jam South. This label focused on Southern rap. It distributed music from labels like Disturbing tha Peace. Ludacris was a co-founder and artist on Disturbing tha Peace. Scarface was the first head of Def Jam South.

In October 2000, Ja Rule's second album, Rule 3:36, was released. It topped the charts and sold millions of copies.

The 2000s

In 2000, Def Jam started its first international company, Def Jam Germany. It signed German rappers and helped market U.S. Def Jam artists. However, this German division closed in 2002.

Roc-A-Fella Records, a Def Jam subsidiary, also grew. Jay-Z's albums The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2001) and The Blueprint (2001) were very successful. Other artists like Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek also gained fame.

A Japanese branch, Def Jam Japan, was also founded in 2000. It later became Def Jam Recordings. Artists like Ai, Teriyaki Boyz, and the South Korean boy band BTS have been signed to this label.

Ja Rule released his third album, Pain Is Love, in October 2001. It also topped the charts and sold millions.

In 2003, Murder Inc. faced some legal problems. This led to their distribution deal with Def Jam ending by 2005. Def Jam also had some legal disagreements with another label, TVT Records.

In September 2003, DMX released his fifth album, Grand Champ. It was his fifth number one album. This was his last album with Def Jam before he left in 2006. That same month, Def Jam released the video game, Def Jam: Fight for NY. This game featured many artists from the label.

In 2004, Def Jam fully bought Roc-A-Fella Records. By this time, Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam had helped start the career of Kanye West. His first album, The College Dropout, sold millions. Jay-Z was appointed president of Def Jam in December 2004. Some long-time artists like LL Cool J and DMX left the label due to disagreements with the new leadership.

Under Jay-Z's leadership, Def Jam helped launch the careers of Rihanna and Ne-Yo. In late 2007, Jay-Z left Def Jam to start his own company, Roc Nation. Antonio "L.A." Reid then took over leadership of Def Jam.

The 2010s

In March 2011, Joie Manda became the new president of Def Jam. In 2012, Motown Records also became part of the Island Def Jam group. Joie Manda left in 2013. The-Dream served as an executive vice president for Def Jam from 2012 to 2014.

On April 1, 2014, the Island Def Jam Music Group was reorganized. Def Jam, Island, and Motown became separate labels again. Def Jam Recordings now operates on its own within Universal Music Group.

Steve Bartels was the president and CEO of Def Jam from 2013. In 2018, Eminem's manager, Paul Rosenberg, became the new chairman and CEO of Def Jam.

In September 2019, Def Jam South East Asia was launched. It signed artists from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. That same month, LL Cool J and DMX rejoined Def Jam after many years.

Later in 2019, Def Jam also started in the Philippines. The hip hop group VVS Collective was their first signed artist there.

The 2020s

On February 21, 2020, Paul Rosenberg stepped down. Jeffrey Harleston took over as interim head of Def Jam. In November 2020, Def Jam created a new UK label called 0207 Def Jam. This label signed artists like Stormzy. Def Jam also expanded to Africa with Def Jam Africa.

On April 9, 2021, DMX passed away. A month later, Def Jam released his album Exodus. It reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart.

Later in 2021, Snoop Dogg became an executive consultant for Def Jam. In August 2021, Jeffrey Harleston announced that Tunji Balogun would become the new chairman and CEO of Def Jam in 2022.

In late 2022, Def Jam ended its partnership with GOOD Music, Kanye West's label. This was due to disagreements. In October 2023, the artist Jeezy completed his contract with Def Jam. The label also signed Washington, D.C. rapper Wale.

Current Artists

See also

In Spanish: Def Jam Recordings para niños

• Krush Groove
• Def Jam Recordings discography