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Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on urban and pop music, owned by the Universal Music Group. In the UK, the label operates through a joint venture called 0207 Def Jam, and also expands throughout Africa, Ukraine, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and India), among other regions.
History[]
Founded in 1984, it became a predominant rap label before being a part of Sony Music's Columbia division until 1994 when it was acquired by the A&M/Island/Motown-owned PolyGram, joining forces with the three labels. By then, Rush Associated Labels was created as a portfolio for the Def Jam Label Group and its affiliates. In 1998, Canadian distillery Seagram completed its seven-month plan to buy PolyGram and thus a year later, merged its music division into the MCA Music Group unit of the now-consolidated Universal Music Group.[1] With this merger came the combination of Def Jam, Island and Mercury together as the Island Def Jam Music Group. After the creation of IDJMG, more success at the label garnered from artists like LL Cool J, EPMD, Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Slick Rick, DMX, Dru Hill, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Jeezy, Rihanna, and various others, alongside labels like Def Jam South, Def Jam Midwest, Def Soul, Murder Inc., Roc-A-Fella, and Disturbing the Peace.
During 2004, the label reached a restructure with Jay-Z as its president and L.A. Reid as his henchman, but some were not proud like LL Cool J, Joe Budden, DMX nor Murder Inc. Records as they either parted ways or were dropped.
On April Fools Day in 2014, the Universal Music Group publicly disbanded the Island Def Jam Music Group, as confirmed by UMG CEO Lucian Grainge, citing Barry Weiss' dissatisfaction with his underposition at the East Coast label service faction. With the disbandment of the IDJMG, Def Jam, Island and Motown Records are now separate sister labels under the same parent company.[2]
As of 2022, the current chairman and CEO of Def Jam is Keep Cool founder Tunji Balogun.
Current artists[3][]
- 2 Chainz
- Alessia Cara
- Alif
- Amir Obe
- Benny the Butcher
- Big Sean
- Brittany O'Grady
- Carson Lueders
- Coco Jones
- DaBoyWay
- Dave East
- Fabolous
- Fredo Bang
- Hit-Boy
- HS87
- Jadakiss
- Jeremih
- Jhené Aiko
- Justin Bieber
- Kaash Paige
- Kiely Williams
- LL Cool J
- Ludacris
- Muni Long
- Nasty C
- Public Enemy
- Teyana Taylor
- Toya Johnson
- YBN Nahmir
- YG
- YK Osiris
- Young Jeezy (also known simply as Jeezy)
Former artists[]
- 070 Shake
- 112 (Def Soul)
- 3rd Bass
- Ace Hood
- Alyson Williams
- Amerie
- Asher Roth
- Ashanti
- Beanie Sigel
- Beastie Boys
- B.G. Knocc Out
- Blood Raw (Def Jam South)
- Bobby V
- Boss
- Brutha
- Big Boi
- Chrisette Michele
- Electrik Red
- Cam'ron
- Capone-N-Noreaga
- Case
- Chingy
- Cormega
- Common
- Cru
- Davy D
- Def Squad
- Desiigner
- The Diplomats
- DJ Clue?
- DJ Richie Rich
- DMX (deceased)
- Domino
- Downtown Science
- The Dove Shack
- The-Dream
- Dresta
- Dru Hill
- EPMD
- Fam-Lay
- Fast Life Yungstaz
- Flatlinerz
- Foxy Brown
- Frank Ocean
- Funkmaster Flex
- Flesh-n-Bone
- Ghostface Killah
- Gunplay
- Hitmaka (formerly known as Yung Berg)
- I-20 (Def Jam South)
- Ja Rule
- Jay-Z
- Jayo Felony
- Jennifer Lopez
- Joe Budden
- Jonell
- Juelz Santana
- Kanye West
- Karina
- Keith Murray
- Kelly Price
- Krept & Konan
- Lady Gaga
- Lady Luck
- Lady Sovereign
- Lil Durk (Def Jam Midwest)
- Lil Ru
- Lil Reese
- Lil Scrappy
- Lloyd
- Logic
- LovHer
- Mannie Fresh
- Mariah Carey
- Megan Rochell
- Method Man
- Method Man & Redman
- MoKenStef
- Montell Jordan
- Mook TBG[4][5]
- Musiq Soulchild
- Nas
- Ne-Yo
- Nikki D
- N.O.R.E.
- Nice & Smooth
- Nicole Wray
- N-Dubz
- Onyx
- Patti LaBelle
- Pusha T
- Peedi Peedi
- Pete Nice
- Playa
- Redman
- Rell
- Rev Run
- Richie Rich
- Rich Homie Quan
- Rick Ross (Def Jam South)
- Rihanna
- Rocko
- Ron Isley
- The Roots
- Scarface (Def Jam South)
- Selan Lerner
- Shawnna (Def Jam South)
- Shareefa
- Sheek Louch
- Slick Pulla
- Steph Jones
- Shyne
- Sisqó
- Slayer
- Slick Rick
- Snoop Dogg
- South Central Cartel
- Teairra Mari
- Terminator X
- Terri Walker
- Toni Braxton
- Trinidad James
- Triple C's
- Trouble
- U.S.D.A (Def Jam South)
- Unladylike
- Warren G
- WC
- Willy Northpole (Def Jam South)
- Y?N-Vee
- DJ Khaled (Def Jam South)
Links[]
References[]
See Also[]
- Def Jam South (record label)
- Def Jam France (record label)
- Def Jam Germany (record label)
- Def Jam Japan (record label)
- Def Soul Classics (record label)
- List of Hip-Hop record labels
- List of American hip-hop record labels
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