Not to be confused with Deaf Jam, Def Comedy Jam, or Def Poetry Jam.
Def Jam Recordings
Parent company
Universal Music Group
Founded
1984; 40 years ago (1984)[1]
Founder
Rick Rubin[1]
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.
Official website
defjam.com
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The label has a London-based, UK arm known as 0207 Def Jam (formerly Def Jam UK in the 1990s until the mid-2000s) and is currently operated through EMI Records. It has a Johannesburg, South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria-based arm known as Def Jam Africa.
As of 2024, Def Jam's current roster includes Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, Alessia Cara, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Dave East, Wale, Jeremih, Pusha T, Fabolous, Jhené Aiko, Coco Jones, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Jadakiss, YG, Muni Long, Buju Banton, Fridayy, Benny the Butcher, Trinidad Cardona, DaniLeigh, Fredo Bang, Nasty C, Armani White, and Hit-Boy among others.[2]
^ ab"A Timeline of the Major Events That Defined Def Jam's Legacy in Hip-Hop". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
^https://www.defjam.com/artists/#/ [bare URL]
and 24 Related for: Def Jam Recordings information
DefJamRecordings (also simply known as DefJam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New...
Island Records and DefJamRecordings. On April 1, 2014, Universal Music Group publicly announced the disbandment of the Island DefJam Music Group, leaving...
Def Comedy Jam is an HBO television series produced by Russell Simmons, Stan Lathan, and Bob Sumner. The series was hosted by Martin Lawrence and Joe Torry...
DefJam South was a music division of DefJamRecordings. The label focused primarily on southern acts. It was best known for launching the career of Ludacris...
Music, DefJamRecordings 2016 Kanye West - "Famous" Good Music, DefJamRecordings 2016 Kanye West - "Ultralight Beam" Good Music, DefJamRecordings 2016...
labels are Abbey Road Studios, Capitol Music Group, Decca Records, DefJamRecordings, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Interscope-Geffen-A&M, Island Records,...
Rubin and assisted him in laying the foundation for what would become DefJamRecordings. The label's first official single was the single "It's Yours" by...
entrepreneur, writer and record executive. He co-founded the hip-hop label DefJamRecordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture,...
Simmons presents Def Poetry, better known as simply Def Poetry Jam or Def Poetry, is a spoken word poetry television series hosted by Mos Def and airing on...
artists who have recorded for DefJamRecordings, organized alphabetically by last name. Listed in parentheses are names of DefJam affiliated labels, under...
Balogun is a Nigerian American record label executive. He is the CEO of DefJamRecordings. Balogun attended Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts and graduated...
The following year, he signed with No I.D.'s ARTium Recordings, an imprint of DefJamRecordings to release his debut extended play, Hell Can Wait (2014)—which...
Osiris) for future productions. In 2018, he signed a recording contract with DefJamRecordings, stemming from the virality of his song "Valentine". In...
is a Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter currently signed to DefJamRecordings. He gained widespread attention after releasing the 2015 hit single...
Retrieved March 3, 2024. Billboard, Damien Scott (March 13, 2024). "BO$$, DefJam West's First Female Rapper, Dies at 54". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved...
youth TV programme Def American, a rock and rap record label DefJamRecordings, a rap record label Def Jux, a rap record label Def Leppard, a British...
He is a co-founder (alongside Russell Simmons) of DefJamRecordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records. Rubin...
the president of A&R at DefJamRecordings. After showcasing for then-president Lyor Cohen, DMX was signed to DefJamRecordings in May 1997. DMX recorded...
ranked number 4 on TurnTable's NXT Emerging Top Artistes. In 2023, DefJamRecordings signed an exclusive deal with Odumodublvck upon the release of EZIOKWU...
graphic designer and author. He was the founding creative director of DefJamRecordings and is known for his work with Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool...
fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. Signed to DefJamRecordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat"...
April 7, 2015, on DefJamRecordings. Their sixth album, No Culture, was released on February 10, 2017, with yet another DefJamRecordings release in the...
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