Def Jam Recordings - wikipedia Def Jam Recordings Not to be confused with Deaf Jam or Def Poetry Jam. Def Jam Recordings Parent company Universal Music Group Founded 1983 ; 34 years ago ( 1983 ) Founder Rick Rubin Russell Simmons Distributor ( s ) Universal Music Distribution ( International ) Virgin EMI ( United Kingdom ) Universal Music Enterprises ( reissues ) Genre Various Country of origin United States Location New York City, New York, U.S. Official website defjam.com Def Jam Recordings is an American record label focused predominantly on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group ( UMG ). In the UK, the label takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Virgin EMI Records, while in Japan, it is known as Def Jam Japan, operating through Universal Music Japan. The label distributes releases of various record labels, including Kanye West 's GOOD Music, Ludacris ' Disturbing Tha Peace, and ARTium Recordings, headed by Def Jam 's current executive vice president, No I.D.. Current artists include Iggy Azalea, Logic, Big Sean, Kanye West, Leona Lewis, 2 Chainz, Axwell Λ Ingrosso, Mother Mother, Afrojack, Jeezy, Jeremih, Ludacris, Alesso, Pusha T, Vince Staples, Desiigner and Jhené Aiko among others. Contents 1 Company history 1.1 Founding and CBS Records Group era ( 1983 -- 1994 ) 1.2 PolyGram era ( 1994 -- 1998 ) 1.3 The Island Def Jam Music Group founding ( 1998 -- 2000 ) 1.4 2000s 1.5 2010s 2 Notable current artists 3 References 4 External links Company History Founding and CBS Records Group Era ( 1983 -- 1994 ) Def Jam was founded by Rick Rubin in his dormitory in Weinstein Hall at New York University and its first release was a single by his punk - rock group Hose. Russell Simmons joined Rubin shortly after they were introduced to each other, according to one story, by Vincent Gallo. Another cites DJ Jazzy Jay as their connector. Rubin has said he met Simmons on the TV show, `` Graffiti Rock '' and recognized him then as `` the face of hip hop '' : `` He was five years older than me, and he was already established in the music business. And I had no experience whatsoever. '' The first single released with the Def Jam Recordings logo was T La Rock & Jazzy Jay 's `` It 's Yours. '' The first releases with Def Jam Recordings catalog numbers were LL Cool J 's `` I Need a Beat '' and the Beastie Boys ' `` Rock Hard, '' both in 1984. The singles sold well, eventually leading to a distribution deal with CBS Records through Columbia Records the following year. This created a short - lived subsidiary label called OBR Records, short for Original Black Recordings, catered toward R&B artists -- the first artist signed to that imprint was Oran `` Juice '' Jones, who enjoyed success with his hit single `` The Rain ''. A few years later, Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen started an umbrella label called Rush Associated Labels to handle Def Jam and its numerous spinoff labels. RAL became the home to Nice & Smooth and EPMD after both acts were acquired due to the folding of their former label Sleeping Bag Records. Other acts under the RAL umbrella included Redman, Onyx, Flatlinerz, Domino, Warren G and Jayo Felony. Def Jam also signed its first and only thrash metal band, Slayer, in 1986, and the band 's third and fourth albums were the only two Def Jam releases to be distributed through Geffen Records under Warner Bros. Records as opposed to Columbia / CBS. As the decade drew to a close, the label signed Public Enemy, whose controversial lyrical content garnered the company both critical acclaim and disdain. Lyor Cohen became president of Def Jam / RAL in 1988, after winning a power struggle with Rubin, who would shortly thereafter leave the company to form Def American Recordings. Rubin would take Slayer with him to Def American in its initial stages. PolyGram Era ( 1994 -- 1998 ) By 1992, despite recent multi-platinum selling releases from Public Enemy, and EPMD, Def Jam ran into severe financial troubles and was faced with folding. However, in 1994, PolyGram purchased Sony 's 50 % stake in Def Jam Recordings -- subsequently bringing the label into its fold. Following PolyGram 's purchase, Def Jam distributed the Violator Records - signed artist Warren G 's Regulate... G Funk Era album, which went triple platinum and brought much - needed revenue to Def Jam through its distribution deal with Violator. PolyGram acquired an additional 10 % in Def Jam Recordings in 1996, further strengthening its ownership of Def Jam. Shortly thereafter, Rush Associated Labels was renamed Def Jam Music Group. The label remained profitable as its veteran star LL Cool J released his successful album Mr. Smith in 1995. The label later signed Foxy Brown, whose debut album Ill Na Na became a platinum seller in 1997. The Island Def Jam Music Group founding ( 1998 -- 2000 ) In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagram and merged with the MCA family of labels, which became Universal Music Group. It then purchased the remaining interest of Def Jam Recordings from Russell Simmons for a reported $100 million. UMG merged 14 + record labels including : Def Jam, Island Records and Mercury Records to form The Island Def Jam Music Group. Despite the formation of IDJMG, the Def Jam, Mercury, and Island labels ( among others ) continued to operate as separate imprints underneath the bigger umbrella. Lyor Cohen was appointed co-president of IDJMG, and Kevin Liles succeeded him as president of Def Jam. In 1999, IDJMG created a R&B spin - off label called Def Soul Recordings to run alongside Def Jam Recordings, which inherited many of Island Records ' urban artists ( and also some from Mercury Records ), including Dru Hill and its lead singer Sisqó, the Isley Brothers and Kelly Price. Def Soul also issued recordings by Musiq, Montell Jordan, Case, 112, Patti LaBelle, and Christina Milian. Island 's 4th & B'way Records was also folded into Def Jam. Kevin Liles also served as President of Def Soul Records. Also in 1999, the label began to distribute releases by Murder Inc. Records, run by former Def Jam executive Irv Gotti. Murder Inc. 's roster of artists would include Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Vita. The following year, it launched another subsidiary, Def Jam South, which focused on Southern rap and distributed releases from labels such as Disturbing tha Peace, whose artists have included Ludacris, Chingy, and Bobby Valentino. Russell Simmons tapped Texas - born and raised rap legend Scarface ( a.k.a. Brad Jordan ) as the original head of Def Jam South. After about a 4 - year run at Def Jam South, Scarface negotiated a release from the company in 2003. In 2014, Universal Music Group announced that The Island Def Jam Music Group would end operations, and the assets would be separated into three different entities : Def Jam Recordings, Island Records, and Motown Records. The Mercury Records label has been dormant since IDJMG was dismantled. 2000s In 2000, The Island Def Jam Music Group announced the formation of Def Jam Germany, the first international Def Jam company. This increased the label 's presence around the world. Def Jam Germany signed German rappers Spezializtz and Philly MC. The label was located in Berlin and opened on May 23, 2000. In addition to signing and marketing local artists, Def Jam Germany also marketed all U.S. signed Def Jam artists in the German territory. But the German division folded just two years later in 2002. Many of the artists were picked up by Universal / Urban, while others did not get a new contract. The second international label is a Japanese branch, Def Jam Japan ( デフ ・ ジャム ・ ジャパン, Defu Jamu Japan ), also founded in 2000. Their artist roster has included AI, Teriyaki Boyz, Nitro Microphone Underground, and South Korean boy band BTS. In 2003, Murder Inc. became the center of a money laundering investigation involving illegal profits from drug trade, leading to the label 's eventual release from its distribution contract by 2005. The final shares of Roc - A-Fella Records were sold to The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004, by which time it had launched the career of producer - turned - rapper Kanye West. In 2004, Cohen left IDJMG for Warner Music Group, and was replaced by former Arista - now Epic executive L.A. Reid. An unhappy Liles eventually decided to follow Cohen to Warner. A bidding war for Jay - Z 's contract began, and Reid appointed Jay - Z president of Def Jam. Under Jay - Z 's leadership, Def Jam launched the successful careers of contemporary R&B singers Rihanna and Ne - Yo. At the end of 2007, Jay - Z decided not to renew his contract as the President and CEO of Def Jam in order to start his new venture, Roc Nation. Following Jay - Z 's departure, L.A. Reid took over leadership of the label, as opposed to hiring a replacement. In June 2008, Shakir Stewart was appointed as Executive Vice President of Def Jam, a position that was previously left vacant since December 2007. 2010s In March 2012, it was announced that former Warner Bros. Records executive Joie Manda would become the first president of Def Jam since Jay - Z. Until March 2013 when he exited his post at Def Jam and it was announced he 'd be heading up the urban division of Interscope Records by his former boss, Barry Weiss. The - Dream served as Def Jam 's executive vice president between 2012 and 2014. No I.D. upholds the position of executive vice president after helping to establish GOOD Music with Kanye West ; Steve Bartels is the current CEO of Def Jam. On April 1, 2014, it was announced that Island Def Jam would no longer be active following the resignation of CEO Barry Weiss. A press release serviced by Universal Music Group stated that IDJMG, and all of its assets would be reorganized into Def Jam Recordings, Island Records and Motown Records, all as separate entities. Def Jam Recordings operates as a stand - alone label within Universal Music Group. Steve Bartels serves a time as President / CEO of Def Jam Recording till it was announced on August 3, 2017, that as of January 2018, Eminem 's longtime manager and co-founder of Shady Records, Paul Rosenberg has been appointed the new President / CEO of Def Jam Recordings. Notable current artists 2 Chainz Afrojack Alessia Cara Alesso Amir Obé August Alsina Axwell Λ Ingrosso Babyface Bibi Bourelly Big Sean BTS Common Conway Dave East Desiigner Earl St. Clair Elijah Blake Fabolous Flesh - N - Bone Iggy Azalea Jadakiss Jahkoy Jeezy Jeremih Jhené Aiko Juelz Santana Justin Bieber Kacy Hill Kanye West Leona Lewis Lil Durk Logic Mark Battles Maejor Ali Mother Mother Moxie Raia Nas Q - Tip Teyana Taylor Toni Braxton Trap Beckham Vince Staples Westside Gunn YG References Jump up ^ Breihan, Tom. `` Kanye 's G.O.O.D. Music Signs With Def Jam ''. pitchfork.com. Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Kanye West 's G.O.O.D. Music Signs Worldwide Deal With Island Def Jam ''. billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 01. Jump up ^ Herschberg, Lynn ( September 2, 2007 ). `` The Music Man ''. New York Times Magazine. Jump up ^ Turner, Edwin ( 2011 - 12 - 17 ). `` I Review Def Jam 25, the Overstuffed Illustrated Oral History of a Record Label that Helped Change American Culture ''. Biblioklept. Retrieved 2013 - 02 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Def Jam Records launched by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin ''. The Guardian. 12 June 2011. Jump up ^ `` Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons : Def Jam 's First 25 Years ''. NPR. 9 October 2011. Jump up ^ Moore, Maurice. `` Indianapolis : CRUSH Ent Presents : EPMD & DJ Scratch @ The Vogue ''. bestevents.us. Best Events. Archived from the original on 2015 - 07 - 03. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 02. Jump up ^ `` PolyGram acquires 50 % of Def Jam ''. Business Wire. 1994 - 11 - 16. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Hiphop Geschichte des Labels DefJam ''. netzfeuilleton.de. 2014 - 11 - 10. Retrieved 2014 - 11 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Def Jam Japan ( A Universal Music Company ) ''. Universal-music.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2011 - 08 - 05. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Hip - Hop 's Irv ' Gotti ' Surrenders to FBI - Celebrity Gossip Entertainment News Arts And Entertainment ''. FOXNews.com. 2005 - 01 - 27. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 05. ^ Jump up to : Ogunnaike, Lola ( Aug. 28, 2005 ). `` Jay - Z, From Superstar to Suit ''. New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2008. Jump up ^ Reid, Shaheem ( 2007 - 12 - 24 ). `` Jay - Z Stepping Down As Def Jam President / CEO ''. MTV News. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 05. Jump up ^ Markman, Rob ( 2012 - 03 - 12 ). `` Def Jam Names Joie Manda New President ''. MTV.com. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 05. Jump up ^ Aswad, Jem ( March 28, 2013 ). `` Joie Manda Resigns as Def Jam President, Moving to Interscope ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ pologod. `` No I.D. Is The New Executive Vice President Of Def Jam Recordings ''. The Source. Jump up ^ miranda ( 1 April 2014 ). `` Island Def Jam Is Over ''. XXL Mag. Jump up ^ `` Eminem 's Manager Paul Rosenberg Named New CEO of Def Jam ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 03. Jump up ^ Caramanica, Jon ( 19 May 2015 ). `` Alessia Cara Speaks Up for the Outsiders on ' Here ' ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2015. Jump up ^ `` MTV Jams ' Fab 5 List : Spotlight On August Alsina ''. MTV. 2013 - 07 - 24. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Axwell Λ Ingrosso Sign To Def Jam Recordings Def Jam ''. Def Jam. 2014 - 09 - 19. Archived from the original on 2014 - 11 - 26. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 02. Jump up ^ Common ( 2014 - 06 - 04 ). `` Common Signs To No I.D. 's Artium / Def Jam Recordings ''. Def Jam. Archived from the original on 2014 - 06 - 06. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 04. Jump up ^ Conway ( 2017 - 09 - 08 ). `` CONWAY THE MACHINE SPEAKS ON SHADY DEAL AND REVEALS DETAILS ABOUT ' G.O.A.T. ' ''. Mass Appeal. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ Elijah Blake ( 2013 - 05 - 15 ). `` Elijah Blake ''. Def Jam. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 08. External links Interview with Shakir Stewart, HitQuarters Nov 5 Def Jam Recordings Discography Founders Russell Simmons Rick Rubin Subsidiaries ARTium Records Def Jam South Def Soul Disturbing tha Peace GOOD Music Radio Killa Records Roc - A-Fella Records Def Jam South Founders Russell Simmons Related articles and record labels Def Jam Recordings We the Best Music Group Disturbing tha Peace Slip - n - Slide Records Vivendi History List of owned assets Directors Vincent Bolloré Arnaud de Puyfontaine Pierre Rodocanachi Universal Music Group Universal Music Distribution Universal Music Publishing Group Decca Label Group Decca Records Deutsche Grammophon Island Records Mercury Records Roc Nation StarRoc Takeover Roc Nation Republic Records Cash Money Records Big Machine Label Group Universal Music Enterprises Hip - O Records Def Jam Recordings Show Dog - Universal Music Vevo Capitol Christian Music Group Motown Gospel Sparrow Records Tooth & Nail Records Capitol Music Group Astralwerks Apple Records Blue Note Records Capitol Records Caroline Distribution Harvest Records mau5trap Motown Priority Records Virgin Records Interscope Geffen A&M Records A&M Records A&M Octone Records DGC Records Geffen Records Interscope Records UM Latin Entertainment Capitol Latin Disa Records Fonovisa Records Machete Music UMG Nashville MCA Nashville Mercury Nashville Records Lost Highway Records Capitol Records Nashville EMI Records Nashville UM UK Capitol UK Decca Records Island UK Polydor Records Virgin EMI Records Verve Records GRP Records Impulse ! Records Verve Forecast Records Film / TV units Eagle Rock Entertainment PolyGram Entertainment Universal Music TV Canal+ Group Canal+ Canalsat Afrique Calédonie Caraïbes D8 StudioCanal UK Other assets Dailymotion ( 90 % ) Gameloft ( 96 % ) Telecom Italia ( 20.03 % ) Mediaset ( 12.3 % ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Def_Jam_Recordings&oldid=802446668 '' Categories : American record labels Companies based in New York City Labels distributed by Universal Music Group Hip hop record labels Record labels established in 1983 Rhythm and blues record labels Vivendi subsidiaries Def Jam Recordings Hidden categories : Pages using deprecated image syntax Articles containing Japanese - language text Talk Contents About Wikipedia Cebuano Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Kiswahili Македонски Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 粵語 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 26 September 2017, at 05 : 35. 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Question: when did jay z became president of def jam
Answer: 2004