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Def Jams Movers & Shakers
25 People Who Helped Shape Def Jam Records
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of hip hop's most durable brand should not be taken lightly. Blackvoices.com pays homage to the 25 people out-front and behind-the-scenes who made a difference.
Since it was founded in 1984 in Rick Rubin's New York University dorm room, Def Jam Recordings has been home to some of the greatest artists in hip-hop music. Talented rappers and singers, from LL Cool J and Jay-Z to Patti LaBelle and Rihanna, have called the legendary record label home. In celebration of Def Jam's 25 years in the music business, Blackvoices.com takes a look at some of the important figures who have made the imprint what it is today.
Who: Russell Simmons
What: Around 1984, rapper Jazzy Jay introduced the Phat Farm clothing founder to Rick Rubin, and the two created Def Jam Records. LL Cool J, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys were some of the early artists that Simmons signed. But his time with Def Jam ended in 1999, when he sold his stake in the company to Universal Music Group for $100 million.
Factoid: Pre-Def Jam, in the early 1980s, the Queens, NY, native spent his time as a concert promoter for early hip-hop acts like Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC - the latter act included his brother, Joseph DJ Run' Simmons.
Who: Rick Rubin
What: While attending New York University, he created Def Jam Records with Russell Simmons. Rubin was the Beastie Boys' original DJ and worked extensively with heavy metal groups, including Slayer, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica.
Factoid: Rubin came up with the idea of having Run-DMC cover Aerosmith's 'Walk This Way.' The 1986 version of the song became an MTV staple and made the Queens-bred trio crossover superstars.
Who: LL Cool J
What: Up until his most recent release 'Exit 13' last year, he remained Def Jam's longest-signed artist. The Queens rapper dropped out of school in 1985 to record his debut, 'Radio,' and has made a name for himself creating more pop-friendly rap songs that cater to women, including 'I Need Love,' 'Hey Lover' and 'Around the Way Girl.'
Factoid: LL Cool J has starred in the TV shows 'In The House,' Oz,' and 'NCSI: Los Angeles,' the movies 'Any Given Sunday,' 'Deep Blue Sea,' 'Krush Groove' and 'Last Holiday' opposite Queen Latifah.
Who: Beastie Boys
What: Rick Rubin signed the punk rocking rappers to Def Jam in 1984. Their big break would come in the form of 'Licensed to Ill,' the group's 1986 offering that became the best-selling rap album of the 1980s and the first rap album to hit number one on the Billboard album charts. It's recognized as the fastest-selling Def Jam debut to date.
Factoid: 'Licensed to Ill' sold more than 5 million copies and spawned the breakout single 'Fight for Your Right to Party.' But after it was released, the Beastie Boys ended their relationship with Rubin and signed with Capital Records.
Who: Alyson Williams
What: She's the first R&B artist signed directly to Def Jam Records.
Factoid: After singing background on classics such as Kurtis Blow's 'Basketball' and The Fat Boys ''The Fat Boys Are Back,' the Harlem native released three critically acclaimed opuses: 'Raw' in 1989, a self-titled 1992 set and 2005's 'It's About Time.' She remains a staple on the New York City live club scene.
Who: Public Enemy
What: Arguably one of the greatest hip-hop groups in history, Public Enemy had a long career at Def Jam Records. The label's co-founder, Rick Rubin, signed the New York rappers after hearing a demo of front man Chuck D freestyling. And the rest is history.
Factoid: Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power' became the theme song of Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing' movie in 1989. Coincidentally, PE's final Def Jam album was the soundtrack to Lee's 1998 film 'He Got Game.'
Who: Bill Bellamy
What: The soundtrack to Bill Bellamy's 1997 comedy 'How To Be A Player' was released by Def Jam. The gold-certified-album also included the hit song 'Big Bad Mamma' by Foxy Brown and Dru Hill, as well as tracks by Junior M.A.F.I.A. , Redman and 2Pac.
Factoid: The Newark, New Jersey native has deep roots with the Def Jam brand. He and his then-girlfriend Roceania Williams starred in the music video for the Alyson Williams song 'Can't Have My Man' in 1992. The former 'MTV Jams' VJ also was a part of the troupe of acclaimed comedians who appeared on the groundbreaking HBO series "Def Comedy Jam' in the early 1990s.
Who: Warren G
What: Long Beach, California-reared rapper Warren G is credited with reviving Def Jam Records. Shortly after PolyGram acquired the record label, Warren G released his debut, 'Regulate...G Funk Era.' The triple-platinum album boosted the infectious single 'Regulate' with Nate Dogg.
Factoid: Warren G (real name: Warren Griffin, III) appeared on season five of the hit VH1 reality series 'Celebrity Fit Club.'
@buyhousescheap wrote, "If I were #SuperRich I would rebuild Haiti." @313Don214 said, "If was super rich I would buy an apartment building to give the homeless a second chance." @Tim Summa wrote, "I would put away enough money to help my family, then I would start to help the youth. There would be after school programs, or maybe I would start my own schools." @Antwon Butler Sr said, "I will help with all the inner city school and make sure they all get an education jus like the private school kids get, ya dig." @FlavianaMatata said, "If I was #SuperRich I would...make sure at least 25% of Tanzania ppl could use internet..." And there are even more great ideas where that came from, showing that people also have an instinct to share wealth, not only horde it. During this difficult time in America when so many are losing their economic security through job loss or the loss of a home, it is eye-opening to see in plain words that fiscal uncertainty can't crush the basic human desire to provide for the welfare of others. So I ask also you, BV community: What would you do if you were super rich? It's a great question, and I commend Russell Simmons for asking it. It opens up a dialogue that helps to put our personal financial problems in perspective and become interested in helping our world. I for one would work on establishing education centers, group living facilities and jobs training programs for single mothers in an environment that supports the care of both mothers and children, in order to break the cycle of poverty that so often affects this vulnerable group.
What would you do if you were super rich? Leave your comments below!
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