Who is Def Jam Recordings?

Founded in 1984, Def Jam Recordings has represented the cutting-edge in hip-hop music for more than 35 years. Def Jam began as a maverick independent label inspired by downtown New York City’s vibrant street culture and the emerging sound of hip-hop, pioneered by iconic stars like LL Cool J, Slick Rick, The Beastie Boys and Public Enemy.

Who is Def Jam?

Today, Def Jam is the most-followed major label on all major social media platforms, and has expanded to include labels in the UK, France, Africa, India and Southeast Asia.

Where is Def Jam based?

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.