Def Jam Recordings

Def Jam Recordings is an American record label that mainly produces hip hop and urban music. It is owned by Universal Music Group.^[1] In the UK, the label takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Virgin EMI. In Japan, it is Def Jam Japan operating through Universal Sigma Music. The label distributes various record labels. One is Roc-A-Fella Records. Another is Kanye West's GOOD Music,^[2][3]

Def Jam was founded by Rick Rubin in his dormitory in Weinstein Hall at New York University.^[4] The label's first release was a single by his punk-rock group Hose.

1. ↑ Linden, Amy (Oct 27, 2009). "Def Jam at 25". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
2. ↑ Breihan, Tom. "Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music Signs With Def Jam". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
3. ↑ "Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music Signs Worldwide Deal With Island Def Jam". billboard.com. Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
4. ↑ Herschberg, Lynn (September 2, 2007). "The Music Man". New York Times Magazine.