Can you believe that it's been 30 years since Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin started Def Jam Records?
This month, Def Jam Recordings is celebrating 30 years of excellence in culture, style, music, and most importantly Hip-Hop. Def Jam was founded by two young men, a college student producer and an artist manager that go by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons in 1984.
Def Jam has been a cultural movement exemplifying urban style, music, and culture that is still prevalent today. Def Jam founders Rick Rubin & Russell Simmons penned an open letter to the public in celebration of Def Jam's 30th Anniversary. Read the letter below:
Rick Rubin, known for his long hair and beard founded Def Jam when he was a student at NYU. He's one of the few producers to work across multiple genres and helping the start of careers of many such as LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and Run DMC. Rick Rubin currently is still producing and is the owner of American Recordings.
Russell Simons, a mogul that has been actively engaged in popular culture, activism, social media, fashion, business/finance, and health over the past 30 years. Russell Simmons is also known for popular shows such as Def Comedy Jam and Def Poets, and his fashion line Phat Pharm. Russell Simmons now runs GlobalGrind.com as well as All Def Digital.
Over the past 30 years Def Jam has been behind popular faces in music such as Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Jay Z (Roc-a-fella Records/Roc Nation), Nas, Rihanna, Rick Ross, Frank Ocean, Kanye West (G.O.O.D Music), Big Sean, Fabolous, Young Jeezy, Ludacris (Disturbing Tha Peace), and the list goes on and on.
I've been a personal fan of Def Jam for as long as I can remember, and can say has a lot to do with my love for Hip-Hop! Congratulations to Def Jam for 30 years and still going strong.
(Photo: Def Jam)
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