Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label by Bill Adler


Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label
Title : Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0847833712
ISBN-10 : 9780847833719
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 312
Publication : First published September 20, 2011

In association with Def Jam, a celebration of the first twenty-five years of the label that defined hip-hop music and culture, in the words and photographs of its founders and artists. This is the story of Def Jam in the words of its artists and top executives, taken from interviews and seamlessly told as a narrative of no-holds barred recollections and anecdotes, made even more compelling by the fact that Def Jam is one of the last great record labels to enjoy the widespread cultural influence that it does, in light of the increasing digitization of music. Def Jam celebrates a label that defined hip-hop and whose impact extends beyond its incredible roster of recording artists to all areas of culture--fashion, lifestyle, cinema, art--impacting the music business and pop culture forever. In 1984, Def Jam introduced a new kind of music and lifestyle--hip-hop--through aspiring record producer and punk-rocker Rick Rubin and party promoter/artist manager Russell Simmons. It has become the sound of young America, akin to Motown in the sixties. This is the first book to see the label whole: through an oral history woven from interviews (some exclusive) with its founders and artists such as LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Ja Rule, Rihanna, Ashanti, and Kanye West, as well as through rare memorabilia from personal archives of the label's movers and shakers: behind-the-scenes photos, flyers, advertisements, movie posters, album cover art, magazine covers, and press clips from around the world. It also showcases images from some of the best-known photographers of the era, including Albert Watson, Glen E. Friedman, Jonathan Mannion, and Annie Leibovitz. It is designed by Cey Adams, Def Jam’s founding creative director and is an insider's portrait of the last great record label.

Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label Reviews

  • Ian

    This coffee table book celebrates one of, if not the most storied brand in hip hop culture, the Def Jam record label founded by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. Full of oral histories by key players and cool imagery, photography, logos and other marketing, PR and promo ephemera, this book is a must-read for hip hop neophytes and music industry aspirants but even OG's might learn a thing or two as well. Def Jam 25 is stronger on the early phase of the label's history, from its founding to the release of the first few 12" singles and albums by LL, the Beasties and PE etc., but is, overall, still pretty solid and worth reading.

  • Trevor

    The first 1/2 - 2/3 of this book is great for a golden era hip hop fanatic like myself. The rest is about when rap started to suck.

  • Lukas Evan

    Inspired me to use "def" more often in conversation. Also made me miss 80s rap.

  • Mikayla Barnett

    Definitely more than what I expected out of a "coffee table book." Also enjoyed the iconic photography included from Jonathan Mannion and others...

  • Anthony Bergen

    My review in AND Magazine:
    http://www.andmagazine.com/content/ph...