Def Jam was founded in 1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. It is a major American record label focused on hip hop, R&B, and pop music. Def Jam belongs to Universal Music Group and operates as part of The Island Def Jam Music Group in the US and through Mercury Music Group in the UK. Current artists on Def Jam include Ludacris, Rihanna, Neyo, Kanye West, and LL Cool J.

1. Music Labels & Brands Research 4D Productions ‘ Def jam’

2. Def Jam History & Key facts Def jam was Founded 1984 by Rick Rubin & Russell Simmons Def Jam is a United States based hip-hop record label, owned by Universal Music Group , operating as part of The Island Def Jam Music Group. In the UK, the label takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Mercury Music Group . The first releases with a Def Jam Recordings catalogue number were LL Cool J's " I Need a Beat " and the Beastie Boys ' " Rock Hard ," both in 1984, showing that at first they did not focus on just one particular genre, as they currently do. The singles sold well, eventually leading to a distribution deal with CBS Records , which would later become Sony BMG .

3. Def Jam History & Key facts Def Jam belongs to Universal Music Group Def Jam’s distributing labels: .The Island Def Jam Music Group (US) .Mercury Music Group (UK) .Universal Sigma/Universal International (JP) Genres that Def Jam uses for distribution .Hip hop, R&B, pop Country of origin .United States Location .New York City Official Website www.DefJam.com

4. Current artists signed to Def Jam Ludacris http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JuS5AwR5Xg Rihanna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5XBM9-5d8w Neyo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAYuOc7_TKg Kanye West http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co0tTeuUVhU LL Cool J http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBs-I_QwgIU Method Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcW3lPOapLs Juelz Santana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvLNfueKDD0 Lady Sovereign http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7NWnApjFXI

5. Former artists signed to Def Jam Beastie Boys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9bS1dE0ps8 Joe Budden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OOAdSi3s84 Cam’ron http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m60XKqEEnfg DMX http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfEisP5__gg Jay-Z http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjsXo9l6I8 Lady Gaga http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I Christina Milian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxRIjRSzxGo Funkmaster Flex http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn2aG7B_sjI