Def Jam was launched in 1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons.
Taking off from there, the timeline details all the significant moment’s throughout the history of Def Jam, including their first album, LL Cool J’s “Radio,” and the first aired episode of Def Comedy Jam in 1992. It also captured the moments of a Def Jam artist winning their first Grammy, with LL Cool J winning Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for “Mama Said Knock You Out,” and the release of Montell Jordan’s #1 hit “This Is How We Do It” in 1995.
To accompany the timeline, an interactive map also listed historical places that were also part of Def Jam’s history, including Madison Square Garden, the company’s original offices, and the Brooklyn high school where Hip Hop legends, Jay-Z, DMX, and Busta Rhymes all once attended. The map intends to give Hip-Hop fanatics a deeper dive into the lives of those who helped build the genre and cultural movement.
To join the party, the Def Jam shop has merch and other accessories for fans to showcase their pride and love for the music and community it has elevated over the decades.
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Source: Black Enterprise
