Steven Victor, Def Jam’s EVP, wants to change that. In a landscape where labels operate like boutique fashion brands, Def Jam has been the Gap-a longstanding go-to destination with a general sense for what’s in. The label had a brief moment with New York rap in the 90s, but there was never a signature sound. Wu-Tang Clan had little in common with the rock band Slayer. LL Cool J was nothing like the Beastie Boys. And honestly, it never did.ĭef Jam is arguably hip-hop’s most successful label ever, but its success came from a wide spectrum of big-name artists. That’s true, but the connection to Cole is what built Dreamville’s identity- just like Kendrick Lamar with Top Dawg Entertainment and the Migos with Quality Control Music. In a recent interview with Complex, Def Jam’s A&R Dro Genao made a distinction between each label’s efforts.

In January, Dreamville Records had its own recording session for the label’s upcoming compilation album.

Def Jam needs an identity for artists to vibe with

There’s no need for the two efforts to compete for the same resources, especially in today’s industry. The separation would also let the record label focus on its established artists. If Def Jam separates the camp’s operations from the record label, it can offer artists less binding terms and compete with the growing number of alternative options. This excludes artists who value Def Jam’s offering but are reticent to give their masters away. Currently, Rap Camp is exclusive to newly signed talent. To truly realize this vision, Def Jam should restructure. But if we can show the support, camaraderie and brand benefit that artists might not be able to get elsewhere, that’s a huge win.” It’s an optimistic and maybe altruistic way of approaching things, and I might be naive. “Hopefully we’re able to demonstrate not only why you might need a label, but what a modern label can be in this era. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Rolling Stone: Rosenberg knows that labels need to think different. This Rap Camp is a legitimate push from the thirty-five-year-old record label. And no one like Dylan who swore he was a Top Five dead or alive rapper. No one like Chopper who was always on sight. There were no continuous threats to shut down the studio. It feels like a modern version of Making the Band, but with none of the outlandish drama that Diddy’s show had. In the background, an eight-part docu-series was filmed to capture the artist’s journey. The best tracks were chosen for the recently released Undisputed compilation album. In January, the rappers met in Hollywood and produced over 200 songs together. The most notable one is “Rap Camp,” a week-long gathering with the label’s newly-signed acts. CEO Paul Rosenberg-Eminem’s former manager-has a number of initiatives underway. Def Jam’s Rap Camp participants (Photo from Def Jam via Highsnobiety)ĭef Jam is on a mission to recapture its glory.

Who owns def jam records