Hall of Fame Inductee list. The label that was founded by a brash young hip-hop
promoter named Russell Simmons and an NYU music nerd named Rick Rubin would
become the most iconic brand in the genre, and was directly responsible for
pushing the evolution of the genre in the mid-1980s. Whereas hip-hop’s previous
powerhouse label, Sugarhill Records, had focused more on singles than
albums, Def Jam was an album driven label, as evidenced by such hip-hop
classics as LL’s Radio, the Beastie’s Licensed to Ill, Slick Rick’s
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, and P.E.’s impeccable run of masterpieces
from 1987 thru 1991. The label also became the blueprint for other labels to
follow, and the success of Ruthless Records, Cold Chillin’, Death Row Records,
Bad Boy Entertainment, No Limit Records and every other hip-hop driven record
label owes a debt to what Russell and Co. were able to do with Def Jam.
VH1 Hip Hop Honors celebrate the label that is most
associated with the highs and lows of hip-hop over the last 25 years. Once again Tracy Morgan hosts, and Russell
and Rick reunite to share some unexpected anecdotes from the label’s early
years — “I had to call Chuck D. constantly to convince him to sign!” says Rick
Rubin. Notable figures in the label’s colorful history, ranging from Lyor Cohen
to Bill Stephney, offer their own spin on the label’s history. On the stage,
artists like EPMD, Public Enemy, Kid Rock, Eminem, Gym Class Heroes, and DMX
pay tribute to the sonic imprint left by Def Jam’s stable of artists. “Ever
since they took me in, it’s been a great ride,” said P.E. hypeman Flavor Flav. “It
was the foundation where we started,” added Parrish Smith of EPMD. “They were
like the John Lee Hooker of [hip-hop],” according to Kid Rock regarding EPMD’s
influence.
“Def Jam was street music,” Fredro Starr of Onyx exclaims at the
Def Jam after party. “It’s a brotherhood, and I want to say rest in peace to Jam
Master Jay.” Onyx was discovered and brought to the label by Jay, Run-DMC’s
legendary DJ. “What they’ve done is given us an opportunity to provide hope,”
Warren G. said of Def Jam.
“Def Jam created that.”
“He gave a lot of young dudes from the hood a place to go
and express themselves and become stars and businessmen,” said Datwon Thomas of
GlobalGrind. “You really have to give [Russell Simmons] a lot of praise, and all
the people that helped build the company with him.”
Be sure to tune in to VH1 at 9 p.m. EST to witness the honors –todd williams
