Its success and influence on music and popular culture are paralleled only by Motown Records in the 1960s and 1970s. Headquarters: 2220 Colorado Ave, Fl 5, Santa Monica, California, 90404, United States. Simmons' net worth was estimated at 340 million in 2011. Def Jam Records, created by hip-hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons, is one of the most successful black-owned record labels in the history of the United States. Def Jam Recordings was founded in 1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons, and has represented the very best in cutting edge music and youth culture for over 30. He co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris.

He began his career at Bad Boy Entertainment in 1995, where he was Executive Vice. Russell Wendell Simmons (born October 4, 1957) is an American entrepreneur, record executive, writer, and film producer.

Burroughs comes to Def Jam from Rise Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based marketing, consulting and brand strategy firm that he founded and helmed. Its first full-length release was Jay-Z's 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. He joins Def Jam after a three-year stint as Senior Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records, beginning in 2015. Roc-A-Fella Records launched in 1994 as an independent label. They brought Roc-A-Fella to the label in 1997 and sold the initial half-stake to Def Jam at that time for $1.5 million. Jay, Dash and Burke recently renewed their contract with Def Jam for a reported $20 million. However, the consummate businessman had said a few months ago that selling the label was something he was open to (see 'Label Home Of Kanye, Jay-Z Closing? No Way, Insists CEO').

Carter Records, under the Def Jam umbrella.Īs for Dash, it's not clear what his next move will be. There's no word yet on whether or not he will be launching his own imprint, S. As part of the deal, Jay will continue to run Roc-A-Fella. Jay-Z has also been named president and CEO of Def Jam Records. As part of the deal, Island Def Jam will retain the entire Roc-A-Fella roster, including multiple-Grammy nominee Kanye West (see 'Kanye Scores 10 Grammy Nominations Usher And Alicia Keys Land Eight'), Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel. The imprint was sold for $10 million, according to reports. After 10 years of releasing some of hip-hop's most influential records, Jay-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem 'Biggs' Burke have sold their remaining 50 percent stake of Roc-A-Fella Records to its parent label, Island Def Jam, a Def Jam spokesperson said.

Who owns def jam records