#TBT with #WWETV Def Jam - LL Cool J Interview About His Beef with Beastie Boys

wwetvsports21
Dec 15, 2016
2 min read

LL Cool J is a certified hip hop legend who was one of the first mainstream acts from Def Jam that seen great success. In the 1980's unlike now the entertainment world only bare witnessed to a handful of rappers which made the competition tighter in that era. Subscribe to WWETV YOUTUBE CHANNEL for videos.

In the video above LL Cool J discusses his beef with label mates The Beastie Boys. You can also check out our EXCLUSIVE DEF JAM A&R INTERVIEW WITH LAWRENCE "WISE" MCGIRFF

Def Jam was founded by Rick Rubin in his dormitory in Weinstein Hall at New York University[3] and its first release was a single by his punk-rock group Hose. Russell Simmons joined Rubin shortly after they were introduced to each other by Vincent Gallo.[4] The first single released with the Def Jam Recordings logo was T La Rock & Jazzy Jay's "It's Yours." The first releases with Def Jam Recordings catalog numbers were LL Cool J's "I Need a Beat" and the Beastie Boys' "Rock Hard," both in 1984. The singles sold well, eventually leading to a distribution deal with CBS Records through Columbia Records the following year.

On March 14, 2012, it was announced that former Warner Bros. Records executive Joie Manda would become the first President of Def Jam since Jay-Z.[12] Until March 2013 when he exited his post at Def Jam and it was announced he'd be heading up the urban division of Interscope Records by his former boss, Barry Weiss.[13] The-Dream served as Def Jam's executive vice president between 2012 and 2014. Currently, No I.D. upholds the position of executive vice president after helping to establish GOOD Music with Kanye West; Steve Bartels is the current CEO of Def Jam.[14]

On April 1, 2014, it was announced that Island Def Jam would no longer be active following the resignation of CEO Barry Weiss. A press release serviced by Universal Music Group stated that IDJMG, and all of its assets would be reorganized into Def Jam Recordings, Island Records and Motown Records, all as separate entities.[15]

Today, Def Jam Recordings operates as a stand-alone label within Universal Music Group, with Steve Bartels currently serving as President/CEO of Def Jam Recordings.

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