Record Label Research

Def Jam Recordings is an American Hip-Hop record label. It was founded by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons back in 1984. It is owned by one of the 'big 5' Universal Music Group, and is located in New York City, New York (United States).



It is currently creating a game to promote their name as a record label, the game is called Def Jam Rapstar and it features artists from their label.

In the UK, the label takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Mercury Music Group, while in Japan, it is Def Jam Japan operating through Universal Sigma Music.

Current Artists:

• Fabolous
• Ghostface Killah
• Jennifer Lopez
• Jeremih
• Juelz Santana
• Kanye West
• Lady Sovereign
• LL Cool J
• Ludacris
• Method Man
• Ne-Yo
• Nas
• Redman
• Rihanna
• Rick Ross
• The Dream
• Young Jeezy

Roc-A-Fella Records is an urban record label. It was founded by Shawn Carter (Jay Z), Damon Dash (Dame) and Kareem Burke (Biggs) back in 1996. It is also owned by the Universal Music Group, and is also located in New York City, New York (United States).



It also has its own clothing brand, Rocawear, which is used to promote and compliment the record label. That was also created in 1996 by one of the founders, Damon Dash.

it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and is distributed by The Island Def Jam Music Group.

Current Artists:

• Jay Z
• Juelz Santana
• Jim Jones
• Kanye West
• Teairra Mari
• Uncle Murda