Slick Rick was, and still is, one of the greatest storytellers in hip-hop history. After the promotion and success of his first album, The Adventures of Slick Rick, the British MC continued his ascent to stardom with his sophomore effort The Ruler’s Back.
Slick Rick’s second album was finished rather quickly due to the fact he was hit with a five year stint behind bars. The first and hit single off the album was “I Shouldn’t Have Done It”, reaching number two on the Hot Rap Charts.
Following “I Shouldn’t Have Done It,” Slick Rick released the singles “Mistakes of a Woman in Love With Other Men” and “It’s A Boy.” The project also features production from Mr. Lee and Slick Rick himself. Russell Simmons served as executive producer.
A former music video producer is suing Russell Simmons for allegedly raping her in the ’90s, according to Variety. The anonymous producer, going by Jane Doe in the suit, filed the suit today, saying that the incident took place when she worked for Simmons’ label, Def Jam in the late 1990s, when she went to his apartment to get approval for a video’s rough cut.
Doe claims that Simmons displayed a pattern of sexual harassment at the Def Jam offices, making sexual innuendos toward her behind closed doors. On the date of the incident in question, she says Simmons “forcefully pinned” her, and continued despite her telling him to “‘get off’ and ‘stop’ several times.” After the incident, she says, she developed depression and anxiety, suffering panic attacks and developing an eating disorder, all of which prompted her to quit her job at Def Jam (she is now a writer and producer elsewhere in the entertainment industry).
She says that she was encouraged to file the lawsuit after coincidentally encountering Simmons at a yoga class in March 2023, where his unapologetic demeanor (Do you think I’m gonna try and f*ck you?” she recalls him saying) revealed he didn’t feel any remorse, despite having been accused of multiple other assaults repeatedly in the prior six years. There have also been a slew of lawsuits filed against other powerful recording industry figures, including Sean “Diddy” Combs, that gave Doe the courage to issue the suit.
While the incident would normally have been past the statute of limitations, New York Adult Survivors Act and Gender Motivated Violence Act allow “lookback windows” in order to pursue such cases. Simmons was also called out by his daughters and ex-wife Kimora Lee on Father’s Day last year for abusiver behavior.
Issa Rae owns her own media company, Hoorae Media, and the audio division, Raedio, now has a new home. Def Jam Recordings and Raedio have partnered up for the long-term, with a multi-year deal in the works. This includes everything from publishing to podcasts to digital content and music distribution. Also, Issa Rae and Raedio can now sign and market Def Jam artists. This adds to the potential influence Rae has in hip-hop culture.
She was the brilliant mind behind the HBO series Rap Sh!t, a 2022 comedy in which two Miami high school friends reunite to form a female rap group. Their hope is to come together after being estranged to make it big in the music industry. Innovative ideas like that — as well as collaborations with artists — are exactly why Def Jam struck a deal with Hoorae Media and Raedio.
Issa Rae’s Raedio & Def Jam Recordings: A Perfect Pair
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: (L to R) Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Issa Rae, Simu Liu, and Will Ferrell attend the European Premiere of “Barbie” at Cineworld Leicester Square on July 12, 2023, in London, England. (Photo by Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImage)
Raedio previously had a contract with Atlantic Records that started in 2019. This new deal effectively ends that contract. Speaking about the deal, Raedio president Benoni Tagoe said, “Our mission at Raedio is to continually evolve how and where people discover music and the opportunities for artists behind it. Def Jam is the perfect partner with a storied legacy to align with Raedio’s mission and vision of disrupting the music industry as we know it.” Def Jam chairman and CEO Tunji Balogun also was ecstatic about the deal, saying, “Def Jam is thrilled to partner with Issa and the incredible team at Raedio on this new venture, and we look forward to telling more amazing stories together.”
This has been Issa Rae’s year. In 2023 alone, she starred in both Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as Spider-Woman (voice acting) and Barbie as President Barbie. The latter comes out next week. Add to that a multi-year contract for her media company, and there’s nothing Issa Rae can’t do in pop culture.
Issa Rae, the creative force behind the acclaimed HBO series Insecure, continues to make waves in the ever-evolving entertainment industry. Her multimedia platform, Raedio, has recently inked a multi-year deal with Def Jam Recordings, opening up new avenues for artist signings, marketing, and distribution. This partnership enables Raedio to leverage Def Jam’s extensive network and […]
LL Cool J was hip-hop’s first superstar. Named James Todd Smith, he was an engaging blend of everything gratifying about the genre’s early rise to popularity. LL Cool J had it all; the melodic pop tendencies of Run-DMC blended with the lyrical masterminds such as Rakim or KRS-One. The magnetic personality played a crucial role in delivering hip-hop to the mainstream. Of LL Cool J’s numerous critically acclaimed albums, Bigger and Deffer solidified LL as a mainstream force while venomously attacking his enemies in the hip-hop industry.
His first big break came in 1984, signing for Def Jam Recordings. Following the signing, he released his debut single,“I Need A Beat” which made him a commercial icon overnight and later, landed on his debut album, Radio in 1985. During the birth of his career, LL Cool J created albums that set trends in the culture. His energy, brashness, and creative fire stuck out amongst the pack of upcoming MCs. However, that rage went far beyond a desire to be commercially appealing. Even for a Queens-based upraising, his upbringing was still far more traumatic than most. At the age of four, his father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing each of them. While his father would eventually turn his life around and the two would make amends, a 10-year-old James Smith began turning that pain into rap verses.
LL Cool J Had An Egotistical Persona
As mentioned, LL Cool J’s first big break came when he signed a deal with Def Jam Recordings. However, the Rick Rubin-led Def Jam initiative was nowhere near the iconic label it is today. Its humble existence began in Rubin and Russell Simmons’ New York University dorm room. The success of LL Cool J’s debut helped propel Def Jam into a leading label for a budding genre, which in turn, allowed them to sign other talented MCs throughout New York onto its roster. However, LL Cool J’s hallmark musical statement would arrive with his sophomore album, 1987’s Bigger And Deffer. Going triple platinum, Bigger And Deffer remains one of the most successful and influential albums to date.
By the time Bigger And Deffer came around, LL Cool J had fully embraced his confidence as an MC, fully aware of his charisma and skills. While he may have been holding his tongue to a mild extent when he first broke out onto the scene, the powerful reception of his debut album pushed him to fully express himself on his sophomore album.
LL Cool J certainly wasn’t the first to utilize braggadocios tendencies as a driving force behind his narrative. Still, nobody looked as cool doing it as LL. In fact, it wasn’t only the bars. It was his signature cropped fedora and heavy jewelry that he sported at music videos or press releases. Everything about LL cemented his unbreakable image. Take the lead single “I’m Bad,” where LL states, “I’m like Jaws, my hat is like a shark’s fin” and “When I retire I’ll get worshipped like an old battleship.”
LL Cool J recording the “Bigger & Deffer” album with members of the LA Posse including Darryl Pierce, Dwayne Simon, and Bobby Ervin in 1987. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Even if Bigger and Deffer positioned LL Cool J as an almost God-like figure, what made the project utterly iconic was the fact that he wasn’t wrong. “Get Down” and “.357 – Break It On Down” each showcased LL’s ability to dart from a meandering, leisurely verse to a more rapid pace. “Kanday” sees him marveling at his newfound relationship, even going as far as to sneer at his woman’s ex-boyfriend. His storytelling evolved into the world of flat-out hysteria as Bigger and Deffer wore on, from journeying to the center of the Earth to hanging out with The British Royal Family. However, this endearing level of ridiculousness is an engaging viewpoint into LL’s aspirations. Even if the bars were outrageous, they all lent themselves to the very real swollen dreams of the Queens MC.
From a sonic perspective, Bigger and Deffer dives between different soundscapes from track to track. “Go Cut Creator” is a stripped-down tribute to rock that was evidently ahead of its time. However, the record’s darker elements draw clear inspiration from Run-DMC. The sophomore effort is a blend between soul sampling and scratchy drum machines, a wild mix between the past and then-present sounds of hip-hop. Bigger and Deffer is at its best when LL fully leans into his dark image, attacking his detractors amidst enraged rock-fluenced production. Ironically, the project’s most commercially successful song, “I Need Love,” is a weak point on the record. The record’s overt softness and lyrical cringiness spawned a wave of rap ballads from other MCs looking to replicate its commercial success.
Bigger And Deffer Has Been Imitated, But Not Replicated
LL Cool J with members of the LA Posse – Darryl “Big Dad” Pierce, Dwayne “Muffla” Simon, Bobby “Bobcat” Ervin and DJ Pooh – with whom he recorded the “Bigger And Deffer” Album in 1987. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Bigger and Deffer would have plenty of rappers imitating LL Cool J’s style on albums over the coming decades. However, nobody quite blended the engagement of an inflated ego with the concrete backing of lyrical talents like LL Cool J. Bigger and Deffer’s wide diversity of soundscapes appealed to a wide variety of audiences, from hardcore heads to easygoing listeners. When rappers attempt to big themselves up by aiming their lyrical chops at any and all detractors around them, the attempt usually reads as performative rather than genuine. However, Bigger and Deffer proved that LL Cool J was the man, and he was here to stay.
While going independent is becoming more and more prevalent, plenty of rappers are still opting to sign rap record deals with major labels. Of course, there’s a noteworthy tradeoff when an artist signs to a rap record label. The artist gains access a widened network of creatives, and no longer has to focus on tasks such as marketing their album or setting up their tour. In addition, the up-front paycheck is always attractive to artists who’ve spent years broke.
These days, we’re familiar with several of our favorites in Hip Hop being affiliated with their collectives. However, according to insiders or the artists, themselves, those deals almost didn’t happen. In fact, many of them almost signed with another label, which could have changed the courses of their careers. Here are a few rappers who were close to moving in a different direction.
Lloyd Banks
During his most recent appearance on the Rap Radar Podcast, Lloyd Banks revealed how close he came to signing with Kanye West‘s G.O.O.D Music record label during the early 2010s. He stated: “So, at one point, it was supposed to be a G-Unit, G.O.O.D Music type of situation. I was on other records, too. They never came out or whatever, the business didn’t get done. But yeah, that was probably like 2010, 2011.” After Ye publicly hailed Banks as a Top 5 rapper in the game at the time, the two got together to create “Start It Up.” Lloyd Banks’ new project, The Course of the Inevitable III, is set to release on April 21st.
Lil Wayne
After releasing The Carter in 2004, Lil Wayne was solidified as one of the hottest names in hip-hop. Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records emerged as a serious contender for a young 22-year-old Weezy. At the time, Wayne was transparent about his endless love for Jay-Z as a rapper. However, an alleged lowball offer of around $175,000 strayed Weezy from signing with Hov. He would instead re-sign with Cash Money, going on to release the second and third installments of The Carter series.
The potential for Lil Wayne and Jay Z to link up has to be one of the biggest “what if” stories in hip-hop. The two competed against each other for the best rapper alive title throughout the late 2000s. In fact, the two traded subtle shots at each other on various tracks. The supposed beef more-so read as a healthy competition between two of the greats rather than anything personal. They collaborated on “Swagga Like Us” and “Mr. Carter.” However, we likely missed out on plenty of great music between the two when Weezy opted to stay loyal to Cash Money.
Tupac Shakur
When people think of rappers who nearly signed to other record labels, Tupac likely isn’t an MC comes to mind. It’s difficult to think of Tupac without thinking of Suge Knight or the entire Death Row attitude. However, Tupac nearly signed to another famous rap collective, No Limit Records, in the early ’90s. Spearheaded by Master P, the two each lived in the Bay area at the time. In an interview with HipHopDX, P stated that Pac was the “one little piece that I was looking at like, ‘You know what? This could be alright.’” However, it doesn’t appear that a deal between Tupac and Master P was too close to ever being done. While it’s fascinating to imagine where the two creative powerhouses would’ve gone together, it’s hard to visualize Tupac’s career without Death Row.
By 2016, Lil Uzi Vert was all over the imprint of hip-hop. His spacey, trap-based beats on Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World and The Perfect LUV Tape took over the scene. As a result, he was one of the most in-demand artists for rap record labels to sign. The Philadelphia-born rapper initially made headlines after he announced he was signing with Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang imprint. With Khalifa confirming the news over Twitter, the setting appeared to be set in stone.
However, DJ Drama and Don Cannon’s Generation Now promptly stepped in amidst the news. After Uzi began talks with the Generation Now label, Khalifa promptly backed out of their once presumptive agreement. Uzi has been vocal about his issues with the records deals he’s signed, once accusing his label of not allowing him to release music. However, Generation Now and Uzi still appear to be working together.
Nas
Believe it or not, Nas’s commercial value as an artist was highly doubted leading up to Illmatic. A young and hungry rapper roaming the streets of New York, Nas struggled to find a record deal in the early ’90s. With Illmatic essentially finished, he was inches away from inking a deal with Def Jam Records. However, Russell Simmons made the executive decision to pass on the MC, believing that Illmatic would flop commercially.
In fact, Simmons wasn’t completely wrong. Illmatic wasn’t exactly leaping up the top charts after its release. In addition, the eclectic and soulful beats of the project didn’t pop out to the casual listener. The subtleties of Illmatic would later solidify it as one of the greatest rap albums of all time, propelling Nas into a storied career that still going strong to this day.
Of the mainstream artists who decided to go fully independent, Chance The Rapper is one of the most notable names on that shortlist. However, there was a point in time where Chance nearly signed to Top Dawg Entertainment. After the nationwide success of Acid Rap, the Carson-bred collective reached out to the Chicago-based MC. Beyond talks with TDE’s president, the deal never came any closer to being signed. However, the potential ramifications of Chance signing with TDE are fascinating to analyze.
Much of Chance the Rapper’s acclaim and notoriety is rooted in the fact that he never signed a deal. From visiting the White House to Grammy Awards, Chance’s success is held up as a battle cry for artists looking to do everything themselves. However, we missed out on collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and the rest of TDE.
Kanye West
Kanye West signing to Roc-A-Fella Records changed the complexion of hip-hop forever. Delivering his soul-infused beats to the forefront of music, Ye and Jay-Z would eventually form a menacing duo. The two lived at the top for over a decade, releasing multiple collaborations throughout that period.
However, Ye nearly signed with Cash Money before ultimately going with Roc-A-Fella. While Roc-A-Fella was always his end-goal, the prospect of working with the likes of Lil Wayne nearly strayed him from his eventual path. Ye didn’t want to sign with Cash Money because he reportedly felt they were a little “too street” compared to the high-rising Roc-A-Fella. It’s interesting to visualize a world where Kanye West was collaborating with Wayne rather than Jay-Z.
Drake
Still making a name for himself in the late 00s, Trey Songz nearly convinced Drake to sign to his Songbook label imprint under Atlantic Records. At the time, the two had just collaborated on “Successful.” Considering the direction that Songz’s career would eventually go, it’s entirely possible that Drake wouldn’t be the worldwide sensation he is today if he had stuck with the R&B singer. Songz admitted this in an interview with The Breakfast Club, stating, “Drake wouldn’t be Drake if we had made that decision. Drake wanted to sign to me at the time when I wasn’t even Trey Songz yet.”
Would Drake have succeeded anyways? Absolutely, but maybe not to this extent. There’s doubt that years of working with Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj at Cash Money played an essential role in his rise to universal stardom. In fact, the trio are still collaborating, releasing “Seeing Green” back in 2021. Drake was a saving grace for Cash Money, quickly becoming their main act.
On April 4, 2009, Run-D.M.C. became the second rap group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five who were inducted in 2007. This honor came well deserved after the illustrious career of the trio. Run-D.M.C. helped to build a musical cross culture as well as serve as the cornerstone artist of one Hip Hop most powerful empires, Def Jam Records. Run-D.M.C.’s brand is timeless and iconic and can be said to be one of the launching boards for Hip Hop culture as a whole.
From their music to their style, Run-D.M.C. has immortalized their image in music history. In honor of this crowning achievement, we have compiled a list of examples to prove as to why Run-D.M.C. is considered to be the icons that they are.
Style
It goes without saying that Adidas in and of itself is one of the most popular active wear brands around. Rivaled only by the titans Nike and Puma, Adidas has grown to become a household name in both fitness attire and style. In its early stages, Adidas’ popularity in the Hip Hop community can be largely attributed to Run-D.M.C. Everywhere Run-D.M.C. went they could be seen in head-to-toe Adidas with a gold rope chain and a black top hat. From the jewelry to the full sweat suits to the fat laced, shell-toe low tops, Run, D.M.C, and Jam Master Jay were undoubtedly fly. Their love for the Adidas brand mixed with their popularity in music soon brought them sponsorship dollars and eventually their own signature sneakers. Without their influence, it would have probably been a while before any sneaker brand became so popular in Hip Hop.
Cross Over Appeal
In the past, there have many icons in Hip Hop who have been able to stand the test of time and make it to legend status. Few artists however have been able to retain their respect as a rapper while being able to cross over genres and appeal to a broader audience. Run-D.M.C.’s ability to seamlessly transition between a rock and rap fan base is one of their greatest attributes. The hit single Walk This Way Featuring fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Aerosmith was one of the first of it’s kind. The genius concept to have two of the biggest stars in their respective genres led to a new sense of community in music. Like never before artists hailing from different genres began to collaborate and Hip Hop had finally broken completely into the mainstream. This single and style of rapping broke open the door for current rappers today to expand their support basis across genres.
Influence
The editor of Allmusic wrote that,
“More than any other Hip-Hop group, Run-D.M.C. are responsible for the sound and style of the music”.
It can and has been said that the group helped to move Hip Hop forward with the times. Their sound helped progress the genre out of that heavily funk and disco influenced sound and move toward a more hardcore style of rap. They helped the music transform from dance club-oriented songs like Kurtis Blow‘s “The Breaks” to more aggressive, hard-hitting tracks like their It’s Like That record. This transformation paved the way for the sounds the next generation of rappers such as Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, and Wu-Tang Clan. Outside of rap, artists like KoRN, Rage Against the Machine, and Linkin Park all have styles similar to the one popularized by Run-D.M.C.
The career of this prolific group is instrumental piece of music history as a whole. Their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame only proves that they are important to not only the genre that they concentrated in but were loved and admired by music lovers as a whole. Take some time out today to appreciate the career of one of the greatest music groups of all time.
DJ Khaled has huge plans for a lucky student in fall 2023. He is offering a scholarship to one seeking to attend the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports, and Entertainment at Long Island University (LIU). Updated by: Nicole Bartley (2/10/23 at 2:06 pm) On Thursday, Feb. 9, Grammy Award-winning record executive and entrepreneur DJ […]
In a surprise announcement before a room of international media and supporters, DJ Khaled revealed he is leaving Epic Records and taking We The Best Music to Def Jam. The new venture with Universal Music Group also named him Global Creative Consultant at an exclusive press event in Miami. Welcome To Def Jam DJ Khaled’s […]
Gone are the days when listeners had no idea what was going on behind the scenes with artists and their labels. Nowadays you can damn near find the ins and outs of legal disputes, leaked text messages, and borderline personal addresses. YG is the latest rapper to scold his label, Def Jam Recordings, for prematurely releasing his tracklist and, in turn, revealing his guest features without his consent.
The Compton powerhouse took to Twitter to colorfully express his frustrations. “DEF JAM BE HIRE’N PEOPLE TO F*CK UP. ALL THEY DO IS F*CK UP,” he shared Monday night, nearly a week before his expected release date on September 30th. “MY TRACK LIST FOR MY ALBUM IS NOT POSE TO BE OUT. THEY SUCK REAL BAD.”
DEF JAM BE HIRE’N PEOPLE TO FUCK UP. ALL THEY DO IS FUCK UP. . MY TRACK LIST FOR MY ALBUM IS NOT POSE TO BE OUT. THEY SUCK REAL BAD
The tracklist includes already released singles “Toxic,” “Scared Money” featuring J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo, and a new Nas collaboration, long awaited by YG on the song “No Weapon.” There are also features from a HER, Roddy Ricch, Post Malone, and others.
The good news isI Got Issues, YG’s sixth studio album, is set to hit the streets September 30th, leaving room to build just enough anticipation without losing momentum. The bad news is someone at Def Jam might be out of a job in a few days if they’re looking to appease YG.
At the risk of reading like a hip hop cliché… “it ain’t safe on the block.” Hopefully, Def Jam and YG can sort this out ahead of September 30th.
Roddy Ricch is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
. MY TRACK LIST FOR MY ALBUM IS NOT POSE TO BE OUT. THEY SUCK REAL BAD