def jam

DJ Khaled Reveals He Signed To Def Jam During Press Conference

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DJ Khaled recently announced a partnership with Def Jam Records and We The Best Music Group during a press conference. Not only that, but his announcement came days after he performed at the Grammys, which nominated him in multiple categories. His album GOD DID received a nomination for Best Rap Album. Also, its title track almost won for Best Rap Song and Song of the Year. Moreover, the We The Best mogul expressed gratitude for his friendships and opportunities as he made his announcement.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) DJ Khaled performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

“That’s what’s so good about having great friendships,” the artist expressed. “It’s that we have a great friendship, it’s forever. But now, today, it’s 2023. Like LeBron James when he had his press conference, when he said he’s bringing his talents to Miami. What was it, South Beach or something like that? Well, I’m bringing my talents, and We The Best, and DJ Khaled to Def Jam Records. So it’s We The Best, Def Jam, and Cavalry dropping this music group, which I’m very excited [about]. Not only that, but shoutout to Sir Lucian Grainge for, you know, also giving me a major role in the Universal Music Group as a Global Creative- what do you call it? Consultant, yeah, you know what I’m saying? A Global Creative Consultant. I love that I’m going to be able to do that besides putting out my albums.”

Furthermore, the “I’m The One” industry titan elaborated on his excitement for this new step. “We’re going to be signing artists and we’re actually looking for some new A&Rs to add to the team. We’re going to be doing a lot of big things at We The Best and Def Jam. What I like also about this whole creative consultant thing is that I’m going to be able to touch the whole Universal Music Group. Not just in music, but in marketing, film, TV, just anything dealing with creating.”

Meanwhile, Khaled recently appeared in some pictures with Tyler, the Creator, seemingly squashing their publicized issues. While Khaled boasted about all the great things he’ll get to do very soon, come back to HNHH to see which endeavors he’ll gift to the music world.

Def Jam Exec Passed On Signing Nicki Minaj, Says Ransom

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Rap Radar has returned with a gem-filled conversation with Ransom. The rapper revisited several highlights of his career and revealed an interaction he had with an executive at Def Jam. Apparently, he suggested the label sign a rising artist at the time: Nicki Minaj. However, the person dismissed the young rapper

“When [Nicki] first came on, we was like, she’s dope,” Ransom recalled. “We went to Def Jam like, yo. I know we got a deal like, yo, y’all should probably sign her, too.”

Read More: Ice Spice Talks Being Inspired By Nicki Minaj & Lil Kim

He added that Minaj was probably unaware that the conversation even occurred.

“I ain’t even gonna tell you the person we talked to. You guys know him. He was like, ‘Nah, that sh*t would never work.‘ I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’”

Everyone laughed at the music executive’s response because of just how wrong he was.

“I see him ’til this day, I’m like, ‘Aight, man,” Ransom joked. “I look at him like, ‘Aight! That sh*t would never work? Okay.’… Like, who would say some sh*t like that?”

It was also mentioned that Jay-Z struggled to get a record deal as well.

NEW YORK – MARCH 31: Recording artist Nicki Minaj visits BET’s 106 & Park at BET Studios on March 31, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Read More: Deb Antney Claims Gucci Mane “Couldn’t Stand” Nicki Minaj

“This industry really don’t—it’s a lot people in this industry that has no idea what the f*ck they doin’.”

Minaj is undeniably one of the most influential figures in Hip Hop and pop culture, not to mention the game-changing impact she’s had on women in Rap. Stories of her grind to the top have been shared by several of the professionals who worked tirelessly with her before her fame, including Deb Antney.

Antney managed many rappers’ careers, and she often speaks about the dedication Minaj showed before becoming one of the biggest rappers in the world.

We may never know that music exec at Def Jam who passed on Minaj, but she’s more than proved herself. Check out Ransom speaking with Rap Radar above.

Rick Rubin: “I Know Nothing About Music”

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Rick Rubin, the legendary producer whose influence is still heralded as gospel, said that he knows nothing about music. In a recent interview with Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes, he explained how he has no technical knowledge of music production. Moreover, he had some insights as to why his style and taste is so sought-after… and successful.

SANTA MONICA, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Rick Rubin attends the premiere of Endangered Spirit’s ‘Bunker77’ on November 01, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/ Getty Images)

“Do you play instruments?” Cooper asked the Def Jam co-founder. “Barely,” he replied, to which Cooper responded almost incredulously: “Do you know how to work a soundboard?”

“No. I have no technical ability, and I know nothing about music,” Rubin stated. Cooper laughed, as we’re sure many did when they heard those words. Furthermore, given his track record (Kanye West, Run-DMC, The Strokes, Johnny Cash, Black Sabbath, and Eminem just to name a few), this seems preposterous. Still, the 59-year-old identified why he stamped his name into the game.

“I know what I like and what I don’t like, and I’m decisive about what I like and what I don’t like,” he expressed.

“So what are you being paid for?” Cooper asked. “The confidence that I have in my taste and my ability to express what I feel has proven helpful for artists,” the Beastie Boys producer said humbly.

In a previous interview with Channel 4 News, the producer highlighted the importance of singularity and not comparing yourself to others. Moreover, such advice likely fueled some of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Some are License to Ill by The Beastie Boys and Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. However, more recent examples of Rubin’s genius are Ye’s Yeezus and Slim Shady’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

“We each have a singular voice, we each have our own voice,” he told Channel 4. “What I do is different than what you do…we all do something different and they’re not comparable. They have nothing to do with each other. It’s apples and oranges.

“So if you make something today and you think it can be better,” he concluded, “tomorrow you can improve it. You can continually make the thing you’re making better. You can learn and practice and do anything.”

Still, what do you think of Rick Rubin supposedly knowing “nothing” about music? However you may feel, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for more wisdom from the music industry’s genius gurus.

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Pusha T Says He’s No Longer With Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music

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Pusha T distanced himself from Kanye West during an interview with XXL published on Monday morning. The It’s Almost Dry rapper explained that he’s no longer affiliated with G.O.O.D. Music, but remains in a 50/50 deal with Def Jam.

“He’s not speaking to me now,” Push began, before adding, “If you ain’t with it, you ain’t down. And I ain’t with it. I’m not budging on that. I’m not with it. I heard about this new stuff [on InfoWars]. I don’t know. It’s something that just sort of tells me he’s not well, at the same time. I will say that. It’s going to places where it’s no way to move around it.”

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 02: GRAMMY-nominated Artist/Executive/Entrepreneur Pusha T speaks at a panel discussion during The Recording Academy Washington DC Chapter’s Intersection of Music & Sports event at the Kennedy Center on March 02, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy )

Push previously served as the president of G.O.O.D. Music. As for the last time he spoke with West, Push says that he was still on tour. “

“I just expressed myself,” he recalled. “I express myself to him a lot. He expressed his thoughts to me. And he got off the phone saying, ‘Thank you. I know you don’t agree with me, but you never kill me in the public. And some people can’t wait to do that.’”

Push further added that expressing himself to Ye is nothing new: “I never had a filter with him. I’ve always spoke my mind. People gotta remember, too. This isn’t new for me, when it comes to disagreeing with him politically and things like that.”

Kanye West has been coming under fire in recent months for making various antisemitic comments, which include expressing support for Adolf Hitler. Pusha also condemned Ye’s appearance on Alex Jones’ InfoWars podcast.

Pusha T’s full XXL cover story is available in physical copies of the magazine.

[Via]

Def Jam Wants You To “Def The Halls” With Their Christmas Album Feat. Jhené Aiko, Coco Jones, And More

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If you’re not in the holiday spirit by now, a handful of Def Jam artists are here specifically to change that. In wake of the Christmas season, we’ve previously featured festive tracks from Chris Brown, Ari Lennox, and Sevyn Streeter. Now, we have 16 titles for you on Def The Halls, many of which put a modern twist on the songs of the season.

The 16-track project actually landed back in October, just in time for Halloween. However, seeing as it’s celebrating the rapidly approaching holiday, we figured now was a better time than ever to let it have a moment in the spotlight.

Mikhala Jené firstly opens things up on “Please Come Home For Christmas.” Later, we hear from her again on “This Christmas.” Another double appearance comes from Kendra Jae who assists on both “Under The Mistletoe” with AUGUST 08 and “BBC” with DaniLeigh.

Alessia Cara holds things down with “Make It To Christmas,” and Jhené Aiko is obviously a standout with her work on “Wrap Me Up.”

Afterward, we hear from Coco Jones on “Silver Bells,” Kidd Kenn and Pap Chanel on “Naughty,” and finally, AUGUST 08 closes things out with “Silent Night.”

Stream Def Jam’s Def The Halls compilation album on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, let us know which title is your favourite in the comments.

Def The Halls Tracklist:

  1. Please Come Home For Christmas (Mikhala Jené)
  2. Make It To Christmas (Alessia Cara)
  3. Christmas With You (Trinidad Cardona)
  4. Under the Mistletoe (AUGUST 08 with Kendra Jae)
  5. Trinket (Debbie)
  6. Last Christmas (Calabasas)
  7. BBC (DaniLeigh with Kendra Jae)
  8. Wrap Me Up (Jhené Aiko)
  9. Silver Bells (Coco Jones)
  10. Cold With You (OHNO)
  11. Everyday (Kennedy Stephens)
  12. This Christmas (Mikhala Jené)
  13. Naughty (Kidd Kenn with Pap Chanel)
  14. A Hoe’s Christmas (Jai’Len Josey)
  15. Snowed In (Bry Bee)
  16. Silent Night (AUGUST 08)

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YG Gets Explicit While Blasting Def Jam For Releasing His ‘I Got Issues’ Tracklist

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YG at Lollapalooza 2022
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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.”

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 is I 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.

Big Sean’s ‘Detroit’ Hits Streaming Platforms On 10th Anniversary

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Happy Anniversary.

The Detroit mixtape is one of the defining projects in Big Sean‘s career. On the tape’s 10th anniversary, the father-to-be releases it onto streaming platforms via Def Jam Recordings. For the anniversary, Sean Don extends the project with a bonus track, “More Thoughts”.

MORE: Big Sean Received Award At Inaugural Juneteenth Honors Ceremony

Following the landmark arrival of Detroit, which features J Cole, Jhene Aiko, Chris Brown and more, saw nearly a million first-day downloads causing the DatPiff site to crash, Complex included the mixtape in its tally of The 50 Best Albums Of 2012.  Detroit went on to win Best Mixtape honors at the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

In 2020, Big Sean went on to release Detroit 2, which became his third consecutive solo album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and the set’s Nipsey Hussle-featuring single, “Deep Reverence,” earned a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 2021 Grammys.

MORE: Big Sean and Jhené Aiko Reportedly Expecting Child

Big Sean and longtime girlfriend Jhene Aiko are expecting their first child together in the coming months. The newborn will be Sean’s first and Aiko’s second. Aiko shares a daughter with Omarion’s younger brother O’Ryan.

In hip hop, Big Sean appears on new albums from The Game, DJ Khaled, Queen Naija, and Babyface Ray. Jhene Aiko and Sean are currently working on the Twenty88 sequel album.

Stream the complete mixtape below.

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