def jam

Coco Jones on Signing to Def Jam, ‘Bel-Air’ & Redefining Success

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Coco Jones Releases Her New Single "Caliber" via Def Jam

Coco Jones is no stranger to stardom. The former Disney Channel star has gracefully matured and glided into her greatness as a multi-talented actress and singer.

Jones has already dazzled fans in her role as the social media influencer and culinary expert Hilary Banks in Peacock’s hit series Bel-Air to start the new year. Amid the show’s success, she announced her signing to the historic music label Def Jam. Her single debut, “Caliber,” followed shortly after. According to the 24-year-old star, her vision aligns perfectly with Def Jam.

“It’s iconic,” she says. “I’ve had these experiences before, and I know how to operate in this business, but now I’m myself. I know what I want to sing about. I know what I want to say, and I know how I want it to sound. To have Def Jam behind me means so much because they get the vision too. They’re not trying to change me. They’re just trying to see me win.”

After wrapping up a captivating first season of Bel-Air, Coco heads into season two with the audience in their seat, wondering what’s next for Hilary.

“Everyone is asking me like I know what’s next,” she says as she laughs. “One thing I have learned about our writers is to expect the unexpected because they love to flip the script.”

As she has matured in the entertainment business, her definition of success has changed. “Being booked” was her previous definition. Now she equates success to simply one word: “peace.”

Whether using her angelic voice to serenade listeners or blessing viewers as a thespian, the sky is not the limit for Coco Jones. It is only a point of view.

The post Coco Jones on Signing to Def Jam, ‘Bel-Air’ & Redefining Success appeared first on The Source.

Def Jam Hosts ‘The Women of Def Jam’ Celebration and Release Compilation Album

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Def Jam Recordings, in collaboration with LUCID Motors, sponsored a special evening in honor of Women’s History Month in LUCID’s Beverly Hills studio on Monday night.

“The Women Of Def Jam” paid tribute to Def Jam’s iconic female musicians, both past and present, and brought together the label’s entire female executive team, personnel, and VIP guests to recognize their incredible accomplishments to the brand and the industry at large. Def Jam employs one of the most diverse and inclusive groups of female executives in the music industry today at every level of the company.

Def Jam artists Kaash Paige, Kendra Jae, DaniLeigh, Pap Chanel, Nevaeh Jolie, and Ilham were in attendance, as was a “Future Leaders” panel led by Variety editor Shirley Halperin and featured some of the label’s youngest and brightest workers. The evening came to a close with a beautiful performance by Coco Jones of her new single “Caliber,” which she performed afterward by Def Jam chairman and CEO Tunji Balogun. DJ Rosegold kept the party rolling with Def Jam’s extensive discography tunes.

Women make up more than half of the Def Jam workforce, with seven women of color holding senior leadership positions. Women make up two of the three executive leaders. Eight of the ten department heads are female. In addition, Def Jam has an all-female marketing team for the first time since 2007. And Def Jam has never had as many female A&R executives as now.

Def Jam also released The Women of Def Jam, a 24-track compilation showcasing the greatest women in the label’s history. The compilation features Nikki D., Foxy Brown, Ashanti, Rapsody, Teyana Taylor, Amerie, etc.

You can see images from the event below.

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The post Def Jam Hosts ‘The Women of Def Jam’ Celebration and Release Compilation Album appeared first on The Source.

Snoop Dogg Reveals How He Secured Benny the Butcher for Def Jam

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Back in November, Benny the Butcher signed to Def Jam Records. That deal was brokered by Snoop Dogg, who is the reigning executive consultant for the iconic label. Speaking with Elliott Wilson, Snoop revealed he helped Benny’s deal go through after the label allegedly low-balled him.

“I said, ‘Lowballed you? They don’t know who you is?’” said Snoop, according to Complex. “I’m going to call the boss. You’re going to tell the boss what you want, and he’s going to give you what you want and you’re going to sign.”

Snoop would also reveal that he is there to support the artist, beyond being an executive. “I’m going to always pattern it for the artist. Especially Hip Hop artists. You never know what you’re worth until you overcharge. That’s what we need to know. A lot of times, we be scared. I go in and overcharge.”

When Benny first signed, fans expressed concern for his decision and Benny set the record straight.

“You niggas who be in my DMs, who be in my comments sayin’ like, ‘Yo, don’t let Def Jam do this’ or ‘Don’t let Def Jam do that.’ What y’all on?” Benny said on Instagram. “What, you think a nigga work this hard and was this self-made for this long to get somewhere and let somebody tell me, ‘You know what, you can’t do it like this no more, you gotta do it like this.

“Y’all gotta use y’all fuckin’ brains before y’all start thinkin’ shit like that. I’m a boss.”

Snoop Dogg had a conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience on Friday, November 12th and revealed he signed Benny to the longtime label.

“I’m on Def Jam Records right,” Snoop said. “I’m a creative consultant executive, and just to let you know that it don’t exist no more, I’m going to announce on your show that I just signed Benny The Butcher, and he is one of the hardest rappers up out of Buffalo, New York. So that’s showing that there are no more lines to be crossed. We are doing what we’re supposed to be doing. The butcher’s coming.”

Benny The Butcher later confirmed the news on Instagram with a photo of himself signing the contract.

His Caption Read: “A Buffalo n***a the new face of The Legendary @defjam,” he wrote. “signed my major deal finally this for DJ Shay. Griselda x B$F this is BIG…Huge Buffalo we did it again gotta thank @chace_infinite @1978hiphop @hank & Hov of course and the whole @rocnation my Family @westsidegunn @whoisconway @griseldarecords.”

“my team the Sopranos my n***a @bsf_cityboy @therealtonydeniro @jakeamankwaah yo @iamheem and @prettyrickyhyde y’all stock Jus went up with mine. this street shit back on top. big unc @defjamsnoop @snoopdogg I appreciate u OG u kno tht. THE BUTCHER COMIN.”

The post Snoop Dogg Reveals How He Secured Benny the Butcher for Def Jam appeared first on The Source.

New Dave East “Bet It” Single Out Now

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Dave East Walks for Hakan Akkaya's NYFW Runway

East Harlem rapper and actor Dave East of Mass Appeal / Def Jam has released the visuals to his new single “Bet It” produced by Danny Wolf of Chaos Club, his first film of the new year since mid-December’s “Dear Summer (East Mix)”. This new four-minute offering created in partnership with DraftKings was expertly directed by the excellent team at Reel Goats and featured both basketball legend The Professor and visionary Gary Vee in the visuals – watch below.

This release foreshadows the rapper’s eagerly anticipated upcoming “How Did I Get Here” second solo studio album out next month on Tuesday 22 March, which will be produced entirely by LA prolific production super-duo Mike & Keys (also known as “The Futuristiks” and whose credits include Nipsey Hussle, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ras Kass, Fat Joe, Curren$y, Freddie GIBBS, JAY ROCK Faith Evans, Dom Kennedy, Lupe Fiasco, T.I, Royce Da 5’9”, D12, Redman, Sheek Louch, 50 Cent). Stay tuned to TheSource.com for future developments on this release.

The post New Dave East “Bet It” Single Out Now appeared first on The Source.

Snoop Dogg Returns To His ‘Murder Music’ Ways With Benny, Busta Rhymes, And Jadakiss

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Although it has been literal decades since Snoop Dogg was a legitimately menacing presence in hip-hop, that doesn’t mean he can’t occasionally tap into that mode when the mood calls for it. In the case of his new song “Murder Music,” it’s absolutely called for. However, just in case his Corona commercials softened up his image too much to be taken that seriously, he smartly calls on some of rap’s past and current prime purveyors of murder music — namely, Griselda’s Benny The Butcher, the resurgent Jadakiss, and the eternal Busta Rhymes.

Benny sets things off, declaring the ominous beat by Nottz “what they gone play when they wipe the prints off they hammers.” Then, Jadakiss reminds listeners that “it ain’t no reward for the streets.” Busta Rhymes bats cleanup, reminiscing on his rowdy battle rap past, recalling that “I don’t discriminate, I even bodied close peers.” Snoop holds down the hook, which is nice and simple, driving the “murder music” theme through repetition.

The song is set to appear on Snoop Dogg’s upcoming compilation album, Algorithm. At a recent listening session at his Compound in Los Angeles attended by Uproxx, Snoop said the project will operate as a showcase of the talent, past and present, on Def Jam, celebrating Snoop’s new position there as executive creative and strategic consultant. Algorithm is due November 19.

Listen to “Murder Music” above.

Def Jam Reportedly Paid Over $35K For DMX’s Funeral

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After DMX passed in April, the late rapper was given a hero’s sendoff, complete with a monster truck to carry his casket to the touching memorial service at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center arena which included a soulful medley performed by Kanye West’s Sunday Service choir and a tender rendition of DMX’s song “Slippin” performed by his daughter.

TMZ reports that according to probate documents for the rapper’s estate, the costs for the extravagant memorial were footed by DMX’s label, Def Jam, where he released many of his groundbreaking early works and returned to record what turned out to be his final album Exodus, which was released posthumously. According to TMZ, the total paid out by the label for the funeral costs came out to $35,228.13, including $7,450 for DMX’s custom casket.

DMX died in April following an overdose that left him comatose for the better part of a week. He was 50. In the wake of his passing, seven of his singles were certified gold or platinum and a number of his peers and contemporaries shared their admiration for him, including Lil Wayne, who said he was “infatuated” with DMX, Swizz Beatz, who gave an impassioned speech at DMX’s funeral, and Jay-Z, who fondly recalled boycotting the 1999 Grammys after he believed X was snubbed and being intimidated to perform after him during their shared Hard Knock Life tour.

Snoop Dogg Follows JAY-Z’s Blueprint W/ New Gig

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West Coast rap icon Snoop Dogg is following in JAY-Z’s footsteps with his latest business partnership. Hip-hop pioneering label Def Jam Records has announced the rap superstar will be joining them as an executive creative and strategic consultant. Snoop Dogg Joins Def Jam Snoop has joined one of the home labels of hip-hop’s greatest pioneers […]

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Snoop Dogg Takes A Role At Def Jam As Executive Creative Consultant

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After 30 years as one of the foremost elder statesmen of the rap game, West Coast godfather Snoop Dogg has joined forces with another storied, foundational entity within hip-hop culture. Today, he announced he is joining Def Jam as executive creative and strategic consultant, according to Variety. In conjunction with Variety‘s report, Snoop also released a short announcement video explaining the move, which again has come nearly thirty years deep into a legendary career.

As Snoop himself puts it, “As a young rapper, Def Jam Records was the Holy Grail of hip-hop… they did all types of sh*t that I wanted to be a part of. Then Death Row Records happened, so I didn’t get a chance to be on Def Jam. But I always had a dream to be on Def Jam and to be in the place where hip-hop was originated.”

According to Variety, Snoop’s new role will see him continuing to be based out of Los Angeles and focusing on A&R and creative development. For those in the know, this is actually great news, as Snoop’s always had an ear for rising talent, lending early co-signs to any number of rising stars from the Golden State, including (but certainly not limited to) The Game, Kendrick Lamar, and Nipsey Hussle. “When I got the opportunity, my main focus on Def Jam was to help the artists and give them love and wisdom and guidance and understanding, teach them some tricks that I learned in the game — to diversify their portfolios to be superstars,” he says in his announcement.

One thing is for sure: Snoop’s presence as a playable character in Def Jam: Fight For NY finally makes sense now. Watch his announcement/explainer above.