Def Jam Recordings is an American hip-hop record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group. 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.
Def Jam was created by Rick Rubin in his dorm room at New York University Def Jam under PolyGram By 1992, despite recent multi-platinum selling releases Def Jam ran into severe financial troubles and was faced with folding. Polygram took over purchasing Sony's 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings. Def Jam released Warren G's Regulate... G Funk Era, which went triple platinum and effectively revived the label. PolyGram brough an additional 9.8% in Def Jam Recordings in 1995, giving them more ownership of the company. In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagrams and merged into its Universal Music Group. Following Universal Music Group's takeover of PolyGram, it purchased the remaining interest of Def Jam Recordings from Russell Simmons for a reported $100 million. Universal merged Def Jam with Island Records to form The Island Def Jam Music Group. In spite of the formation of IDJMG, Def Jam and Island continue to operate as separate imprints.
Def Jam launched new successful acts such as pop and contemporary R&B singers like Rihanna, Teairra Mari and Ne-Yo.
Def Jam brough out a video game Def Jam: Icon is a fighting game, and is the third in Electronic Arts's Def Jam-licensed hip hop video game series with the released the same year as the ps3.
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