The six letters of Def Jam, like the three of RAL (for Rush Associated Labels), were indelibly etched into hip-hop mythology by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. The epicenter was New York, but the label always knew how to venture further afield, prospecting as far as San Diego, D.C., Los Angeles, or Detroit, to ensure it had the best representatives of Boom Bap, Hardcore Funk, Go-Go, or Electro within its ranks.
Beastie Boys, EPMD, Onyx, Redman, Method Man, LL Cool J, Junkyard Band, South Central Cartel, 3rd Bass; the list of MCs who left their mark bearing the Def Jam or RAL logo is a freestyle where catching your breath is difficult.
To examine the imprints left by these behemoths more closely, Uncle O, the man behind the 5 volumes of the Shaolin Soul compilations, explored the label's 1985-1995 period. Around each one, he found nothing but cracked ground, irrefutable proof that it was through the power of imposing bass drums and snapping snare drums that they all became anchored in hip-hop history. Kick & snare.
Producers Rick Rubin, Marley Marl, Rockwilder, Jazzy Jay, or Prince Paul programmed them on TR-808s, Oberheim DMXs, or LinnDrums with a brutal groove. Struck softly on MPC pads, or precisely sampled from a funk break. These heavy and powerful rhythms served both the most stripped-down rap and that which feeds on samples.
Amazon
eBay
Rare Vinyl
