Def before Dishonor...

Def Jam was the first hip-hop label to take a cue from hard rock and heavy metal by creating merch for their artists and label. There were no t-shirts for the early artists but audiences for Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and Def Jam expanded when Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian proudly wore them during photo shoots and on stage. I snagged it for my personal stash because its a classic and it fits like a glove, No O.J.

T La Rock...

"It's Yours" 12" was the very first Def Jam record. Although some might argue that LL Cool J's "I Need a Beat" 12" was the first, this is not exactly true. The "It's Yours" recording was something Rick Rubin put out on the Streetwise Records subsidiary label Party Time Records, a few months before joining forces with Russell Simmons. The song was the first single to feature a Def Jam Recordings logo, but it was released through producer Arthur Baker's independent label Party Time, which was the hip hop division of his dance music label Streetwise Records. The recording was never part of Def Jam’s collection of master recordings.

Def Jam...

With legendary record label Def Jam celebrating the quarter century mark later this year, adidas Originals are teaming up with the New York based label who has housed many of hip-hop’s finest acts to create a pretty strong collection of footwear and apparel. The in-line releases feature the obvious in the Superstar alongside familiar basketball highlights like the Forum Mid. However some other styles are also thrown into the mix like our favorite the Nizza as well as the Samba. Going further in-depth are artist collabos with Redman, Method Man, Young Jeezy and Ghostface Killah. The collection is slated for a 09-10 fall/winter release. To view the rest of the sneakers in the collection click HERE

The two I posted above are my favorite because they feature the record needle which was the first Def Jam logo. You can see that logo on a lot of the early LP's Def Jam released as well as the old varsity jackets given to the rappers like LL Cool J above.

Russell and Rick...

Def Jam was founded by Rick Rubin in his dorm room at New York University and its first release was a single by his rock group, Hose. Russell Simmons joined Rubin shortly after when they were introduced to each other by DJ Jazzy Jay. The first single released with a Def Jam Recordings logo was T La Rock & Jazzy Jay "It's Yours". I actually had an original T LA Rock Def Jam jacket but I sold it awhile ago but its in good hands. You really cant say enough about Russell and Rick because they were the forefathers of bringing hip hop mainstream and paved the way for a lot of what you see now-a-days...besides the fact its 90% junk compared to the old music. P.S. Rick Rubin rockin a vintage Trashy Lingerie t-shirt, hilarious