Long Island had a burgeoning hip-hop scene by the mid-80s, and Original Concept was Def Jam’s first “Strong Island” signing, just before their compatriots Public Enemy. Its massive success released a tidal wave of copycat love raps for the remainder of the decade, none of which reached the same commercial heights as “I Need Love,” which remains one of the best Def Jam songs of the 80s.Ģ4: Original Concept: “Pump That Bass” (1988) On his sophomore album, Ladies Love Cool James was able to make hard-hitting hits for the fellas like “I’m Bad,” but also soft ballad raps for the ladies with “I Need Love.” The latter became a huge crossover hit, helping Bigger And Deffer go double-platinum within a year. Many years later, Rubin gave Flipper a record deal on his Def American label. Hose bore a striking resemblance to San Francisco punk agitators Flipper – and not by coincidence. When it was time for Long Island guitarist Rick Rubin’s band Hose to put out records, he released their Mobo 7” in 1982 and a self-titled 12” EP the following year. Remember when Def Jam was a punk label? That is not hyperbole.
There’s a metaphor hidden in there somewhere. In the music video, Big Sean portrays a football player while E-40 plays a commentator. DJ Mustard and Kanye produced the expletive-laced anthem, sampling “Say You Love Me One More Time” by DJ Rogers and “September” by Earth, Wind And Fire. Sean worked with hip-hop legend E-40 on “I Don’t F_k With You,” off his third album Dark Sky Paradise. “Thinkin Bout You” is easily one of the best Def Jam songs of the 2010s.Ĥ6: Big Sean (feat E-40): “I Don’t F_k With You” (2015)īig Sean was brought to Def Jam via Kanye West’s Getting Out Our Dreams Music (GOOD Music) imprint. Its genre-shifting mix of hip-hop, R&B, and electronica paved the way for a whole sub-genre, and his intimate tales of heartbreak and queer love signaled a seismic change in urban music. In 1992 Stephney abandoned SOUL to form his own venture, Stepson Music Entertainment, as a joint venture with Tommy Boy Records.47: Frank Ocean: “Thinkin Bout You” (2012)įrank Ocean first burst onto the scene in the 00s, with Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, the LA hip-hop collective that also birthed Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, and Syd Tha Kyd, but his debut album, Channel Orange is what changed the game. In 1989 the talented executive left Def Jam to set up the SOUL label with Hank Shocklee. Stephney produced the group's first album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, playing guitar and bass on the record as well. Stephney's first assignment was to sign a reluctant Chuck D who was convinced by Stephney to head the first political rap group, Public Enemy. While there he established the journal's first hip-hop column, Beat Box, and attracted the attention of Def Jam Records co-owner Rick Rubin, who approached Stephney in 1986, offering the writer a position at Def Jam.
Bill Show, that brought the latest rap records to the station's audience, Stephney left the show to work at the College Music Journal. After forming his own popular radio show, the Mr. While attending Aldelphi University in the early '80s Stephney met fellow student Chuck D. Beginning his career as a musician, Stephney played a variety of instruments including trumpet, drums, violin, guitar and bass before switching over to deejaying in the late '70s. Best known for his successful marketing of the political rap group Public Enemy, Bill Stephney was an important figure of the 1980s and early '90s hip-hop world.
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