Steve Bartels

Part of Vivendi SE, Def Jam Recordings, Inc. is a legendary hip-hop music label that has been at the forefront of the genre for over 35 years. The company is based in New York, NY. Over the years, Def Jam has established its dominance with superstar acts like Jay-Z, DMX, Ludacris, Rihanna, and Kanye West. Def Jam's diverse roster of marquee and emerging stars includes Justin Bieber, Alessia Cara, Logic, Pusha T, and Big Sean, among others. Founded in 1984, Def Jam began as an independent label inspired by the emerging sound of hip-hop and represented iconic stars like LL Cool J, Slick Rick, The Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy. Tunji Balogun has been the CEO of the company since 2022.