XXL celebrates the 25th anniversary of Def Jam Records.

Jay-Z has officially severed ties with Def Jam Records. Read the rest of this entry »

Def Jam Executive Vice-President Shakir Stewart has committed suicide in Atlanta.

Stewart’s body was found in the bathroom of his home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 4 p.m. Saturday, Cobb County Police spokeswoman Cassie Reece told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The 34-year-old was promoted to the Executive VP post following Jay-Z’s resignation in June.

“L.A. Reid and all of us at Island Def Jam Music Group are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and colleague Shakir Stewart,” read a statement from the label. “Shakir was an amazing man in every sense of the word. A truly incredible friend and father who was an inspiration to not only our artists and employees, but to his family and the many people that had the privilege of counting him as a friend. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time.”

Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Jay-Z as the president of Def Jam. As an artist under Def Jam from 1987 to 1998, the “conscious rapper” gave the label some of the biggest hits.
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Universal Music Group announced on Monday that Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is stepping down as president of its Def Jam Records unit, effective by the end of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

Nas is clashing with Def Jam over his plans to drop his controversially-titled new album NIGGA in December. The label claims it does not have any of the rapper’s new material scheduled for release this year. Nas announced his intentions to test race issues with the new album during a Friday night show at New York’s Roseland Ballroom.

A source close to label CEO Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid tells FoxNews.com: “There is no album release by Nas on the release schedule at this point. “And they would be unlikely to release an album with that title. How would that look at Wal-Mart?”

LL Cool J is continuing to accuse Jay-Z of not doing his job properly as the HNIC of Def Jam Records. LL is criticizing Jay for not promoting artists projects. Read the rest of this entry »

Following months of speculation, celebrity informants report that Jay-Z will leave as the head of Def Jam at the September end of his contract to sign a lucrative deal with Columbia Records. There is speculation that Jermaine Dupri’s February implant as head of Island Urban may have prompted Jay’s departure. Read the rest of this entry »