Def Jam Recordings: The Hip-Hop Mogul

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, through the analysis of hip-hop culture and its golden era, we can see the growth and influence of Def Jam Recordings, as well as the rise of the hip hop mogul'. The paper then looks at how the hip-hop mogul has transcended many societal boundaries such as class and has led to the shift in socio-cultural practices of hip-hop culture. In addition, the paper contends that the hip-hop mogul has been accepted by the dominant society that the hip-hop industry transformed the regular white middle aged male CEO into what we call today the hip-hop mogul.

From the Paper:

"Hip hops golden era is very often perceived through the emergence and influential rise of Def Jam Recordings. From its very first recordings of LL Cool J's "I Need A Beat" along with the Beastie Boys "Rock Hard", Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin proved that hip hop was a genre that represented the single most significant development in pop culture since rock 'n' roll. These two individuals believed in the success of hip-hop and established a company, which defined and nationalized hip-hop culture. Along with the establishment of Def Jam defining the golden era, many would attribute the decline in graffiti and b-boying and the eventual move towards dance fads as another factor during the golden era in hip hop. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Forman, Murray. "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn." American Quarterly, 54(1). 2002.
• Smith, Christopher H. "I Don't Like to Dream about Getting Paid: Representations of Social Mobility and the Emergence of the Hip-Hop Mogul." Social Text, 21(4). 2003.
• Strong, Nolan. "Russell Simmons Lands in South Africa, Issues Statement." Allhiphop News 27 November 2006. < http://www.allhiphop.com/Hiphopnews/?ID=6435>.
• Watkins, Craig. "Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Popular Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement." Boston: Beacon Press, 2005: 85-110.

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