1
Def Jam Artists
Name
Course
Professor
Institutional Affiliation
Date
2
The artists of Def Jam Recordings, the premier hip-hop label since it was founded in
1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons, were driven into closer contact with rock music than
most of their rap forebears by a combination of eclectic musical tastes and rock collaborations.
Connections between the rock and hip-hop scenes had been infrequent until rap artists and rock
bands began infiltrating each other's territory. Rubin, arguably the label's most important artist,
connected the dots with rock in part due to his active interest in and love for the form. He had a
vastly eccentric sensibility that insisted his musicians incorporate their sound with elements
likely to be familiar to both rock and rap audiences; therefore, in a sense, he was helping both
genres connect and generate a new sound (Covach & Flory, 2018).
One of the earliest and most substantial instances of this fusion was in a collaboration
between Run-D.M.C., one of Def Jam's premier artists, and rock legend Aerosmith. In 1986, they
released a mash-up of Aerosmith's 1975 hit "Walk This Way" in a rap-rock version. This track
was crucial in exposing hip-hop to a larger audience and is often cited as a key factor in the
eventual breakthrough of hip-hop into mainstream music culture. Steven Tyler's and Joe Perry's
vocals and guitar riffs matched with the rap style of Run-D.M.C. creating a hit that appealed to
both rock and rap fans. Another Def Jam artist, LL Cool J, also flirted with rock in his music,
most prominently on his 1985 album "Radio." "Rock the Bells" featured hard, rock-like beats
and abrasive guitar riffs, creating a raw energy much like that of rock music. This approach was
not only lapped up by rap's traditional audiences but also, this newfound rock flavor drew in
more fans from the rock side who could more easily appreciate the intensity and rebellious spirit
of rock music (Covach & Flory, 2018).
3
Conclusively, Def Jam's artists could make more direct, such innovations to rock music,
explore its aesthetic and consequently, open up their musical appeal beyond the traditional rap
audience.
4
Reference
Covach, J., & Flory, A. (2018). What’s that sound? An introduction to rock and its history (6th
ed.). W.W. Norton.
