The pre-eminent hip-hop label for the better part of the last three and a half decades, the best Def Jam songs define the evolution of the genre.
Formed during the late 80’s, EPMD's Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith are highly regarded as one of the early pioneers of rap sampling.
R&B figurehead D'Angelo has his seminal 1995 debut album Brown Sugar reissued in 2CD and digital deluxe editions from 25 August 2017 by Virgin/UMe.
Released on the Rawkus imprint in 2000, 'Lyricist Lounge 2' amplified the "backpacker rap" scene and its obsession with collaboration and improvisation.