Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label tells the inside story of the first quarter century of the iconic record label’s existence. The book’s coauthor Bill Adler, Def Jam’s original publicist who also worked along side Russell Simmons before he paired with Rick Rubin to form the record label, does a phenomenal job of chronicling this amazing story. The book’s other author, Dan Charnas, recently made waves with his title The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop. (Read his interview with Insomniac Magazine here.) The authors conducted interviews featuring many of the original label players, including Simmons, Rubin, The Beastie Boys and Run DMC, just to name a few. These insightful stories are paired with a significant amount of amazing pictures. This wonderful book is certainly worthy of displaying on the coffee table of any true lover of music and its history.
During a recent talk with Insomniac Magazine, Adler shared his thoughts on the value of physical books in the current era of digital media dominance.
“…the future of books, per se, is very much in question. Having said that, I believe that there’s something to be said for an actual physical book and an image that is twelve inches square and is beautifully reproduced. I don’t think computer screens compete… If it’s a novel, go ahead to your ebook. If the story to be told requires beautiful pictures as well, then make an art book in the way that Rizzoli does and glory in that. It’s still the best medium for stories like that.”
The book’s shape and size is the same as the classic records that helped make the label a success. As the resurgence of vinyl has shown, people still crave physical media if it provides a significant amount of quality and helps to enhance the consumption experience. This book, which was designed by Cey Adams Def Jam’s original art director that was responsible for many of the classic images that have helped to make the label’s albums just as memorable as the music, is as visually impressive as the amazing story it tells. Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label will be released in October and is published by Rizzoli.
by Israel Vasquetelle
