Def Jam In Pictures And Words: An Interactive

Def Jam Recordings was instrumental in putting hip-hop on the map, paving the way for the music and the culture to permeate society and alter the landscape of popular culture. The just-published Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label is heavy with photos, album covers and designs that capture the brash attitude of the company. Click on an image below to hear Bill Adler, the author of the book (and longtime publicist for Def Jam), and Cey Adams, who ran design for the company for many years, tell stories about some of Def Jam's most striking visuals.