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The Latest Breaking News from Def Jam

“I co-wrote most of everything on the Beastie Boys album”: Rick Rubin on his greatest hits of the ’80s - from the Beasties to Roy Orbison

Plus: his pick for the greatest rock 'n' roll producer of all time

MusicRadar

LL Cool J: ‘I was hanging out with some of the most dangerous characters in New York’

The hip-hop star’s acting career led to a 11-year musical hiatus, but despite one major false start, he’s back with a new album. He talks to Stevie Chick about vulnerability, longevity and the call he got telling him to stay off the streets

The Independent UK

‘Ghostface Killah wanted to be a homicidal eagle!’ – Def Jam: Fight for NY at 20

Marking the anniversary, the creators of the rap beef beat-em-up sequel share memories of transforming Flavor Flav and Snoop Dogg into legendary video game characters

The Guardian - UK

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read the most diverse news in one place.

"I have no technical ability, and I know nothing about music": Solving the mystery of Rick Rubin, the superproducer who says he doesn’t know how to use a mixing desk

How can a producer that's worked with Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash and Jay-Z have no technical ability - and is he a fraud, or a genius?

MusicRadar

Kings From Queens: The Run-DMC Story review – incredibly honest and raw TV

This look at the hip-hop legends spares no effort in telling their tale exactly as it was, from substance abuse to their darkest hours. It’s intelligent, nuanced TV – even if it could be more open about Russell Simmons

The Guardian - UK

One to watch: Cruza

The Florida R&B groovers are poised to break through with an album of eclectic, ambitious music on Def Jam

The Guardian - UK

"Public Enemy gave the establishment something to fear, an intelligent, angry, politicised, uncompromising voice for disenfranchised black America." A beginner's guide to Def Jam Recordings in five essential albums

Def Jam is the most influential record label in hip-hip history. Here is your guide to its most significant releases

Louder

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Rapper Bo$$, Trailblazer In '90S Rap, Dies At 54

Rapper Bo$$, a '90s hip-hop pioneer, known for Born Gangstaz, passes away at 54 due to kidney failure. She leaves a significant impact on the genre.

Top News

"I have no technical ability, and I know nothing about music": Yet here are 5 Rick Rubin-produced songs you need to hear

From hip-hop to rock and pop, Rubin has done it all...

MusicRadar

Russell Simmons sued over alleged rape of Def Jam executive in the 1990s

Plaintiff alleges she faced harassment and battery by the hip-hop mogul and that her career was stalled by his ‘assaultive behavior’

The Guardian - US

"It's like the universe had this incredible power to affect my ear and make me stay in one place": How an ear infection birthed Licensed to Ill's groundbreaking production and drove the Beastie Boys and Rick Rubin apart

A look back at the Beastie Boys' rocky relationship with the bearded superproducer

MusicRadar

"He was Slayer. He affected a lot of people and he didn’t even realise it.” The life and tragic death of Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman

Jeff Hanneman was the architect behind some of Slayer's biggest - and most infamous - songs but his 2011 passing was a tragedy that shook thrash metal

Metal Hammer

Desiigner charged with indecent exposure after plane incident

Rapper could face 90 days in jail

The Independent UK

Why Jo Koy gave up on Middle America

On "Salon Talks" the comic discussed the "grind" of stand-up, Filipinos on TV and "cool" romantic break ups

Salon

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The Guardian - UK

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin review – life lessons from the bearded beat master

The co-founder of Def Jam Records and the man behind countless hits, from the Beastie Boys and Jay-Z to Neil Young, offers artistic wisdom that is both gnomic and pertinent

Evening Standard

Cher confirms relationship with music producer less than half her age

Cher, 76, was pictured holding hands with Alexander Edwards, 36, in LA last week

Los Angeles Times

Why Spotify and Apple Music haven't pulled Kanye West's songs

LOS ANGELES — A week after Endeavor Chief Executive Ari Emanuel called for businesses to cut ties with the artist formerly known as Kanye West after his antisemitic remarks, companies such as Adidas and the Gap stopped working with him.

Evening Standard

All the brands that have dropped Kanye West over his antisemitic remarks

Adidas is among the global companies that have cut ties with the American rapper

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news in one place.

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Los Angeles Times

Kanye West’s business partners were backing away even before rapper's plan to buy Parler

After one of the ugliest months of his career, Kanye West’s long list of business partners again face a choice — stick with him, knowing at any moment he could launch into a hateful tirade against anyone from his soon-to-be-ex-wife’s new boyfriend to Jewish people at large — or finally…

WEKU

Logic is ready to do things his way

In an interview with Morning Edition, rapper Logic explains the central message of his new album, Vinyl Days: "I rap good! Let's just be honest here."

The Independent UK

Yung Raja: ‘I’m trying to let everybody know how dope Singapore is and what’s popping here’

The Singaporean-Tamil rapper is busy expanding his territory of fans, impressing US hip-hop veterans and talk show hosts. He speaks to Peony Hirwani about musical fusion, future projects, and representing Singapore

The Guardian - UK

‘My mother thought I’d ruined my life’: how EMF made Unbelievable

‘I envisaged living off my royalties … but 10 years ago I retrained as a fully-fledged secondary school teacher’

The Guardian - UK

Rick Rubin: Def Jam founder and producer announces debut book

The Creative Act: A Way of Being will be ‘a book about what to do make a great work of art’ and ‘a book about how to be’

People

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