A young adolescent LL Cool J during the early days at Def Jam.
BOOK REVIEW
Publication date: 10/11/2011
Released on October 11, 2011 this book has gone under the radar considering the Def Jam alumni that includes co-founder Russell Simmons, former President Kevin Liles, and the legends signed to the label such as LL Cool J and Jay-Z are all best-selling authors who have each provided their own interpretation of life at the historic label. At 312 pages, this is an amazing coffee table book that is the size of a 12-inch vinyl LP. It consists of stories from the artists signed to the label and staff who worked for the record company since its inception in 1984.
LOVE IT: The rare photographs are what make this a page turner. You will see large images of an adolescent LL Cool J in the early eighties with his vintage Kangol hat and then his transformation into a muscular icon. There are photo shoots with Irv Gotti, Ja Rule and the Murder Inc. family during their dominance and a spread that includes Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and DMX together during their thoughts of forming a rap supergroup. The best story by far is the one told by Chris Lighty and how he signed West Coast rapper Warren G to Def Jam then had a confrontation with Suge Knight about it that almost became violent. There is a detailed index in the back that allows you to refer directly to your favorite artist or moment.
HATE IT: While LL Cool J briefly talks about the early days at Def Jam, we don’t hear him speak of his progression in the book. As an artist signed to the label for more than two decades he needed to provide more on his ups and downs during the company’s transition as well as a story that he has often told other publications about being offered the job of Def Jam President years prior to Jay-Z. Speaking of Jay-Z, as the flagship artist for the label and its President from 2004 through 2007 we hardly get any information from him except a few images and quotes on the making of his “99 Problems” video which was actually taken directly from an interview with MTV. Damon Dash actually tells the story about how Rocafella signed a joint venture Def Jam. By getting pictures of Rihanna, Cam’ron, and Nas without stories about their significant contributions to the label readers will feel cheated.