Hip Hop Record Labels

One of the biggest and well-known hip-hop record labels is Def Jam Recordings. Founded in 1984 by Rick Rubin, Def Jam has been responsible for a lot of the biggest hip-hop acts since the mid 1980’s. They have been known to be a widely influential in all aspects of hip-hop, having acts such as LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy to today’s artists such as Rhianna, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Ne-Yo all got a record deal. Through out its life as a record label, it has jumped around to different owners and parent companies. Currently, it resides under The Island Def Jam Music Group, which is under the major label Universal Music Group.

Another label that has a proven track record of successful hip-hop acts is Atlantic Records. Though not purely hip-hop artists, this record label historically was based around R&B and jazz genres. Founded in 1947, Atlantic Records has been known to constantly produce hit records. Today, the record label is under the major record conglomerate Warner Music Group, and is home to many artists. These artists include Lupe Fiasco, Bobby Ray aka B.o.B., T.I., and Wiz Khalifa. Despite the recent dip in record sales over the past decade in the music industry as a whole, all of these artists have had major success under Atlantic Records.

Rostrum Records is another hip-hop label, though a much smaller company. Started in 2003 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this independent record label has recently risen up and produced some of hip-hops hottest artists. Two of the biggest artists under Rostrum Records are Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller. Rostrum signed both artists very early in their career, and has shown the world that independent record labels can be highly successful even when competing against much bigger companies.