 | |
| Genre | Afrobeats,trap,Afro hip-hop |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020; 5 years ago (2020) |
| Headquarters | Johannesburg,South Africa Lagos,Nigeria |
Key people | Larry Gaaga(VP & A&R) |
| Owner | |
| Parent | |
| Website | defjam |
Def Jam Recordings Africa (marketed asDef Jam Africa), is the African division of the internationalrecord label,Def Jam Recordings. The label is owned byUniversal Music Africa, a flagship ofUniversal Music Group. Founded in 2020, and operating inSouth Africa,Nigeria,Côte d'Ivoire,Senegal, andCameroon.[1] It specializes mainly inAfrican hip-hop,Afrobeats, andtrap music.[2]
Def Jam Recordings Africa was founded in 2020, as the African division ofDef Jam Recordings, operating in South Africa, and Nigeria. The label has aJohannesburg-based arm known asUniversal Music South Africa and aLagos-based arm known asUniversal Music Group Nigeria,[3] both headed by Sipho Dlamini, theChief executive officer ofUniversal Music Sub-Saharan Africa &South Africa.[4] The label is home to recording acts, such asBoity,Nasty C,Nadia Nakai,Larry Gaaga, Ricky Tyler,Tshego, Ténor,Tellaman, Luka Pryce,Tumi "Stogie T" Molekane, Omzo Dollar,Vector, Lucas Raps,Cassper Nyovest, Suspect 95, Asaph, andStonebwoy.[5]
On 13 June 2022,Larry Gaaga, the CEO and founder of Gaaga Muzik, and the former general manager of YSG Entertainment were announced as the vice president of Def Jam Africa and the head of the A&R division respectively across English-speaking markets in Africa.[6]
African artists signed to Def Jam Africa:[7]
Singles, Albums and Eps, released through Def Jam Africa:[8]
| Artist | Title | Year | Album | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cassper Nyovest | "Good for That" | 2020 | A.M.N (Any Minute Now) | September 11, 2020 |
| "Amademoni" | ||||
| Nasty C, &Rowlene | "I Need You" | From the Netflix Original series "Blood & Water") | May 22, 2020 | |
| Ricky Tyler | "Thirty K's" | Small World | July 17, 2020 | |
| Nasty C | "Eazy" | Zulu Man with Some Power | August 28, 2020 | |
| Tellaman | "Practice (Cuebur Remix)" | Practice (Cuebur Remix) - Single | March 13, 2020 | |
| "Cross My Heart (Remix)" (featuringAlpha P) | Non-album single | 3 July 2020 | ||
| Stonebwoy | "Therapy"[9] | 2022 | 5th Dimension | 28 April 2023 |
| The Kabal (mbr:2Baba &Larry Gaaga) | "Mad Over Hills"[10] (featuringFalz) | TBA | ||
| "Bebe"[11] (featuringMi Casa) | 2023 |
| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Details | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Small World | Ricky Tyler | July 17, 2020 | |
| Zulu Man with Some Power | Nasty C | August 28, 2020 | ||
| 2021 | Rhythms of Zamunda | Various artists | March 5, 2021 | |
| 2023 | 5th Dimension | Stonebwoy | 28 April 2023 |