The Men Behind Def Jam: The Radical Rise of Russell Simmons And Rick Rubin [Paperback]

Alex Ogg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2002

This book documents the growth of Def Jam from humble origins to its current status as the preeminent black music label of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A detailed and rather unofficial cheeky unofficial history.' Q 'A comprehensive account of how two unlikely business partners - streetwise entrepeneur Russell Simmons and bearded AC/DC fan Rick Rubin - changed the face of music...Pleasingly, author Alex Ogg embellishes the story with bitchy tales of backbiting and much moneymaking as well...Thoroughly readable and often highly revealing, this book deftly highlights the fractious nature of music industry relationships...Ultimately, Rubin comes across as a music fan, while Simmons appears as a rather confused figure...a compelling saga.' KERRANG ' A perfect primter for anyone who doesn't know why rap is the most important musical movement of the past 25 years...it's a blast from page one.' MOJO

About the Author

Alex Ogg is the author of the Hip Hop Years, as as well as a consultant on the Channel 4 TV series of the same name. He has written numerous music books, magazine and newspaper articles and is specialist hip hop contributor to several encyclopedias.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Omnibus Press (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711988730
• ISBN-13: 978-0711988736
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,141,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm an author of several well regarded, large-scale book projects. The Hip Hop Years was published both in Britain and America and accompanied the BAFTA-nominated Channel 4 TV series of the same title, on which I served as consultant. No More Heroes was an exhaustive 600,000-word project analysing the punk era and its contributors. Independence Days, my latest book, has already received rave reviews and documents the development of independent record labels in the UK over a ten-year period, drawing on more than 150 interviews. Other books include biographies of Radiohead, a further tie-in with Channel 4 (for their Top Ten series) and a book on hip-hop lyrics as well as the iconic Def Jam record label. My booklet accompanying the reissue of Pillows & Prayers won the 2008 Mojo Catalogue award. I have written more than 100 CD liner notes, and articles for The Times and numerous music magazines including Classic Rock, Record Collector, Vox, etc as well as websites including the Quietus. I have just been appointed editor of the academic journal Punk & Post-Punk, based at Leeds University and wrote one of the introductions to the Worth Classics edition of Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I had high expectations, and they were all met., February 1, 2012

By 

trixacola - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Men Behind Def Jam: The Radical Rise of Russel Simmons and Rick Rubin (Omnibus Press) (Kindle Edition)

I've been a fan of Alex Ogg's works for a while, and have had a hard time finding a hard copy of this book. Luckily, I received a kindle in early January and was able to download and read it!

I found this book to be a detailed biography of the Def Jam label, as well as Rick Rubin and Russel Simmons. It contained information that I have not come across before (I've been a music-magazine glutton of publications world-wide for quite some time).

Ogg's writing style is friendly to both academics and the average joe picking up the book from their looking indie bookshop. His own personality shines through, with his occasional opinion made clear in a non-confrontational manner which leaves me with a knowing smile on my face.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Ogg's works!

My only criticism is that an extra chapter written in more recent years would be appreciated, especially looking at the murder of Jam Master Jay and how it impacted Simmons and/or Def Jam.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Off the hook, read this book, July 2, 2002

By 

Daniel Freund (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Men Behind Def Jam: The Radical Rise of Russell Simmons And Rick Rubin (Paperback)

Alex Ogg did a superb job in his book on Russel Simmons and Rick Rubin, founders of the record label, "Def Jam". Ogg gave the men who launched the careers of Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and other stars of hip hop their props. While I found it was an insightful read, I discovered that homorous touches and memorable moments abound throughout the book. Since I am an fan of the Beastie Boys, I enjoyed the early part of the book which dealt with the rap/rock phenomenon in the 1980's, although I was a bit dissapointed that Ogg didn't delve more deeply into how Rubin got to be friends and roomates with Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock of Beastie-Boy fame.) Nevertheless, Alex Ogg, a gifted writer, knows how to put together a good Def Jam history book, and without a doubt loves hip-hop very much.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, August 26, 2011

By 

Lisa5170 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Men Behind Def Jam: The Radical Rise of Russell Simmons And Rick Rubin (Paperback)

I got this because my husband went to school with Rick Rubin and was good friends with him then. He found it interesting, course, Rick doesn't keep in touch and I think he isn't a very nice person. My hubbie keeps in touch with all his old high school friends and Rick was one of his closest. But, Rick's loss.