Def Jam Africa
Def Jam Recordings Africa (marketed as Def Jam Africa), is the African division of the international record label Def Jam Recordings. The label is owned by Universal Music Africa, a flagship of Universal Music Group. Founded in 2020, and operating in South Africa, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon.[1] It specializes mainly on African hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap music.[2]
History[edit]
Def Jam Recordings Africa was founded in 2020, as the African division of Def Jam Recordings, operating in South Africa, and Nigeria. The label has a Johannesburg-based arm known as Universal Music South Africa and a Lagos-based arm known as Universal Music Group Nigeria,[3] both headed by Sipho Dlamini, the Chief executive officer of Universal Music Sub-Saharan Africa & South Africa.[4] The label is home to recording acts, such as Boity, 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 and Stonebwoy.[5]
On 13 June 2022, Larry Gaaga, the CEO and founder of Gaaga Muzik, and the former general manager of YSG Entertainment, was announced as the vice president of Def Jam Africa, and the head of the A&R division across the English-speaking markets in Africa.[6]