This page lists a discography of albums and extended plays released under or distributed by Def Jam Recordings, a division of Universal Music Group, which had been created in 1984. Records distributed by another label, but released under Def Jam, are also included or otherwise reviewed. Also included are albums or EPs that were released under Rush Associated Labels and subsidiaries like Original Black Recordings, DJ West, Def Soul, Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam South, Roc-A-Fella Records, Murder Inc. Records, and GOOD Music.
1980s 1983 Artist(s) Title Type Release date Singles Chart positions Certifications . Hose Hose EP c. 1983 colspan="3"
1984 Artist(s) Title Type Release date Singles Chart positions Certifications . T La Rock and Jazzy Jay "It's Yours" 12-inch single c. 1984 colspan="3" rowspan="3" LL Cool J "I Need a Beat" Beastie Boys "Rock Hard"
1985 +Starting in mid-1985, Def Jam was distributed under Sony Music's Columbia Records division. Artist(s) Title Type Release date Singles Chart positions Certifications . Jazzy Jay "Def Jam" 12-inch single c. 1985 colspan="3" rowspan="6" MCA and Burzootie "Drum Machine" LL Cool J "I Want You" Jimmy Spicer "This Is It" The Hollis Crew "It's the Beat" The Beastie Boys "She's on It" September 12, 1985 LL Cool J Radio Album November 18, 1985 "I Can't Live Without My Radio" "You'll Rock" "I Can Give You More" "Rock the Bells" UK Albums Chart – #71 Billboard 200 – #46 Billboard Urban Albums – #6 RIAA – Platinum
1986 Artist(s) Title Type Release date Singles Chart positions Certifications . Oran "Juice" Jones Juice Album February 12, 1986 Billboard 200 – #44 Billboard Urban Albums – #4 RIAA – Gold Tashan Chasin' a Dream c. 1986 "Chasin' a Dream" colspan="2" Original Concept "Knowledge Me" 12-inch single colspan="3" rowspan="2" Junk Yard Band "The Word & Sardines" Slayer Reign in Blood Album October 7, 1986 Irish Albums Chart – #80 Japanese Albums – #264 UK Albums Chart – #47 Billboard 200 – #94 RIAA – Gold The Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill November 15, 1986 "Hold It Now, Hit It" "Paul Revere" "The New Style" "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" "Brass Monkey" "No Sleep till Brooklyn" "Girls" ARIA Album Chart – #62 Canadian Albums – #5 Dutch Album Top 100 – #15 German Albums Chart – #23 New Zealand Albums Chart – #12 UK Albums Chart – #71 Billboard 200 – #1 Billboard Urban Albums – #2 RIAA – Diamond MC – 2× Platinum BPI – Gold
1987 Artist(s) Title Type Release date Singles Chart positions Certifications . Public Enemy Yo! Bum Rush the Show Album February 10, 1987 "Public Enemy No. 1" "You're Gonna Get Yours" Billboard 200 – #125 Billboard Urban Albums – #28 RIAA – Gold LL Cool J Bigger and Deffer May 29, 1987 "I'm Bad" "I Need Love" Canadian Albums – #39 Dutch Album Top 100 – #28 German Albums Chart – #35 New Zealand Albums Chart – #23 UK Albums Chart – #54 Billboard 200 – #3 Billboard Urban Albums – #1 RIAA – 2× Platinum MC – Gold Chuck Stanley The Finer Things in Life c. 1987 "Never Gonna Let You Go" colspan="2" rowspan="2" Davy D Davy's Ride "Davy's Ride" Various artists Def Jam: It's the New Style! Compilation colspan="3" Oran "Juice" Jones GTO: Gangsters Takin' Over Album October 1987 "Cold Spendin' My Money" Billboard Urban Albums – #36 Various artists Less than Zero soundtrack November 6, 1987 "Rock and Roll All Nite" "A Hazy Shade of Winter" "Going Back to Cali" Billboard 200 – #31 Billboard Urban Albums – #22 RIAA – Gold Def Jam Meeting Compilation c. 1987 colspan="3"
1988 Artist(s) Title Type Release date Singles Chart positions Certifications . Original Concept Straight from the Basement of Kooley High! Album May 10, 1988 colspan="3" Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back June 28, 1988 "Rebel Without a Pause" "Bring the Noise" "Don't Believe the Hype" "Night of the Living Baseheads" "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" Dutch Charts – #40 UK Albums Chart – #8 Billboard 200 – #42 Billboard Urban Albums – #1 RIAA – Platinum BPI – Gold Slayer South of Heaven July 5, 1988 ARIA Charts – #53 Dutch Album Top 100 – #31 Irish Albums Chart – #91 German Albums Chart – #23 Sverigetopplistan – #50 UK Albums Charts – #25 Billboard 200 – #57 RIAA – Gold Slick Rick The Great Adventures of Slick Rick November 1, 1988 "Children's Story" "Hey Young World" "Teenage Love" Billboard 200 – #31 Billboard Urban Albums – #1 RIAA – Platinum
1989 Artist(s) Title Type Release date Singles Chart positions Certifications . Alyson Williams Raw Album c. 1989 "Sleep Talk" "My Love Is So Raw" "I Need Your Lovin'" UK Albums Chart – #29 Billboard Urban Albums – #25 BPI – Gold Blue Magic From Out of the Blue Billboard Urban Albums – #48 Various artists Def Jam Classics, Vol. 1 Compilation colspan="3" LL Cool J Walking with a Panther Album June 9, 1989 "Going Back to Cali" "I'm That Type of Guy" "Big Ole Butt" "One Shot at Love" "Jingling Baby" ARIA Charts – #85 Dutch Album Top 100 – #63 New Zealand Albums Chart – #48 UK Albums Chart – #43 Billboard 200 – #6 Billboard Urban Albums – #1 RIAA – Platinum Newkirk Funk City October 10, 1989 "Sweat You" colspan="2" 3rd Bass The Cactus Album November 14, 1989 "Steppin' to the A.M." "The Gas Face" "Brooklyn-Queens" Billboard 200 – #55 Billboard Urban Albums – #5 RIAA – Gold Oran "Juice" Jones To Be Immortal November 21, 1989 "Pipe Dreams" "Shaniqua" colspan="2"
1990s 1990 +Between 1990 and 1999, Def Jam Records were distributed and/or produced under the guidance of Rush Associated Labels. Artist(s) Title Type Release date Label(s) released in association with Singles Chart positions Certifications . Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet Album April 10, 1990 "Fight the Power" "Welcome to the Terrordome" "911 Is a Joke" "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man" ARIA Charts – #30 Canadian Albums – #15 Dutch Album Top 100 – #17 German Albums – #30 New Zealand Albums Chart – #15 Sverigetopplistan – #24 Swiss Albums – #19 UK Albums Chart – #4 Billboard 200 – #10 Billboard Urban Albums – #3 RIAA – Platinum BPI – Gold MC – Gold No Face Wake Your Daughter Up c. 1990 No Face colspan="3" rowspan="2" The Afros Kickin' Afrolistics JMJ Records Various artists Def Jam Classics, Vol. 2 Compilation colspan="4" rowspan="3" Sid and B-Tonn "Deathwish" Promotional single 3rd Bass The Cactus Revisited Remix album September 7, 1990 LL Cool J Mama Said Knock You Out Album September 14, 1990 rowspan="2" "To da Break of Dawn" "The Boomin' System" "Around the Way Girl" "Mama Said Knock You Out" "6 Minutes of Pleasure" ARIA Charts – #67 UK Albums Chart – #49 Billboard 200 – #16 Billboard Urban Albums – #2 RIAA – 2× Platinum MC – Gold EPMD Business as Usual December 18, 1990 "Gold Digger" "Rampage" "Give the People" Billboard 200 – #36 Billboard Urban Albums – #1 RIAA – Gold
1991 +Around late 1991 to mid-1994, Def Jam/RAL releases were distributed by Chaos Recordings, a now-defunct division of Columbia Records.Artist(s)TitleTypeRelease dateLabel(s) released in association withSinglesChart positionsCertifications.Downtown ScienceDowntown ScienceAlbumJanuary 12, 1991 "Room to Breathe" "Radioactive" colspan="2" BWPThe BytchesFebruary 19, 1991No Face "Two Minute Brother" Billboard Urban Albums – #34 rowspan="2" Terminator XTerminator X & The Valley of the Jeep BeetsMay 7, 1991 rowspan="4" "Homey Don't Play That" "Wanna Be Dancin' (Buck-Whylin')" Billboard 200 – #97 Billboard Urban Albums – #193rd BassDerelicts of DialectJune 18, 1991 "Pop Goes the Weasel" UK Albums Chart – #46 Billboard 200 – #19 Billboard Urban Albums – #10 RIAA – GoldSlick RickThe Ruler's BackJuly 2, 1991 "I Shouldn't Have Done It" "Mistakes of a Woman in Love with Other Men" "It's a Boy" Billboard 200 – #29 Billboard Urban Albums – #18 rowspan="2" Nikki DDaddy's Little GirlSeptember 3, 1991 "Daddy's Little Girl" Billboard Urban Albums – #54Various artistsLivin' Large soundtrackSeptember 10, 1991 colspan="4" Nice & SmoothAin't a Damn Thing ChangedSeptember 17, 1991 rowspan="2" "Hip Hop Junkies" "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" "How to Flow" "Cake & Eat It Too" Billboard 200 – #141 Billboard Urban Albums – #29 Public EnemyApocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes BlackOctober 1, 1991 "Bring the Noise" "Can't Truss It" "Shut 'Em Down" "Nighttrain" ARIA Charts – #11 Canadian Albums – #12 Dutch Album Top 100 – #62 German Albums – #38 New Zealand Albums Chart – #5 Sverigetopplistan – #36 UK Albums Chart – #8 Billboard 200 – #4 Billboard Urban Albums – #1 RIAA – Platinum MC – Gold BPI – SilverLisette MelendezTogether Foreverc. 1991Fever Records "Together Forever" "A Day in My Life (Without You)" "Never Say Never" Japanese Albums – #100 Billboard Top Heatseekers – #7 SandeéOnly Time Will Tell "Notice Me" "Love Desire" colspan="2" The DonWake Up the Party colspan="4" rowspan="2" Resident Alien "Mr. Boops" Promotional single
1992 Artist(s)TitleTypeRelease dateLabel(s) released in association withSinglesChart positionsCertifications.Alyson WilliamsAlyson WilliamsAlbumc. 1992 "She's Not Your Fool" Billboard Urban Albums – #31 Fam-LeeRuns in the Fam-LeeJMJ Records colspan="3" Total Look & The StyleDo Some Damage colspan="4" EPMDBusiness Never PersonalJuly 28, 1992 rowspan="2" "Crossover" "Head Banger" Billboard 200 – #14 Billboard Urban Albums – #5 RIAA – GoldMC SerchReturn of the ProductAugust 25, 1992 "Here It Comes" "Back to the Grill" Billboard 200 – #103 Billboard Urban Albums – #28 Billboard Top Heatseekers – #2 Public EnemyGreatest MissesGreatest hits albumSeptember 15, 1992Legacy Recordings Dutch Album Top 100 – #72 German Albums – #53 New Zealand Albums Chart – #15 Svrerigetopplistan – #30 UK Albums Chart – #14 Billboard 200 – #13 Billboard Urban Albums – #10 RIAA – GoldRedmanWhut? Thee AlbumAlbumSeptember 22, 1992 "Time 4 Sum Aksion" "Tonight's da Night" "Blow Your Mind" Billboard 200 – #49 Billboard Urban Albums – #5 RIAA – Gold
1993 Artist(s)TitleTypeRelease dateLabel(s) released in association withSinglesChart positionsCertifications.OnyxBacdafucupAlbumMarch 30, 1993JMJ Records "Slam" "Throw Ya Gunz" "Shifftee" UK Albums Chart – #59 Billboard 200 – #17 Billboard Urban Albums – #8 RIAA – PlatinumLL Cool J14 Shots to the Dome rowspan="3" "How I'm Comin'" "Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings" "Back Seat (of My Jeep)" "Stand by Your Man" German Albums – #74 New Zealand Albums Chart –#36 UK Albums Chart – #74 Billboard 200 – #5 Billboard Urban Albums – #1 RIAA – Gold Pete Nice and Daddy RichDust to DustApril 27, 1993 "Rat Bastard" "Kick the Bobo" Billboard 200 – #171 Billboard Urban Albums – #50 Billboard Top Heatseekers – #8 BossBorn GangstazMay 25, 1993 "Deeper" "I Don't Give a Fuck" "Recipe of a Hoe" "Process of Elimination" Billboard 200 – #22 Billboard Urban Albums – #3 RIAA – GoldErick SermonNo PressureOctober 19, 1993Def Squad "Hittin' Switches" "Stay Real" Billboard 200 – #16 Billboard Urban Albums – #2 DominoDominoDecember 7, 1993Outburst Records "Getto Jam" "Sweet Potatoe Pie" "Money is Everything" "Long Beach Thang" Billboard 200 – #39 Billboard Urban Albums – #10 RIAA – Gold
1994 +In May 1994, PolyGram acquired Sony's 50% stake in Def Jam, distributing the label's music under PolyGram Group Distribution.Artist(s)TitleTypeRelease dateLabel(s) released in association withSinglesChart positionsCertifications.Lisette MendelezTrue to LifeAlbumJanuary 18, 1994Fever Records "Goody Goody" Japanese Albums – #3 Billboard Urban Albums – #100 Billboard Top Heatseekers – #28 rowspan="2" South Central Cartel'N Gatz We TrussMay 10, 1994South G.W.K. "Servin' 'Em Heat" "Seventeen Switches" "Gang Stories" Billboard 200 – #32 Billboard Urban Albums – #4Warren GRegulate... G Funk EraJune 7, 1994Violator "Regulate" "This D.J." "Do You See" ARIA Charts – #42 Canadian Albums – #27 Dutch Album Top 100 – #19 German Albums #15