Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin Speak on Def Jam Beginnings

Two key figures that stand behind the evolution of hip-hop, Def Jam Records founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin recently sat down to discuss the early days of Def Jam and the state of hip-hop as part of a four-part series for Noisey’s Back and Forth. The introductory episode finds the two sat cross-legged side by side, sharing past experiences working in the field and early A&R duties, including the signing of hip-hop stars like LL Cool J. Check out part one here and stay tuned for its sequel to drop soon.