Def Jux closing down?

Rumors are swirling around today regarding the end of Def Jux--a label that has been a major cornerstone of indie hip-hop over the past ten years. Here's a report from A.V. Club earlier today.

"More ominous rumors that are likely true: Shabooty.com reports that cool indie hip-hop label Definitive Jux is closing. Although it's not confirmed—leader El-P won't say until an official statement is ready—Shabooty analyzes the writing that has been on the wall, including statements from former Def Jux artists.

The label has been home to a who's who of indie-rap notables—such as Mr. Lif, Murs, Dizzee Rascal, The Perceptionists, and, of course, El-P himself—but the label has been quiet lately, as fellow indie label Rhymesayers has grown more prominent." (News via A.V. Club)

UPDATE: Def Jux founder El-P released post on the state of the label:

Dear Inter-web, fans, friends and JUX family,

People keep asking me what's up with JUX. There's been some talk, there have been some rumors. Some half true, some way off. Reports of our demise have been mildly exaggerated. Here's what it really all boils down to: (read on)

This year, a decade after starting DEF JUX and after overseeing the releases of some incredible albums including the forthcoming release of my dear late and great friend Camu Tao's brilliant "KING OF HEARTS" LP, I'm stepping away from my duties as artistic director for the label to concentrate on what I love most: being a producer and an artist full time. This is something I've been contemplating for a few years now, and can't think of a better time or, with the eventual release of Camu's record, a more poetic way to transition into a new direction.

This means change for JUX. Of course we'll still have our website, we will still sell our catalog, merch and more as well as bring you news and updates on all our projects and artists. We will be releasing "KING OF HEARTS", a DEF JUX remix compilation, a 10 year anniversary retrospective and some other goodies. But then as a traditional record label DEF JUX will effectively be put on hiatus. We are not closing, but we are changing. The process is already underway, and the last several months (for those wondering what the hell we've been up to) have been spent dealing with the technical aspects of wrapping up the label in it's current form and re-imagining our collective and individual futures.

Read the rest of El-P's update here. 












In honor of the beloved hip-hop label, I decided to throw together a playlist of some of Def Jux's best artist throughout it's run.