Radio 2 celebrates the American record label that spiked the music mainstream with hip-hop, and in so doing pushed popular music in a radical new direction. Inspired by the underground rap sound of the day (Kurtis Blow, Run-DMC), New York club promoter
Russell Simmons and New York University film student-turned producer Rick Rubin combined their love of music and relative disregard for financial gain to launch Def Jam in 1984. Their first release was LL Cool J's
I Need a Beat. The revolutionary sound would transform fashion, language, sexuality and all aspects of the media. The programme features interviews with Rubin and Simmons. With input from Chuck D , Glen Friedman , Hank Shocklee ,
Bill Stephney , LL Cool J , Run-DMC, Steven Tyler , Joe Perry and others.
Producer Des Shaw