Def Jam South

Def Jam South is the southern division of Def Jam Recordings. The label is best-known for launching the career of Ludacris and his Disturbing tha Peace group and label. In 2003, the label shut down but was relaunched in 2005. They have also jump-started the career of Young Jeezy. In the late 1990s, hip hop's main popularity moved from West Coast hip hop and East Coast hip hop to Southern hip hop. Founder of NY Label Def Jam Russell Simmons wanted to capitalize off of the success of southern rap. He recruited Scarface, a southern rap legend and former member of the Geto Boys to be the head of the label and, by 1999, the label was established. Also in 1999, an Atlanta DJ named Chris Luva Luva began rapping under the moniker Ludacris and...