Def Soul

[b]The New Soul of R&B Flavor[/b]

Def Jam's third attempt at expanding its R&B and soul roster of artists, after the closure of [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/36707]Original Black Recordings[/url] and disassociation from the R&B division of [l=OutBurst Recordings]. The division was founded in 1996 by [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/4241]Def Jam[/url] co-founder [a=Russell Simmons] and then-president [a=Kevin Liles].

Artists included [a=Montell Jordan], [a=Case], [a=Playa], [a=Musiq Soulchild], [a=Dru Hill] ([a=Nokio], [a=Sisqo], [a=Jazz (3)], [a=Woody Rock (2)] and [url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/223112]Scola[/url]), [a=Kelly Price], [a=Kandice Love], [a=Christina Milian], [a=Jonell], [a=3rd Storee], [a=LovHer], [a=112], [a=K. Fox] and [a=Ingrid Smalls].

[l=Def Soul UK] was formed in 1999 under [l=Mercury Records], the UK division of Def Jam's parent company, [l=Universal Music Group]. Its artist roster consisted of [a=Terri Walker], [a=Warren Stacey] and [a=Aaron Soul]. This division closed in 2006 following the reorganization of Def Jam, which [a=Jay-Z] was president of at the time. [l=Def Jam Germany] launched [l=Def Soul Germany] as its own division in 2000 with [a=Bintia], [a=Deema] and [a=Danacee] as its core artists until it folded in 2002. [l32595] was launched as an "Oldies" or compilation/reissue division of Def Soul in 2003. Def Soul Classics' artists included [a=Gladys Knight], [a=Patti LaBelle] and the [url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/47512]Isley Brothers[/url] (at the time, the group only consisted of brothers, guitarist [url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/218691]Ernie[/url] and vocalist [url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/144910]Ronald[/url] respectively).

In May 2011, after eight years of commercial decline, Def Soul was absorbed into the R&B division of Def Jam, therefore ending the label completely; the remains of Def Soul's artist roster (including Classics) were transferred to its parent label following its disfunction. Reissues under this imprint will be handled by [l=Universal Music Enterprises].