Photo Credit: Mattias Caliste by Joyce Rodriguez
Universal Music Sweden, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), has announced the launch of Def Jam Recordings Sweden. Led by Mattias Caliste, the label will continue to follow the blueprint of the iconic Def Jam Recordings label, which has led and influenced hip-hop culture worldwide for four decades.
Def Jam Recordings Sweden will launch with a flagship roster made of both well-established artists and new talent. The roster includes heavy-hitters Asme and Sarettii, rap-veteran Sebastian Stakset, and rising star Zikai. Supported by a dedicated team encompassing A&R and production, Caliste will be joined by Hamid Jamshidi and Hermon Alemseghed and will be bolstered by UMG’s regional and international network of labels and corporate divisions.
Mattias Caliste brings a wealth of experience, first as an artist in the group Fjärde Världen, as well as success as a producer and founder of the record label Stadsbild. Most recently, he ran Virgin Music Sweden, releasing a number of acclaimed albums by artists including 23 and Asme.
“It is a great honor for me to start up Def Jam Recordings in Sweden,” said Mattias Caliste. “Def Jam raised me! I grew up on artists like Public Enemy, EPMD, LL Cool J, Redman and Method Man, Warren G, and many others who all released some of their most outstanding albums under Def Jam. The label has a legacy that is incredibly important for hip-hop as both a genre and a subculture.”
Founded in 1984, Def Jam Recordings has represented the cutting-edge in hip-hop music for nearly 40 years. Def Jam began as an independent label inspired by downtown New York City’s vibrant street culture and the emerging sound of hip-hop, pioneered by stars like LL Cool J, Slick Rick, The Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy.
Def Jam established its dominance with superstar acts like Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, Method Man and Redman, Ludacris, Rihanna, and Jeezy. Now in its fourth decade, Def Jam’s music and lifestyle have grown into a global brand.
Further announcements on signings and upcoming projects will follow in the coming months.
