we are talking about def jam in 1996 and 1997 dude........that is what redman was referring to...he claimed he saved the label in 96
jay was already releasing singles for the 97 debut of JAY-Z life and times of shawn carter which came prior to DMX's debut in 1998
Redman knew this was a pivotal time for Def Jam cause ever since 1994..def jam was fighting a hostile "takoever" from the major label Polygram for the bulk of the 90's prior to the buyout from UNIVERSAL in
1998 which breathed new life into the def jam imprint
wikpedia:
PolyGram era (1994–1998)[edit]
By 1992, despite recent multi-platinum selling releases from
Public Enemy, and
EPMD, Def Jam ran into severe financial troubles and was faced with folding. However, in 1994,
PolyGram purchased Sony's 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings—subsequently bringing the label into its fold. Following PolyGram's purchase, Def Jam distributed the
Violator Records-signed artist
Warren G's
Regulate... G Funk Era album, which went triple platinum and brought much-needed revenue to Def Jam through its distribution deal with Violator.
[8]
PolyGram acquired an additional 10% in Def Jam Recordings in 1996, further strengthening its ownership of Def Jam. Shortly thereafter, Rush Associated Labels was renamed Def Jam Music Group. The label remained profitable as its veteran star LL Cool J released his successful album
Mr. Smith in 1995. The label later signed
Foxy Brown, whose debut album
Ill Na Na became a platinum seller in 1997
im starting to think so too...........
this is exactly when his career started declining....while Red and Jay released classic lps (muddy waters and life and times vol 1)
