For those of you who listen to hip hop (and I don’t mean the type you hear blaring out from LKF on a Friday and Saturday night) then you may have heard that after a decade of playing a key role in the independent hip-hop scene, label Definitive Jux is on an indefinite hiatus.

The announcement came from owner and producer El-P earlier this week where he stated that this is not a definite shut down and although the hiatus has come into effect, the official homepage and back catalogue will be available, as well as all forthcoming releases for 2010.

With artists such as El- P, Aseop Rock, RJD2, Murs, Mr. Lif and Cannibal Ox among others, Def Jux’s impact on hip hop has been hugely significant. Outside of mainstream territory, the label was successful in underground rap, introducing fresh sounds and beats and pushing music boundaries in all different directions.

Whilst El-P has stepped down as artistic director the future is not all dark and grim. With future compilations, a 10th anniversary album, remixes  and “some other goodies” in the works, it’s possible Def Jux will make a comeback and with the way artists have claimed to ‘retire’ or go on ‘hiatus’ (Jay-Z, Eminem, Blink 182 to name but a few), here’s hoping Def Jux will follow in these footsteps.

To read El-P’s official statement and to find out more about about the label and artists, click here

-The Raving Lunatik

Tags: Definitive Jux, El-P, Hip Hop
Posted in Blog