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For its 35th anniversary, Def Jam—-the legendary record label that brought us LL Cool J, Jay-Z, DMX and more—-has injected their new generation of artists into the hip-hop world with a compilation album titled Undisputed.
In the span of six days, 17 freshly signed artists from all over the country trekked to Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA to record the label’s newly released compendium. The album showcases the label’s newest additions while giving listeners a chance to hear where the iconic label is going next. There’s a taste of all types of hip-hop on the album with standout performances by a number of upcoming MCs.
Def Jam Recordings teamed up with New York City radio station Hot 97 to present some of the artists who were apart of the “rap camp” recording sessions for Def Jam’s Undisputed. As a part of the radio station’s monthly "Who’s Next" showcase at SOB’s, Def Jam and a handful of its rookie signings including Dominic Lord, S3nsi Molly, Lil Brook, TJ Porter, Nimic Revenue and YK Osiris made the intimate venue their home on a cold Monday evening.
Hot 97’s DJ Drewski took on hosting duties for the night as the critical New York City crowd arrived in droves to catch their first glimpse of the new era of Def Jam. To get the night started, the label presented a video montage detailing the history of the label with images of the many artists and executives that called the label home.
The first neophyte to hit the stage was Harlem’s own Dominic Lord. In an energetic pace, the MC delivered solid performances of “Parade” and “Diamond Boo” but showed he needed some work on his stiff stage presence. Thankfully Lord’s confidence overshadowed the slight discomfort as he rapped through his lyrics without missing a beat. There’s potential in Lord and he can be a force within the label’s roster and he knows it. “I’m going to pack this up even more next time I come back,” he told the audience as they applauded. “I’m a savage!”
The aggressive, no-nonsense duo of S3nsi Molly and Lil Brook brought their brand of gun-toting, trap-heavy music to SOB’s but it barely left an impression on the New York faithful. Songs like “Big” and “Pop” were hitting but there was no lasting appeal as it soon became obvious how redundant the duo’s lyrics and production were. Their set was the weakest of the night. Molly looked much more comfortable on stage than Lil Brook as Molly actively participated with the crowd.
TJ Porter showed the hometown crowd exactly why Def Jam signed him. Porter’s swagger flowed throughout his entire performance as his vibrant stage presence thrilled the crowd. The audience bounced to “Tricky” and “The Don” while the charismatic Porter brought out fellow upcoming New York rappers Jay Gwuapo and KJ Balla for an electrifying rendition of “Harder Than Ever.” Orlando Magic center and Harlem native Mo Bamba even got on the stage to revel at the moment.
St. Paul, MN native Nimic Revenue’s energy rivaled Porter’s set as she blazed through an equally exciting performance. The audience was invested throughout Revenue’s set as she performed “Therapy,” “Awlorn Gang,” and a few other unreleased songs. Revenue made good use of the stage as well as she moved swiftly to each corner, interacting and actually rapping and singing to a few people stationed at the bottom of the stage. Between her and TJ Porter their sets were the strongest of the night.
Once Revenue closed her set, the crowd was treated to an impromptu performance by another Def Jam rookie, rapper-singer YK Osiris. The Florida native laced the New York crowd with smooth performances of “Worth It” and “Valentine” causing the women in the audience to voice their support of Mr. Valentines.
DaniLeigh hit the stage right after to close out the night as the special guest and the Miami native did not disappoint. Accompanied by two dancers, Leigh bopped her way across the stage while delivering a blend of singing and rapping on “Can’t Relate,” “Family Only,” and “Do It to Me.” She even teased the crowd with a preview of a remix with Chris Brown to her song “Easy.” Before Def Jam could close the lid on the night however, another one of their newest signees, Fetty Luciano, hit the stage with Casanova to perform their collaborative effort “WhatWeDoin’.”
Def Jam’s Undisputed showcase was a night for the iconic label to introduce their new cast of hip-hop artists that will possibly carry the label’s coveted torch.
Since 1984, Def Jam has always had its finger on the pulse of the culture and it’s no different this time around. It was an impressive night but it would’ve been better had they featured other artists who shined on Undisputed like Bernard Jabs, Billz, Pvrx, or Lul G. But regardless of who represented the label that night Def Jam has stamped their ticket to the journey through this new era of hip-hop music filled with melodic hooks and trunk-rattling tunes.
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“I know how to make the hard things look really easy,” Addison Rae tells the O2 Academy Brixton crowd, moving playfully across the stage in a glittering silver bikini and tall boots. She’s in the middle of performing ‘High Fashion’, her sultry track that’s more about longing for luxury brands than craving love. But when she hits that lyric, midway through the first of two packed shows at the south London venue, it feels just as much like she’s describing the way her career has unfolded so far.
Becoming a central pop act in 2025 isn’t simple, especially for someone trying to win instant respect with only a handful of tracks and completely reinvent themselves from influencer to credible rising star with genuine cultural weight. Yet Rae has pulled it off, a shift she only really kicked into motion a year ago with the release of ‘Diet Pepsi’, the lead single from her first album, ‘Addison’. Tonight’s show proves how far she’s come, from inviting two fans dressed in throwback versions of her past outfits to join her on stage for a cover of Charli XCX’s ‘Von Dutch’, to sly references sprinkled throughout her set, an Arca remix of ‘Obsessed’ surfacing for a moment, a Britney Spears-flavored twist on 2023’s ‘I Got It Bad’.
Rae has also mastered the trick of looking like a seasoned pop headliner with ease. Before starting her headline tour of the UK and Ireland in Dublin earlier this week (August 25), she’d only played live a small number of times, two intimate album launch parties at The Box in New York and London, an opening slot for Lana Del Rey at Wembley Stadium in July, and a showcase at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Yet at Brixton she moves like someone who’s been doing this for years, the only slip showing when she breaks character to squeal happily at her fans. “Wow, you’re so loud!” she laughs at one point. “I feel so lucky to be here; it’s such a dream come true.”
Addison Rae. Credit: Samir Hussein
When she’s not bubbling over with gratitude for the crowd, Rae delivers an ecstatic hour of perfectly polished pop. Before she even steps out, wrought iron gates stamped with a bold A slide open across the stage, pulled apart by dancers in neon outfits straight out of Spring Breakers. Rae emerges high on a podium as ‘Fame Is A Gun’ kicks off, dressed in a navy swing dress. By the end of the song, her dancers pull away the outer layer, leaving her in a glowing, fluorescent look underneath – a visual metaphor for stepping fully into fame.
‘Summer Forever’ shimmers with dreamy brightness, ending in a steamy routine with dancer Patrick that leaves them sprawled on the floor, faces inches apart. “Oh my god, Patrick! I might even say that was to die for, but I’m not looking for anything serious right now,” Rae jokes afterward – a cheeky quip that brushes up against corny when you realize her next track is 2023’s ‘2 Die 4’. It’s one of the rare missteps of the night, along with the sometimes clashing visuals, Rae tries to merge. She blends gothic southern elements with glossy LA-style touches, nodding to both her Louisiana roots and California life, but the lack of a clear storyline keeps it from fully landing.
The audience doesn’t seem to care, though. They scream along to every chorus, especially when the singles drop. ‘Aquamarine’, ‘Headphones On’, and ‘Diet Pepsi’ all spark wild sing-alongs that feel more like celebrations for a veteran artist than a newcomer. For the finale, Rae stages one more theatrical moment. Sitting on a podium in the center, dressed in a corset and dramatic tulle skirt, she lets the lights fall to black before the music surges back with a key change, sparks pouring across the screen behind her. Once again, she makes something difficult appear completely effortless.
Addison Rae played:
‘Fame Is A Gun’
‘I Got It Bad’
‘New York’
‘Summer Forever’
‘2 Die 4’
‘Von Dutch’
‘In The Rain’
‘High Fashion’
‘Aquamarine’
‘Headphones On’
‘Money Is Everything’
‘Obsessed’
‘Times Like These’
‘Diet Pepsi’
