BREAKING: MANY OF MY SOURCES ARE TELLING ME THAT INDIE HIP-HIP RECORD LABEL, DEFINITIVE JUX HAS INDEED FOLDED.

Before I detail the evidence… I guess I’ll say for the record that I have reached out to El-P, and I am waiting for official comment. If and when I hear back with a statement, I will update this post. Until then, here are the things I have been reading.

UPDATE: I heard from El-P himself. He told me that he’d be sure to let me know when there is [an official statement ready].

Earliest evidence: this blog post in December from a Canadian blogger: Definitive Jux no-more???? [Conspiracy Worldwide Radio] – Looks like this guy knew what he was talking about. I initially just chalked him up to be a hater, but there is no hate in the truth.

Since then, the evidence has mounted. Jeff Weiss mentions it in a December 31st post, under the section on the DJX rapper Danny: “Then it was supposed to be mastered, re-worked, and re-released in the New Year. Now the game of Internet telephone whispers that Def Jux is folding.”

Tweets backing up this story including messages from Living Legends’ Lucky I Am, Tame One, Hints from El-P himself, and even an anonymous message (name redacted due to ominous nature of message):

Tja, het heeft wel wat classics opgeleverd. Paar jaar terug had ik het erg gevonden, nu doet het me niets.

toedelledokie! kwam nog weinig tot goeds van dat label de laatse jaren , best wel kut label geworden .
zelfs cage is nu zwaar kut …. fuck duf jux!

net alsof dat aan def jux lag dat Cage uit de kast kwam? hoe zielig is t als cage nogsteeds over t zelfde zou rappen jaren later? Bedoel ik vind die 1e veruit beter dan die 2e, die vind ik ruk, maar als een 30+er dat soort shit roept is t zielig

Gasten hebben wel mooi The Cold Vein uitgebracht, een van de weinige classics van na 2000
ben benieuwt naar t officiele persbericht toch wel

net alsof dat aan def jux lag
yep , iedereen loopt weg bij dat label , mr lif , c rayz walz, masai bey , murs, y@k balls , zelfs camu tao ..
heb laatst en interview gelezen van vast over def jux…. ook hij moet niks meer van el producto hebben … nuff said

Wie hoeft nog een label? Iedereen kan mp3’s uploaden.

De winstmarge bij dat soort releases is intussen zo klein dat het weinig zin heeft als nog iemand anders mee wil verdienen. Fysieke releases zullen er meestal slechts nog uitkomen als de artiesten deze zelf maken.

Elke underground-rapper die op labels zit te wachten en zielig doet omdat het niemand boeit, forget about it. Gewoon zelf doen of laten.

damn, best wel gemene reacties hiero.

dej jux was/is een legendarische label… ik vind het heel jammer (en verrassend) als het echt zo is.

maar als cage, aesop rock, en el-p op je spelerslijst staat en je faalt nog steeds… dan moet je wel ophouden (die acts kregen bordevol shine van mtv tot pitchfork tot vele andere hippe shit). aesop heeft zelfs met nike en adidas samen gewerkt… def jux zal wel een centje daar verdiend hebben…

ik vond wel dat def jux altijd “on point” was met hun business modellen… goede digitale producten gebundled met fysieke kleding of cds, goede website, heel veel shows, VEEL legandarische albums (2x el-p solos, 2x cage, bordevol aesop rock, co-flo re-issues, veel mr.lif) etc…

ik denk/hoop dat het een hoax is…

aesop heeft zelfs met nike en adidas samen gewerkt… def jux zal wel een centje daar verdiend hebben…

Valt denk ik wel mee, voor die adidas schoen heeft ie niets gehad, die Nike+ mix is buiten Jux gegaan. Maar laten we eerlijk zijn, het was gewoon niet meer wat het was.

damn, best wel gemene reacties hiero.dej jux was/is een legendarische label… ik vind het heel jammer (en verrassend) als het echt zo is.maar als cage, aesop rock, en el-p op je spelerslijst staat en je faalt nog steeds… dan moet je wel ophouden (die acts kregen bordevol shine van mtv tot pitchfork tot vele andere hippe shit). aesop heeft zelfs met nike en adidas samen gewerkt… def jux zal wel een centje daar verdiend hebben…ik vond wel dat def jux altijd “on point” was met hun business modellen… goede digitale producten gebundled met fysieke kleding of cds, goede website, heel veel shows, VEEL legandarische albums (2x el-p solos, 2x cage, bordevol aesop rock, co-flo re-issues, veel mr.lif) etc…ik denk/hoop dat het een hoax is…

mee eens, def jux was ooit een verademing…beetje respect zal wel op zijn plaats zijn.

Dear Inter-web, fans, friends and JUX family,

People keep asking me what’s up with JUX. There’s been some talk, there have been some rumors. Some half true, some way off. Reports of our demise have been mildly exaggerated. Here’s what it really all boils down to: (read on)

This year, a decade after starting DEF JUX and after overseeing the releases of some incredible albums including the forthcoming release of my dear late and great friend Camu Tao’s brilliant “KING OF HEARTS” LP, I’m stepping away from my duties as artistic director for the label to concentrate on what I love most: being a producer and an artist full time. This is something I’ve been contemplating for a few years now, and can’t think of a better time or, with the eventual release of Camu’s record, a more poetic way to transition into a new direction.

This means change for JUX. Of course we’ll still have our website, we will still sell our catalog, merch and more as well as bring you news and updates on all our projects and artists. We will be releasing “KING OF HEARTS”, a DEF JUX remix compilation, a 10 year anniversary retrospective and some other goodies. But then as a traditional record label DEF JUX will effectively be put on hiatus. We are not closing, but we are changing. The process is already underway, and the last several months (for those wondering what the hell we’ve been up to) have been spent dealing with the technical aspects of wrapping up the label in it’s current form and re-imagining our collective and individual futures.

In 2000 starting a traditional record label made a lot of sense. But now, in 2010, less so and I find myself yearning for something else to put my energy into. I also see newer, smarter, more interesting things on the horizon for the way art and commerce intersect, and as an artist and an entrepreneur, I’m eager to see them unfold. The evolution of this industry is, in my opinion, exciting, inevitable and it would be nice to see the DEFINITIVE JUX brand be a part of it. In other words, maybe we can turn this hoopty in to a hovercraft.

All business aside, and regardless of what form JUX may inevitably take, my focus for the immediate future is going to be back-to-basics. The fun stuff: sitting in the studio and immersing myself in music, performing it for for my fans when the time comes and whatever (or wherever) else might be out there creatively for me. Thats how it all started and that’s how the next phase will begin. The days of me dedicating the majority of my time and energy into providing JUX with a constant stream of physical releases from multiple artists are on hold for the time being. My heart (and what little common sense I possess) is telling me to simplify my focus and it has always been my policy to listen to my heart.

Truly, DEF JUX has been amazing to be a part of. So many good people. So much fun. I feel very lucky to be friends and collaborators with people who have affected and continue to affect my life and work deeply and indelibly. Working with the likes of Amaechi Uzoigwe, Jesse Ferguson, Jason Drake, and Katy Eustis at JUX as well as allies like Kathryn Frazier (biz3), Michael Bull and Lisa Socransky-Austin (to name only a few) has been incredible. These are people who worked for generally meager wages because they loved what they did and they believed in the artists and the idea of DEF JUX. Anyone would be lucky to have worked with even one person as dedicated and passionate as all of them are. They are true champions of indie music and they (and too many others to mention here) have my gratitude and loyalty forever.

None of it would have existed, though, if not for the artists. Artists who rolled the dice on us the same way we did on them, and were there with us as we battled it all out. CAMU, MR LIF, AESOP ROCK, MURS, CAGE, ROB SONIC, HANGAR 18, CHIN CHIN, CANNIBAL OX, THE PERCEPTIONISTS, RJD2, DESPOT, SA SMASH, YAK BALLZ, CRAYZ, THE MIGHTY UNDERDOGS, DIZZEE RASCAL, DEL, P.F.A.C, ACTIVATOR, COOL CALM PETE … the list goes on. I consider them all geniuses at what they do. Every victory that they have had and will have will always feel like a victory for myself and all of us at JUX. It’s been a joy to create and even struggle with them all. It has not always been easy, but it’s almost always been fulfilling. I only hope the work we put in together helped build a path to their collective futures. They have my sincerest well wishes and genuine respect.

Lastly and most importantly are the fans… holy shit THE FANS! Our fans are no joke. I can’t tell you how humbled I am to have felt the love and respect that they have shown us all. Even when we did things they didn’t like, they stuck around. This was their label as much as ours. We answered to them, and yet they respected that we did what we loved, nothing more and nothing less. We always will. You are why we do any of this, and I’ll never be able to express how much your support means to all of us. I think I speak for all of us Jukies when I say I love making music for you and can’t wait to make more.

Until then, on behalf of everyone here at JUX and from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

EL-P
Founder/Artistic Director/Recording Artist
DEFINITIVE JUX

Fuck sommige reacties hier. Def Jux is een tof label waarop tenminste andere underground hiphopshit uitkwam. The Cold Vein was een van de eerste releases en dat is met de twee soloalbums van El-P wat mij betreft een van de hiphopclassics van het afgelopen decennium. RJD2, Aesop Rock, Cage en vooral El-P zelf hebben echt dikke albums daar uitgebracht. Maar ook Rob Sonic, Mr. Lif, Perceptionists en Cool Calm Pete hebben dope shit uitgebracht.

De laatste jaren werd er steeds minder uitgebracht en was de kwaliteit wisselvallig, maar ik heb zwaar respect voor dat label en de founder ervan, El-P.

Hier nog een andere kortere samenvatting. Het label stopt voorlopig dus nog niet en het is onduidelijk hoe het straks verdergaat als El-P zijn handen er vanaf trekt . Wat hij al zegt: “We are not closing, but we are changing,”

El-P Says Definitive Jux Label Is Going On ‘A Hiatus’

Published 02/03/2010 · By Ronnie Gamble

After a 10-year run as a force in the indie hip-hop world, is Definitive Jux Records finally closing its doors? Sort of, says founder El-P.

In a recent blog entry on the label’s official website (DefinitiveJux.net), label founder and recording artist El-P gave fans an update about what’s going on at Def Jux.

While El-Producto says new projects are on the way — including the forthcoming release of the late Camu Tao’s King of Hearts LP — je revealed that he’ll be stepping away as artistic director to focus on being a producer and artist.

“I’m stepping away from my duties as artistic director for the label to concentrate on what I love most: being a producer and an artist full time,” El-P wrote. “This is something I’ve been contemplating for a few years now, and can’t think of a better time or, with the eventual release of Camu’s record, a more poetic way to transition into a new direction.”

El-P says he’ll be wrapping up a few upcoming projects — such as the King of Hearts LP, a Def Jux remix compilation, a 10 year anniversary retrospective, and “some other goodies” — but then, Def Jux is being put on a hiatus … sort of.

The indie rap star says he plans to move his label into a new direction, outside of the traditional record label format. What this means? We’re not really sure.

“DEF JUX will effectively be put on hiatus. We are not closing, but we are changing,” El-P said. "The process is already underway, and the last several months (for those wondering what the hell we’ve been up to) have been spent dealing with the technical aspects of wrapping up the label in it’s current form and re-imagining our collective and individual futures.

“The evolution of this industry is, in my opinion, exciting, inevitable and it would be nice to see the DEFINITIVE JUX brand be a part of it,” he continued.

El-P says the traditional format no longer makes sense, and for no, he plans to go “back-to-basics.”

“The fun stuff: sitting in the studio and immersing myself in music, performing it for for my fans when the time comes and whatever (or wherever) else might be out there creatively for me,” he explained of what “back-to-basics” meant. “That’s how it all started and that’s how the next phase will begin.”

The current and past Def Jux roster includes Aesop Rock, Cage, Cannibal Ox, Del, Murs, Hangar 18, Dizzee Rascal, Company Flow, RJD2, C-Rayz, and more.

What this means for the current stable of Def Jux artists is currently unknown.

Cool Calm Pete hebben dope shit uitgebracht.

Was van origine niet op Jux he

Lost is the debut solo album by American hip hop artist Cool Calm Pete, released in the United States on July 12, 2005 on Embedded Records and later released in Europe on Definitive Jux. The album was largely self-produced.

later released

Daar doelde ik op.

word @ Rule!ELP is echt een held, heeft jarenlang zijn nek uitgestoken voor underground hiphop. iets meer respect is wel op zijn plaats.

word up

De vaarwel mixtape (62 tracks, iets van 350 mb) > http://www.filedropper.com/wwwthecryptonlinecom…