Formerly known as Def American Recordings (usually simplified as Def American), the label's most successful artists include Slayer, the Black Crowes, Danzig, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, and System of a Down.The label was founded as Def American Recordings after Rick Rubin left Def Jam Recordings in 1988. Among the first acts to be signed were Slayer (which followed Rubin from Def Jam), Danzig, The Fou
r Horsemen, Masters of Reality, and Wolfsbane, as well as indie rockers The Jesus and Mary Chain and controversial stand-up comedian Andrew Dice Clay. Rubin continued his association with hip-hop music by signing artists such as the Geto Boys and Sir Mix-a-Lot. American had its first major success with The Black Crowes' 1990 debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, which was eventually certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA. The group’s 1992 follow-up, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, gave American Recordings its first No.1 album. Emcee Sir Mix-a-Lot managed a number-one hit with the song "Baby Got Back" as well as a platinum-selling album titled Mack Daddy. Heavy metal acts Slayer and Danzig also enjoyed notable commercial success, with Slayer in particular, managing several Gold-certified albums. Rubin produces many of the recordings on the label, as well as directing other music-related ventures. Former artists
* Jazz Lee Alston
* American Head Charge
* Dan Baird
* Barkmarket
* Frank Black
* The Black Crowes
* Blackeyed Susans
* Johnny Cash
* Chino XL
* Andrew "Dice" Clay
* Julian Cope
* Danzig
* Deconstruction
* Digital Or**sm
* DJ Kool
* Donovan
* Pete Droge
* Fireside
* Flipper
* The Four Horsemen
* The Freewheelers
* John Frusciante
* Geto Boys
* God Lives Underwater
* The Jayhawks
* The Jesus and Mary Chain
* Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
* Kinfolk
* Kwest Tha Madd Ladd
* Laika
* Lords of Acid
* Lordz of Brooklyn
* Loudermilk
* Love and Rockets
* Luna Halo
* Manmade God
* Masters of Reality
* MC 900 Ft. Jesus
* Medicine
* Messiah
* Milk
* The Mother Hips
* Mouse on Mars
* Noise Ratchet
* The Nonce
* Ours
* Paloalto
* Tom Petty
* Jonny Polonsky
* Pram
* Pretty Tone Capone
* Psychotica
* Raging Slab
* The Jim Rose Circus Sideshow
* Ruth Ruth
* Sir Mix-a-Lot
* Skinny Puppy
* Slayer
* Stiffs, Inc.
* Supreme Love Gods
* Survival Research Laboratories
* Swell
* System of a Down
* Thee Hypnotics
* Th' Faith Healers
* Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments
* Trouble
* Unida
* Vell Bakardy
* Vitro
* V.3
* Saul Williams
* Wesley Willis
* Wolfsbane
