DefJam Recordings announced that they have signed Ghanian singer StoneBwoy to a recoding contract.
The announcement came via all of DefJam’s global platforms including Africa as they announced his latest single Theraphy.
“We are buzzing as we welcome Ghanaian Afro-pop legend
to the Def Jam Recordings Africa Family. Stay tuned for fresh fire as he drops his brand-new single and lyric video, #Therapy.”
We Welcome Ghanaian Afro-pop legend @stonebwoy to the Def Jam Recordings Africa Family. pic.twitter.com/VYRweRSZwy
— U Music South Africa (@UMGSA) May 3, 2022
Stonebwoy’s signing announcement comes on the heels of African Giant Burna Boy’s two night sold out
concert at Madison Square Garden last weekend that brought into focus the international appeal of African acts.
We are buzzing as we welcome Ghanaian Afro-pop legend @stonebwoy to the Def Jam Recordings Africa Family.
Stay tuned for fresh fire as he drops his brand-new single and lyric video, #Therapy pic.twitter.com/T5Y9kMIMob
— Def Jam Recordings Africa (@defjamafrica) May 3, 2022
The Nigerian superstar Burna Boy blessed the 20 thousand strong New York City audience with his Afro-fusion hits on the first night of his wildly anticipated “One Night In Space” show. The event was live streamed on YouTube to an additional 80,000 people.
Burna was the first African solo headliner to sell out Madison Square Garden as he follows the footsteps of activist and Afropop singer Miriam Makeba who performed at Madison Square Garden for JFK’s birthday celebration in 1967.
Stonebwoy real name Livingstone Etse Satekla, is signed to Def Jam Recordings African imprint.
His first single on the deal, Therapy via Def Jam Recordings, 0207 Def Jam and Def Jam Africa, is supported by UMG labels around the world . His album is set to drop mid-2022 according to a statement from the label.
He has collaborated with many dancehall and reggae acts including Beenie Man, Tarrus Riley and Sean Paul, Keri Wilson, Burna Boy, and many more.
Def Jam And Jamaica
In the 1990s DefJam signed Capleton who released two chart topping albums “Prophecy”, which peaked at number 65 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart in 1995 and I-Testament, released in 1997. Capleton also climbed the charts with the singles ‘Tour’ reaching number 57 on the Hot 100 Chart, ‘Wings of The Morning’ reaching number 79 and Heathen Rage peaked at number 79 on the R&B Hip Hop Songs Chart.
They took chances with Rihanna in her early stages releasing “Pon Di Replay” which was the genesis of her now successful career. They released Nas and Damian Marley’s “Distant Relatives” 2010 which debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 57,000 copies in its first week.
As DefJam looks more to Africa, RCA records is scooping up as many dancehall/reggae acts as they can but so far none has reaped the success of Def Jam in the past.
