Jay-Z Confirms Split With Def Jam Records

 
 
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  • Jay-Z arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
  • Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs party in style at the TAO Las Vegas Fight After Party at The Venetian Hotel and Casino Resort on May 2, 2009
  • Beyonce and Jay-Z at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards
  • Jay-Z in Las Vegas (Aug. 2007)

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  • Getty Images

    Jay-Z arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California

  • WireImage

    Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs party in style at the TAO Las Vegas Fight After Party at The Venetian Hotel and Casino Resort on May 2, 2009

  • WireImage

    Beyonce and Jay-Z at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards

  • AP

    Jay-Z in Las Vegas (Aug. 2007)

 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: May 21, 2009 6:12 PM EDT

NEW YORK, New York --

There will be no encore for Jay-Z and Def Jam.

The rapper confirms reports that he has left the record company where he made most of his biggest hits and went from artist to president, and back to artist again.

In an interview with the Web site RapRadar.com, he thanks the label’s executives and calls his time at Def Jam “a unique and fulfilling experience.”

Last year, Jay-Z and Live Nation struck a wide-ranging deal that included touring, publishing and albums. Jay-Z had owed Def Jam one more record. A representative for Jay-Z declined to elaborate on his comments.

Copyright 2009 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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