Jay-Z Splits with Def Jam

Published at 2:30 PM on May 26, 2009

By Walton Murphy

We knew Jay-Z was a business, man, but settling a label contract over a coin flip? Now that's serious business. News of the separation between Hova and Def Jam hit the streets Thursday, when Jay spoke to RapRadar.com and confirmed that he would indeed be leaving his label of almost a decade.

Jay, who still owed Def Jam one more album, bought out of his contract for a reported $5 million. "Doug and I spoke directly and had one of the most unique 'negotiations' ever," he told the website. "Doug won the toss but, we both won in the end."

"I can honestly say, working with Doug Morris [CEO of Universal Music] and L.A. Reid [Chairman of Island Def Jam] has been a unique and fulfilling experience and I respect them immensely," he said. "I've been in the family for almost my entire career."

Jay began work with Kanye West on Blueprint 3, his follow-up to American Gangster, last April, and updates have been trickling out ever since. It looks like it will now be released on Roc Nation, a product of Jay's $150 million deal with Live Nation.

A new track (perhaps from Blueprint 3?), "Can't Cheat Death," has landed on several sites recently. Check it out before it gets yanked.

Related links:
News: Jay-Z continues Oasis beef, hints at Blueprint 3
News: Kanye West to produce Jay-Z's Blueprint
Jay-Z on MySpace

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