Defiant Records Explained

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Parent:Warner Music Group
Genre:Various
Country:United States
Location:New York City, New York (state)

Defiant Records is a joint venture record label formed in 2023 between Warner Records and Steven "Steve-O" Carless, President of A&R at Warner Records.[1] [2] It focuses on genres such as hip-hop, R&B soul, dance, jersey club and drill.

The label was launched with Warner in September 2023 by Carless, an award winning executive who was previously worked at Atlantic Records, Def Jam Recordings, Republic Records, and Uptown Records. He has worked on projects with artists Pusha-T, Big Sean, YG, 2 Chainz, Nipsey Hussle, and Polo G.[3]

The label boasts newcomers Sha Ek, Groovy, DJ Sliink and MCvertt who was also nominated for a grammy in 2023.

Discography

Mixtapes

Title! rowspan="2" scope="col"
DetailsPeak chart positions
US[4]
Face of the What
  • Release date: September 3, 2022 (US)
  • Label: Warner/Defiant[5]
  • Format: Digital download
189
Return of the Jiggy
  • Release date: December 9, 2022
  • Label: Warner/Defiant]
  • Format: Digital download

Highlights

In 2023, the label launched its first ever branded festival with WQHT Hot 97’s Summer Jam Stage featuring NLE Choppa, French Montana, Scar Lip, Sha EK, Bandmanrill, Kenzo B and MCVertt.[6]

Chart Positions

Number #1 Billboard's Heatseekers Album for Sha EK "Face of The What" 2022[7]

Number #2 Billboard's Dance/Electronic Digital Song for DJ Sliink & Bandmanrill "Real Hips 2" single 2023[8]

Number #3 Billboard's Rap/Hip-Hop Digital Song for MCvertt's "Face Down" ft Sexyy Red & Asap Ferg single[9]

Number #27 Billboard's Tik Tok Top 50 Chart MCvertt "Face Down" ft Sexyy Red & Asap Ferg[10]

Number #1 Most Added Record for Groovy's "Jersey Luv" at Urban AC radio chart [11]

Singles

Title! scope="col"
YearAlbum
"D&D"2020Face of the What
"We Droppin'" 2022
“It’s About Time. 2023

Notes and References

  1. News: Lamarre . Carl . 11 August 2023 . Warner Records Launches Defiant Records With Steve ‘Steve-O’ Carless: . Billboard.
  2. News: COM . WMG . 11 August 2023 . WARNER RECORDS SETS JOINT VENTURE WITH STEVE "STEVE-O" CARLESS’S DEFIANT RECORDS. Warner Music Group.
  3. News: Aswad. Jem . 11 August 2023 . Music Industry Moves: Warner Unveils Defiant Records With Steve ‘Steve-O’ Carless; French Montana Joins Gamma. Variety.
  4. Cabison . Rosalie . 2013-01-02 . Billboard 200™ . 2023-11-03 . Billboard . en-US.
  5. News: Major. Michael. Sha Ek Drops New Mixtape 'Face of the What'. Broadway World. September 2, 2022 . October 6, 2022.
  6. https://www.hot97.com/summer-jam/nle-choppa-2rare-and-sha-ek-start-summer-jam-off-with-a-bang/
  7. https://allhiphop.com/news/sha-ek-charts-1-on-billboard-heatseekers-chart-days-before-release-of-return-of-the-jiggy/
  8. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billboard-charts-first-timers-cut-worms-malakai-1235384538/
  9. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billboard-charts-first-timers-dylan-gossett-dennis-quaid-flamy-grant-1235388055/
  10. https://www.billboard.com/charts/tiktok-billboard-top-50/2023-09-16/
  11. https://x.com/usradioupdater/status/1795587874693460370?s=46&t=j9mPC_2E5zsSslKbtMMlRQ
  12. Web site: Sha Ek: The Bronx Drill Star Taking the Rap Industry by Storm . 27 September 2023 .