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, dancehall, jersey club and drill.[1]
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
Albums
Highlights
Hot 97 Summer Jam (2023
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.[14]
Defiant Partners With Vybz Kartel
In 2024, following the overturning of his 2014 conviction and subsequent release from prison, Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel partnered with Defiant Records, founded by Carless. Kartel's single "Pretty Girl," produced by Now or Never Miami and directed by Rizzy, marked his first release under this new arrangement with Defiant Records.[15][16]
Chart Positions
Number #1 Billboard's Heatseekers Album for Sha EK "Face of The What" 2022[17]
Number #2 Billboard's Dance/Electronic Digital Song for DJ Sliink & Bandmanrill "Real Hips 2" single 2023[18]
Number #3 Billboard's Rap/Hip-Hop Digital Song for MCvertt's "Face Down" ft Sexyy Red & Asap Ferg single[19]
Number #27 Billboard's Tik Tok Top 50 Chart MCvertt "Face Down" ft Sexyy Red & Asap Ferg[20]
Number #1 Most Added Record for Groovy's "Jersey Luv" at Urban AC radio chart [21]
Singles
- Crank Dat Too Oppy 2023
- Shot in the Party 2023 [22]
References
- Carl Lamarre. Warner Records Launches Defiant Records With Steve 'Steve-O' Carless: Billboard, 11 August 2023^
- WMG COM. WARNER RECORDS SETS JOINT VENTURE WITH STEVE "STEVE-O" CARLESS'S DEFIANT RECORDS Warner Music Group, 11 August 2023^
- Jem Aswad. Music Industry Moves: Warner Unveils Defiant Records With Steve 'Steve-O' Carless; French Montana Joins Gamma Variety, 11 August 2023^
- Rosalie Cabison. Billboard 200™ Billboard, 2013-01-02, retrieved 2023-11-03^
- Michael Major. Sha Ek Drops New Mixtape 'Face of the What' Broadway World, September 2, 2022, retrieved October 6, 2022^
- Dylan Green. Bandmanrill: Club Godfather Pitchfork, 2022-11-10, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- Courtlandt Over Everything Album of The Year, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- Allison Hussey. Bandmanrill, Sha EK, and MCVertt Announce New Mixtape, Share “Pistons” Video Pitchfork, 2023-06-02, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- DOWNLOAD: Defiant Presents x Sha EK Most Dangerous (Jersey Club Version) EP LifeStyle, 2023-04-26, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- DJ Sliink & Defiant Presents Album of The Year, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- Dani Mallick. Teejay Finds His Own Lane At Warner Music, Signs Publishing And Record Deal DancehallMag, 2023-06-21, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- Camille Minor. GU Jams: Discovering The Creative Genius Of Groovy And His Luv Club Sound Girls United, 2024-09-13, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- Sha Ek Teams up with Defiant Presents to Release "Chain Gang (Vol. 1)" The Royalty Network, Inc., 2025-03-07, retrieved 2025-03-15^
- staff. NLE Choppa, 2Rare and Sha EK start off Summer Jam HOT 97, 2023-06-04, retrieved 2025-10-20^
- Kyle Denis. Vybz Kartel Announces The Worl' Boss Tour: Here Are the Dates Billboard, 2025-05-21, retrieved 2025-05-24^
- Okla Jones. Vybz Kartel Reclaims His Throne With New Single “Pretty Girl” Essence, 2025-05-21, retrieved 2025-05-24^
- Kershaw St Jawnson. Sha EK Charts #1 On Billboard Heatseekers Chart Days Before Release Of 'RETURN OF THE JIGGY' AllHipHop, 2022-12-07, retrieved 2025-10-20^
- Xander Zellner. 10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Cut Worms, Malakai, Parannoul, Bandmanrill & More Billboard, 2023-08-03, retrieved 2025-10-20^
- Xander Zellner. 10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Dylan Gossett, MCVERTT, Dennis Quaid, Flamy Grant & More Billboard, 2023-08-09, retrieved 2025-10-20^
- Rosalie Cabison. TikTok Billboard Top 50 Billboard, 2023-08-30, retrieved 2025-10-20^
- U.S. Radio Updater X (formerly Twitter), retrieved 2025-10-20^
- Sha Ek: The Bronx Drill Star Taking the Rap Industry by Storm 27 September 2023^