Durk eventually dropped out of high school and had his first of seven children at age 17. Around the same time, he doubled down on his rap dreams, catching local fire with the antagonistic “” and signing to Def Jam in 2012.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-05-29/lil-durk-therapy-almost-healed-all-my-life-morgan-wallen-j-cole

In 2011, Frank Ocean was signed to Def Jam Records but the label was not supporting his work as a solo artist.

Source: https://americansongwriter.com/from-pen-to-stardom-9-songwriters-who-successfully-transitioned-to-solo-artists/

I tried tracking down the “real Paul Rosenberg” through Shady Records, Gotham music management and Def Jam so I could start forwarding the messages to them.

Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/every-day-i-get-messages-from-all-over-meant-for-a-celebrity-its-a-burden-and-a-gift_uk_65831994e4b0d9bdbf6875e6

“We didn’t get Russell Simmons or Lyor Cohen,” Lawrence says, referring to the executives who oversaw the growth of Def Jam.

Source: https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/april-2023/house-divided/