Jazzy Jay’s “Def Jam” and Russell Rush’s “Cold Chillin’ in the Spot”

If Def Jam’s first two singles can be thought of as launching pads for the label’s first two acts, the third single—or at least its A-side—is nothing more or less than a rhythmic advertisement for the label itself. Recorded in January of 1985, released two months later, and powered by some frosty beat box funk that recalls Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock,” the “Def Jam” track is distinguished by Jazzy Jay’s Vocoderized vocals, his vigorous scratching, and slashing samples from half-a-dozen break-beat classics. The tag line? “It’s def. It’s def. So def so def so def, it’s a def jam.”

But, as often happens, the B-side was the standout. Entitled “Cold Chillin’ In the Spot,” it features Russell Simmons behind the mic…and if he’s not exactly rapping, he is undeniably running his mouth to amusing effect. He shouts out Rick Rubin, Jazzy Jay, the rapper Andre “Dr. Jeckyll” Harrell, and Def Jam. He exhorts the dancers to clap their hands and to lift their legs—both legs—up. He ends by addressing a pretty girl who happens to be in the studio, promising her that as soon as the record’s finished, “Me and you gon’ shoot to the hotel and do the wildest thing.” It may be nonsense, but it’s charming nonsense – and the leading edge of Russell’s success has always been his charm.

The single generated three reviews. Each showered love on Russell’s performance, but the most notable ran in the June 1985 issue of Spin. Conceived by Bob Guccione Jr. (the son and namesake of the publisher of Hustler) as a hip, younger alternative to Rolling Stone, Spin had published its first issue just three months earlier, a debut that included a full-length feature story about Run-DMC. Although this clipping of the review of “Def Jam” is unsigned, it was written by John Leland for his “Singles” column.

Not long afterwards, Leland would launch a more eclectic column in Spin. He called it “The Cold-Rock Stuff” – a phrase swiped from “Cold Chillin’ in the House.”

“Cold Chillin’ in the Spot” has been sampled at least 21 times over the years, by artists including Rob Base, King Tee, Cut Chemist, MC Shan, and a now-defunct German rap crew called Fünf Sterne Deluxe.

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