Major Record Labels are the True rollers and Owners of African American c including Hip-Hop Hip-hop labels such as Def Jam, Roc-a- and Bad Boy are not really "independent". They act as intermediaries within the roduction of their music since they cannot istribute without being part of a major bel's network. They are no more than CEOs in title who re "media moguls by name, millionaires by ank balance, but paid staff nevertheless". su's Main Point: spite the hypervisibility of a few African rican rap artists and hip-hop ils/entrepreneurs, African Americans he aforementioned moguls lack control ownership of their music. 26.5