Defiant Records
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. It focuses on genres such as hip-hop, R&B soul, dancehall, 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.
The label boasts newcomers Sha Ek, Groovy, DJ Sliink and MCvertt who was also nominated for a grammy in 2023.
Discography
Mixtapes
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | US |
| Face of the What |
| 189 |
| Return of the Jiggy | — |
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.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.Chart Positions
Number #1 Billboard's Heatseekers Album for Sha EK "Face of The What" 2022Number #2 Billboard's Dance/Electronic Digital Song for DJ Sliink & Bandmanrill "Real Hips 2" single 2023
Number #3 Billboard's Rap/Hip-Hop Digital Song for MCvertt's "Face Down" ft Sexyy Red & Asap Ferg single
Number #27 Billboard's Tik Tok Top 50 Chart MCvertt "Face Down" ft Sexyy Red & Asap Ferg
Number #1 Most Added Record for Groovy's "Jersey Luv" at Urban AC radio chart
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
| "D&D" | 2020 | Face of the What |
| "We Droppin'" | 2022 | Face of the What |
- Crank Dat Too Oppy 2023
- Shot in the Party 2023