Def Jam tease

LOGJAM: During the last decade and a half, we all got used to the phrase Island Def Jam, forgetting what an odd pairing it was in the first place—the homes of Fairport Convention and Public Enemy, to cite the most disparate examples. But the seeds of this now-defunct label combination were sown several years prior to 1998, when IDJ came into existence, and the surrounding situation was far more complicated, starting with a deal between Tommy Mottola and Alain Levy. It was messy, illogical and populated by a fascinating cast of characters coming inelegantly together. We’ve got your history lesson right here. (10/15a)