2014 marks the 30th birthday of Def Jam Recordings (and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). In 1984 Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin started a small record label, not realising that their startup would be one of the biggest contributors to the history of hip hop. Noisey brought the two together for a special Back & Forth series hosted by Elliot Wilson. The series is split up in four parts and in each part the duo discusses one artist that influenced & changed hip hop to be at the state it is today. They talk about the rise of hip hop icons such as LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and Slick Rick. Check it out below.