Russell Simmons
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| Born: | October 4,1957 Queens, New York City, United States |
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| Occupation: | Music and Fashion Mogul |
Russell Simmons (born October 4 1957 in Queens, NY), is an American entrepreneur, the co-founder, with Rick Rubin, of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam, founder of another label, Russell Simmons Music Group, and creater of the clothing fashion line Phat Farm.
Russell Simmons is the older brother of Rev. Joseph Simmons, better known as "Run" of Run-DMC, and son of Daniel Simmons, a public school administrator.
Since May 2005 he's been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.
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[edit] Biography
Simmons attended City College of New York but left his studies to begin promoting local rap music acts, including Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC (whom he would later sign to his record label), and producing records. In 1984, he met Rick Rubin and they founded Def Jam Records, signing the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and other acts.
[edit] Personal
He married model Kimora Lee Simmons on 20 December 1998. Simmons officially filed for divorce in March 2006, saying the couple had split some time before. The Simmons have two daughters -- Ming Lee Simmons (21 January 2000) and Aaoki Lee Simmons (16 August 2002) -- who both model for Baby Phat Kids Collection.
[edit] Def Jam
Def Jam became just one piece in Simmons' corporation, Rush Communications, which included a management company, a clothing company called Phat Farm, a movie production house, television shows such as Def Comedy Jam, a magazine, and an advertising agency. Simmons sold his stake in the record company for $100 million to Universal Music Group in 1999. The up and coming component of Rush Communications is the sneaker company Run Athletics, a company that produces the Legacy shoes and the Arthur Ashe shoes.
Recently, Simmons brought his show Def Poetry to Broadway as a live show, earning awards for the youthful and multicultural cast. Simmons, in partnership with a financial institution, released a line of re-loadable Visa debit cards aimed at consumers who would other wise have problems obtaining a checking/debit account. The name of this card is The Rush Card.
Simmons has consistently made significant contributions to the contemporary civil rights movement and other social justice efforts. His influence aided get out the vote efforts in the 2004 US presidential election. Simmons, a vegan, has also spoken out against cruelty in factory farms and slaughterhouses, and has participated in PETA's campaign against Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Currently, Simmons is working on signing an up and coming producer/rapper by the name of $tash hailing from Fairfax, Va, as well as a project to fight anti-semitism. Some of the people on this project include Beyoncé, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Will Smith.[citation needed]
In July 2006, Simmons, in addition to other members of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, was named a Goodwill Ambassador of CISRI-ISP, so-called permanent observer mission to the United Nations. According to the press release, Simmons's appointment will help "launch an awareness campaign utilizing hip-hop as a vehicle to address the problems of war, poverty and HIV/AIDS, in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals as well as the CISRI-ISP fight against severe poverty and malnutrition [1]. On August 24,2006, Simmons hosted a reception in support of Republican United States Senate candidate from Maryland, Michael Steele [2]. In December 2006, Simmons was criticized for claims that he made following a tour organized by De Beers, of Botswana's Jwaneng mine, one of the world's richest diamond mines. This was part of a nine day, three country trip through Africa. Some expressed concern that this was part of a larger public relations effort organized by De Beers to counter expected controversies following the release of the movie Blood Diamond. Simmon's response was that he felt too much focus has been put on "conflict diamonds" and that his job was "to take what's good and make it better"[3].
[edit] Endorsement of Telephone Psychics
Mr. Simmons insinuated that the advice of telephone hot line psychic "Bishop E. Bernard Jordan" has been an indispensable part of his personal success during an infomercial shown on the American cable television channel BET December 2006.
In several segments, Mr. Simmons indicated that he looks to Bishop Jordan (who claims to be a direct descendant of the Apostle Paul) as his spiritual leader.
[edit] To Publish Self Help tome with Gotham Books
In March of 1997, Gotham books announced the publication of Mr. Simmons' new book Do You! 12 Laws To Access The Power In You To Achieve Happiness And Success. Co-written wtih Chris Morrow and featuring an introduction by Donald Trump, the book is due in stores on April 24th.
[edit] References
- ^ Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Press Release
- ^ Change the Game Press Release
- ^ http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=N05327463&WTmodLoc=IntNewsHome_C4_Crises-6 US music mogul, rights groups clash over diamonds
