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Russell Simmons
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Russell Simmons (born October 4, 1957 in Queens, New York), is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist.
In 2007 USA Today named Russell Simmons one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years,” calling him a “hip-hop pioneer” for his groundbreaking vision that has influenced music, fashion, finance, television and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy.
Simmons has been instrumental in bringing the powerful influence of hip-hop culture to every facet of business and media since its inception in the late 1970s and has been listed as the most influential mogul in hip hop. From producing and/or managing such early hip-hop artists as Kurtis Blow, Run-DMC (Run is Russell's brother), Whodini and the Beastie Boys to signing contemporary superstars like Jay-Z and Ludacris, Simmons’ groundbreaking vision was crystallized with partner Rick Rubin in the creation of the seminal Def Jam Recordings in 1984, launching the cultural revolution known as hip-hop.
In addition to launching Def Jam, Simmons helped bring hip-hop culture to the mainstream with such ground breaking ventures as Phat Farm clothing and HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry Jam. Simmons has continued to serve the hip-hop generation through such ventures as the Rush Card, Simmons Lathan Media, Atman Fragrance, Simmons Jewelery and the Global Grind website.
A committed philanthropist, Simmons heads Rush Philanthropic, which exposes disadvantaged youth to the arts, as well as serving as the Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, which is dedicated to bringing religions and ethnicities together.
Simmons is also the author of the New York Times bestseller Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success.
Early YearsRussell "Rush" Simmons grew up in the Hollis area of New York, NY, and spent some of his teen years as a street hustler. He later enrolled at CCNY-Harlem to study sociology, and in 1978, he began using his spare time to promote early hip-hop block parties and club shows around Harlem and Queens, often in tandem with his friend Curtis Walker.
Def Jam and Baby PhatRussell Simmons attended City College of New York but left his studies to promote local music acts, including Kurtis Blow and Run-D.M.C., and produce movies. In 1984, he met New York University student Rick Rubin and together they founded Def Jam, signing the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C. and other acts.
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 and Arthur Ashe shoes.
In 2004 Russell sold Phat Farm to Kellwood Company for $140 million dollars. Kimora--who was already Creative Director of Baby Phat-- was promoted by Kellwood to President and Creative Director of Phat Fashions
PersonalRussell is a vegan and a yoga enthusiast he preforms japa meditation daily. On an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, he said: "In getting in those poses, the most important thing is to remember to smile and breathe. The grace that you get from smiling and breathing in every pose, if you take it off the mat and if you can remember to be connected to your breath, and to move gracefully through life, then that alone is a process that will bring you to enlightenment."
Simmons met model Kimora Lee Simmons in November 1992 during New York City's Fashion Week, when she was 17 years old and he was 35. He married Lee on December 20 1998 on Caribbean island of St. Barts with his Pentecostal minister brother Rev. Joseph Simmons officiating. The couple separated in March 2006 and officially filed for divorce in March 2008.
The Simmons' have two daughters: Ming Lee Simmons (born January 21, 2000) and Aoki Lee Simmons (born August 16, 2002). Both Ming Lee and Aoki Lee have modeled for the Baby Phat Kids Collection.
Court papers surfaced in June 2008, in which it was learned that Russell will have to pay Kimora $40,000 a month in child support until his two daughters turn 18, which would be 2018 for Ming Lee and 2020 for Aoki. In June 2008, Russell issued a public statement regarding the situation, citing that he is happy to take care of his children and their well being: "...my kids live a tremendous life. They do have lots of security, nannies, educators, special programs, travel, chefs, on and on. Their mother manages all of those luxuries and I'm happy to provide for that."
The former couple's 35,000 square-foot Saddle River, New Jersey mansion is for sale at . Located 25 miles northwest of Manhattan, the 1996 built palace is one of the largest homes on the East Coast.
Simmons recently dated model/yoga buddy Porschla Coleman, and they had an amicable split. In July 2008, Porshla made this comment to the NY Daily News: "I am not prepared to go into detail, but Russell is my best friend. There is no anger on either of our parts. It was a mutual decision. We just decided to be friends, and we’re both very happy.”
Philanthropy and ActivismSimmons has been an active philanthropist. Among his community activism and charitable organizations are the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, the Rush Philanthropic organization and the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.
Simmons became involved in New York politics when then-governor George Pataki asked for Simmons' input in revising the Rockefeller drug laws, a mandatory-sentencing policies for drug offenders. However the proposed overhaul never came to fruition, and had the effect of allegedly "alienating some of the hip-hop entrepreneur's political allies". Simmons was later investigated for being an unregistered lobbyist. In response, Simmons sued the state of New York for infringing on his right to free speech. Simmons has been actively supporting PETA animal rights campaigns, particularly campaigns against KFC's cruelty to chickens. Simmons wrote a letter to KFC CEO David Novak asking the company to improve its animal welfare standards.
Since May 2005 he has been a contributing blogger at political website The Huffington Post.
In July 2006, Simmons was named a Goodwill Ambassador of CISRI-ISP. According to the press release, Simmons' appointment will help "launch an awareness campaign utilizing hip-hop as a vehicle to address 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 . On August 24,2006, Simmons hosted a reception in support of Republican United States Senate candidate from Maryland, Michael Steele .
In December 2006, Simmons went on a tour 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. Simmons' 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".
Russell Simmons also is a U.S. board of directors for Upliftment Jamaica , an organization started by Gary Foster, Vice President of Rush Communication which seeks to empower impoverished communities throughout Jamaica and the Caribbean.
Simmons has since gained attention by calling for a ban of the words 'nigga', 'bitch' and 'ho' from the "clean" radio edited versions of rap songs.
In an April 25, 2007 appearance on Donny Deutsch's show, Simmons said if he had to put someone in office right now, he would choose Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich for the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Simmons has since revised his statement saying, "When I am ready to officially support one of the candidates, I will put out an official statement." He has also met with John Edwards, taking him to a yoga class in the Hamptons. . On March 2, 2008 he officially endorsed Barack Obama for President
Other projectsSimmons has been involved behind the camera, producing or executive producing several films and television shows. Among his credits are the hip-hip film Krush Groove (1985), The Nutty Professor (1996), and Gridlock'd (1997). nl
Do You!In April 2007, Gotham Books published Simmons' book Do You! 12 Laws To Access The Power In You To Achieve Happiness And Success. The book is a self-help book which combines Simmons' business knowledge with spiritual advice he has gained from his yoga practice. Simmons explained, "It's about getting back from the universe what you put into it. It's about the karmic laws that are unbreakable." The book was co-written with Chris Morrow and featured an introduction by Donald Trump. In an interview with the New York Times, Simmons credits Oprah Winfrey with giving him the title of the book.
In July 2007, Simmons, frustrated that The Howard Stern Show would not book him as a guest to promote his recent book, vented on the Jay Thomas radio show by bad mouthing Stern show producer Gary Dell'Abate. When Stern heard this, he called Simmons and immediately booked Simmons for the show on July 24, 2007 to talk about this. The two are now friends.
External links- from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
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