Russell Simmons Russell Simmons Has Been the Leader in Bringing The
Russell Simmons Russell Simmons has been the leader in bringing the powerful influence of hip-hop culture to every facet of business and media since its inception in the late 1970s through current day, in which its integration into mainstream American Culture means an entirely new, post-racial, progressive America. Simmons' businesses have always been rooted in giving a powerful voice to emerging creative and social movements, and integrating them into the American psyche. His business successes have spanned music, film, television, fashion, the jewelry industry, video games, online and financial services; his activism has encompassed all of the areas touched by his businesses, including poverty, education and ignorance. From producing and/or managing such early hip-hop artists as Kurtis Blow, Run DMC, Will Smith and the Beastie Boys to signing seminal luminaries like Jay Z, LL Cool J and Ludacris to his iconic record label, Def Jam Recordings, Simmons’ groundbreaking vision and the cultural revolution became the international phenomenon now known as hip-hop. Following his departure from Def Jam, in 1999, Russell created a fashion empire in Phat Farm, which begat Baby Phat and Run Athletics, and put the definitive stake in the ground for urban streetwear, to which others followed including: Roc-A-Wear, Sean John, Derion, Enyce, Ecko and many others. His film and television production company with partner Stan Lathan, Simmons Lathan Media Group, created the wildly successful HBO series, “Def Comedy Jam “ (8 million DVDS sold), “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry,” and “HBO Presents Brave New Voices,” the Hollywood box office success “The Nutty Professor,” the Tony Award-winning stage production “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway,” the international hit on MTV “Run’s House,” and most recently the successful first season of “Running Russell Simmons.” In 2003, Simmons co-founded Unirush Financial Services with consumer debt investor David Rosenberg.
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