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Russell Simmons Bio
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Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons was born on October 4, 1957 in Queens, New York. He is best known as an American entrepreneur who co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam and built an empire around it.
He was raised in Hollis, Queens along with his older brother Danny, and younger brother Joseph, in a middle-class neighborhood, which was known as the drug trading capital of Queens. His first experience as a businessman was selling marijuana on the street corner. He quickly realized that this was not the best way to make a living and got out of the trade before it became too dangerous.
Simmons began attending the City College of New York, but never completed his degree. He was torn between doing his schoolwork and promoting local musical groups such as Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC, a group his younger brother Rev. Joseph Simmons was a member of. When he met Rick Rubin in 1984, the two founded Def Jam Records. Some of the first acts they signed were Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J, among others.
Def Jam became a starting point for Simmons, who quickly and continuously expanded his business ventures. Since the inception of Def Jam in 1984, he has also founded a second label called Russell Simmons Music Group. He then created Rush Communications, which Def Jam became a part of. Simmons also owns a management company, a movie production company, television shows, a magazine, an advertising agency and a clothing company known as Phat Farm. In 1999, Simmons sold his stake in Def Jam to Universal Music Group for $100 million.
On December 20, 1998 Russell married model Kimora Lee. They have two children together: Ming Lee (born on January 21, 2000) and Aoki Lee (born on August 16, 2002). Both girls model for Baby Phat Kids Collection, which is run by Kimora and meant to be the girl version of Phat Farm. In March of 2006 Simmons filed for divorce. Their split was amicable and they continue to maintain a united front for the sake of the children.
Simmons’ most recent ventures include bringing his show Def Poetry, which has been critically acclaimed, to Broadway. He also has his hand in the financial world by coming out with a new line of re-loadable Visa debit cards designed for consumers with poor credit.
Besides being a businessman, Simmons is also a political and civil rights activist. In 2004 he aided a campaign to get young people to vote in the presidential election. He is also a Vegan and PETA member who has spoken out against Kentucky Fried Chicken, factory farms and slaughterhouses. Simmons has chosen not to offer any leather goods in his clothing line due to his stance against cruelty to animals.
Other groups Simmons works with include being a member of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and in 2006 he was named a Goodwill Ambassador of CISRI-ISP, which is an observer mission to the United Nations. Russell’s role included launching an awareness campaign on the problems of poverty, war and HIV/AIDS. He is also working in conjunction with celebrities like Leonardo Dicaprio, Will Smith and Beyonce on a project to fight anti-Semitism. |
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Russell Simmons - His record company 'Def Jam Records' signed LL Cool J .
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Russell Simmons - Working in conjunction with Leonardo DiCaprio .
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Russell Simmons - Working in conjunction with Will Smith .
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Russell Simmons - Working in conjunction with Beyonce .
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Yuddy top celebrities
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