Black PR Wire Power Profiler on Russell Simmons: Hip-Hop Renaissance Man

Russell Simmons is the groundbreaker of hip-hop entrepreneurs. He co founded the Def Jam Recording Label and used a combination keen business sense and marketing, plus a feel for the streets to move hip-hop from a subculture group into mainstream America.

Simmons can be credited with assimilating rap music into a multi-million dollar industry. In 1982 with only a few thousand dollars, Simmons quit school to pursue his record label Def Jam Records full time. He spearheaded his label by launching legendary rap acts such as Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J. As his record label grew, Simmons began endeavors such as producing the ever so popular HBO series Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam.
This series gave black standup comedians a chance to be featured on television without being censored.

Simmons expanded his enterprise when he launched his men’s clothing line, Phat Farm which also ventured off into Baby Phat, the women’s clothing line which is run by his wife, Kimora Lee Simmons. Last year the Phat Farm and Baby Phat clothing lines made close to $615 million. Although Simmons sold a portion of Def Jam Records to the Universal Music Group for a reported $100 million, he is still greatly involved in the future of the record label. In most recent days, Russell Simmons can be linked with getting the hip-hop generation to be more involved in the voting process. Simmons dedicates a lot of time to the Hip- Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN). HSAN brings influential names in the music industry such as label heads and artists together with community leaders to promote positive activities for the hip-hop generation.