Ellington

When having a conversation about hip-hop, some names inevitably come up. Russell Simmons is one such name. The multi-million-dollar earner made a name for himself by taking the culture and surroundings he knew to the public outside his Queens, N.Y., neighborhood. Along with Rick Rubin, Simmons founded Def Jam, the premier hip-hop label. Eventually, he went on to form his own label, Russell Simmons Music Group. But there's more to this entrepreneur than his interest in music. Since the birth of Def Jam, the entrepreneur has gone on to found Def Comedy Jam, Def Poetry Jam and Phat Farm clothing. He still hasn't stopped to rest.

You'll be here promoting a fragrance. Why is Jackson, Miss., one of your stops?

A lotta time, you go to the same cites over and over and get the same thing over and over. New York, L.A., Miami. You see these people going around, and they're an inspiration. I see these people from other cities … developing all kinds of new ideas. I'm trying to develop a 15-year anniversary collection, and I want to be inspired by some place new. (Jackson is) just a cool place.

You are a businessman's businessman. Was that destined to happen, or did you work to make it happen?

My whole business thing is based on my creativity. No one thought that what I thought would do well made good sense. No one was doing comedy like "Def Comedy Jam." I had to create that infrastructure to make it happen. The same thing goes with fashion and hip-hop. All I wanted to do was take my ideas and sell them. No one wanted to buy it. The 'hood knew about it—knew it would work, but no one else was buying it. ... When it's your dream, it's no one else's, you don't always find the right partners quickly.

You seem to be pretty honest about your past indiscretions with drugs, sex and lies. Do you think that's helped or hurt you in the business world?

I've given people my history and they accept what it is. I opt for the simpler things in life now, for the most part. I operate in order. I built my own infrastructure, so my past doesn't come into question really.

I live a different life than I did then. I did a lot of stuff when I was younger, but I didn't set out to harm anybody. ... I don't live that life anymore, but I know people who do. I don't' judge that lifestyle now, but I don't live it.

How did you go from Russell Simmons, the hip-hop mogul, to Russell Simmons, the political activist?

At some point, you find that your purpose is more than a selfish one. You find that, in fact, your only job is to give. Giving is your base of happiness. Giving is a basic truth that's taught by every prophet in every religion: Buddha, Mohammed, Jesus Christ. You don't have to be fearful when you give. You don't have to trade with the world—find what they need, give to them, and they give back to you. The return—the benefit—is the work itself. It's a cycle of giving.

Name a rapper and I'll tell you the name of their foundation. They've all got ways to give back. Conscious hip-hop is where I have a place, and it's my greatest resource.

Here, in Jackson, we have a mayor who's quite controversial. He's a black man, who takes a "by any means necessary" crime-fighting approach. What do you think about that approach?

... I can tell you the way to fight crime is through education and opportunity, not just by locking up everyone. That doesn't work. If he's giving jobs and educating those kids who are in prison, that's one thing. But I know this, violence on violence doesn't work. I don't know much about what's going on there, but if he's using violence to improve things, it won't work.

Russell Simmons will appear with DJ TayRoc at The Spot on Friday at 9 p.m.

Previous Comments

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63776

Comment

Great interview Natalie.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-09-13T20:15:52-06:00