BY LISA-MARIE KLIMAS, 21
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If it weren’t for Russell Simmons, you might not have a single hip-hop song on your iPod. Rap could have died out like the disco our parents listened to, but Russell was the visionary who helped make it a global phenomenon. (I’m from Germany, and I’ve been a fan of his since I was 10 years old!) He started out promoting shows in his neighborhood of Hollis, in Queens, New York, for hip-hop innovators like Run- DMC. He cofounded Def Jam Records so he could produce and distribute artists like LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy when they were practically unknown. Then he expanded his empire: He launched the Phat Farm clothing line (later, his wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, started the Baby Phat line for girls); he (with partner Stan Lathan) created the TV series Def Poetry Jam and Def Comedy Jam, which featured Chris Tucker and Jamie Foxx; and to use hip-hop’s power to change the world, he founded the youth activism group Hip- Hop Summit Action Network (hsan.org).
Before interviewing Russell, I was in awe of his work, which made hip-hop a household word (and made him a powerful and wealthy businessman). After our conversation, I saw him in a new light. He made me realize that when your success is based on passion for your work, money is just a bonus. That’s a philosophy we can all learn from.
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