Russell Simmons

Who Is Russell Simmons?

Before the emergence of icons like Jay-Z, Diddy, and Dr. Dre, there was Russell Simmons, widely regarded as the original hip-hop mogul. A former street hustler from New York, Simmons transitioned into a multifaceted career as a promoter, artist manager, record producer, and label owner. He has also established himself as a business magnate and self-help guru. Through his diverse portfolio, Simmons has amassed a personal fortune exceeding $300 million, significantly shaping the hip-hop landscape during his tenure at Def Jam, the label he co-founded with producer Rick Rubin. He was instrumental in pioneering the rap-rock crossover with Run-DMC’s groundbreaking collaboration on “Walk This Way,” co-produced the first gold-certified hip-hop single (for Kurtis Blow) and album (for LL Cool J), and effectively merged hip-hop with fashion through Run-DMC. Simmons played a pivotal role in creating a global audience for rap music. However, in late 2017, he announced his departure from his companies amid allegations of sexual assault, continuing to face further accusations in the years following.

Born and Raised in Queens, NY

Russell Simmons was born on October 4, 1957, in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York. He was the second of three sons raised by his parents, Daniel Sr., a teacher, and Evelyn, an administrator. While his parents were hardworking and aspirational, Simmons described the community around him as being “destroyed by drugs,” stating in a 2013 interview with The Guardian, “Everybody shot dope… I used every drug there is… but it didn’t make me a bad person; it made me a sad person, a diseased person.” Simmons himself sold drugs during this tumultuous period and was affiliated with a street gang known as the Seven Immortals. Concerned for his future, his father insisted he take a job at an Orange Julius in Greenwich Village, an effort to steer him away from trouble. However, he was dismissed after a month for throwing oranges at patrons. A turning point came when one of his gang associates was murdered, prompting him to abandon that lifestyle and enroll at the City College of New York in Harlem, where he pursued a degree in sociology.

How Simmons Got His Start

In 1977, Simmons experienced a transformative moment when he heard the renowned MC Eddie Cheeba perform at a club. It was his introduction to hip-hop, and he felt as though he had “just witnessed the invention of the wheel.” Inspired, he began organizing parties with Curtis Walker, a talented DJ and MC whom Simmons later signed under the stage name Kurtis Blow.

Motivated by the success of the 1979 hit “Rappers’ Delight,” they recorded their own single, “Christmas Rappin’.” Unable to secure a record deal for Blow, Simmons took the initiative to press vinyl copies of “Christmas Rappin’” himself and distributed them to DJs in clubs. This grassroots effort caught the attention of retailers, leading them to believe they could purchase the record through Polygram. As inquiries increased, Polygram’s interest was piqued, resulting in a record deal for Blow—a strategic triumph for Simmons. Released in December 1979, “Christmas Rappin’” sold over 500,000 copies. By this time, Simmons had decided to forgo completing his college education, having found his true calling.

Run-DMC and Def Jam with Rick Rubin

By 1982, Simmons’ younger brother, Joseph, had formed a hip-hop group with Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizzell. Simmons co-produced two groundbreaking tracks for the group, “It’s Like That” and “Sucker MCs.” The latter’s innovative sound marked a significant shift in hip-hop, with Simmons later describing co-producing “Sucker MCs” as “the single most creative thing I have ever done” in his autobiography. Following the success of these tracks, Simmons secured a deal for Run-DMC with Profile Records. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1984, became the first rap album to achieve gold certification.

In 1983, Simmons met aspiring producer Rick Rubin at Danceteria, a nightclub in Manhattan. Although they came from different backgrounds—Simmons as a street-savvy entrepreneur and Rubin as a punk-rock enthusiast—they quickly formed a strong partnership. Simmons became an equal partner in Rubin’s fledgling label, Def Jam, which Rubin had been managing from his dorm room at New York University. Their first release, “I Need a Beat,” by 16-year-old LL Cool J, proved to be a hit, leading Simmons to secure a distribution deal with Columbia Records, a landmark achievement for an independent hip-hop label.

Cashing Out on Def Jam

For four transformative years, Def Jam Recordings emerged as a pioneering force in the hip-hop industry. The label achieved significant milestones, including the unprecedented success of The Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill, which helped propel frat-boy rap into a global phenomenon. Def Jam also secured the first million-dollar endorsement deal for a hip-hop group when Run-DMC’s single “My Adidas” captured the attention of the sportswear giant. Further, the collaboration between Run-DMC and Aerosmith on “Walk This Way” resulted in the first music video featuring a hip-hop act to receive heavy rotation on MTV. Additionally, Public Enemy introduced radical Black power politics to mainstream audiences, solidifying their status as one of the most influential groups in hip-hop history.

In 1988, co-founder Rick Rubin departed the label under circumstances that remain somewhat unclear. While Russell Simmons later indicated to Billboard that there were creative differences, he implied that these issues could have been resolved. It has been widely reported that Rubin lost a power struggle to Lyor Cohen, who subsequently assumed leadership as the president of Def Jam. In 1994, Simmons and Cohen sold 50% of Def Jam to Polygram for $33 million, followed by the sale of the remaining stake to Seagram (which had acquired Polygram) in 1999 for $130 million, as detailed by Rolling Stone. Now part of the Universal Music Group, Def Jam maintains its influential status in the industry, even though neither founder is currently involved with the label.

Mogul: From ‘Def Jam Comedy’ to Phat Farm and Beyond

Even before realizing substantial profits from the sale of Def Jam, Simmons began diversifying his business interests, establishing a model for future hip-hop moguls. In 1989, he co-founded the Simmons Lathan Media Group, which produced successful television series such as Def Comedy Jam and Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, the latter of which went on to win a Tony Award as a Broadway production.

In 1992, Simmons launched Phat Farm, a clothing line that eventually evolved into Phat Fashions, which he sold to Kellwood in 2004 for an estimated $140 million. He also developed two additional clothing lines, ArgyleCulture, aimed at the millennial male demographic, and Tantris, which specializes in yoga apparel. In 2013, he co-founded Unirush LLC, a financial services company that provides prepaid debit cards to low-income customers. This venture was sold to Green Dot Corporation for $147 million, with the transaction announced in January 2017.

Simmons utilizes his parent company, Rush Communications, to manage his extensive business portfolio, which includes the pop-culture website Global Grind, various nonprofit organizations, Celsius (marketed as “the world’s first negative calorie drink”), Def Pictures, and Rush Books, which publishes his business and self-help literature. Notably, his book Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success includes a foreword by Donald Trump.

Having known Trump for over three decades and once considering him a friend, Simmons’s relationship with the former president deteriorated when he began publicly criticizing Trump during the 2016 election campaign. In an open letter published by the Huffington Post on November 11, 2016, Simmons urged Trump to cease “hateful and harmful language towards women and people of color,” stating, “An entire generation of young people fear that this country has just elected its first dictator, and I cannot blame them for thinking that. However, I know you and I have to believe that you are willing to listen to outside people.”

From New York to the Hollywood Hills: Yogi Style

In 2014, Russell Simmons transitioned from New York to Los Angeles, taking up residence in the Hollywood Hills. Following his divorce from Kimora Lee in 2009, the couple has maintained a collaborative approach to co-parenting their two daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee. In November 2016, Simmons opened Tantris, a yoga center in West Hollywood, encompassing an impressive 8,000 square feet that features two studios, a juice bar, and a blow-dry bar—a nod to the entertainment industry’s culture. As a dedicated yogi for over two decades, Simmons himself led a class every Friday. He noted that “devotional music” was a hallmark of Tantris until its closure in the summer of 2018, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Sexual Assault Accusations and Resignation

In November 2017, amid a wave of women coming forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against influential figures, model Keri Claussen Khalighi accused Simmons of sexual assault, claiming he forced himself on her in 1991. Simmons countered her claims, asserting that the interaction was consensual.

On November 30, screenwriter Jenny Lumet, the daughter of renowned director Sidney Lumet, shared her own account in an article for The Hollywood Reporter, detailing an unwanted sexual encounter with Simmons from 1991. In response, Simmons issued a statement in which he offered a different recollection of the events but acknowledged Lumet’s feelings of fear and intimidation, expressing regret. He announced his decision to step down from his various business endeavors to ensure they could continue without distraction. He emphasized his commitment to personal growth, spiritual learning, and attentive listening.

Additional Allegations and Documentary

Subsequent reports surfaced, with The New York Times revealing on December 13 that three additional women had accused Simmons of rape, recounting further instances of alleged violent behavior and sexual misconduct. In a statement, Simmons emphatically denied these allegations, expressing shock and affirming that all his relationships had been consensual. He voiced respect for the global women’s movement and acknowledged the need for accountability.

A comprehensive report published by The Hollywood Reporter in June 2018 included allegations from Sil Lai Abrams, a former assistant at Def Jam. Abrams recounted their consensual encounters during the early 1990s, but claimed that Simmons assaulted her after she attempted to end their physical relationship. Following this, she sought to share her story through various media outlets, although some, including MSNBC, declined due to concerns regarding her claims’ credibility. A legal representative for Simmons stated that he had provided substantial evidence to refute the allegations, criticizing THR for disregarding this information.

In July, Alexia Norton Jones, the daughter of a former lawyer for Martin Luther King Jr., added her voice to the growing list of accusers, recounting a 1990 date with Simmons that turned forceful when he attempted to initiate sex against her will.

Simmons’ alleged misconduct was further explored in the documentary On the Record, which focused predominantly on accusations from former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon. Despite Oprah Winfrey’s withdrawal from the project in January 2020, On the Record premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim shortly thereafter.