On this day, October 4, 1957, entrepreneur, record producer, and media mogul, Russell Simmons was born in Queens, New York.
Simmons has been very successful throughout his career including co-founding the pioneering hip-hop record label Def Jam Recordings which was created in 1984. Def Jam played a major role in the rise of hip-hop as a mainstream music genre signing artists like LL Cool J, Run-DMC, and Public Enemy.
Simmons is also known for his successful ventures in the fashion industry. He founded the popular urban clothing line Phat Farm, which became a major brand in hip-hop fashion.
Furthermore, Simmons founded Rush Communications, a multimedia conglomerate that includes various businesses in music, film, television, fashion, and digital media. It has been involved in producing several successful television shows, such as “Def Comedy Jam” and “Run’s House.”
Russell Simmons is an advocate for meditation and a healthy lifestyle. He has written books on the subject, including “Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple.”
Simmons has been involved in various activities, supporting causes related to education, youth empowerment, and social justice. He co-founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, which focuses on providing arts education to underprivileged youth.