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Profile: Russell Simmons
| DATE: 27 February 2012 |
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| BY: Thabiso Thantsha |
In the build-up to the DESTINY FORUM, we introduce you to one of our inspiring speakers – Russell Simmons.
You can’t mention the business of hip-hop and mainstream American urban culture without mentioning Russell Simmons. He is one of the most influential media moguls in the world.
As part of the DESTINY FORUM, we will be hosting a cocktail dinner with Russell Simmons on 26 March 2012. For more information and to book, click here.
Author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, media mogul and hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons was born in 1957 in New York City and attended City College of New York.
In 1984 Simmons created Def Jam Recordings with Rick Rubin and signed artists such as the legendary LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Public Enemy and Slick Rick. He sold his share of Def Jam in 2004 to Universal Music for $100 million (about R760 million) and then moved to producing Def Comedy Jam on HBO, which launched the careers of comedian Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock.
BUSINESS INTERESTS
Rush Communications, Simmons’ holding company with brands including Phat Farm clothing, television shows, a financial management company, a magazine and an advertising agency.
Simmons’ movie production company has produced movies such as The Nutty Professor with Eddie Murphy.
Simmons was the first African-American to launch a major jewellery company in 2006, called Simmons Jewelry Co, which supplies branded men’s jewellery to Sterling and Zales.
He also founded leading online music and celebrity entertainment website www.globalgrind.com and wrote the New York Times bestseller Do You! Laws to Access the Power in You to achieve Happiness, about combining effective business practices with a spiritual foundation to be the best you.
It didn’t end there in terms of bestsellers – he released Super Rich: Inside and Out in 2011, about the power of inward strength and reflection as a means of achieving human aspiration.
Source: www.rushcommunications.com
