The Great Wizard
of Hip Hop, the Indomitable Russell Simmons Speaks
…so grab a pen, take note and keep up!
By Freelance Writer Eugenia Wright
When Russell Simmons speaks, everyone should take a seat, grab
a pen and take notes because you’re going to learn something.
From his track record in taking an urban poetic music art form
known as Rap and making it a mainstream industry $$$ Phenomena,
this multi-dimensional gifted entrepreneur nicknamed Rush can
do anything or so it seems. He speaks truth and wisdom with
clarity and ideas gush forth like a bubbling spring. My impression
is that he leads a trail of people wherever he goes trying to
catch up because he is very fast. No sooner is the concept formed
in his head, it’s done.
Photo credit: Vinnie Ratcliff
This night, I was privileged to meet up with Mr. Almighty in
person at his elaborate “Work Hard and play Harder”
poolside affair at the prestigious W Hotel in Westwood, California.
You don’t become a multi-millionaire tycoon without hard
work unless of course you inherit it a la Hilton style. However,
it has been documented that
Russell Simmons falls into the former category with his entertainment
conglomerate comprised of Def Jam, Phat Farm, Rush Artist Management,
Def Pictures, Def Comedy Jam, Russell Simmons' Oneworld Music
Beat, Rush Media, The Rush Foundation, Hip Hop Summit (and more
to come). But on this night at the W it was all about the fun
aspect of the equation “play harder” and many tinsel
town hotties (Tyson Beckford, Sanaa Lathan, Dorian Gregory)
showed up to party with the Wizard of Hip Hop.
Before the festivities got underway he had some words for the
press. Here is what his oneness had to say about his charities,
young people and their options:
The Rush Foundation has several programs. We donate underwrite
and support artists on occasion for the benefit of kids. The
Hip Hop Summit is on the road right now and that’s about
financial empowerment this year, the last leg of the civil rights
movement. You wrap your hand around some money and manage it
properly. Financial literacy, get your money right. Last week
we were in New Orleans, week before last we were in Baltimore
with the Governor of Maryland, (Rev Run interjects that it was
the Lt. Governor) of Maryland and there was a huge summit. The
point is we started the process. We are going to travel around
this country probably two times. Eminem is hosting our summit
in Detroit and that’s about financial empowerment. So
we are getting young people to pay attention to their options.
He informed everyone that he is currently developing a reality
TV show with Puffy on MTV replacing the Osbournes in October
about his brother Rev. Run. More a out the show cast members
and premiere date in a later chapter.
Russell Simmons is a man on the move, no question about it.
There was only one little damper on the evening…the weather.
It was a chilly night in otherwise sunny Cali and although the
atmosphere looked inviting by the pool, a seat by the fireplace
would have been more agreeable. I guess there are some things
that the Oz, just has no power over.
I must say in all due fairness to Russell Simmons that he is
not boastful; it’s his devotees in the Hip Hop world that
lift him up. He simply states that he is “a servant”
a prevalent ideology I’ve heard in Islam. When asked about
that, he stated emphatically setting the record straight, that--
it is a “universal” religious concept.
I wanted to hear more, learn more in a yoga mindset position
from the guru of hip hop, but on this night I had to run, due
to a prior commitment.
Think Rush will try to catch up? Don’t bet on it!
You may write to Eugenia Wright @ kleopatragirl117@hotmail.com.
She is also President of ISA PR www.isapublicrelations.com |
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