For the Record With Karu F. Daniels: Russell Simmons
Rap impresario cum social activist Russell Simmons may scoff at the idea of having a handle put before his name but he is, inarguably, one of the progenitors of hip-hop. The 47-year-old Hollis, Queens-bred former chief of the legendary Def Jam Records is also the father of two adorable girls and the husband to style icon Kimora Lee Simmons. And aside from continuing the expansion of his massive business portfolio – which includes interests in fashion, finance, television and theater – Simmons is a crusader on the front lines of empowering young people to participate in the political process, via his Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN). For The Record, Russell Simmons answers questions about politics, religion, today’s rap music, his wife’s bad media rap and the recent controversy with The Source magazine.
We used to call you Rap Impresario. Now we have to call you social activist.
Well, I don’t want to take a label. I go to work everyday, I feel like I work for hip-hop, and I got a lot of resources. But it’s really not about me, it’s something I do. I mean, I can also get 50 Cent and Eminem on the phone and they can show up at a rally and they can be educated on an issue because maybe I can talk to them about it and then they can speak about it and the world can hear about it. So it’s really them. It’s 50 Cent the activist. It’s Jay-Z the activist. It’s Beyonce the activist. And it’s me as a celebrant for them, helping them to get in tune with certain things that they can affect effortlessly. So that’s where I can help. I have relationships that are useful and so that’s what I’m doing, I’m trying to make them work.
Now given the way the last presidential election was perceived by the masses and the cynical doubt of disenfranchised people about whether it really matters, do you think your voter education work will pay off?
Well that election proves that it does matter. I was in New York where it didn’t matter. I actually went and begged Ralph Nader the day before the election at Rev. Sharpton’s offices to drop out. But I voted for Ralph Nader.
In your opinion what is wrong with the political process?
One thing that Ralph Nader has made a very, very, very critical point, an obvious point, is the control of big business and the [influence of their] investment. I can get any politician on the phone, anybody. Probably the only person I couldn’t get on the phone is George Bush, and if I wanted to get him on the phone too, [Republican National Committee Chairman] Ed Gillespie is in my office all the time, so I could get any politician on the phone. And that’s not because I’m smart, ’cause I ain’t got smarts. It’s because of business. It seems to me that there’s too much outside influence, too much power invested in our government that is not for the good of the people.
Which of the two candidates are you supporting?
Well, I’m doing a non-partisan effort because I think it’s very important that we retain some kind of relationship with everyone. I don’t like being written off, of course not. No one likes being written off. But no one likes being taken for granted either. And I still feel that to some degree poor people in this country, African-Americans specifically, are taken for granted. It’s unbelievable to me.
Which candidate do you expect the hip-hop generation to support?
You have to ask yourself which of the two men running for office would be more sensitive to the plight of the poor here in this country and outside of the country. Kerry’s statements about it are more sensitive and intelligent. There are people under the poverty line and they won’t even talk about [them]. They’re gonna pay attention to them after this election because we’re gonna come out in droves and they’re gonna be shocked when they see how many people [turn out].
Why do you think the hip-hop generation is perceived as so apathetic?
I don’t think they’re apathetic at all. I think they’re gonna be the most enthusiastic group at the polls. They’re gonna shock everybody. And not only that, they’re gonna be the reasons their parents come out. A 19-year-old comes home and tells you he’s gonna vote, you don’t go to sleep and take that lightly. You feel like you have to now take your responsibility.
Now let’s talk music. What do you make of the current state of rap music?
Better than ever. Much, much better than ever. But it keeps getting better. I’m here with Reverend Run and he’s telling me it was all better, though, and all the new artists, he just can’t believe the kind of poetry that’s coming out of these guys.
What’s going on with you and Def Jam? I read a report that said you’re distancing yourself from the music label because you believe that current decision makers aren’t being true to hip-hop.
No, I have never said that. You cannot find a quote like that from me. I think L.A. Reid’s gonna be excellent. Distancing myself, how’d I do that? I can’t distance myself from nothing. Jay-Z might be the president soon. That’d be excellent. I’m going to go back to work at a record label but probably not there. I think I want to help develop new labels.
I’ve got to tell you, I’m in love with your wife.
Oh, really?
I can’t lie. I’m in awe of the idea of a Kimora Lee Simmons.
You think she’s cute. You don’t understand how smart she is. She’s involved in jeans, lingerie, shoes, sneakers, separate partners in each case. Jewelry? Big investment – it was a $10 million investment before we even launched. She’s designing all this stuff. She did furniture, bedding, just on and on. What she is doing, the amount of work that she does and takes care of those kids, is f***ing phenomenal to me.
The media is obsessed with her. What do you think of that? Do you think she gets a bad rap?
Well, listen, their judgment of her has not damaged her. She used to be a little soft-skinned but now she seems tougher. She doesn’t care what they say about her. And I notice that their judgment of her only has made her more popular. So we live with it. We know it’s taken with a grain of salt, and we know when we go out and meet people at different promotions and stuff and when she’s around people we find a lot of love in our community first. And there’s not an Asian woman, or black Asian woman like her. We went to a club in Seattle where they had a promotion for Baby Phat, usually we have a Baby Phat, Phat Farm party together, right, but we had a separate Baby Phat party – like 2,500 Asian women were there. And they were all different. They were Japanese, they were Korean, they were Chinese. It was unbelievable.
Now I read that you said her father was a pimp. Is that true?
Well, if you asked him he’d agree. He hasn’t been around most of her life, but the point I’m making that he comes out of a normal African-American kind of background.
Russell, I know you’ve been associated with some rabbis in the past. What are your thoughts on the commercialization of Kaballah? I mean, they sell Kaballah-scented candles inside the Essex House Hotel for $30. That’s craziness.
Anybody talking about anything spiritual is great. I have the Reverend Run here with me right now and we don’t mind toys. The selling of something with a high note attached to it, it’s better than drugs. Usually drugs hurt. They make you happy for a minute but they don’t last. Spiritual ideas keep you good. I don’t care what they sell.
And before I let you go, we must talk about 'The Source' magazine.
I have not been involved in a rap beef, in my 25 years in hip-hop or longer. I don’t get in no rap beef. I think they’re great. God bless ’em.
The New York tabloids are going crazy about this sparring between two of the most formidable brand makers in hip-hop. What happened with the fallout of communication?
I want them to do well and I think they have a good relationship with a lot of the rap community and they’re doing what they can, the best they can. We’re all doing the best we can, so I wish them well. I went and gave Mr. Farrakhan his award at the Source Awards despite what the press was saying. And some people don’t agree with all of my practices, but you know, I don’t want to make that the basis of me publicly because I don’t have to worry about it. I don’t have to have a judgment for what they do because what they do is their business. But it doesn’t mean I have to support them.
Nov. 5, 2004