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The Ultimate Hustler: Russell Simmons is Born

The man whose name today has become synonymous with hip-hop and the tough urban streets was born on October 4, 1957 into a comfortable middle class family in Queens, New York. The middle son of three boys, Simmons’ father worked as a teacher for the local board of education while his mother worked in the city recreation department.

Breaking Down Barriers: Simmons’ Hip-Hop Explosion

“My experiences have been, from the very beginning, cultural and creative,” says Simmons. “And my business has been a way of exposing the culture, exposing the artists so that the world could hear and see them.”

Lesson #1: Find Your Niche Market

“You go to the people who are the smartest and most sophisticated and deliver on day one,” says Simmons. “Do a good job of it, and it’ll grow on its own.”

Lesson #2: Never Give Up

“With my first act in ’79, people said hip-hop was dead,” says Simmons. “Now look, 20 years later, the culture is so strong we’re doing underwear.”

Lesson #3: Give Back

“I don’t want to be a Russell Simmons, greedy-ass entrepreneur,” he exclaims. “I would like to be a Russell Simmons, philanthropist/activist.”

Lesson #4: Bend the Rules

“Rules are sometimes a problem when you’re a creative entrepreneur,” says Simmons.

Lesson #5: Make Your Workers Happy

“You have to employ winners, and then allow winners to do what they do,” says Simmons. “You have to give them autonomy, which means, in a lot of cases, the opportunity to make mistakes.”

Hip-Hopping to the Top: Simmons’ Rise to Success

“Everything you need to know about success is inside of you, because I believe it is inside of all of us,” says Simmons. “That is, all human beings have potential for infinite success.”

Russell Simmons Quotes

Russell Simmons Quotes

Russell Simmons Divorce

In 2006, it made headlines in the worlds of fashion and hip hop as two of the people at the forefront of both were splitting up. They were big celebrities, used to living a big life, and now, Russell Simmons’ divorce from model Kimora Lee was big news. After eight years of marriage and two daughters later, the hip hop moguls were ending things. “Kimora and I will remain committed parents and caring friends with great love and admiration for each other,” Simmons said at the time of the announcement. “We will also continue to work side by side on a daily basis as partners in all of our business.”

Russell Simmons House

Apparently, he isn’t just a genius when it comes to hip hop and fashion; Russell Simmons knows what he’s doing in the world of real estate too. He owns a sprawling 35,000 square foot mansion in Saddle River, New Jersey – one of the largest homes on the eastern coast, a $5.3 million, 5,800 square foot mansion in Los Angeles, and a Manhattan penthouse. But, for now, it seems like this music mogul has had enough. Russell Simmons’ house in New Jersey is now up for sale.

Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons

One was a college dropout who began promoting local rap acts in the ghettos of New York; the other was an NYU student who spent more time playing in punk bands than he did in class. One knew nothing but hip hop; the other nothing but rock. Nevertheless, after a chance encounter at a New York club, Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons became fast friends. Together, they would go on to found the most influential hip hop label in the world, and change the face of American music forever.

Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee

They are two of the largest names in the hip hop and fashion industries, but behind closed doors Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee have also become celebrities for their rocky relationship with one another. The two entrepreneurs met when Lee was just 17 years old. She was in her last year of high school and pursuing a modeling career, while the 35 year old Simmons was making his way in the hip hop industry. At six-feet tall, Simmons was immediately captured by Lee when he first saw her on a runway during New York City’s Fashion Week.

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