Russell Simmons

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Russell Simmons was born October 4, 1957 in Queens,New York.He was raise in the middle class of Hollis. In his teen years he grew up as a street hustler in Hollis. He also sold drugs in his teen years. In his other spare time he promoted block parties and club shows around Harlem and Queens. He later enrolled in City College of New York to study for sociology.

While Russell was growing up he had many different types of businesses. His first business was to sale drugs. In the late 1970's rap music became real popular so that's when Russell started Rush Productions. In Rush productions Russell promoted rap artists in and around New York. Then he started to work with well known today such as the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and his brother Run DMC. In 1986 Rush came up with a brilliant idea and he negotiated a multimillion dollar endorsement For Run DMC with Adidas.

In 1984 Russell joined with Rick Rubins, a student in New York University. Together they founds Def Jam Recordings. Russell and Rick combined their taste of raw hardcore rap. In 1985 CBS signed a deal with Def Jam. With that arrangement allowed the label to grow in 1986. Between 1985 and 1990 Def Jam became the biggest and the most influential rap music in the music business. In 1987 Rick Rubins left DEf Jam so Russell promoted Lyor Cohen one of his longtime employees to replace Rubins. In the late 1990's DMX and Ludacris joined Def Jam. In 1999 Russell sold the rest of Def Jam to Universal Music Group for 100 million dollars. Russell stayed as as the chairman of Def Jam/Def Soul and now part of the Island /Def Jam label group. By the end of 2002 Island/Def Jam ended up the second largest label in the United States. Russell encouraged other people to become entrepreneurs such as Damon dash and Jay Z they started Roc A Fella records and P.Diddy started Bad Boys Records.

In 1992 Simmons found the clothing company Phat Farms. Phat Farm is between a street style and a popular culture. Then he started a line for women clothing called Baby Phat and this line is run by his wife Kimora. Even though Phat Fashions failed to make a profit the first six years. The company won consumers over at the end of 2002 with revenue of 263 million dollars. In 2004 Simmons sold the company for 140 million dollars. with his success Simmons encouraged other entrepreneurs such as Sean P Diddy Combs with Sean John and Shaw Jay Z Carter with Roca Wear.

Russell is my hero because he became successful coming out of a poor family. Also he's my hero because he influences other people to do what he does. That's to become an entrepreneur. Also to give it all you can to make your business work. Russell found out what he was good at and he made a business out of it. Like when he made Rush Production he was made it because he was good at setting up parties and other events like that. This is why Russell is my hero.