Russell Simmons Research Paper
Russell Simmons: An Entrepreneurial Icon that Shifted American Culture
Florida State College at Jacksonville
“If you aren 't passionate about a vision, it 's hard to have faith in it” (Simmons & Morrow, Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success, 2008). Russell Wendell Simmons’ passion for his vision is what drove him when he started in the music business over three decades ago. Simmons, the original hip-hop mogul, is one of the most innovative and influential figures in modern American business and culture. When no one outside of inner-city New York had even heard of hip-hop, Simmons saw the seeds of a global force that would change the way people talk, dress, listen to music, and choose the heroes they hung on their walls. Simmons is the founder or co-founder of …show more content…
The two scrounged up $8,000 and founded Def Jam. Rubin was a production genius who loved loud, rebellious music. Simmons was a relentlessly enthusiastic and canny businessman. The combination of Rubin 's and Simmons ' personalities and talents proved to be a powerful mix. Just two years into their bare-bones operation, Columbia Records approached Def Jam with an offer to promote, market and distribute Def Jam 's new rap recordings for a share in their profits (Giles, 2008). But Def Jam and Run DMC were primarily making black music for black people. The label 's next two moves, however, would change that.
First, Def Jam teamed Run DMC with Aerosmith to record a rap version of the rock band 's hit "Walk This Way." The song was a smash and landed Run DMC on MTV, which until then had played rap only reluctantly. When the song reached a new white audience, Run DMC and Simmons found themselves with a No. 4 Billboard hit-the first rap song to break the top five. The single also helped the band 's third album, "Raising Hell," sell 4 million copies (Giles,
Florida State College at Jacksonville
“If you aren 't passionate about a vision, it 's hard to have faith in it” (Simmons & Morrow, Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success, 2008). Russell Wendell Simmons’ passion for his vision is what drove him when he started in the music business over three decades ago. Simmons, the original hip-hop mogul, is one of the most innovative and influential figures in modern American business and culture. When no one outside of inner-city New York had even heard of hip-hop, Simmons saw the seeds of a global force that would change the way people talk, dress, listen to music, and choose the heroes they hung on their walls. Simmons is the founder or co-founder of …show more content…
The two scrounged up $8,000 and founded Def Jam. Rubin was a production genius who loved loud, rebellious music. Simmons was a relentlessly enthusiastic and canny businessman. The combination of Rubin 's and Simmons ' personalities and talents proved to be a powerful mix. Just two years into their bare-bones operation, Columbia Records approached Def Jam with an offer to promote, market and distribute Def Jam 's new rap recordings for a share in their profits (Giles, 2008). But Def Jam and Run DMC were primarily making black music for black people. The label 's next two moves, however, would change that.
First, Def Jam teamed Run DMC with Aerosmith to record a rap version of the rock band 's hit "Walk This Way." The song was a smash and landed Run DMC on MTV, which until then had played rap only reluctantly. When the song reached a new white audience, Run DMC and Simmons found themselves with a No. 4 Billboard hit-the first rap song to break the top five. The single also helped the band 's third album, "Raising Hell," sell 4 million copies (Giles,