30 Facts About Russell Simmons

Russell Wendell Simmons was born on October 4,1957 and is an American entrepreneur, writer and record executive.

Russell Simmons co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris.

Russell Simmons has promoted veganism and a yoga lifestyle, and published books on lifestyle, health, and entrepreneurship.

Russell Wendell Simmons was born in the Hollis neighborhood of New York City's Queens borough on October 4,1957.

Russell Simmons's father was a public school administrator and his mother was a park administrator for the New York City Parks and Recreation Department.

Russell Simmons co-produced and appeared in the 1985 film Krush Groove.

In 1996, Russell Simmons co-produced the hit film The Nutty Professor, starring Eddie Murphy.

In 1997, Russell Simmons co-produced the film Def Jam's How to Be a Player, starring Bill Bellamy.

In 2003, Russell Simmons co-founded RushCard, a prepaid debit card provider.

In 1992, Russell Simmons launched the clothing line Phat Fashions LLC using the Phat Farm and Baby Phat labels.

When Russell Simmons first created Phat Fashions LLC, the clothing line was sold in a shop in the SoHo district of Manhattan.

Russell Simmons organized a counter-summit, urging the public not to "support open and aggressive critics of the hip-hop community".

In 2004, Russell Simmons sold Phat Farm and Baby Phat to the Kellwood Company for $140 million.

In October 2021, Russell Simmons released a NFT collection, Masterminds of Hip Hop.

In March 2006, Russell Simmons announced that he and Lee had ended their relationship; they divorced two years later.

Russell Simmons is a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation and a supporter of the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace, which was established to ensure that any child in America who wants to learn and practice TM can do so.

Russell Simmons is an advocate of Ahimsa and veganism, citing animal rights along with the environmental and health benefits.

Russell Simmons said he went vegan after watching the film Diet for a New America in the 1990s.

Russell Simmons is a supporter of Farm Sanctuary, an organization working to end cruelty to farm animals.

In 2009, Russell Simmons organized thousands of protestors and hip-hop celebrities in front of City Hall demanding change of the sentencing rules of the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

In 2002, Russell Simmons became chairman of the board of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

In 2011, Russell Simmons officially endorsed the second Muslim Jewish Conference.

Russell Simmons is a longtime supporter of gay rights, and he encourages marriage equality.

In 2011, when the retail corporation Lowe's withdrew funding from the show All-American Muslim, Russell Simmons promised to pay the Learning Channel for any revenue lost.

In 2012, Russell Simmons supported Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich's re-election campaign, appearing with the politician at various speaking events.

In 2017, Russell Simmons was listed by UK-based company Richtopia at number 23 in the list of 200 Most Influential Social-Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists Worldwide.

Russell Simmons is a senior advisor of the vegan burger brand Everything Legendary.

On his website, Russell Simmons posted an apology for the parody, writing:.

In November 2017, model Keri Claussen Khalighi accused Russell Simmons of raping her in 1991, when she was 17.

Oprah Winfrey withdrew as executive producer of the film, after having been pressured by Russell Simmons to cancel the release, eventually stating there were "inconsistencies" in Drew Dixon's story that "gave me pause".