Russell Simmons: A Hip-Hop legend
"In any new business, someone has to have vision"(Russell Simmons pg 221). A vision is exactly what Russell Wendell Simmons had when he first started in the music business. Russell Simmons, the original and eternal 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 cofounder of numerous successful companies and philanthropic organizations, including Def Jam Records, Phat Farm clothing, the dRush Advertising Agency, and Rush Philanthropic. At the same time he has broadened his interests and influence and pushed hip-hop to new plateaus of power. Russell Simons is an inspiration to contemporary young man because he is a gifted entrepreneur in the American music, comedy, and fashion industry. Russell Simmons did not invent rap, but he is more than any other individual, responsible for the music's astonishing success. As a young man, he heard a thriving, vibrant music in the ghettos and solid middle-class black neighborhoods l
Russell Simmons was hard working and had goals when he started up his business. Goals are achievements toward which effort is directed. Every young entrepreneur should set a goal. Russell Simmons is living proof that once a goal is set, sky is the limit. "In any new business someone has to have vision. You may have investors. You may know the market exists, but you need a point a view on the business, a definite vision, to pull it all together"(Simmons, pg 221). That theory was the foundation of his many companies. "Having a vision that drives your business and shapes your decisions are crucial"(Simmons, pg 222). At the center of his life now is Phat Farm, the clothing label that Simmons believes can mint banks of money. It was, supposedly, Simmons who told Tommy Hilfiger that hip-hop fashion could sell and introduced him to rap stars and models that helped him create a billion-dollar empire. Now he's trying to do the same for himself, partnering with fashion distributors and backers who can help his clothing line explode. With even more distribution deals and partnerships, Simmons, cleaned up the fashion market this year making more than 75 million dollars (Simmons pg 157). Simmons built his company from the ground up. Simmons had the same beginnings as any person, but he had a vision to take hip-hop, that was mainly underground music, and mainstream it. He established Rush Communications, which is the mother corporation that has many record labels and other ventures under it. Before Russell Simmons had even a single gold record on his wall, he and his partner Rick Ruben owned Def Jam records label and signed a production deal with CBS records. That kind of money is pocket lint to Simmons now. Rick Ruben was said to be a production genius that loved loud, rebellious music. Simmons was obviously a smart businessman who had grown up selling drugs on the streets. Selling drugs back when he was a teenager taught him business basics such as cash flow, client relations and networking (Simmons pg15). The combination of Rubin, and Simmons earned immediate success. Simmons was diversifying his business, making deals in new media and cross-promoting artist.
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Approximate Word count = 1986
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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