Def Jam Recording Research Paper

Words: 502
Pages: 3

The co-founder of Def Jam Recording was Russell Simmons. He was born in New York City on October 4, 1957. He made musicians better when he was 20 years old. He partnered with a guy named Rick Rubin who helped him create Def Jam Recordings. Later in life, he sold his stake in Def Jam Recordings to Universal Music Group for $100 million. Russell was a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the second of his three brothers. He was raised in a middle-class neighborhood in Hollis. When he was in middle school, he sold marijuana to make money, and he also was included in a gang called the seven immortals. Unfortunately, he was arrested two times for the things he did. In 1975, He graduated high school and went the City College of New York. He …show more content…
Def Jam Recordings included Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and many more artists. Russell Simmons soon saw that Def Jam Recordings as a hip-hop empire. In 1922, he launched a clothing line called Phat Form. Phat Form was a major success, and expanded to have Baby Phat. Russell also established the management company SLBG Entertainment. In 1999, Russell cashed in big when he sold majority of his share to the Universal Music Group for $100 million. Five years later, he sold Phat Form for $140 million. Russell was a vegan and a yoga enthusiast, and was also an active philanthropist. He also founded the Hip-hop Summit Action Network, the Rush Philanthropic Organization and the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Russell also supports the PETA and he also supports various charities which include fighting at war, poverty, and HIV/AIDS. HE also speaks for the gay rights. He wrote a book called the Do You! 12 laws to Access the Power in You to achieve happiness and success in 2007. He was married to the model Kimora Lee from 1998 to 2008. They had two daughters named Ming and Aoki. Russell’s partner Rick Rubin was born on March 10, 193, in Lido Beach, Long Island, New York. He worked with