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Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, + God
Russell Simmons Average Rating: 
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| Customer Reviews 1-5 of 27 | NEXT >> |
2008-04-09If your into the culture, then this is definately a great read. I say that because you'll notice throughout this book that Russell Simmons' has had a hand in the development of almost every artist that emerged into the mainstream in the mid to late 80's. From Kurtis Blow to the Fresh Prince himself he's gotten paid. After reading this book, I'm convinced that Simmons was born to be who is.
2007-10-29This book was fun to read, Russell details some of his adventures very well and intorduces us to the world of hip-hop from his point of view. I recomend it if you're at a beach somewhere having a corona or at starbucks and want to just read. If youre looking for business insights, not that many.
2007-06-01A great book but you should know: the Vibe Mag quote at the top "...Learn how the godfather of hip hop did it...." only applies to a small portion of the book. For a book that fulfills this promise, check out: Hip Hop Inc (Richard Oliver)
2007-04-18Life and Def is a great book that shows that you can do anything if you try. This book is about Russell Simmons who lived in Queens, New York. He had an decent life and his parents were well-educated people but he still got sucked into the street life. He was a drug dealer on 205th street. He sold many diffrent drugs though out his drug carreer but his main drug that he sold was marijuana. Russell Simmons was one of the first hip-hop promoters ever. He now owns big companies such as Phat Farm. He also has a share of Def Jam records and is a member of the rap group Run DMC. Russell Simmons is a remarkable person because he made something out of himself even though he made bad choices when he was a kid. I gave this book four stars because of his excelllent writing as he shares the details of his childhood.
2006-01-18Like you, I always thought Russell Simmons was a bigger than life, take no prisoners kind of personelity. Who knew that Russell is as sensitive as Oscar Wilde and as munificient as Greg Louganis? Oh sure, he acts all tough in interviews, but this book peels away the layers and shows that Russell's heart beats just like yours and mine -- maybe more -- definately better.
For example, did you know that Mr. Simmons was voted "Top Alto" in his high school glee club? Did you also know he was the ghost writer of "Wind Beneath My Wings"? What about the notion that Russell Simmons will never tip less than 14% -- even if the service is bad?
And what really suprised me, is that he curiously names REO Speedwagon as the band he admires the most.
I salute you Mr. Simmons and hope that this is just the first of his many, many super inteligent and unbelievably insightful self-serving books.
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| Editorial Review |
In his own brash, compelling voice, Simmons chronicles his numerous business successes and occasional failures. He tells the story of the founding of the legendary Def Jam Records, whose roster stretches from original rap icons like L.L. Cool J, Public Enemy, and the Beastie Boys to today’s top stars, including Jay-Z and DMX. He traces the launching of Def Comedy Jam, the long-running hit television series that introduced a new generation of black comedic stars to America, from Martin Lawrence and Bill Bellamy to Bernie Mac and Chris Rock. He spins hilarious tales of his adventures in Hollywood, where he’s produced hit movies like Eddie Murphy’s The Nutty Professor and worked with quirky geniuses like Abel Ferrara. He also tells the story of Phat Farm, the wildly successful pioneering urban clothing label whose origins lay in Russell’s longtime fascination with fashion (and fashion models).
Simmons’s story is also one of personal transformation, from the driven man who in the heady days of early success indulged himself with drugs, sex, and world-class decadence to the husband and father he is today, a man who has found meaning in activism, philanthropy, and spiritual practice while never losing his passion for the social, political, artistic, and commercial potential of hip-hop.
Through it all he relates telling anecdotes about the characters he’s dealt with: models and gangsters, street poets and gurus, and major players like Donald Trump, Sean Combs, Jon Peters, and Tupac Shakur. Full of advice, opinions, and behind-the-scenes scoop, Life and Def is the story of the quintessential hip-hop life.
From the Hardcover edition.
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