Rating: 
Summary: Resurrection
Review: Russel Simmons book was just like listening to his music. Simmons invited the rest of the world to listen, but he was truly writing to his base audience. Simmons was not trying to be Cornel West and talk about black xenophobia, but the evolution of hip hop. To put it simple Russel Simmons was trying to communicate to his audience one point: "He {Simmons} was not trying to 'pimp' the system, but change the system", period.
Rating:
Summary: Resurrection
Review: Russel Simmons book was just like listening to his music. Simmons invited the rest of the world to listen, but he was truly writing to his base audience. Simmons was not trying to be Cornel West and talk about black xenophobia, but the evolution of hip hop. To put it simple Russel Simmons was trying to communicate to his audience one point: "He {Simmons} was not trying to 'pimp' the system, but change the system", period.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring Yet Lacking...
Review: Russell Simmons has undoubtedly led an extraordinary life, and he opens up quite candidly in this half autobiography/half how-to book. However, some of the stories I think he should have gone into more detail about, he instead chose to gloss over, as if they were just small footnotes. There are points in the book where Russell criticizes musical artists today for being too "pop;" he says flat-out that rock and roll has now just become rock because there is no movement behind it. He critiques the lack of vision, lack of defiance, and lack of hard edge. Yet, in many ways, the softcore turn of music is exactly what has occurred in his book. He barel mentions the hard times in his life-- times that would have exemplified just how far he's come-- such as his run-ins with the law and his brother's addiction to drugs. That is where I find the book lacking. Also, on a editorial note, I feel the writing could have been smoother. He repeats small details within pages of the original mention (such as how his younger brother is Run of Run DMC), as if assuming the average reader does not have a very long attention span and thus already forgot the facts. This is not to say I did not enjoy reading the book, though. Nor should my critique of these small details deter others from reading it: Russell's story is very inspiring, and it is amazing to see how much he did in such a small amount of time. He also offers some really interesting behind the scenes information about the music industry, and the underground music scene, especially in New York. Most professions do not allow their moguls to begin working until they at least have a four year college degree under their belt. Russell began managing and promoting when he was still a kid himself, and that is truly remarkable.
Rating:
Summary: the blueprint
Review: russell simmons is the man who set the blueprint for the hip-hop game and he breaks down how to do it for anyone who wants to know how to turn a hot culture into a long-term industry. he explains how he started def jam, his philosophy about finding and promoting artists, how he launched phat farm, how he launched def comedy jam, how he produced movies like the "nutty professor." russell didn't get anything easy--he had to fight against the gatekeepers who didn't understand hip-hop, but in the process he created the blueprint for how to take a powerful, but marginal, culture global. if you're someone interested in business or hip-hop, this is the book for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Russell Simmons
Review: Russell Simmons' autobiography with Nelson George is not quite what i had hoped for when i purchased this book. It begins with an interresting story of Russll's childhood in Queens, New York, and eventually fades into the business aspect of his life. When i first bought this book, I was hoping for more stories about the artists that he has signed to his hip hop record label, Def Jam. There are quite a few interresting stories in the book, but it seems as though the more you read the less interrested you become. Don't get me wrong, this book isn't all that bad, i just hoped for more on his record label and less on his other ventures that no one has ever heard of. If i had the choice in the future to purchase this book, I'm fairly confident that i would choose something else instead.
Rating:
Summary: Russell Simmons
Review: Russell Simmons' autobiography with Nelson George is not quite what i had hoped for when i purchased this book. It begins with an interresting story of Russll's childhood in Queens, New York, and eventually fades into the business aspect of his life. When i first bought this book, I was hoping for more stories about the artists that he has signed to his hip hop record label, Def Jam. There are quite a few interresting stories in the book, but it seems as though the more you read the less interrested you become. Don't get me wrong, this book isn't all that bad, i just hoped for more on his record label and less on his other ventures that no one has ever heard of. If i had the choice in the future to purchase this book, I'm fairly confident that i would choose something else instead.
Rating:
Summary: THE URBAN MUSIC BLUE PRINT FOR SUCCESS
Review: Simply put: "Life and Def" does the best job of illustrating (with real life examples) how to survive and thrive in the music industry. This is the most important book for urban entrepreneurs to own. Buy it today!
Rating:
Summary: THE URBAN MUSIC BLUE PRINT FOR SUCCESS
Review: Simply put: "Life and Def" does the best job of illustrating (with real life examples) how to survive and thrive in the music industry. This is the most important book for urban entrepreneurs to own. Buy it today!
Rating:
Summary: The CEO of Hip-Hop
Review: This book is absolutely incredible. I couldn't put it down.. I only wish it were longer!
Rating:
Summary: This Mogul doing it well and still doing it well!
Review: This book is off the chain and very inspiring! It has been a long time coming for this book to come out on the one of the most legendary but modest mogul in the entertainment/media/fashion business. I have the great honor of meeting Russell Simmons or as those who known him very well "Uncle Rush" back in 1986 during the Run DMC's Raising Hell tour. If seems that he always have a phone by his side. Yet his brother Run, hook me up with some free ticket and backstage pass. It may not be a big deal to some but that really got me into hip hop and I became a loyal customer of Def Jam. The book is very street yet gave the real behind the scene look behind the shady business of the music business. I wonder why there was not any explicit language warning on the cover. However this book is for the teens and up market. I feel that with more books like this and more should be coming from CEO and successful business leaders who are not just music artists or sport stars. The young people should be taught to emulate successful business owner as well. A career in music or movie is nice but it is more nicer to be the check signer and responsible for the welfare of people who want to succeed with you. Thus is one of the reason why Def Jam is the most respected label in the business. Def Jam is often imitated but never duplicated for they broke the mold! Anybody who want to start their own business, should pick up this book. As Russell drop priceless wisdom about on what to do and what not to do. It can be applied to other business market beside the entertainment and sport businesses. I like Russell's mind-set on the issue of race. And why he cater to all races and not just once race. It about the dollars bill y'all! Russell was very honest about his past drug use and sell yet he did not glamorized it he show the temporary effects and long term effects. Bottom line drugs are for losers, have a passion for life and success will come your way. Russell has a beautiful wife and child. More could have been shared on that. He did talk about why he always have a thang for models. What surprised me was that Russell was spiritual, and that he is into yoga. He is blessed because he had a vision and he pursue it and is still pursuing it. I would not be surprise if he became a billionaire in the next 10 years or so. However, I wish Russell have written more on the matter of running a business and the stuff he have to deal with as a CEO of several high profile ventures. It would be a bonus if he've drop more wisdom and advice from a business standpoint. This is more of a biographical review of the four decades for this laid back power broker. One thing that still puzzled me is why he does not never wear a suit! He did not go into detail but I do recall him mentioned David Geffen never wears a suit so why should he? Bottom line this is a very good book and must have in any aspiring entrepreneur library.
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