Speaker, Russel Simmons
February 3, 2003

Russel Simmons, the founder of Def Jam Records is said to have brought black, hip-hop culture into the American mainstream. Simmons is at the helm of Rush Communications, a conglomerate that includes a record label (Def Jam), a management company (Rush Artist Management), a clothier (Phat Farm), a movie production house (Def Pictures), television shows ("Def Comedy Jam" and "Russel Simmons' Oneworld Music Beat"), a magazine (Oneworld) and an advertising agency (Rush Media Co.)