He co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings,[1] and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris.

Under Simmons' leadership as chairman, Def Jam signed acts including the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, DMX, and Kanye West.

Russell Wendell Simmons was born in the Hollis neighborhood of New York City's Queens borough on October 4, 1957.

In 1975, after graduating from August Martin High School, Simmons briefly attended the City College of New York in Harlem where he met a young DJ/Bboy, Kurt Walker, who influenced him to participate in the hip hop phenomenon.

When Simmons first created Phat Fashions LLC, the clothing line was sold in a shop in the SoHo district of Manhattan.

Phat Fashions encompassed hip hop clothing for women and children, as well as men, and grew into a lifestyle brand with the addition of jewelry, perfume, and other merchandise.

[28] In 2014, Claremont Lincoln University awarded Simmons an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters for his work as chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and for promoting mindfulness, compassion and inter-religious collaboration in the public sphere.

Stating love and respect for all religions, he describes himself as a Christian yogi[1][34] who practices Jivamukti Yoga,[35] which encourages vegetarianism and social and environmental activism.

[40][41] In 2009, Simmons organized thousands of protestors and hip-hop celebrities in front of City Hall demanding change of the sentencing rules of the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

[47] In 2011, when the retail corporation Lowe's withdrew funding from the show All-American Muslim, Simmons promised to pay the Learning Channel for any revenue lost.

[48] In 2012, Simmons supported Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich's re-election campaign, appearing with the politician at various speaking events.

[53] In August 2013, Simmons launched the controversial "Harriet Tubman Sex Tape" parody video on his YouTube channel, All Def Digital, which led to public outrage and many critics demanding an apology.

The video featured an actress portraying the abolitionist Harriet Tubman (1822–1913) having sex with her slave owner with the intent of filming the act and blackmailing him to convince him to work on the Underground Railroad.

I would never condone violence against women in any form, and for all of those I offended, I am sincerely sorry.Despite its removal from the All Def Digital channel,[58] the video continues to be available as of June 2024[update] via reuploaded versions.

Simmons and Brett Ratner, whom Khalighi accused of watching them without intervening when she asked for his help, both deny that the encounter was non-consensual.

[65] On the same day, HBO announced that they would be removing Simmons' name and likeness from his stand-up comedy specials starting with the December 1 episode.

On December 13, 2017, the Los Angeles Times published an investigative report in which five women accused Simmons of sexual misconduct, including another alleged rape.

On the same day, The New York Times published the accounts of four other women who accused Simmons of inappropriate conduct, including three more alleged rapes.

[69] On February 13, 2024, a lawsuit filed by Jane Doe in New York Federal Court obtained by People, alleged that she was sexually assaulted and harassed by her boss, Russell Simmons, in the 1990s.

[70] On February 15, 2024, another lawsuit, this time alleging defamation, was filed against Simmons by former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon.

"[81][82][83] HBO decided to remove Russell Simmons' name from All Def Comedy, a series he created to launch and showcase emerging comedians.

[85] Oprah Winfrey withdrew as executive producer of the film, after having been pressured by Simmons to cancel the release,[86] eventually stating there were "inconsistencies" in Drew Dixon's story that "gave me pause".