Russell Simmons Gets Political On Yo Ass

Don Imus, Barack Obama, John Edwards, The CEO of hip-hop speaks out.

EXCERPT:

Questions for Russell Simmons

Hip-Hop Guru

Interview By DEBORAH SOLOMON
Published: April 29, 2007

As the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and the so-called C.E.O. of hip-hop, do you think the outrage over Don Imus’s prickly language and his firing might broaden into a crusade against song lyrics? It already has broadened to lyrics. It’s been that way since 1983. They’ve been yelling at me from Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys till now.

What do you make of Barack Obama, who recently said that rap musicians should reform their lyrics? What we need to reform is the conditions that create these lyrics. Obama needs to reform the conditions of poverty. I wish he really did raise his money on the Internet, like he said. I wish he really did raise his money independently.

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