Prophetic.
Perhaps that is what people thought of hip-hop icon Russell Simmons as they lined up in the aisles of Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium to ask the Def Jam Records founder questions.
He expounded on an array of topics, rolling axioms off his slightly-slurred Simmons tongue.
The world is a distraction. It is what's inside that counts
he said, later adding, The lowest ideas are sometimes the easiest to get a shock but those with integrity will inspire for a long time.
When one student asked what he could do to become as successful as Simmons, the hip-hop mogul simply said, Anything you like.
Simmons answered questions regarding sexism, his previous drug usage, philanthropy, racial profiling and many questions dealing with the past and current state of hip-hop -something many believe would not have been as powerful if it were not for Simmons.
The Web site http://www.allmusic.com labels Simmons as the most important businessman in the history of rap music. Def Jam's track record includes artists such as L.L. Cool J, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.
From his success from Def Jam Records, he launched the Def Comedy Jam, his Phat Farm clothing line and became involved in various philanthropic causes.
Simmons is now the chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, a proponent of vegetarianism and rumored to be the next president of the NAACP.
During the speech, which was part of the Kennedy Lecture Series, Simmons spoke frequently about the importance in helping the poor, in using poverty to bind the many cultures of the world and how hip-hop can act as a medium in bringing cultures together.
The rap community is very very powerful -the best brand-building community in the world. You want to use that power to better the world
he said.
(Hip-hop) has done a lot of good
but it's going to get much greater
he said referring to rappers as artists and poets.
Simmons said people who tune into their creative side are less fearful because they base their operations out of love instead of fear.
Senior computer engineering major Dan Parra was a member of the panel that flanked Simmons at the speech. Parra said he thought Simmons' philosophy of having a united people was one of the most interesting aspects of the forum.
It was a great thing the university brought him in. He is a down-to-earth guy
and he is very intelligent
Parra said.
Athens resident Marcus Meacham said it was nice for Simmons' message to reach a wider audience and demographic.
Sophomore Chris Muhlberg, a communication systems management major, said he learned more about the history of hip-hop through Simmons and respected the way in which he spoke.
He wasn't scared to say what he believed
Muhlberg said.
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