Russell Simmons, interview by Jane Spencer

Russell Simmons is a manager, entrepreneur, multimedia mogul, and cofounder of Def Jam Records. In this interview, Simmons argues that rap music and hip—hop culture have become so influential that they will mark how historians record the culture of the twentieth (and perhaps twenty—first) century.

THE MISSION WAS TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF hip—hop. A jumble of rap artists, industry producers, journalists, politicians, academics and spiritual leaders had assembled for what was billed as the Hip—Hop Summit, three days of discussions and press conferences about music and culture organized by rap mogul Russell Simmons, chairman of Def Jam Records. Guests included Minister Louis Farrakhan, Harvard professor Cornell West, and rappers LL Cool J and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

In the...