Russell Simmons Praises Lyor Cohen’s Fundraising, Doesn’t Think Rap Is Dead

Russell Simmons has been round for all of Hip Hop’s 50 years, and is not phased by the outpouring of complaints in regards to the present high quality of rap music this yr.

We caught up with the Def Jam co-founder and DJ Cassidy Thursday … nonetheless reeling from the blowout Hip Hop live performance from the latest Metropolis of Hope x Move The Mic fundraiser celebration.

T.I., Massive Daddy Kane, Redman, EPMD, and a particularly brolic LL Cool J helped lead the festivities for the night time … Russell tells us he flew all the best way from Bali only a be part of it, he could not miss it.

Russ additionally praised fellow good friend and hip hop mogul Lyor Cohen for the tens of millions he helped increase towards most cancers therapies largely impacting minorities … $4.3 million to be exact, proving the tradition can nonetheless make a distinction on the finish of the day.

Many artists this yr … Joe Budden, Layzie Bone, Bow Wow and Fabolous, to call a number of … have solid doubts on the way forward for rap and Juicy J took issues even additional, declaring a “state of emergency.