Russell Simmons (born October 31 1957 in Queens, NY), is an African American entrepreneur, the co-founder, with Rick Rubin, of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam, and founder of another label, Russell Simmons Music Group.
Simmons is the older brother of Rev. Joseph Simmons, better known as "Run" of Run-DMC, and son of Daniel Simmons, a public school administrator.