Russell Simmons Movies

Directed by filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and produced by journalist Elvis Mitchell, this collaborative documentary offers an informative collection of portraits of twenty influential African Americans ranging from powerful CEOs to prolific artists, well-known politicians, and dedicated activists. Artist Bill T. Jones discusses the reaction of his contemporaries after he described himself as an artist first and a black man second, Chris Rock describes how equality in sports didn't come about until there were bad black athletes in the major leagues, and Vernon Jordan ponders the reason why there is a clear definition of black America while white America remains a vague, undefined standard. Other conversations find Academy Award-winning actor Lou Gossett Jr. discussing institutionalized racism and its effect on his onscreen career, museum curator Thelma Golden reflecting on the times when people mistakenly assumed she was her own assistant, and, by contrast, the manner in which author Toni Morrison was encouraged as a young girl to believe that women can be just as strong as men. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

To save his son from ruthless gangsters, a streetwise ex-con finds himself coerced into performing a series of crimes in this gritty thriller. Waist Deep features Tyrese Gibson as O2, a young father and recent parolee whose life on the outside is upended when his young son Junior is taken hostage after an auto-theft gone wrong. After learning that his boy is in the hands of a mob boss named Meat (The Game), O2 is forced to break the law once again to satisfy his demands, and teams up with Coco (Meagan Good), a hooker with ties to Meat, to get into the gangster's inner sanctum and save his son. Waist Deep marked the acting debut of rapper The Game. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

In 1972, New York State established what became known as "The Rockefeller Drug Laws," the strictest legislation against drug trafficking passed by any state in the union. While many felt the laws were unnecessarily harsh, in 1982 Ronald Reagan cited the Rockefeller Laws as a model to be followed in his "War on Drugs" campaign, and since then 48 states passed similar laws. However, thanks to the Rockefeller Laws, nonviolent drug offenders now frequently serve longer sentences than those convicted of rape, armed robbery, arson, or other crimes that threaten the lives and safety of others. In 2001, Darrell Best was doing some repair work at his uncle's house when he signed for a Federal Express package for the neighbor next door who was away; unknown to Best or the FedEx driver, the package contained a pound of cocaine, and Best was eventually sentenced to 15 years behind bars (the minimum sentence under the Rockefeller Laws) after he refused to plea bargain the case. Now Wanda Best, his wife, raises their three children alone as he serves time for a crime in which he had only an unwitting involvement. Since then, hip-hop mogul and activist Russell Simmons has launched a media campaign to repeal the Rockefeller Laws in favor of more humane legislation that focuses on treatment rather than punishment. Lockdown, U.S.A. is a documentary which examines the history of the Rockefeller Laws, the Darrell Best case, and Simmons' battle to raise awareness about the destructive impact of these laws. Lockdown, U.S.A. received its world premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This documentary examines the hip-hop record industry through the eyes of contemporary hip-hop artists such as Big Boi, Andre 3000, Kanye West and many more. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi

Street Fury: Envy features beautiful women in revealing clothing alongside shots of some of the more alluring import cars from countries around the globe. This edition of the Street Fury series includes an appearance by model Anna Nicole Smith. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Buddhist leader His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is the focal point of this panel discussion, in which a group of political, environmental, and spiritual activists discuss the dangers and dilemmas that face the global community at the dawn of the 21st century. Ethics and the World Crisis: A Dialogue With the Dalai Lama features discussions of ethical issues and how they relate to the media, global economics, the peace movement, and the environment. In addition to the Dalai Lama, panelists include U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Rev. Al Sharpton, Susan Sarandon, Russell Simmons, Amy Goodman, Ben Cohen, and more; the discussion is moderated by Robert Thurman. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The top moguls in hip-hop sit down with host Fatman Scoop to discuss the popular music genre from a business standpoint in this release that aims to provide an informative view of the profitable industry from the highest level. Russell Simmons, Damon Dash, Fat Joe, Mona Scott, Kevin Liles, and Craig Kallman are all on hand to discuss the challenges and achievements that brought them to the top of their fields, and offer a unique view of the rap business through the eyes of the "movers and shakers" who make it all happen from behind-the-scenes. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Produced in association with the publishers of F.E.D.S. Magazine, a streetwise journal that prints the bitter truth about crime and gang life in urban America, this documentary examines how the magazine came to be, as well as presenting onscreen versions of some of the most powerful stories from F.E.D.S. F.E.D.S. features segments on the origins of Los Angeles' most feared street gangs, the Bloods and the Crips; a visit with notorious hustler and street basketball legend Pee Wee Kirkland; the truth about pit bulls, in which we see how the animals are bred, raised, and trained to fight in underground competitions; and a trip to Kingston, Jamaica, to investigate the island's most feared criminal gang, the Jamaican Shottas. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Russell Simmons' HBO series Def Comedy Jam was one of the first nationwide showcases for African-American comedians, who could perform raw, streetwise material without censorship or interference; many of the show's guests have gone on to become some of the best known comic talents in America today, and this home video collects more highlights from the show's history. Def Comedy Jam: More All Stars, Vol. 2 features side-splitting material from Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Don "D.C." Curry, Mo'Nique, Tommy Chunn, and more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This documentary, hosted by Tony Dofat and produced in part by Heavy D, takes the viewer behind the scenes for the inside story of rap music. The program hits the mean streets of inner-cities, where the music got its start, and follows its rise to popularity throughout America in some pretty unexpected places. Interviews with rappers, including Puff Daddy, Kid Rock, Redman, Russell Simmons, and Method Man, shed light on the forces out of which the rap tradition springs. Production people and recording executives share their insights about the music and culture of rap. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi