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, All Movie Guide

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, All Movie Guide

Another of MTV's reality-based sitcoms -- or was it a sitcom-based reality show? -- Run's House focused on the family of rapper-turned-minister Joey "Run" Simmons, of Run-D.M.C. fame. Preferring to be called "Rev Run," the protagonist was the benign ruler of a rambunctious but good-natured household consisting of his wife, Justine, and children, Russy, Diggy, Angela, JoJo, and Vanessa. Holding the "plot" together was Run's ongoing effort to keep his brood reined in while busily recording his comeback album (a situation surprisingly close to that of the like-vintage TLC documentary series Tuckerville, which featured Tanya Tucker and her family). It so happened that his kids also wanted to be in showbiz, an aspiration that Run was fully in favor of provided they kept their grades up and their heads on straight. Run's House began running on October 13, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The documentary Just for Kicks explains how important shoes are in hip-hop culture. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

The biggest names in show business come together to offer their opinions on one of the most inflammatory words in the English language in filmmaker Todd Williams' revealing and thought-provoking documentary. In its long and complex history, the word "nigger" has gone from a cutting and derogatory racial slur to a term of endearment frequently used by African-American youth culture. Though the word has in a sense been "taken back" by the very people that it targeted, it still has the power to anger and enrage when taken out of its new context. As a variety of celebrities including Quincy Jones, Russell Simmons, George Carlin, Damon Dash, and Bryant Gumbel offer their opinions on this polarizing word, the taboo of language is broken to reveal an ever-changing society that is constantly attempting to make sense of a dark past while simultaneously attempting to build a brighter future. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Season four of the improvisational, uninhibited HBO series Def Poetry Jam offers a full ten half hours -- three more than any previous season. Accordingly, this batch of episodes features the series' biggest and most stellar talent lineup, performing their own angry, outrageous, profane, profound, and occasionally uproarious verse compositions. Among those introduced at New York's The Supper Club by host Mos Def are Oscar Brown Jr., Kim Fields, Ruby Dee, Doug E. Fresh, and Mike Epps, not to mention such Def Poetry Jam "regulars" as Bassey Ikpi, Lemon, Georgia Me, Mayda Del Valle, muMs, Ishle Park, and Flowmentalz. Oh, and did we mention Rives, MC Lyte, KRS-One, Floetry, Flaco Navaja, Laura "Piece" Kelly, Triple Black, Jus Cus, Faraji Salim, Dead Prez, Kendra Urdang, Red Storm, Beau Sia, Speech, and on into the night.... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A film crew sets out on a journey across the country to discover how money is made in the world of hip-hop. Director Maxie Collier takes us inside the process as he selects his Paperchasers crew and travels across the United States, interviewing people making a living off hip-hop, from street rappers selling tapes out of their trunks, to clothing designers, a hairdresser, DJs, record producers, and recording artists. They're all out to make money, and Collier wants to learn how it is done. In Atlanta, the crew catch rap superstar Ludacris and his crew just months before they sign a record deal and blow up. Collier documents his crew's struggles to land interviews with media bigwigs like Rap-A-Lot's J. Prince and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons. Collier also captures the fluctuations in his personal relationships with producer Yvette Plummer, also the mother of his son, and soundman Marquez Edmond (aka "Marquez the Greatest"), as the pressures of making the film wear on the bare-bones crew. Paperchasers, featuring appearances by Fat Joe, Damon Dash, Flava Flav, and James Brown, had its world premiere at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

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, All Movie Guide

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, All Movie Guide

Hip-Hop VIPs contains performances and interviews with 19 hip-hop artists. Filmed entirely in New York City, this video includes interviews with Dr. Dre, Ja Rule, Method Man, and a little-seen segment with Aaliyah. Others featured include Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, and Eve. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

The inaugural season of Russell Simmons' raw and uninhibited Def Poetry Jam consisted of four half-hour telecasts, originally presented live at The Supper Club in New York. With rapper Mos Def serving as host, the series offers an impressive array of improvisational ethnic poetry, running a gamut from tense and poignant to loud, obscene, and hilarious. Artists represented in this quartet of episodes include singer Jewel, comedians Cedric the Entertainer and Dave Chappelle, and such brilliant performance artists (individually or in groups) as Last Poets, Suheir Hammad, Sarah Jones, Yellow Rage, Danny Hoch, Black Ice, Sarah Jones, Beau Sia, muMs, Poetri, Nikki Giovanni, Steve Colman, and Amiri Baraka. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on a Tony-winning Broadway production, Def Poetry Jam was the brainchild of Russell Simmons, the same man responsible for HBO's improvisational ethnic comedy series Def Comedy Jam. Hosted by rapper Mos Def, Def Poetry Jam was taped live at The Supper Club in New York. A vast array of performance artists, ranging from poets to actors to musicians to comedians, most but not all African-American, were given full license to express themselves in the most emotional, uninhibited, and sometimes obscene manner possible before a large and enthusiastic live audience. Sometimes the poetry was presented "straight," without adornment; and sometimes the recitations were part and parcel of a mixed-media presentation. Hilarious, biting, profane, tender, offensive, but never dull, the series was an expert encapsulation of the feelings and sensitivities of minority artists in post-9/11 America. Also known as Russell Simmons Presents: Def Poetry, the half-hour Def Poetry Jam made its HBO bow in June of 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide