Russell Simmons Movies

Hip-hop mogul Damon Dash (Paper Soldiers) directs this semi-autobiographical film based on his life as the proprietor of Roc-a-Fella Records. Ebon Moss-Bachrach stars as David Katz, a reporter who, upon interviewing rap producer Damon (Capone), finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the high-class world of hip-hop. Before he knows it, Katz ignites a war within the label that could bring down the operation for good. A bevy of celebrities from all walks of life make appearances, including Riddick Bowe, Lorraine Bracco, Mariah Carey, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Carson Daly, Jay-Z, Chloe Sevigny, James Toback, and countless others. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

HBO's series Def Comedy Jam provided a showcase for some of the best and brightest new performers on the urban comedy scene, and this home video presents highlights from the show, with Tracy Morgan, Bill Bellamy, and host Martin Lawrence presenting cutting edge comedy that's definitely too rough for prime time. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This video acts as a highlights reel for some of today's hottest young comedians, many of whom went from stand-up performances on the HBO series Def Comedy Jam to their own television shows and big-screen comedies. Raw, uncensored, cutting-edge humor is the standard for these classic acts from Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence, Sheryl Underwood, and Chris Tucker. Expect outrageous jokes from these comedic superstars, as well as pointed remarks on sensitive social issues .


~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide

Def Comedy Jam gave many young comics of the '80s and '90s the chance they needed to reach a larger audience and strut their stuff on a national stage. Many of these young comics went on to greater fame and greater paychecks in the years that followed. Two of the names featured here include Mark Curry and Steve Harvey. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide

Some of the hottest young comics got their first big break on the stage of Def Comedy Jam. Freed from the shackles of prime time TV, these comedians used the late night forum to strut their stuff and make the jump from comedy clubs to television and movies. Two of the names featured here are Joe Torry and DJ Robo. ~ Rob Ferrier, 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

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, All Movie Guide

In this hard-edged drama with a strong undercurrent of dark comedy, Stretch (Tim Roth) and Spoon (Tupac Shakur) are two friends who share both a passion for music and a dependence on heroin. Stretch and Spoon play in a jazz combo with Cookie (Thandie Newton), and after a New Year's Eve gig, they score drugs and get high together. Cookie lacks her friends' experience with hard drugs and soon ends up in the hospital after a severe overdose. Cookie's brush with death turns out to be a serious reality check for Stretch and Spoon, and they decide that it's time to kick drugs and get clean and sober. But both men know that they can't get off heroin on their own, and therein lies the problem; as they try to navigate a complex maze of social service agencies (who can't help them get treatment because they aren't on welfare), drug treatment facilities (one of which turns them away because they're only equipped to handle alcoholics), and hospitals (where, in order to be admitted as emergency patients, Stretch and Spoon ponder how to go about stabbing each other) in search of a detox program. The two friends begin to wonder if it might simply be easier to stay on drugs than to get healthy. Gridlock'd marked the feature film directorial debut for actor Vondie Curtis Hall, best known for his work on the TV series Chicago Hope; Elizabeth Pena and John Sayles both appear in supporting roles. Rap musician-turned actor Tupac Shakur, who played Spoon, died in a drive-by shooting four months prior to the release of this film. ~ Mark Deming, 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

A man who's devoted his life to running around on his woman finally meets his match in this comedy. Dray Jackson (Bill Bellamy) is a ladies' man par excellence, who never lets the fact that he has a girlfriend, Lisa (Lark Voorhies), get in the way of making time with as many other women as possible. As he spends a typical day going from house to house "visiting" a number of beautiful females, Dray fills his friends David (Pierre Edwards), Kilo (Jermaine Hopkins), and Spootie (A.J. Johnson) in on the finer points of the art of having as many ladies as you want without getting caught. Dray's sister Jenny (Natalie Desselle) and her friend Katrina (Mari Morrow) are at once disgusted and morbidly fascinated with Dray's cheerful, chronic infidelity, and since Jenny is studying anthropology, they decide that Dray's lifestyle would be a worthy subject for research. Deciding to see what would happen if Dray was really put to the test (and maybe teach him a lesson in the process), Jenny and Katrina throw a party, and they invite Dray -- and all the women whose telephone numbers appear in his address book. Max Julien, best known for his role as the ultra-smooth pimp in the blaxploitation classic The Mack, appears as Dray's lady-killing Uncle Fred. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Russell Simmons is the biggest behind-the-scenes figure in hip-hop. As the founder of Def Jam Records, Simmons helped create one of the strongest and longest-lived labels in rap music; as a manager, he helped make Run-D.M.C. the first worldwide superstars of rap; as producer of the television shows Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry Jam, he expanded the boundaries of spoken-word performance and established its connection to hip-hop culture; and his Phat Farm clothing line has put him on the leading edge of contemporary urban fashion. Journeys in Black: Russell Simmons is a documentary produced for the BET cable network in which Simmons discusses his career and the ideals which have helped make him a success. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Experience the story of three brothers from South Jamaica, Queens, New York and the allegedly destructive effect that their actions had on the lives of everyday people in 23 states in a documentary featuring special appearances by Russell Simmons, Fat Joe, Magic Juan, and a whole host of hip-hop favorites. For nearly 25 years, the three elusive brothers evaded the watchful eye of the federal government, but you can't run forever, and when authorities from South Carolina broke judicial barriers to bring the trio to justice, the controversy that followed would make headlines across the nation. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide