After being approached by TMZ while in Hollywood, California this week, Russell Simmons was asked to share his thoughts on Geraldo Rivera’s comments about Hip Hop being “destructive culturally.” According to Simmons, who Rivera referred to as “a dear friend” during his interview with Huffington Post Live, the real problem lies with the prison-industrial complex and “jail culture.”
In regards to Rivera, the Def Jam Records co-founder suggested that due to his recent loss on “Celebrity Apprentice,” the Fox News contributor needs to stay relevant in some way or another.
“Geraldo, the prison-industrial complex got people so twisted,” Russell Simmons said. “For 40 years, they’ve been locking up diseased drug addicts, educating them on criminal behavior, and dumping them back in the hood. The poetry is a reflection of what comes from that. That jail culture. That’s obvious. And Geraldo after just losing he needs to talk. He needs to get himself relevant…He used to be a progressive. He used to do good work and help people. Now he’s just a talking head. He hasn’t done shit to help nobody in a very long time. But he used to do something 30, 40 years ago. But he’s not relevant no more.”
While appearing on Huffington Post Live this week, Rivera stated that, “Hip Hop has done more damage to black and brown people than racism in the last 10 years,” and continued to criticize the Hip Hop community.
“I love Russell Simmons, he’s a dear friend of mine,” Rivera said during his interview. “I admire his business acumen. At some point, those guys have to cop to the fact that by encouraging this distinctive culture that is removed from the mainstream, they have encouraged people to be so different from the mainstream that they can’t participate other than the racks in the garment center, those entry-level jobs. And I lament it, I really do. I think that it has been really destructive culturally.”
if hes so irrelevant why did blood diamond russ feel the need to respond to him
Rivera did bring up his name,
The hell we supposed to listen to when shooting at opps? Country or rock music? Naw. I’m gon blast me some Keef and Reese when lighting up bricks so they can join Lil JoJo the HoHo.
It’s crazy how everyone is hating on Tyga for dating a 17 year old girl when hes 25 but Russell Simmons was dating a 16 year old when he was 35!!!!!!!
Both are correct
I was just going to say the same thing. I’m a little dissapointed how Russell responded. He would of sounded more classey if hadn’t dissed him. but I agree both are right.
Both are too blame, including the interested audience! Entertainers are just as responsible for proliferating the pros and cons of hip hop.
I’m a white dude who listens to hip hop all day… a large amount of the music is obviously destructive to black people. Not that I care one way or the other. A lot of the stuff can’t be defended though.
hip-hop is destructive to white people too. i know some wiggers man….
^ just bc white ppl listen 2 rap doesn’t mean they are wiggers lol. means they just like that type of music as well as prob 30 other types of music.
You think because you listen to hip hop all day that it makes you entitled to say a word about anything? Seriously? Keep your mouth closed, because you lost all credibility as soon as you said you’re white.
blackball always up n arms trying to defend a losing argument.. i love hiphop like other genres of music and i can see what hiphop does..it does what movies and games do and thats put images in puts images in ppls heads..atleast with movies theres an ending that usually shows ppl how that lifestyle ends up..with hiphop u got the fakes n frauds who never lived outside a suburb glorifying that shit with no bad ending.
black people** auto corrected first 2 words