Hip Hop visionary Russell Simmons took to his Global Grind to write a letter to Kanye West. In the midst of Kanye’s promotional push for Dark Fantasy and George W. Bush/Today Show controversy, Rush offered the cornerstone of the label he co-founded some words of wisdom.
Dear Kanye,
I have early recollections of Damon Dash calling me and forcing me to put you on Def Poetry Jam. I knew your record, “Through The Wire,” but I didn’t know much more. When you took the stage on Def Poetry Jam that night, and spit those genuine, heartfelt words, I witnessed your specialness that Damon had emphatically told me about.
From that moment on, you became a poet who has inspired the poets. I have proudly watched your career since then, and in case someone has missed the obvious, you are making a historical impact on music. Your life story took a tough turn with the passing of your mother. Although we grieved with you, we never really knew how much pain you were in. We witnessed your moment at the MTV Music Awards and many of us dismissed it as, “oh that is just Kanye being Kanye.” The hard part of all of this, is that we have all had moments in our lives that have been challenging, painful and hard to overcome, however most of us just hide our emotions and never deal with that inner-struggle that we face on a daily basis. As an artist, Kanye, you have always looked inside for your inspiration…always exuding emotions that are in us, but that we never expose. That is what artistry is about…to look inside for what is unique. With your journey towards a higher level of consciousness, a journey that we all are on, you have shown through your art a commitment to greatness.
The thirty minute film you most recently made was beyond brilliant. Brilliance is not a word that can even begin to describe your ability to paint vibrant, vivacious, colorful yet muted paintings of poetry, music, costume, art, design and most important, passion. The passion you put into your new album is why I stayed up all those nights in the early 80’s trying to get DJs and radio stations to play our records. I knew this day would come. Actually, maybe I didn’t know, but I really, really hoped it would. I didn’t work this hard when I was your age to watch the culture go the wrong way. And you, my friend, just took us to another level. I am simply in awe.
With this power, as you know, comes great responsibility. I am saying nothing you haven’t heard before. When you spoke about President Bush during the Katrina telethon, it was not the particulars of your words that mattered, it was the essence of a feeling of the insensitivity towards our communities that many of us have felt for far too long. It was the image of the President, our President, the President of the United States Of America, peering out the window of an airplane, as the people on the ground were drowning, that hurt us the most. For centuries, our people have relentlessly tread water as hard as they could to stay afloat, and here we were, literally drowning, and it felt like the President was insensitive. There is no need to apologize, Kanye. You spoke from your heart and that is all we will ever ask from you. Don’t be afraid of the press, as your art is your blueprint, thanks to Jay-Z, your big brother, we will always carry our destiny in our own hands. You are are an artist whose art is masterful. You are a servant to this world who no matter how hard it gets, keeps on giving. Giving gifts that inspire us, challenge us and motivate us to be better family and friends.
Keep on, Kanye. Keep on. We love you. We cherish you. And we will always have your back.
9 other producers working on a producer/rapper’s album is not necessarily passion or taking it to the next level… I call it running out of ideas. Shoot, Kanye buys a whole beat from other people who made it and THEN puts his name on it… not creative to me in the least bit. After what I heard, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was definitely not worth $3 million to record. At best it’s a 3.5/5.
Sounds like Russell is co-signing his prima donna ways but I never had and never will.
Without Charles’ co-sign, this Kanye guy will NEVER make it!
^lmfao!
spoken like a true hater
ok…that’s alot of unnecessary ass kissing, i dont get it…was that necessary? kanye is that sensitive for the need for this letter?i dont get it..kanye needs to man up, the world aint against him, man up kanye!
LOL Russell has whipped his dick out and just now waiting for Kanye to bend over so he can pound more praise into his ass. i agree with the part about he shouldn’t apologise over the bush thing tho. but apart from that he makin kanye sound like a super hero or a god or something. funny
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO IS ABSOLUTELY SICK OF RUSSELL SIMMONS, GO SIT CROSS LEGGED AND WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE PART OF WHAT’S WRONG WITH HIP HOP,AND KANYE THEN COME OUT THE CORNER. WRITE A LETTER ABOUT HOW EVIL THIS INDUSTRY IS, WRITE A LETTER ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE TO CHANGE WHO YOU ARE IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY SUCCESS, WRITE ABOUT THE REAL RUSSELL, YOU CAN’T BECAUSE YOU PROFIT FROM KEEPING THE REST OF US IN THE DARK ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY, UNTIL THEN GO CHEW ON SOME CELERY AND SHUT UP
agreed,and amen.
A bunch of nobodys commenting on the somebodys. Read a book.
Bravo Russell! Showing someone that you appreciate them is not “kissing their ass.” We need more positive comments in Hip-Hop so everytime someone does say something positive that we don’t accuse them of “kissing their ass.” Beef is fun temporarily but positivity moves the world forward!
-D-Money (Juice Radio Music Director)
and this is why kanye’s the best rapper alive.
wow. are you kidding me?
i’d say hes the best package, the best musician of the rappers, however, when it comes to flow and lyricism jay-z still is unbeatable, whereas kanye has the best feeling for the music
ah yeah and em to, but kanye is definitely better then wayne
Truer words have never been spoken. Those who disrespect russell simmons and/or Kanye West are simply haters. haaaaaateeersssssssssss..die faggots.
Russel Simmons, Rick Rubin, Diddy and all these washed-up 80’s moguls are completely out of touch and their comments are irrelevant. I grew up on the Def Jam era music but these fags just pander to whatever is trendy and sold the fuck out completely…no ear to the streets anymore, these corporate pawns just try and dictate their regurgitated version of plastic bullshit back to the masses instead of feeding them the raw shit they wanted. I like some of Kanye’s shit but this was just unnecessary ass-kissing.
As much as I like Kanye I’m not gonna write a whole fucking essay dickriding him. Just say Kanye ur the shit n get on with ur life u’d think a guy with that much money would have more important things to do than asskissing an egomaniac.
Thank You, Russell
It couldn’t have benn siad better.
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DC MARYALND VIRGINIA ALL DAY!! I wanna be seen and heard by the right ppl ALL AROUND and get some work in collab,studio work, touring for /with artist ect.
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YOU NIGGAS THAT ARE HATING ON RUSSELL AND KANYE ARE PURE ASSHOLES THAT’S WHY THIS CULTURE GETS FUCKED UP SOMETIME BECAUSE OF BITCHES LIKE YOU IGNORANT FUCKS DIE SLOW AND HATE YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER FOR HAVING YOUR SORRY ASS……………