[video] Russell Simmons: I Ain’t Never Had a Rap Beef & I Ain’t Scared of Nobody

Gonna give Russell credit for keeping it 100 here when he speaks on the impact of Chuck D on Def Jam and Hip Hop culture on a whole.

The burning question most hip-hop heads have is: Why did Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons split up? While talking to DJ Vlad, Russell explained that they went on to work on different projects and focused on other artists. As for Simmons ultimately walking away from his position at Def Jam, the mogul says that he built it and gradually started pulling away from his post while juggling his other business ventures, and relied on the people who were smarter than him, who he believed in.

Watch the full interview above to hear Russell explain why he’s never had a rap beef, Chuck D inspiring the Million Man March, and much more.

[video] LL Cool J – “Rock the Bells” | Magnum Opus

Hip Hop History.

We talked to LL, Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons and everyone involved in making this historic rap record.

[video] Russell Simmons X Rick Rubin On Public Enemy

Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin discussion on the impact of legendary group Public Enemy is accord with the 30th anniversary of hip hop powerhouse Def Jam. Still not feeling the omission of Professor Griff because he was integral to their success and him being left out is a travesty in itself. With that being said, Public Enemy changed the game, as Russell alludes to in this interview with Noisey for their Back and Forth series.

SOURCE:

[video] Eminem – Rap God (Lyric Video)

Here is a lyric breakdown of the song that shut down the internet yesterday, Eminem’s “Rap God” has leaped to number #1 on Itunes and will be perched there for awhile. Can’t wait to see the video for this crazy record.

SOURCE: Bossip

Rick Rubin To Be Removed From Sony?

Music guys just hate going to the office.

via Hiphopdx

Reports speculate that Sony Music will be removing Rick Rubin as co-head of Columbia Records. The legendary producer, who founded Def Jam, took the post in 2007.

Fox News’ Roger Friedman reports that Sony executives are unhappy with several of Rubin’s moves, such as producing a hit album for another labels, such as Metallica‘s Death Magnetic on Atlantic Records.

Sony executives also supposedly cite Rubin’s move to an expensive office in Beverly Hills, which he allegedly does not use.

Finally, it was revealed that Rubin had been recording tracks with rival Universal Music Group’s act U2.

The report indicates that Sony plans to “offload him to a side label deal, and remove him from the main company.”

Rubin has been known as an innovator in the music industry for over 20 years, having signed historic acts such as Public Enemy and The Beastie Boys, among others. He has worked with a myriad of artists such as Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Shakira, Dixie Chicks, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run-DMC and Johnny Cash.

[video] Dame Talks Future Moves

Damn, it hurts to see a man with such an inflated ego like Dame humbled by his own shortcomings. Everyone that arose out of Def Jam with a superhuman ego has been deflated to former images of themselves, from Dame, to Jay, to X, to Irv, to Ja and the list goes on and on.  It’s like Def Jam is a Buddhist conversion farm for some of these dudes, they all come in like Ari Gold from Entourage and leave on some Swami sh*t like Rick Rubin.  F*ckin’ hilarious, sad, but hilarious.