Rap Impresario Russell Simmons: What 'Super Rich' Really Means, Feb. 3
January 4, 2011
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Russell Simmons, co-founder of the legendary hip-hop recording label Def Jam, creator of the enormously successful Phat Farm clothing line, and a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, will discuss his recent book Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All at the University of Baltimore on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Merrick School of Business Speaker Series. It will be held in UB's Langsdale Library Auditorium, 1420 Maryland Ave.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets for this event are now SOLD OUT.
Simmons, the brother of Run-DMC member Rev. Joseph Simmons and BusinessWeek's "CEO of hip-hop," has built an empire on urban street culture and music. In addition to Phat Farm, his clothing labels include Baby Phat, Argylculture and American Classics. His connections in the fashion industry ensured the success of the Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, which raised millions to help displaced families in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. USA Today named Simmons to its list of the "Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years," calling him a "hip-hop pioneer" for his influence on music, fashion, finance, visual media and philanthropy. He serves as CEO of RUSH Communications, whose holdings include companies in entertainment, fashion and personal development. Simmons also was part of the MTV reality series, Run's House.
Super Rich explores personal enlightenment and the attainment of wealth through a series of logical and practical steps. As a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, Simmons advocates that when a person finds inner peace, he or she can then achieve opportunity and prosperity. That prosperity, in turn, must be accompanied by selflessness and generosity.
"The most fundamental law is a belief in the oneness of humanity," Simmons told the New York Times last year. "Forget millionaires. If I know 15 billionaires, then I know 13 unhappy people. These people's lives might be filled with mansions and yachts and private jets, but their medicine cabinets are also filled with antidepressants."
Super Rich follows the publication of Simmons's national bestseller Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success.
The audience at Simmons's Feb. 3 appearance at the Merrick Speaker Series will learn how his entrepreneurial zeal and deep-seated belief in the power of philanthropy have provided a strong foundation for his life's work. Those attending this event will have an opportunity to attend an exclusive booksigning with Simmons immediately following his talk.
All currently enrolled UB students who requested a ticket—all of the available student tickets have now been claimed—may pick it up in person between now and Friday, Jan. 28. Information on where to pick up your ticket will be included in a confirmation e-mail.
This event fulfills the Personal Achievement requirement for Leadership UB's Emerging Leader certification. To find out more, visit www.ubalt.edu/leadership or e-mail leadership@ubalt.edu.
Additional details about the event are available by sending an e-mail to merrickschoolevents@ubalt.edu.
This is the ninth event in the Speaker Series. It debuted in April 2009 with a talk by Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of the Grameen Bank. More information about past speakers is available here.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Affairs and the Merrick School of Business.
(Russell Simmons photo on UB home page by Gerald Janssen.)