AN OPEN LETTER TO THE RECORDING INDUSTRY
By Russell Simmons

Respecting the Living Legacy of Def Jam: An Open Letter to the Recording Industry from Russell Simmons

In a recent Newsweek article by Johnnie Roberts, appropriate questions were raised not only about the future of Def Jam, but also about the future of the recording industry's relationship with the creative genius of hip-hop culture. The enduring legacy of Def Jam is that from the very beginning we were focused on building stability for the lives and careers of our artists as well as making hit music that authentically represented hip-hop culture.

My quotes in the piece by Roberts were not aimed at disparaging or discounting the value and potential for L.A. Reid to profitably lead Def Jam. My concerns, however, are about the future of Def Jam and the industry as a whole as to whether the legacy that Def Jam established will be maintained to the benefit of the artists and the culture.

FOR THE REST OF THIS LETTER VISIT:
http://www.allhiphop.com/editorial/?ID=200