Russell Simmons With Bill Maher: Not So Real
May 21st, 2007 | 
Author: Yes. You read correctly. I’m Black.
I say that because what I am about to say may not sit so well with a lot of my African-American readers, and I just want to assure them that I am indeed…Black!
Now that that is said, I have an issue with this dude Russell Simmons and his new book “Do You: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success.” I’ll admit, I haven’t read the book in its entirety, so I’ll mainly focus on Russell himself. Let me first say that I have all the respect in the world for what Russell has done as an entrepreneur and a leader in the hip-hop movement. He has brought the Black culture to mainstream society and has become a great example for what young Black children can aspire to become.
But the respect stops there.
The man is a bona-fide ignoramus.
First of all, have you seen this man on his brother’s (whom I love and respect 100%) show, Run’s House, on MTV? He acts like a complete money-grubbing, bureaucratic asshole. Just on the show alone I have seen him curse around people like he has no respect for them, stomp emphatically on the work of one of his own designers and completely debase the ideas of his 2 nieces, an idea that they currently use.
He is an utter time-bomb, waiting to blow up on everybody that interrupts his mission to make more and more money. I don’t mind anybody trying to make that cheddar, but to degrade people on the daily basis? I have a problem with that.
wanted to discuss
First of all, he blatantly uses the word “Nigga” during his time in which he was speaking with Maher. Not only was it in an inappropriate fashion, but why of all places would he choose to use that word in intellectual conversation on HBO in front of one of the biggest liberal audiences in America? Not to mention, Russell was one of the first people to speak about how the word “Nigger” should be removed from several platforms after the whole Don Imus fiasco (see “Down with the Generalizers”). Look, while I understand that word gets used by us blacks early and often by a large sect of the race, there is at least an understanding that in using the word it be used in a fashion that shows some type of affection or comedic value. Russell’s usage did neither.
What?
Come on, Russell. While I will agree, people like Jay-Z and Biggy Smalls, and probably dozens of other artists have manage to detail their struggles growing up in poverty and/or living in Black America, it doesn’t mean that they are delivering understanding to the general populace. In fact, it’s hard to say what that they even know what the struggle is, never mind understand it. With people like 50 cent rapping about being shot nine times, the late 2-Pac telling people he wants to “be the hardest nigga on earth ever to bust a nut” doesn’t exactly tell mainstream America about what I go through living as a Black man. And like I said before, I know there are accurate descriptions of LWB (living while Black) in hip-hop, and I thank God for those. But for every accurate lyric of LWB, there are 10 more that are pure hyperbole.
On the rare occasion where Russy decided to talk about this book, he truly made me sick. First of all, why would I want to read a book about an arrogant tycoon? I guess if I was some ruthless business man, I might be interested, but as a human being, I’m quite turned off by learning how to succeed from a supercilious bamboozler.
Russell also makes a reinforcing statement a
bout the conclusions that the book “The Secret” makes. First of all, that book is a big hoax. The idea that just because you visualize yourself being a success at something means you will be a success at it is ridiculous. So anybody who ties there book to that one has already ruined it for me. I mean seriously, visualizing, working hard and pretending to be successful won’t make you successful at anything you do.
Russell said other things that drove me crazy, but I’ve already wasted enough breath on this man. I mean I just don’t understand. His brother seems like such a great guy, with such a great family and an even better personality. Russell just doesn’t seem to have any of Run’s charisma, kindness or charm. But it all makes sense. Russell made a career out of being pushy, demanding and decisive. Run made a career out of getting people to like him and appreciate him. That’s why Run has a beautiful family that is TV’s new Cosby Show, and Russell…well, at least he gets to see his kids fairly often for a divorced yoga-mogul.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Posted in 
I think you may be the idiot, read the book then make assumptions. I guess you dont agree that the mind is a powerful muscle that controls you. Negative seeds like yours are harmful to everyone, you very much can control what happens in your life simply by believing in it. Have you never heard the saying “act as if”, probably not or I may have heard of you. GET IT? I am not saying you must agree with what everyone is doing or saying. Although Russell’s book is a very positive message source that can easily help many people. Primarely the culture that should take notice and needs the help.
Look, I completely agree that you have to be positive in order to achieve something. But to go around telling people that just because you put up a bunch of pictures on your wall, visualize yourself being something and act as if you will be that something, will lead toward becoming that something, is ludicrous. I means seriously, not everybody can be a pro-athlete. Not everybody who uses positive affirmation and wants to become President will. And not everybody will be rich and famous. The world doesn’t work like that. Yes, you can be anything you want to be, but that doesn’t mean that you will be anything you want to be.
Break it Down…Let me ask a couple questions…If you wanted to become a serial killer, or a rapist what would you have to do..?? If you wanted to rob, cheat, or break someones window what would you have to do? Funny how we know what to do to achieve the negative aspects of life. So what do we do to achieve the positive. Why is it ludicrous to visualize yourself being sucessful when you already know how to be negative that’s easy. Nobody is saying visualizing yourself as being something or successful as being easy. It’s a start a motivator a psyche a beginning. So whatever you gotta do to give yourself an edge you do it. You need to sit in a ferrari or a boardroom to feel like a CEO of a fortune 500 company you do it. Of course not everybody is gonna be a pro-athlete but if you get in line with becoming one physically, emotionally, mentally, your odds are much more likely…to address Russell the man…I think Mr. Simmons is hypocritical, but so fuckin’ what…so is everbody else so am I , you, the whole world. Russell has made his loot…and he’s saying hey look I don’t give a fuck about nonother bullshit because most people won’t do what’s necessary to get a million. Most people meaning 99%. So the truth is here we are chastizing a man about being arrogant and this and that shit Donald Trump is an asshole, Steven Spielberg is an asshole… but do we know what these people have to deal with on a day to day…so what’s the truth. The truth is we have not achieve the success they have and Russell has said and is saying that you have to truly use your vision to achieve what you want…until we try that and put The Secret to the test and go for ours then we’ll become true rich assholes in the universe. I’d rather be a rich arrogant ass…than a broke one. Peace
Your comments are interesting. I agree with at least one point. His use of the “N” word is unnecessary, I understand where he is from, and I’ve heard his reasons for using it, but at this point it seems unnecessary. 2. I just read the book (borrowed it from the library), it’s a really, really, good book. For the most part it is totally different from what I expected. I find it interesting how people pass judgment things that they haven’t even read. The book is positive; I can’t say that about your post. Your post could have been a informed critique, but instead it was uninformed and unnecessarily negative. You blasted the Secret…wow. Everything isn’t for everybody, is the only thing I can say about that. You love Run’s house, but if it weren’t for “Russy” as you call him (I think its cute when people use terms of familiarity in a condescending way for successful people that they don’t know), you would have never seen a episode of the show…MTV passed on the show numerous times (mentioned in the book that you didn’t read). Peace and Love Uzo, I’m going to visualize for you understanding.
No Anonymous post here…
sarbanes.coxley@gmail.com
I find it funny how none of you would like to address some of the other points I brought up; such as his mentioning that a White person from Beverly Hills understands the struggles of people living in Compton, or the fact that Russell does act like a complete ass on his Run’s House. But then again, when you opt to defend Russell Simmons, why would I expect anything other than avoiding the reality.