← B.E. 40th ANNIVERSARY COVER GALLERY

nd-1992-DECEMBER

By Alfred Edmond, Jr. | Published August 8, 2010 | Full size is 500 × 320 pixels

In this December 1992 cover story, BLACK ENTERPRISE delved inside the world of Russell Simmons and his hip-hop empire-building. Through his talent for finding the right musical talent, marketing strategies and business partnerships, his mission was to take urban culture global. At that time, the 35-year-old mogul’s $34 million Rush Communications, which included the Def Jam record label, was No. 32 on the BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE COMPANIES List; earned an annual salary of $5 million; and considered taking the company public. And that all happened before he launched the Phat Farm clothing line.

In this December 1992 cover story, BLACK ENTERPRISE delved inside the world of Russell Simmons…