University President Amy Gutmann was planning to wear her red and blue Baby Phat outfit while introducing Russell Simmons last night, but unfortunately, she said, it was still at the cleaners.
With topics ranging from the evolution of hip-hop to religion and poverty in America, Simmons -- the founder of Def Jam Recordings -- shared his thoughts with African-American Studies professor Michael Eric Dyson and a packed auditorium of Penn students.
Simmons is widely credited with popularizing hip-hop in America.
The discussion -- sponsored by the Social Planning and Events Committee's Connaissance arm -- was often interrupted with impromptu rapping by Dyson and Simmons, as each felt that he could only express his thoughts through hip-hop.
"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business man. Let me handle my business, damn," Simmons quoted from rapper Jay-Z.
Sinking into his navy-blue leather chair on the stage of Irvine Auditorium, Simmons presented his view on the current state of hip-hop.
"Rap hasn't changed much, that's the great news. ... They're still talking the same mess; the only difference is they're talking to a wider audience."
Simmons admitted, though, that the industry has undergone some major changes since hip-hop first became a popular music medium. Citing MTV as an example, he said that today the station is "totally integrated space" racially.
He sees the expansion of hip-hop into the general consciousness as an important step in informing the public about social and political inequalities.
"A lot of people voted because Puffy said, 'Vote or die,'" Simmons said, referring to a campaign to get out the vote for the 2004 presidential election.
Dyson then pressed Simmons to further explain why politics is discouraging to America's youth.
"When you're young ... you don't realize how you're connected. ... Young people aren't as tied into each other," Simmons said.
He also spoke about race relations in America.
"Young people are much more loving and tolerant and compassionate ... than their parents," he said, adding that "there is a big disconnect between how blacks and whites feel about race."
Following Dyson and Simmons' discussion, Simmons took questions and comments from the audience, including a request from one student for Simmons to listen to him rap. Simmons denied the request but referred the student to a colleague sitting in the audience.
Simmons added, "Reward is bullshit. ... It's where you are now, this second, that matters. ... You've all seen my house on Cribs; I can only sit in one seat at a time."
College senior and SPEC Connaissance co-Director Caitlin McElroy was "excited by how engaged the audience became."
Akpo Omene, a College freshman, said that he was impressed by Simmons' honesty.
"It was crazy," he said. "You wouldn't expect that a man with his money ... would keep it real."
