Rush Communications

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Rush Communications is the company owned by hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons. He is also the founder. Rush Communications is one of the largest African American owned media firms in the United States. Rush continues to draw on its roots in hip hop, targeting young consumers through urban and hip-hop culture. In 1983, Simmons formed Def Jam Recordings along with Rush Artist Management, the core of Rush, which launched the careers of artists such as the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-DMC and Whodini. Later adding the Lyor Cohen helmed Rush Associated Labels (aka RAL) and extending feelers into fields such as movie production and magazine publishing, Simmons built Rush Communications into a broad based media empire.

Rush sold Def Jam to Universal Music to focus on various product lines (Rush Mobile, UniRush Financial Services, and Simmons Lathan Media Group, producer of Def Poetry and Def Comedy Jam). In addition, the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation brings arts education to inner-city kids.Russell Simmons is a U.S. board of directors for Upliftment Jamaica upliftmentjamaica.org an organization started by Gary Foster Vice President of Rush Communication which seeks to empower impoverished communities throughout Jamaica and the Caribbean.