Russell Wendell Simmons (born October 4, 1957 in Queens, NYC) is an American hip hop producer and business magnate. He and Rick Rubin founded the pioneering hip hop label [l4241]. He also created the fashion lines, Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and American Classics.
Since October 2017, through the #MeToo movement, Simmons had been accused by over 19 women to have sexually assaulted or harassed them. He has been blacklisted from every venture he had been involved in following the accusations.

His younger brother is Joseph Simmons (Run of Run-DMC).