Russell Simmons: Beastie Boys 'Remain My N-ggas'

By Kiki Von Glinow Posted May 3rd 2011 12:33PM

Although this mogul towers over the music industry from the top of his Def Jam empire, Russell Simmons still has professional regrets and he's dishing on them in his new book, 'Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All."

His biggest regret? "Losing the Beastie Boys," he writes in an article on his website, GlobalGrind, timed with today's release of the boys' latest album, 'Hot Sauce Committee Part Two.'

Simmons and his partner, Rick Rubin, first signed the young trio to their label, Def Jam Records, and in 1986 produced their album, 'License to Ill,' to skyrocketing numbers -- making history as the first hip-hop album to land at number one on the Billboard charts. But the union between Simmons and the group wasn't all hit records and their professional relationship began to suffer before the Beastie Boys soon left Def Jam for Capitol Records.

"I am proud to say that in spite of some rocky times with the Beasties they remain my n-ggas -- which may not be the appropriate name to call them, but that's what I have always called them," Simmons wrote.

But the mogul isn't taking any credit for discovering or making the Boys' careers: "While it can be said that Rick's collaboration with them was instrumental in producing their early mega hits and I game them some good advice (like ditching their red Chinese sweatsuits and red Pumas for the clothes they originally wore when they were in punk rock bands), the Beastie Boys, with their unique talent and genuine love of rap, were destined for greatness."

Simmons credits the group's perseverance in the face of jeering crowds and naysayers as the real reason for and turning point in the group's success. Even when they were dodging banana peels and cups on tour, they "shrugged if off and had the best time of their lives on that stage (in fact, if I remember correctly Yauch had a very GOOD time with Madonna in particular)," Simmons recalls.

But through jeering crowds and A-list trysts, the group, who Simmons calls "trailblazers," are just that because of their "grace" -- a seemingly odd adjective that Simmons uses for the boys' ability to deal with both fame and tragedy. But all grown up and credited with turning rap into a mainstream fixture, Simmons sees the same qualities in them now that he did when they were just kids.

"They have never sold out and continue to stay true to their art," Simmons wrote. "They may not be boys anymore, but they are still my n-ggas."