MTV Remote Control Blog › Russell Simmons

We here at MTV find it pretty exciting to follow the lives of the rich and famous, but it becomes a much more meaningful job when we find out they're giving back to the less fortunate, often in extraordinary ways. On Sunday at 9/8c, tune in to Summit On The Summit, a mind-blowing documentary following actress Jessica Biel, musician Kenna and other popular industry figures as they hike more than 19,000 feet to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa. The climb isn't just about personal strength and fortitude, but rather a global effort aimed to draw attention to the world's water crisis, which affects more than ONE BILLION people.

Check out the thrilling trailer below, then find out how you can get involved with Summit On The Summit and take a look at some other celebrities helping out in huge ways.

How You Can Help Summit On The Summit (SOTS):
Friend PUR on Facebook. They're a sponsor of SOTS and have already donated more than 6,169,000 liters of clean water. Just click on the DailyDrop and they'll donate 10 liters more! Plus, for every PUR SOTS bottle sold online, PUR will donate $12 to SOTS, providing 1,200 liters of clean water to people in developing countries. Purchase two SOTS bottles and SIGG will give you free shipping.

More Celebrities Involved With Charity Work:

George Clooney
Cause: Clooney champions a variety of causes, but he founded Not On Our Watch with his Ocean’s 11 co-stars to help stop genocide in Darfur, Burma and Zimbabwe.
Inspiration: He wants to see good diplomacy practiced throughout the world.
Overheard: "I'm not sure people should be going [abroad] and saying how it affected them, somehow we should know these people are hanging on by the skin of their teeth." — Clooney on Larry King Live.
How To Help: Call local representatives or refer to the official website to get involved.

Christy Turlington
Cause: Also an ambassador for RED, this former supermodel supports Stand Up To Cancer and has filmed a variety of PSAs to discourage people from smoking.
Inspiration: She lost her father to lung cancer in 1997.
Overheard: "In my life there are two people who've quit smoking; me, and my dad." — Turlington's PSA.
How To Help: You can e-mail Congress, join a branch or team, or visit the official Web site for more information.

Russell Simmons
Cause: He's Co-Chairman for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, an organization aimed to take back responsibility in the recording industry, as well as empower youth to behave with integrity.
Inspiration: As a leader in the hip-hop community, he recognized his role in making a difference.
Overheard: "When you vote and empower yourself, it's a step towards everything you want in life." --Simmons at the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Philadelphia.
How To Help: You can join Hip-Hop Team Vote or visit the official Web site for more volunteer opportunities.

Madonna
Cause: Madonna and Michael Berg founded Raising Malawi to help support children with tools to live healthy, disease-free lives.
Inspiration: She visited the country seven years ago and has since been pushing to develop institutions to build programs in the area.
Overheard: "It has pretty much taken over my life, and I’m so grateful it has … any of your help would be greatly appreciated by me." — Madonna on her foundation.
How To Help: For every dollar that you contribute, Madonna will match it.

Bono
Cause: Bono's a leader in the fight against poverty, has supported numerous charities and co-founded the ONE Campaign.
Inspiration: Twenty years ago, a report on Ethiopia's poverty levels turned his life completely upside down.
Overheard: "If we're to get anywhere on the fight against extreme poverty or the climate crisis, we have to prove that we can keep the promises that we've already made." — Bono in an interview with press.
How To Help: Visit the official Web site to find out how you can reach your local organizer.

Tags Bono, Christie Turlington, Emile Hirsch, Facebook, George Clooney, Jessica Biel, Madonna, PUR, Russell Simmons, SIGG, Summit On The Summit, Video

Whether he's rapping with Kid Rock, building playgrounds or mastering (and abandoning) the art of DIY baby-proofing, Rev Run's never been the type of guy who's afraid to get his hands dirty. But does he have a head for the family biz? Nobody's really sure seeing as dude hasn't stepped foot in the office since the Reagan administration. Watch as Russell Simmons guilts Rev into getting back to work while Diggy and Russy bicker (about hand soap?!) on the next Run's House.

Related Content Run's House

Tags Diggy Simmons, Rev Run, Russell Simmons, Russy Simmons, Video

Getting a phone call in the middle of night (and hearing your kid's in jail) generally falls under the category of Every Parent's Worst Nightmare. But when Rev Run and Justine got word of JoJo's arrest, they resisted the urge to yell, scream and rip JoJo a new you-know-what. Instead, they jumped into action, getting JoJo out of jail, filling in the rest of the fam and calmly voicing their disapproval.

And after a little time (and an earful from Uncle Russell), JoJo was ready to acknowledge the severity of his actions. By the end of the show, he'd owned up to his mistakes, wholeheartedly apologized to Rev and made things right with his younger brothers.

So could Rev have come down harder on JoJo? Maybe, but then that's not exactly his style. And we're thinking after all these years, Rev's figured out when to lay into his son, when to lay off and when to shake his head and let his disappointment speak for itself.

But we wanna know what you think: Should Rev have ripped JoJo's head off for breaking the rules (and the law)? Or was he right to give JoJo time to reflect on how his actions affected the rest of the family? Let us know whether you think Rev came down too hard, too easy or just tough enough on his boy, JoJo.

+ For more info on JoJo's arrest -- and Rev Run's reaction! -- check out this MTV News story (originally posted May 11th, 2009).

Related Content Run's House

Tags JoJo Simmons, Justine Simmons, Polls, Rev Run, Russell Simmons

Trust us -- when your pop's Rev Run, there ain't nothin' wrong with being a daddy's girl. And now that Angela and Vanessa Simmons are about to strike out on their own, we've decided to take a look back at where they came from by rounding up the top five best things about growing up in Run's House.

1) You've known all the words to 'It's Tricky' since you were practically in utero.
2) Everyone has a crazy uncle -- but yours is Russell Simmons!
3) If there's anyone who gets your lifelong fascination with shoes, it's your daddy: Rev "Unlaced Adidas" Run.
4) Forget borrowing your parents' car -- you were too busy borrowing their Rolodex. Which, incidentally, had WAY more mileage.
5) Being grounded is no biggie when you live in a beyond-gorge estate with your own room movie screening room and indoor basketball court). Ya dig?

And, of course, let's not forget Bonus Reason #6: Graduating from The House That Run Built to their very own spinoff series!

Check out the premiere of Daddy's Girls on MTV tonight at 10:30pm, and watch what happens when the girls start living the dream! (By which we mean move into a sick bachelorette pad in sunny L.A. ... 3000 miles away from Mom and Dad.)

Related Content Daddy's Girls, Run's House

Tags Angela Simmons, Rev. Run Simmons, Russell Simmons, Vanessa Simmons

By now, you've probably heard that Rev. Run's daughters, bicoastal beauties Angela and Vanessa Simmons, are starring in their very own MTV spinoff! The new series, Daddy's Girls, will follow the sneaker sisters as they ditch the parentals -- and move from New York to L.A. (just like The City, only the opposite!)

Read more...

Related Content Daddy's Girls, Run's House

Tags Angela Simmons, Daddy's Girls' Alycia, Daddy's Girls' Jessica, Rev. Run Simmons, Russell Simmons, Vanessa Simmons

• Kimora Lee Simmons' fab life just got even fabber -- a court has ruled that Russell Simmons is reportedly paying $20K/month in child support...per daughter! (TMZ)

• Who needs LC? Audrina and Lo discover they have tons in common. Like, for instance, shopping! (E! Online)

• Today in unreality: Verne "Mini Me" Troyer shows off his mojo in the sex tape nobody wanted. (The Sun - UK)

• The critics are no longer bored by So You Think You Can Dance! Possibly because last night's episode featured two of the skimpiest "dresses" ever (half) made. (NYP)

• A detailed/appropriately sarcastic recap of Tuesday's Shot at Love reunion, in case you missed it. Or just read up on the highlights! (Buddy TV)

Tags Audrina Patridge, Kimora Lee Simmons, Lauren Conrad, Lo Bosworth, News, Reality Check, Russell Simmons, So You Think You Can Dance, Tila Tequila, Verne Troyer