Editor’s Note to Russell Simmons: Ain’t No Nigga Like… The One I Co-Signed

As some of you may know, I have experience as both a writer and an editor. Due to the backlash garnered by Russell Simmons' endorsement of a fallen Damon Dash at AllHipHop, my clean-up services have been requested. Below are the suggested corrections that the AHH staff will likely run Monday morning:

Ain't No Nigga Like... Dame Dash

By Russell Simmons

Sitting in the audience last night inside the crowded 37 Street Arts Theater [and Subway station] in Manhattan[, way] Off[-]Broadway, I witnessed another great Damon Dash contribution[ -- ]one that takes hip-hop culture to another significant level of accomplishment [embarrassment].

Sony Entertainment and Damon Dash produced, "Hip-Hop Monologues: the Life and the Mind of Jim Jones." ["The Misadventures of Hobo Dan."] It was [is] a fantastic show that portrays the evolution [regression] of hip-hop through the life Jim Jones.

I have to say, Damon Dash is a hip-hop genius who should never be underestimated. I have watched Dame's growth, development and entrepreneurship over the years--not from a distance but from first hand observation. He was one of the creative forces behind Roc-a-fella Records, the architect of Rocawear Fashions, he's made significant culturally relevant films [such as "State Property," "State Property 2" and "Paper Soldiers"] with Dash Films and made other creative cultural installments through Dash Enterprises.

On another great note... He's the only husband beside [aside from] one other that I know [my corny ass], who spent a small fortune [got worked over good] developing a major talent and women's brand by supporting his women [woman? main freak?] to the hilt!

In our early days, Lyor Cohen and I used to shout at Damon [call Damon an arrogant jig] and he would shout back [obscenities from his album skits]. Then[,] we would hug and go handle our business [pay him handsomely]. That was our way of communicating. Eventually, Lyor got old and I did more yoga and we both stopped shouting so much. Dame eventually made a few bad choices [fucked up royally] and a few things went sour [we gave his salary to Rick Ross]. We know haters love a man who's been hot to catch a lil['?] cold. Hate spreads. But like Tony Montana [says] in "Scarface" said, "two qualudes ..... And they gonna love him again." [Misquote: "Another Quaalude... She love me in the morning."]

So haters, it really doesn't matter about your blogs from the sidelines [your observations and discussion thereof are really hurting my feelings. Please stop.] Dame's gonna help heat the economy again [with a raging accidental file cabinet fire and Jim Jones' "stimulus breath"]! If he got hit by a truck today remember this, Dame's a giver by nature [an organ donor]. That's why he has already received so much [blood]. He was the biz leader, architect and one of the creative forces that built Rocafella Records into an empire. I remember that it was Damon who came on my office after we signed Jay-Z to be on the "Nutty Professor" soundtrack with a bag of cash ready to put his money where his mouth was :-).  But the record[,] "Ain't No Nigga"[,] didn't need his cash. It was [is] a masterpiece and so was [is] his artist [life's saving grace], Jay-Z[,] [arguably] the greatest rapper of all time.

I saw countless displays of vision and faith all the way up to and beyond his struggle to convince everyone (no one believed) of the artistry in Kanye West. In this business, in order to be successful you have to [must] have both business sense and great creative instincts[.] (The latter is intuitive and cannot be learned[.]) Damon has once again [continually] proven that he is a great innovator with amazing vision [I am merely a figurehead who has long since lost touch].

Now, he is helping Jim Jones in a powerful[ly repugnant] manner that combines their collective experiences--from[, both] being born and raised in Harlem. They've taken that culture to [wayyy Off-]Broadway theaters with a live hip-hop band, dance routines, multimedia use and the dynamics of theatrical stage presentation [Smell-o-vision and ofactory therapy] to show the struggles of life through the lens of hip-hop [and poor hygiene].

I have 2 responses:


1) Respect Dame's gangster.


2) Go see [smell] the play immediately.

-Russell Simmons

As always, my writing and editing services are for hire. Hit the email and we'll talk figures. In the words of [arguably] the greatest rapper of all time, "for the right price, I can even make your shit tighter."

Questions? Comments? Requests? Grammatical errors getting in the way of quality journalism? ron@ronmexicocity.com

P.S.: DDN Tournament voting is still open. We'll bring you results and more coverage starting this weekend.