What We Learned: Russell Simmons’ ‘Ask Me Anything’ Session On Reddit

Super Hip-Hop OG, Russell Simmons, was today's guest on Reddit’s Ask Me Anything Session. Russell answered fans questions about everything from the Kendrick Lamar/Macklemore Grammy debate, his favorite producers, politics and up-and-coming MC 3D Na'tee .

Check out some selected Q&A’s from the AMA session, below.

What is the best piece of advice someone has ever told you? What did you think about Kendrick Lamar getting robbed last night for best rap album?Kendrick is absolutely a better rapper, and Macklemore had one of the most inspiring, socially conscious songs of the year and that is what did well for him. He's a great rapper, but there is no evidence anywhere that he's a better artist than Lamar

Your private members bill to get money out of politics - how has that been progressing?
Not as well as I would like but I'm on top of it every day. change needs to happen

Please tell us anything you can about filming the movie Krush Groove!!!
Blair Underwood was so handsome. I couldn't pick up any girls when I was with him. They all went after him instead.

Do you think J Dilla was as good at producing as people say, also who is your favorite producer?
Rick Rubin/ kanye / Swizz Beatz

What currently unheard-of rappers do you think will blow up soon? Do you like rap more now or back in the 90s
3D Na'tee is one of the best artists yet to truly break.

When trying to start Def Jam, what was a low point that made you think if giving up, if there was such a point?
shipping records into a black hole where nobody would pay us. my experiences taught me about failure and quitting and I learned that there are no failures, only quitters. I see lots of digital stars who come to ADD having spent years building their base, who would never veer from their vision and that's inspiring.

What is the best hook, beat, or song that you wish you'd been a part of?
Fight the Power & Same Love

If you could have a create collaboration outside of the hip hop genre, who would you pick and why?
I'm inspired by the designer for J Crew. My clothing line Argyleculture needs a great designer like that. In film & TV, working with Brian Grazer was a great experience, but if I could have worked with anyone I'd want it to be Normal Lear.

What type of artist do you think hiphop needs right now? What are you looking for?
Lyrics & social consciousness. Someone with lyrics & flow like Kendrick, with the social message of Macklemore. Poets should touch peoples' hearts, and possessing that ability is what's most important.

What made you do yoga with MellowHigh of Odd Future?
They're some cool young dudes I wanted to hang out with

What is the most important business deal you have done?
i wake up excited every morning -- moving into a new medium is fun, so All Def Digital strikes me as the most important today. but thats only today.

How do you feel about country music beginning to mix hip hop into their sound?
It's a breakthrough. hip hop is the sound of the urban underserverd community, and country fills that role for a lot of underseverd america, too. getting them together moves both genres & even our society forward

Russel, whos your favourite rapper right now?
this morning it was YG, this month it's Jay Z

Do you think Def Jam ever take part in EDM artists? Does Def Jam plan on going worldwide?
Unfortunately the only proof that I'm aging is my inability to get down with EDM. I hope I get a burst of youth and revaluation and understand it. I want to be inspired by young people, but when I hear 6 of those songs back to back in the clubs (yes I still go to clubs) it drives me crazy

What new projects are you looking to get involved with or begin in the next few years?
Professor White is a new comedy series that really cracks me up -- working on the new episodes for that