As a member of the Syracuse University women’s basketball team, Leaf Newman is no stranger to pressure. On Thursday, however, she had to perform under different circumstances.

Newman unexpectedly turned the lecture of Def Jam Records founder cum Phat Farm clothing entrepreneur Russell Simmons into an impromptu concert when she asked to play a song on her guitar for the music mogul. Simmons invited her onstage, demanded a chair, requested water and even held the mic for Newman as she kicked off the last Genet Lecture of the year in Goldstein Auditorium.

“It was my coach’s idea,” Newman said. “She asked me what more could I want.”

The acoustic interlude seemed to set the tone for the rest of the lecture, as Simmons opened the floor up to questions that ranged from race relations and negative stereotypes in rap music to yoga and and former vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman. Simmons, who recently testified in front of a senate subcommittee about popular culture, had several things to say about the elected officials asking questions.

“(Sen. Fred Thompson) thinks that every 15-year-old should watch ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ he says that it will teach them a lesson about war,” Simmons said. “Well fuck, I think everyone should listen to Snoop Dogg, that is a war down your block.”

Simmons, who became one of the first rap moguls in 1984 when he co-founded Def Jam records out of partner Rick Rubin’s New York University dorm room, said that the topics of today’s rap music showcases a changing set of goals for many of the genre’s biggest artists. Although platinum chains and 20-inch rims are still common, Simmons noted that more and more artists having their sights set on corporate America is a promising step in the right direction.

“(Rapper) Baby and Cash Money (Records) do not speak the king’s English,” he said. “They don’t even have any education at all, they are just making a lot of money.”

Cyrus Lyles, a student at Onondaga Community College, thought that the laid back, free form style of the lecture allowed for a wider range of topics to be covered.

“He got to touch topics that were in people’s heads,” Lyles said.

Simmons added that even some of the negative stereotypes of women that frequent many rap songs should be looked at as nothing other than a reflection of society, and can even produce some positive results.

“Baby’s mamas are not cool. No one wants to be a baby’s mama, especially now,” Simmons said.

Above all else, though, Simmons focused on the success he has enjoyed and the inner peace that he has found since his earlier, more materialistic days.

I spent the first part of my life for me, Simmons said, how much money I could get, how many cars, how many women. Thanks to yoga and discovering his spirituality, Simmons added that, at 44 years old, he has finally been able to put success in perspective.

“Success is like this — it is great when you know it is not important,” Simmons said. “But it is horrible when you think it means something.”

Published on April 11, 2002 at 12:00 pm