Russell Simmons Quotes

There's a huge cloud of shame around art and business being seen as bedfellows.

I think it would be a good thing in the creative community if there was less embarrassment of this word 'commercial' because that's how you make a business.

As much as writing is an emotional experience, it is a business as well. Coming from a business background, I treat it as such.

You have got to have an agent. It's a business. But I think there is a way to be artful and commercial at the same time.

It's powerful when you're able to celebrate your culture, but also bring the arts and music to the masses.

In my world, I read resumes upside down, so I start with personal interests. So if somebody doesn't have believable, interesting interests, they're not going to work in a creative business.

Israel has a fantastic film industry, and many times we are known for our political films or films that have to do with the army. I love the fact that we can show that there are films coming out of Israel that are just for fun.

The trouble with movies as a business is that it's an art, and the trouble with movies as art is that it's a business.

I think in Israel there is so much talent in the TV world because there's less movies done.

There are no rebels in the cinema business.

I'm not a driven businessman, but a driven artist. I never think about money. Beautiful things make money.

In the place where I was a child, there were no artists and there was no art, so I really didn't know what that meant.

I do worry because it takes all types to make our culture, to make our art. We need it to be available to all.

Generally, the French highly promote culture and the arts, and photography is in their blood.

The work I've done through my Common Culture Music series has enabled me not only to share my joy of music at scale but also promote the artists I love.

The business of music. You know, it's an oxymoron in a sense. It's like the two things. Although we both need each other, they really don't go together.

People in fashion treat it as a business... I guess Hollywood is a business, too, but you talk about story: you talk about a more artistic world than in fashion.

Well, a lot of people within government and big business are nervous of Hip Hop and Hip Hop artists, because they speak their minds. They talk about what they see and what they feel and what they know. They reflect what's around them.

My parents cultured me a lot and they introduced me to a lot of artists, a lot of their friends.

I never called my work an 'art'. It's part of show business, the business of building entertainment.

Producing suits me because I have a business mind and a business sensibility.

I think sometimes there are negative connotations for those who have a business mind as well as a creative side.

Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.

I have respect for those who make money at art and do it well and smartly, because that commercial aspect keeps the world going and running, in a sense.

I think the poets and musicians, they belong to everybody.