Russell Simmons reteams with Def Jam

Russell Simmons, the hip-hop mogul who had in recent years become more of an elder statesman and activist than a record company player, returned to the arena Wednesday by announcing the Russell Simmons Music Group, a partnership with Island Def Jam Music Group.

The 50-50 joint label and consultancy agreement was announced in New York City by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, the chairman of Island Def Jam, who last year was criticized publicly by Simmons for his handling of that post.

Simmons rose to fame and fortune in the 1980s with Def Jam, a scruffy but prescient label that he co-founded and guided into music history by popularizing such acts as the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and LL Cool J.

The return of Simmons to the Def Jam ranks is for now a modest venture, at least on paper -- he has two acts, Reverend Run of Run DMC and a young R&B; outfit called Buddafly; the former is Simmons’ brother and a veteran, and the latter is unproven. But the announcement was viewed by industry players as the un-retiring of a hall of famer.

“History has yet to catch up with the greatness of Russell Simmons and the extent of his contributions to our music and culture,” said superstar rapper Jay-Z, who is also president and chief executive of Def Jam Recordings. “It is impossible to imagine the state of hip-hop today without accounting for Russell’s visionary leadership over the past 20 years.”

Simmons sold Def Jam in 1999 for $100 million. Since then, he has been more focused on other projects, from his activism to fostering companies that sell clothes, beverages, financial services or TV programming.

Last year, Simmons took a very public swing at Reid with an open letter that questioned whether the younger executive was capable of carrying the Def Jam torch.

In the letter addressed to the recording industry, Simmons expressed anxieties “about the future of Def Jam and the industry as a whole as to whether the legacy that Def Jam established will be maintained to the benefit of the artists and the culture.”

Reid had risen through the industry with a story defined more by successes in R&B; and pop arenas than in hip-hop. The letter by Simmons seemed to many to question whether Reid had the street credentials or inclination to foster young hip-hop acts.

Reid took over the top spot at Island Def Jam in early 2004, replacing Lyor Cohen, a key figure in Def Jam’s early years. In July, another executive with long ties to Simmons, Def Jam President Kevin Liles, left the company. That set the stage for the Simmons’ questioning of the brand name’s future.

“It has always been my intention to structure a situation that would keep Russell in the Island Def Jam family,” Reid said Wednesday, “and I am proud that we will be able to continue to accomplish our goals together.”