In 2009 Russell Simmons wrote an open letter to Bill Cosby challenging his anti-hip-hop messages and accusing his generation of being unable to connect with today's youths and unfairly associating young people with violence.
AOL Black Voices reports that the Def Jam Records co-founder attempted to make amends with Cosby by apologizing last week for some of what he said, but was shut down:
"I wanted to find him to apologize, to tell him I was sorry about my statements and to tell him that I loved him," Simmons explained. "Suddenly, I turned and he was behind the curtain and I said, 'I love you,' and he responded on some real hip-hop, 'Get the f*ck out my face!' "
… "His next move was straight-up old-school pre-b-boy hood sh—," Simmons explains. "He walked by me and bumped me with his shoulder as I walked offstage after presenting my award to Sean, just like the cool-ass character in 'Let's Do It Again.' I then loved him even more."
We predict these two will patch things up. If only because it appears that Simmons is as unconditionally committed to Cosby as he is to his favorite genre of music.
Read more at AOL Black Voices.
In other news: Michelle Obama's Garden Book: Part of a Campaign to Bully Fat Kids?
Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.