Russell Simmons

Some consider Russell Simmons the one that sparked it all for the music industry and the #metoo movement. In 2017 Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Record and CEO of Rush Communications was accused by 9 women of sexual assault or harassment forcing him to step down from everything. It started with claims that he used is status in order to get woman and force them into having sex. One woman, Natashia Williams-Blach, reported that after appearing in one of his films was forced to perform oral sex when she was 18 and a freshman at UCLA. Another woman, Drew Dixon, who worked at Def Jams under Russell Simmons claims that after turning down multiple advances she was raped in his Manhattan apartment. Former model Keri Claussen Khalighi had her own experience with Russell Simmons when he forced her into performing oral sex in front of his friend. So many artists and producers have avoided the impact of these allegations. It does not help that these people are still making money off of music especially when that music is glamorizing sexual misconduct like rape and the fans for still supporting those artists by listening to their music. For example Lil Wayne in his new album who gave a loving tribute to his mother and in the very next track hosted lyrics sung by XXXTentacion who had domestic abuse allegations on him from when he violently attacked his then pregnant girlfriend. ” change does not have to necessarily need to be forced from outside. It can come from within if, for example, record labels sign artists to contracts that require them to treat women and others appropriately, in the professional and personal settings. Supporters of music must commit to making it safe for everyone involved” (Abdurraqib, 2018).