It was bound to happen with Straight Outta Compton's remarkable success that a ton of other hip-hop movies would follow. Universal is now considering a film that would go back into the history of influential studio Def Jam Recordings and its co-founder, entrepreneur Russell Simmons.
Simmons and Rick Rubin founded Def Jam back in 1984 and one look at their roster shows why they were such a move and shaker of the entire music business. Public Enemy, Jay-Z, The Beastie Boyz, EPMD, Run DMC, LL Cool J, and more were part of their early roster, but the company went on to have impact on multiple fronts. HBO's Def Comedy Jam introduced a new generation of African-American comedians. They've also produced several Hollywood features, started a successful clothing line, and even had the Def Jam Vendetta video game series featuring their lineup of rappers.
The film will be based on Simmons' 2002 book, Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, + God, which takes a look at the company's beginnings, plus his numerous business successes and failures. While this is still very early on in development, Michael B. Jordan is being eyed for the role of Simmons with Jonah Hill as Rubin.
Now's the time for a project like this, and don't be surprised if many more get announced soon. There have been talks of a Death Row Records film, somewhat teased in 'Compton', that would center on the careers of 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, and more. Plus Chuck D has said he'd be open to the idea of a Public Enemy film.
Can we get a movie about the Native Tongue, please? That's all I'm asking for. [Deadline]
