Russell Simmons' Hip Hop Summit Action Network

Hip hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons talks about financial responsibility at last week's Hip Hop Summit Action Network.

By Delores Jones

Russell Simmons' Hip Hop Summit Action Network

Kansas City, MO – Since 2001, the Hip Hop Summit Action Network has been trying to trying to harness the energy of hip hop fans behind political movements. But mainstream hip hop sometimes promotes values that have little to do with political action, and even less about responsible personal finance. The Hip Hop Summit Action Network stopped in Kansas City last week for a program on financial empowerment for young people. Chairman Russell Simmons founded the Def Jam Record label that represents many top acts in rap and hip hop. KCUR's Delores Jones spoke to Simmons before he gave his speech last Friday at Bartle Hall.