Russell Simmons Inks New Deal With HBO to Include a Def Comedy Jam 25th Anniversary Special

Simmons has a long and fruitful history with HBO, including the upcoming Steve McQueen collaboration 'Codes of Conduct.'

Image via Coco Curranski

The long and highly prolific partnership between HBO and Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons will continue for the foreseeable future, as HBO announced on Thursday a new overall deal with Simmons and his media company All Def Digital (ADD). As Variety notes, Simmons already has five projects currently in various stages of development with the network.

Per the press release — Simmons and HBO are currently partnering on a new series featuring the highlights of ADD's weekly live comedy night in Hollywood, a Shaka King comedy series entitled These Are My Friends, a Broken Lizard comedy troupe series entitled The Broken Lizard Show, Steve McQueen's high-society-skewering Codes of Conduct, and — as one would hope — a Def Comedy Jam 25th anniversary special.

Def Comedy Jam launched in 1992, fostering the careers of eventual megastars ranging from Dave Chappelle to Kevin Hart. Of course, you don't need me or anyone to remind you that Simmons and Rick Rubin — through the legendary rise and continued success of Def Jam Records — helped bring the genius of Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Jay Z, Kanye West, and many others to the masses. Recently, Simmons has been actively preaching the benefits of meditation and veganism — including the books Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple and The Happy Vegan:

 

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