Hip-hop and fashion mogul Russell Simmons is answering the call for help from fellow hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc.
The legendary DJ was originally hospitalized back in January after suffering from complications from kidney stones. Although Herc was released from the hospital not long after, he didn’t have the health insurance to cover his medical bills or the surgery he would need to make a full recovery.
In a bid for help, Herc asked the hip-hop community to open their wallets and lend him a helping hand and now Simmons is doing just that.
“We need real health care, that’s for sure. As far as helping out, I’d like to help out young kids but I’m going to help out Kool Herc as well,” said Simmons in an interview with Kim News Network. “Yeah, I’m going to be one of them and so will a lot of other hip-hoppers. [We’ll] bail him out but I don’t think it’s their job.”
According to Simmons, Herc’s health insurance issues are just one example of what he sees as a national issue affecting many working-class Americans.
“I think it’s the government’s job to take care of people who can’t afford health care,” explained Simmons. “That’s a different discussion but that’s what this should spark, more of a discussion or a reminder to some of the hip-hop community that they have to keep talking about health care and keep supporting the president in his initiatives to get health care for everybody.”
What do you think of Simmons’ generous gesture and his stance on American health care? –nicholas robinson
