RUSSELL SIMMONS SHOWS P-DIDDY SOME LOVE!!

I saw in the press that Puffy just got a very significant role in a major motion picture. I started to send him a congratulatory email and then I started to think about the blog his son, Quincy wrote that thanked Puffy for raising him into what everybody agrees is a fine young man and realized that I wanted to blog about Puffy myself.

I have known, since the first time we met, that Puffy is a a man of great character. He is constantly reaffirming my faith in hard work and dedication. He is a shining example of what these two things will get you in life. But what is not so obvious is the humanity that is at the core of his good karmic results. There are times when Sean credits Andre Harrell and even me for being his inspiration. The truth is, his ongoing dedication to his career and his gifts back to the community are great inspirations to us. Over the years I have witnessed first hand the ways that he has helped the community. I know that all I have to do is ask and Diddy will be there.

For example, he stood with us for the rallies to fight the unfair Rockefeller Drug Laws, he was there for the education rallies and year after year he has agreed to attend, be honored, raise money and give money to Art For Life - one of my own annual charity events in the Hamptons. He has been there to support The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding and is a board member and active supporter of my Hip Hop Summit Action Network. These are just a few of my own charities that I am referencing here, there are countless others he supports as well. I should also mention that he came in immediately when I called him to be a partner on RUN'S HOUSE, long before anyone knew what a runaway hit it would become.

I have one last heartwarming story about Diddy which is probably resonates with me the most because it illustrates what a true friend Puffy is. Recently I was sitting in a hotel room in London, and got an email from Andre Harrell. Andre sent an email to all his close friends that said he was feeling laid up in bed feeling very sick. My response was, "n*gga, you will be fine, get up". Later, I found out that when Puffy saw this email his response was, "Where are you?" Puffy flew to Andre's side, found him in a hospital room, more sick than anyone could have imagined and made sure he had the best care money could buy. As it turned out, Andre was not going to be fine, he was in the middle of a serious heart issue and it was Puffy's intervention that ultimately saved his life. This is something I'll never forget.

I just want to say to the world (and to him) congratulations on your new role and thank you for continuing to inspire me to be a better person. I'm proud to call you my brother and my friend.

-Russell Simmons