Kenya Barris, Russell Simmons | Photo Variety/Deja Perez
Black-ish creator Kenya Barris is writing an upcoming biopic based on the life of Russell Simmons.
Titled Life And Def: Sex Drugs Money + God, it will detail the rise of Simmons’ career from the streets of Queens to becoming one of the biggest influences of his time in music and fashion culture. It’ll chronicle the rise of hip-hop in America through Simmons and Def Jam Records, which began with artists like Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys to later feature the likes of Jay-Z and Kanye West.
The biopic will be produced through Simmons’ Def Pictures and Misher Films, by himself and Kevin Misher. Jake Stein, Bobby Shriver, Josh Bratman and Andy Berman are executive producers
Barris has a slew of projects on the table, which include the script for a Good Times film, a remake of White Boys Can’t Jump, and a Shaft remake. He also has a development deal with ABC Studios.
Girls Trip, also co-written by Barris will be in theaters next month.
Deadline first reported the news of Barris writing the biopic.
Source: Shadow & Act/Deadline
