"We're gonna go minister to the world on MTV."
Rev Run's Journey From 'Raising Hell' To Raising a Family

Sunday, January 13, 2008

You wouldn't expect a rap star who drives a Phantom and makes trips to Hooters with Kid Rock to be the centerpiece of one of the most feel-good and positive reality shows on television, but Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons is just that.

"Run's House," the reality show on MTV, chronicles the lives of Simmons, a founding member of the legendary rap group Run-DMC, and his wife and kids as they go about their lives of family-friendly domesticity.

As "Run's House" prepares for its season finale Thursday, Simmons chatted by phone about his faith, his show and his fellow rappers.

-- David Betancourt

How did "Run's House" get started on MTV?

I got a call from Diddy. Me and [brother Russell Simmons] had these little commercials playing on BET of us promoting sneakers and he just called me out of nowhere and said: "I got an idea. I don't know if you're with this, but you should do a reality show."

What was your family's reaction to the idea?

I told my family and they were down. I said we're gonna go minister to the world on MTV. When we work, we understand that it's unto God, so we're serving. Serving in the capacity of a reality show. Showing people family values and bringing entertainment into their homes. My ministry is family. It's a church that leads by example instead of preaching to you. Showing you the lifestyle that comes from serving God. Not so much the cars and the house, but the peace and health that's in my home.

You're a reverend. Your brother Russell will drop an expletive immediately after meditation. Has there always been that contrast between you two?

He's probably always been like that. I didn't notice because [in the past], I was cursing more than him. His cursing seems really street and everything [on the show], but it wasn't noticeable when I was Run. Now that I'm Rev Run, it's very noticeable on the show, which makes it cool.

Snoop Dogg now has a reality show that deals with him being a father/rapper/family man. What are your thoughts on his getting this type of show?

I love that Snoop is now working with his wife and kids, which creates closeness. So if I inspired that in any way, I have really scored a touchdown. When [Diddy] says to me: "I want to go bowling with you and your family, the Simmonses versus the Combses," I realize I've inspired. I'm inspiring people to go home sometimes. It's very appealing to see.

Do you feel that a show like "Run's House" is necessary for TV, given that the top-rated reality show among African Americans is the tawdrier "I Love New York 2"?

If everything was "Run's House," you wouldn't be happy. You're happy to watch "I Love New York," you're happy to watch Flav, you're happy to watch Russ. You're interested in "American Gangster," you're also interested in Talib Kweli. It's the buffet of life. If you don't want the cranberry sauce on the buffet, don't eat it.

How did you become a reverend?

I didn't like what was happening in my life. I started going to church. I kept going every day and the collar just kind of got wrapped around my neck.

What do you hope to accomplish for the duration of the show?

God has given me a pioneering spirit. It's a Tyler Perry type of thing. How do you get God into the movie theater and entertain people? It's a blessing. It's huge. In Times Square, me and all my family are covering every window of MTV and I have a collar on. That's the most unbelievable thing in the entire world.