*Young Simmons* (From Team Blackout)

Jo Jo "Make It Happen" Simmons: At around the age of 12 or 13, "Make it Happen" Simmons began rapping. Now 17, he's doing just that... making it happen. As one of the stars of Run’s House, Simmons uses the show as a way to market his group Team Blackout. “There’s two members in addition to me: RP from Hempstead, Long Island and Conscenz from Briarwood in Queens," says Simmons. "I’ve been working with Conscenz since the seventh grade and RP, we been working together since the ninth grade. We all just became a team like maybe two years ago.” Simmon’s hunger and ambition comes alive when asked when we can expect to hear something from Team Blackout. “Hopefully, soon," he says excitedly. "Whatever label wants to come holla at me and my team, we’re ready, we’re ready to be heard in the game. I talked to my uncle [Russell Simmons] about opening my own production company, getting my own label up(Logik), and getting all my artists(Yung Wizz,Young Star), me and my team out there.” Still, though he has consulted with some of his famed kin, Simmons does not plan on riding on the coattails of his family's name. “I am going to put out hot music, so they can’t just say that I’m Reverend Run’s son. They are going to have to say, ‘Wow, this kid is actually good on the microphone. He actually can perform and he can actually record good songs.’ I’m gonna show them I actually have talent.” With his drive and his father, uncle, and Bishop Jordan as his mentors, Simmons hopes to fulfill his goal of bringing “back real rap; when people rap they’re actually talking about something, they’re telling a story in their lines.”