Simmons Calls for Slick Rick's Release
AP

A record mogul is urging Congress to free hip-hop pioneer Slick Rick from the INS jail here as he fights deportation.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service has held Slick Rick, born Ricky Walters, since June. The British-born rapper is facing deportation because of an attempted murder conviction 11 years ago.

Russell Simmons, who owns Def Jam Records, called on the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network this week to lobby for Walters' release while he fights deportation.

The hip-hop mogul has met with Congressional Black Caucus Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., and has issued a 30,000-signature petition calling for Slick Rick to be returned to his family in New York.

JOSH'S COMMENTS: Is Russell Simmons insane? From all the news I have seen of him...he seems to be very racist. He seems to be on the same level as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The INS has a good reason to deport this guy, do they not? I mean...I heard a small report on MTV, and of course, in true MTV style, they demonized the INS and praised the rapper...(shocking, huh? MTV "news"- yea right...) but other than that small story, I haven't heard much else, so I don't know all the facts. But, I see here that this guy was convicted of attempted MURDER. Murder as in, he attempted to KILL another HUMAN BEING! So...where's the beef? Simmons makes himself look like a fool, supporting a convicted criminal...it really goes to hurt his credibility overall if you ask me. It's quite clear that Simmons and others who support this criminal don't care much for personal responsibility...they just want to use these scumbags to try to push their own ridiculous agenda thru...