Rap mogul Russell Simmons accused of rape and years of sexual harassment by three women
The 60-year-old hip-hop legend and founder of Def Jam Records has 'vehemently denied' the claims against him
RAP mogul Russell Simmons has been accused of rape and sexual harassment by three women, according to reports.
The 60-year-old hip-hop legend has denied the historical claims – dating back to 1988 – which were reported in the .
He also voiced support for the growing movement of women speaking out against abusive men.
Simmons announced on November 30 that he was stepping down from his business roles after two women accused him of assault – claims he also denied.
But The New York Times article described an alleged pattern of predatory behaviour by the influential Def Jam Recordings co-founder.
Back-up singer Tina Baker, who has performed with Madonna and Bruce Springsteen, said Simmons was her manager when he invited her to his flat in the early 1990s.
She told the newspaper he pinned her down and raped her.
The Times said the account was confirmed by four people close to her, including her ex-husband and therapist.
She is quoted as saying: "I didn't have sex with a man for almost nine years – I went into a cocoon."
Def Jam employee Drew Dixon and music journalist Toni Sallie also told the paper similar stories about alleged incidents in 1995 and 1987 respectively.
Simmons said in a statement: "I vehemently deny all these allegations."
He added: "I have accepted that I can and should get dirt on my sleeves if it means witnessing the birth of a new consciousness about women."
Unlike many in the brash world of hip-hop, Simmons has developed a clean, spiritual image in recent years , promoting yoga and veganism.
But the newspaper also reported an incident in 2014 in which a woman said Simmons touched her inappropriately after meeting him in a Miami hotel.
Simmons and fellow producer Rick Rubin helped bring hip-hop to wide US audiences in the 1980s.
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They founded Def Jam, a label that signed major acts such as the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and later Public Enemy.
Accusations of rape and sexual harassment against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein have opened the floodgates of historical sex claims.
Scores of women have spoken up about abuse in the entertainment and media industries in recent months, as well as in politics.
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