He is also chairman of Rush Communications, whose holdings include Phat Farm.

He gained the attention of music mogul Russell Simmons who invited Cormier to be part of his newly formed management company, Rush Communications.

WITH his new prepaid Visa card, which one of his other companies, Rush Communications, is producing, he took a lofty, public-spirited tone about helping the poor.

The prepaid Visa cards are a joint venture between Rush Communications and Unifund, a buyer of and seller of distressed debt.

In 1983, Harrell met Russell Simmons, the founder of Rush Communications.

Earlier this month, Russell Simmons, the chairman of Rush Communications and co-founder of the magazine with Mr. Jones, resigned.

Last year his company, Rush Communications, made $192 million and is one of the biggest black-owned companies in the world.

Mr. Simmons continues to create campaigns for Courvoisier through Rush World Synergies, part of his holding company, Rush Communications.

This late afternoon, Mr. Simmons is still in his coolly luxurious office at Rush Communications on Seventh Avenue.

Rap music made its debut on the list with Rush Communications, the New York-based record and entertainment company headed by Russell Simmons, the rap impresario.