The Pop Life

By Christopher John Farley/New York

RUSSELL SIMMONS, co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and perhaps the most eligible bachelor in hip-hop, was set to tie the knot in a religious ceremony on Sunday on the island of St. Barts--if he made it to the church. It's been a big year for the 41-year-old Simmons: his company scored major hits, including best-selling albums by rappers JAY-Z, DMX and METHOD MAN. Def Jam expects revenues to hit $190 million for 1998. Simmons' bride is 23-year-old model KIMORA LEE, host of his TV show, One World Music Beat. The two already had a modest civil ceremony in New York City. But even millionaires get wedding blues. Simmons missed a connecting flight and was briefly stranded in Puerto Rico. The wedding is expected to be quite an affair: MARTHA STEWART RSVPed; model TYRA BANKS is a bridesmaid; and Simmons' brother JOSEPH (a.k.a. Run of the rap group RUN-D.M.C.), a minister, is scheduled to perform the ceremony.

--By Christopher John Farley/New York