Emmy host Cedric the Entertainer kicked off the weekend by celebrating Russell Simmons’ Masterminds of Hip-Hop NFT collection ahead of his hosting duties at Sunday’s awards show.
On Friday, the comedian, 57, attended a private dinner at Catch LA that Simmons, 63, and O’Neal McKnight hosted. Guests also included Laurie Ann Gibson, Steve Rifkind and Affion Crockett.
Coincidentally, “Kevin Spacey accidentally walked into the private room when they were setting up. … He was with three other people, a mix of guys and gals,” a spy told Page Six.
We’re told Cedric “decided to buy out the [NFT] collection,” which features digital art of hip-hop legends such as Doug E. Fresh, Nikki D., DJ Hollywood and Public Enemy’s Chuck D.
Simmons has said he launched the NFT collection to help pioneers of hip-hop.
“I often think of the early days of pre-recorded hip-hop when it was only a performance art. There were rappers and DJs who pioneered the space and made it so popular that the recording of rap artists was imminent,” he told Page Six in a statement last month.
“None of them has received the accolades that I believe they deserve and this is my chance to use a new vehicle to revisit and repay these amazing artists while they are still living,” he added.
Before bringing his NFTs to the West Coast, Simmons — who left the US in 2018 after multiple women accused him of sexual assault, which he has denied — was reentering society on the East Coast. He hosted his own party for the collection at Gold Bar in Little Italy and was spotted at galas in the Hamptons. He also made a generous donation at Denise Rich’s Angel Ball gala, though one source told us his presence “raised some eyebrows.”
Spacey, 62, was spotted by photographers Tuesday enjoying a solo lunch in West Hollywood.
Spacey was previously accused of sexual misconduct by several men including “Rent” star Anthony Rapp. He has said via Twitter that he didn’t recall the encounter that led to Rapp’s allegations but that he owed Rapp, 49, “the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.”
