Tag: Public Enemy

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Chuck D’s New Docuseries Fight The Power: How Hip-Hop Changed The World

One of the pioneers of hip-hop Public Enemy’s Chuck D is giving you the origins of hip-hop in his new PBS documentary.

This genre has taken the world by storm for the past fifty years.

Chuck D is educating the people of hip-hop’s beauty.

So, take out your pen and paper because we are getting a history lesson in the genre; as well as the political and social conditions that helped this art form rise.

What Is In The Docuseries on PBS?

The docuseries shows us not only musicians, but breakdancers and emcees so inspired by their surroundings that they fed hip-hop.

Executive Producers Chuck D, Lorrie Boula and Yemi Bamiro’s documentary is called Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World. 

 

The four-part docuseries has guests and hip-hop royalty such as Fat Joe, will.i.am, Ice-T, Melle Mel, Run DMC and MC Lyte.

The documentary is giving its audience a true history lesson dating back from James Brown to future Black Panther party leader Elaine Brown on the influence of hip-hop.

Docuseries Airs On BBC

Many wonder why he chose BBC as the platform to tell hip-hop’s story… but it was because hip-hop is universal.

The pioneer told Rolling Stone, “I’ve been to 116 countries, and to me, hip-hop is more about the world than about one little place in the United States.”

You can stream “Fight The Power” on PBS’ streaming platform and YouTube with a premium subscription.

Chuck D’s Takes On Hip-Hop Globally

Going a little more in depth on Chuck D’s global views of hip-hop. The New York native explains in a PBS interview that hip hop is about knowing who is running the streets.

Furthermore, politics are not one and the same regarding the music genre.

In another interview with Associated Press, he went into hip-hop being a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The member of Public Enemy described how the BLM movement spoke politically to the injustice of George Floyd.

That spark or feeling flowed throughout the world and caused many to want to make a change.

He feels hip-hop does the same worldwide.

Written by Vhannah | Instagram | YouTube

 

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Chuck D. Creating Graphic Novel To Commemorate Public Enemy

Chuck D's Novel to Commemorate Public Enemy
Chuck D. Creating Graphic Novel to Commemorate Public Enemy . Photo Credit: wikiany.net

Chuck D. is celebrating Public Enemy’s industry imprint with Graphic Novel Art.

Nothing says artistry like a creator’s interpretation, visualization, or advancement of a creative piece. The writer uses his artistry to celebrate and advance earlier work put out by Public Enemy. Chuck D’s novel will be titled “Apocalypse 91: Revolution Never Sleeps.”

This graphic novel draws its inspiration from Public Enemy’s track, “Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Back.”

Chuck D The Artist

Chuck D. is a novel author, but also an artist with multiple talents. He is the founder of the hip-hop cultural force Public Enemy. His impact on the culture is vast and remains an integral force carving out a path in hip hop. A source notes,

“Chuck D helped pave the way for political, social, and culturally conscious hip-hop.”

In the late ’80s, the world wasn’t quite ready for the message Public Enemy had to deliver. A combination of trepidation with shifting culture and rage against the change is what sparked Chuck D’s creativity to write a novel. And the persona of Public Enemy was born.

The Expansion of Chuck D’s Creativity

Chuck D’s artistry stretched far beyond music, as he now demonstrates.

Chuck D is also a graphic novel artist. The artists’ contribution to the upcoming project also includes his original artwork. His expression is beyond a rehash of what was created initially. As Chuck states,

“The future of my art is to not tread upon areas I’ve already done as a song; in general, my work is more futuristic, and I’m about the universe, so those concepts from the album are definitely carried through in the novel.”

“Apocalypse 91: Revolution Never Sleeps”

The “Apocalypse 91: Revolution Never Sleeps” project is commemorative. The graphic novel flows in line with the original Public Enemy track. According to Chuck,

“The original album is pretty much the soundtrack in the graphic novel.”

Chuck’s Growth into the Comic World

Chuck D admits to not always being a hardcore comic novels fan. According to the artist, it wasn’t until the 70’s he garnered a little more interest. However, that interest was enough to spark his creativity. According to Chuck, the entire persona of Public Enemy also came from comics. In his words,

“I didn’t invent them [Public Enemy]; I just brought it out with imagery. Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, the S1W’s, Terminator X, and myself. It was all comic book imagery.”

Amazingly sort of reminiscent of the X-men. So, the progression of Chuck D’s work from music to this graphic novel flows naturally.

Project Release

Sources show the novel’s release is set for November under Z2 Comics. However, fans can put in a pre-order now.

Chuck’s talent shines through everything he has done and also continues to do. The culture is so much more because of people like him who extend every part of themselves to create something beautiful and timeless—much love and success to Chuck D on his project.

Be sure to like and follow FMHipHop on Instagram and then Facebook!

Written by Renae Richardson

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Did you miss Chuck D’s exchange with former group member Flava Flav? If so, then check out FM Hip Hop’s retrospective article. 

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Flavor Flav “Grateful to be Alive” After Boulder Lands on His Car

A few feet may have been the difference between life and death for Flavor Flav yesterday. However, the 62-year-old rapper says he’s “super grateful to be alive” after a freak accident nearly took his life.

Flavor Flav, By a Few Feet

Driving through La Tuna Canyon, north of Los Angeles, a massive boulder fell from one of the high cliff walls and smashed the front of Flav’s car. Flav nearly lost control of his car but was able to regain control and stop safely. In a photo shared on Instagram, Flav can be seen photographing the front of his car. The sporty white Audi shows significant damage on the front right side. The bodywork and headlight are a wreck, leaving crater-like damage to the front of the car. Again, when surveying the damage, it’s clear a few feet either way could have been the end of William Drayton Jr. (Flavor Flav).

Speaking to TMZ, Flav was thankful to have made it out alive after such a close call. “God is good,” he told TMZ. “[I] came very close to death but [I’m] super grateful to be alive.” A rep for Flav told People that the Public Enemy co-founder was “a bit emotionally shaken up” but otherwise unharmed.

The freak accident occurred yesterday, Tuesday, December 14. Flav was returning to Los Angeles after a trip to Las Vegas. According to reports at the time, heavy rainfall throughout southern California loosened up boulders on the cliffsides of La Tuna Canyon.

The incident comes at a tumultuous time for Flavor Flav. Indeed, after celebrating a year of sobriety, Flav found himself in handcuffs last October on a domestic battery charge in Henderson, Nevada. A month prior to that, Flav and fellow Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D traded barbs. The two are in the midst of trying to move post a 2017 lawsuit and reunite the legendary 80s rap group.

 

Garrett C. Owen

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Police Arrested Flavor Flav On Misdemeanor Domestic Battery Charge

William Drayton (Flavor Flav) booking photo https://app.asana.com/0/1135954362417873/1201228290572431/f Credit: Henderson Police Department

Police arrested the member of Public Enemy, Flavor Flav, in Nevada for domestic battery earlier this month. A report from TMZ states that the Henderson PD arrested the rapper on October 4th.

Flav’s Domestic Battery Charges

Police responded to a domestic disturbance call and arrived at the crime scene around 11:40 pm. Flav ended up in Henderson Detention Center, where the law enforcement booked and officially charged him.

Flavor Flav allegedly poked his finger on the victim’s nose, grabbed and threw her down on an unknown surface. The reason for Flav’s actions was supposedly getting the phone out of the victim’s hand.

The rapper’s attorney, David Chesnoff, told TMZ that “in alleged domestic violence cases, there are often two sides to the story, and we will explain our side in the courtroom and not in the media.”

Flav’s Year Of Sobriety

October 19th marks Flavor Flav’s year of sobriety. He posted on Instagram and capped “1 year up [sober]…lotz more to go.” Flav also “pray[s] my whole family will be walkin the same path I am.”

Various starts congratulated Flav on his anniversary. The Roots’ Questlove commented, “Proud of you bro.” Xzibit sent congrats as well, “Love you G!! You’re one of my hero’s. Glad you are feeling powerful in your sobriety. Keep going,”

“There is a quote from Flav’s legal team, as well as one from his management team with regards to the 1-year-mark of his sobriety,” Flav’s manager said. “October 19th marks his official one-year mark of no alcohol, along with 15 months of no cigarettes and 13 years of no hard drugs.”

Public Enemy Reunion?

A month ago, Flav also commented on the possibility of Public Enemy reunion. “There’s some things that Chuck D needs to work out with me,” Flav stated. “Once he comes up to the table and signs this partnership agreement, then we can work. If he doesn’t sign this partnership agreement, then we ain’t working.

Chuck D, the other PE member, responded to that. “Come on y’all, this is tired and stupid,” Chuck commented. “Flav and I communicate on our own, so I normally don’t address these things in public, but I’m tired of the circus of airing news that ain’t news.”

Follow @FMHipHop for more updates on Flavor Flav’s domestic battery case.

Written by Nikita Serdiuk