Chuck D Archives - Rolling Out

Great art will always stand the test of time. In the summer of 1989, Public Enemy released the most poignant protest song in hip-hop history in “Fight the Power” for Spike Lee‘s gut-wrenching film, Do the Right Thing. Thirty-one years later, the song speaks to a new generation of activists inspired by the killings of…

Chuck D and Daddy-O are the equivalents of classic luxury cars that have been kept in immaculate condition under the sheets in the garage of mainstream Black society. They’ve thrived as self-contained units despite the lack of love from popular culture and even Black radio stations. But folks are looking to them now. With the…

Chuck D, the frontman for the iconic and pioneering hip-hop group Public Enemy, now says all the fireworks created with the recent public firing of Flavor Flav was a hoax. As you recall, Flavor Flav, 61, vowed not to appear at a political rally for Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, that was…

One of rap’s most legendary groups has fired its most revered hype man. On Sunday, March 1, 2020, Public Enemy’s lead rapper, Chuck D, revealed that Flavor Flav is no longer in the group. The dismissal comes days after Flavor Flav sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bernie Sanders over Public Enemy’s free concert in Los…

Iconic hip-hop collective and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alum Public Enemy is responsible for providing countless classic hit singles, along with a string of gold or platinum albums over the course of nearly three decades. Frontman Chuck D has since personally recruited Cleveland emcee Jahi to help continue the legacy of the house that P.E.…

Broadcast Music, Inc. gathered some of the most influential hit-makers for the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in Beverly Hills, California Friday night. Award-winning music great Nile Rodgers was honored with the BMI Icon Award, and several artists performed well-known songs that he helped create. Rodgers is a songwriter, composer, producer, guitarist and arranger who began…

Rick Ross, Chuck D and other celebrities discuss “Black Lives Matter” at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in Los Angeles. Edit: Justin Dennis

Legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D approached National Record Store Day founder Michael Kurtz with a crazy idea: What if the increasingly popular day dedicated to vinyl had a radio station all its own? Kurtz then turned to DJ Skee and his recently launched DASH radio platform to make Chuck’s idea a reality. Beginning March 1,…

As Americans usher in the new year and bid farewell to 2014, we should renew our commitment to continue to fight for liberty and justice, especially for the group most assailed in this country over the past year, young Black males. The fatal shooting of unarmed Black teen Michael Brown, singled out for the “crime”…

Chuck D has served as the voice for hip-hop for more than 25 years. He continues to be vocal on issues that affect the Black community and hip-hop generation. With the ongoing protests over violence against unarmed Black males by the hands of police, and recent killing of NYPD officers, it was imperative that we…

The Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, New York is a bowling alley/concert venue, and it was rocking with Public Enemy performing live alongside Professor Griff, D.J. Lord, and S1W. Starting with “Rebel Without a Pause,” the iconic group kept the hits coming, following up with “911 is a Joke”, and “Don’t Believe the Hype.” Chuck D. and…

It’s been a busy week for hip-hop veterans–but it hasn’t exactly been a good sort of busy. 90s superstars Busta Rhymes and Lil Kim both made headlines this week for their latest endeavors, but both projects were met with head-scratching and derision, as opposed to praise.

Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg apologized on the air for any disparaging remarks he made about Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.

Roc Nation rapper Jay Electronica aired out Hot 97 radio host Peter Rosenberg during a series of tweets this week.

Dave Chappelle, Mos Def/Yasiin Bey, Erykah Badu, and Chuck D himself all came to Bed-Stuy to show love to Spike Lee and “Do the Right Thing”

Public Enemy frontman Chuck D has been vocal in his criticism of mainstream urban radio in the past, but over the last several days, the rapper/speaker has taken aim at New York City’s Hot 97 in the wake of last week’s Summer Jam concert.

Who pressed mute on the hip-hop revolution? The movement that was going to move those who were going to fight the power. Chuck D fight the power. Who pressed mute on those who said “free at last” and thought about the idea that you had to push past the police? Who pressed mute on hip-hop…