Chuck D (Public Enemy)
Halftimeonline: Public Enemy has been the catalyst for many things. You guys ushered in black nationalism and political stances in hip hop. What do you feel was or is the biggest influence you had?
Chuck D: It was always a big brother influence. Whenever something has to be ushered in and fought for Public Enemy went fearlessly into it. I happened to be at a right age because I was one of the rare cats who got respect from the Kool Hercs, Bams, and Flash as well as respect from the young guys. So I feel blessed that I can do something in my position. Not for myself but I have to do something to expand the game for them to make a living in. That’s a blessing to me. I look at a guy like a Nas or a Jay-Z and I’m very thankful because they widened the lane for us to put our vehicle on. They are making opportunities for cats who are able to be on the outside looking in. When I came in I had a better contract than Mele Mel and Kool Moe Dee so for a Common or Talib to come in and get a better deal than I had at Def Jam is in their best interest. The thing that made Public Enemy powerful forever is that the minute we were able to leave the country we did. We were able to plant seeds all over the world before people realized what the world was. Now we can go anywhere in the world and pick fruit and I am very thankful for that. That’s special. If I can get someone to thank me in the streets of Europe or Asia that’s worth more than rent.
Halftimeonline: Last question, I’m sure there were plenty but can you tell us about a moment during your career where you said to yourself wow what we’re doing right now is really making a difference in the world.
Chuck D: I’m gonna do one forward and one back. The first time I realized that was in 1987 in Philadelphia. We played the Def Jam Tour. We had Rebel Without a Pause come out over the summer and we had two visits to Philadelphia. One of the visits was part of Lady B’s show and I had everybody shake everyone’s hand around the building and we really embraced ourselves with the city of Philadelphia. When we came into the Spectrum and they raised the gigantic Public Enemy backdrop and cats were putting up the black fist saluting I was like well this is some other shit here boy. It was like the first time someone ever saluted a rap group. In ’88 when they knew we could perform and we came back with Run DMC and Eric B and Rakim and it was like this is something I truly believe in. Then just going around the world and everyday getting a thank you. You don’t necessarily have to thank a musician. Some cats come up to me like thank you for raising me. I’m like whoa. Thank god I didn’t take you into another direction! You have to take that and be humble and say that’s my job to service you as best as possible.
March 27th, 2007
One of the most insightful interviews I have read. Big thanks to those who were responsible for it. One.
March 27th, 2007
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March 27th, 2007
this iz also 1 of the best interviews i have ever read i think this artical should be read by everybody in hip hop. im only 30 and being from flint michigan grew up wit everthing from da west to east south n midwest and feel blessed not to b stuck on jus on aspect of hip hop and glad to no my history i also appriciate chuck talking about nas jay n cube as kids seem to forget all the nicest mcs are over 30 and for young kids to not be educated about our culture and to look as hip hop as a fad really is stupid. i mean we grow as people and so does are musik thats why i stay on da grind collecting mixtapes since 89 till this day because hip hop is my way of life and should keep movin in a direction for everbody fo generations to come. thankz 4 da artical hopefully everbody can learn history n grow ya heard 1
March 27th, 2007
http://halftimeonline.com/hip-hop-icon-series/chuck-d-public-enemy/
good article
good performer, rapper
artist so important in the story of rap
very massiv
crazy, revolutionary
good
peace PE
March 28th, 2007
to sound extremely geeky i have only 3 words.
Best. Interview. Ever.
March 28th, 2007
Chuck D is totally incorrect by saying Nigger is not an african word. NGR is the ankh formation which comes out of nubia and forms all of the tying together words in the “western world”. NGR means black in french and spanish.There are no vowels in Meroitic,Egyptian,Hebrew, or Arabic.(the 1st languages of the world). The Hebrew L is the egyptian R which is why the foreigners call the Nile the Nile. The G is an I and a J and last but not least a K. The CoNGo is named NGR the NIGER is named NGR Negro Is named NGR NOIR is named NGR. These words are all influenced by the AFRICAN who created WORDS.Now the ANKH is an Ancient Egyptian symbol which means to tie things together,more importantly mommy daddy and child. This is Y King is written in the ankh formation.King is the master of all things tied together rather the material world and the knowledge about it.King in Zulu is NKOSI. The word Join is in the same formation as is neck ankle knee knife anchor angle knot ….I can go on but u get the idea.THIS IS THE ANKH FORMATION WHICH FORMS ALL JOINING WORDS AND EXISTS IN ALL LANGUAGES ON EARTH.IT WAS NUBIA BEFORE EGYPT AND IT WILL NEVER LEAVE BECAUSE LANGUAGE ORIGINATED IN PLACE AT ONE TIME.BY THE WAY WE ALL BELIEVE IN THE SAME GODS WHICH ARE THE SUN MOON AND STARS SO STOP SAYING DUMB SHIT ABOUT WHICH ONE IS REAL. THEY ARE ALL REAL BECAUSE THEY WILL BE HERE WHEN U DIE AND THEY WERE HERE BEFORE U WERE CONCIEVED.sorry for the rant.LOve the Interview though. Peace
March 29th, 2007
Yes! the rhythm the rebel without a pause, Im lowering my level…
April 12th, 2007
hi nice site.
November 12th, 2007
I love it great interview i love the fact that he known’s his power and yes you raised a lot of us brother