CHUCK D More Relevant than Ever

Written by Tammie Tolbert· Photos by Curtis Lawrence

As I sat down to write this story, I said to myself, it is damn near impossible to find a correct written introduction for such an incredibly intelligent, talented, successful and forward thinking man. I honestly didn’t think words could capture the full scope of what this man’s life and his broad spectrum of musical, visual and written work did to help change the world for the better.

Chuck D, born in New York, New York as Carlton D. Ridenhour, is like no other digital music pioneer, best-selling author, activist, sought after speaker, solid entrepreneur, Music & TV Producer and forward conscious thinker in the entire world. He has done so much to elevate and awaken people’s minds around the world to social and political injustices and he continues to do so to this very day in 2020.

In today’s current cultural climate with Black Lives Matter leading the worldwide call to change systemic oppression against African Americans in the United States and worldwide, it turns out that Chuck D’s former music and social activist work is more relevant than ever. If you don’t believe me, just research his current stats, because believe me, they are forever growing an evolving.

According to Wikipedia, in 1985, Chuck D co-founded the now Hall of Fame group, Public Enemy with rapper Flavor Flav. It’s also been stated that the group originally started in 1982 at Adelphi University in Long Island. Either way, Public Enemy’s music purpose was to rap and bring awareness about the systemic social injustices plaguing African-American people in the United States. Chuck D’s group also had a heavy disdain for mainstream media. Mainstream media often depicted African

Tammie T. Tolbert

Americans in a very negative way and Public Enemy rapped about it.

Though this music / rap platform, Chuck D of Public Enemy was able to spread his messages about social injustices and social reform not only through music, but through visual and written art too. His book, “This Day In Rap and Hip Hop History,” turned Chuck D into a best-selling author!

The success of Public Enemy ignited a fire in so many people who otherwise felt helpless to have their voices heard. Public Enemy’s resonated with so my African-Americans and other cultures that were fighting systemic racism in the United States. As a testament to how important the message of Chuck D and Public Enemy was, Public Enemy has sold millions of records and albums.

His groups album sales doesn’t even reflect the the records he collaborated with others on. Others like Ice Cube, Janet Jackson, Run-DMC, John Mellencamp, Kool Mo Dee, etc. Chuck D’s strong music talents have been sought after by TV Stations such as ESPN, the ESPY Award Show, The TV Show “Blues”, the LeBron James docu-series, “Shut Up and Dribble!” and much more. Chuck D’s belief in his message and his dedication to getting it out to the masses built him a solid career that continues to flourish today!

Chuck D’s current projects through his music group “SpitSlam” continue to bring awareness and continues to challenge social injustice worldwide. As a meticulous professional and artist, as Chuck D himself has stated, “Art can set you free!” These few accolades that I have written about don’t even touch the scope of the magnitude of what Chuck D and Public Enemy have done to change our world for the better.