G-d Bless Public Enemy

[MistaJohn]

The legends of Hip-Hop - check out the new video "Long and Whining Road":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j-mp0Lvmdo

[andyfilius]

say Word! Makes me proud to be a hip hop fan. Blessed that these guys still care enough to put out amazing tracks and a great vid like this.

[MistaJohn]

Talk about an Icon - quick story about the great Chuck D:

February 13, 2004 - I was working for a radio station here in Charlotte - it was about 7pm when I got a call from a co-worker to tell me that Chuck D was in the building. Apparently, Chuck was driving from Long Island to his home in Atlanta and got an emergency call from Animal Planet (the TV network), they needed him to re-record a voice-over immediately. So, he contacted one of our DJs a friend of a friend knew and called him for some quick studio time.

Everyone at the station knew that I am a Public Enemy fanatic - so, I thought they were F-ing with me but rushed to the station just in case. Sure enough, there was Chuck in one of the production studios. I waited for him to finish his recording and introduced myself - I've met every "superstar" in the urban music industry and never thought much of it - but, I must admit that I was starstruck, could barely speak. This guy was like a stand-in father for me - Chuck's messages helped form my life more than any other influence - to me, Chuck is a savior.

After a few minutes, I snapped out of it and Chuck spent over 2 hours with me and a few others at the station - answered all my questions, signed autographs - I'm sure we held him up, but he didn't seem to mind - I got to tell him how much his music meant to me and got to confirm what a hell of guy he is.

Last year I got to see PE in concert - the love they have for the fans is very evident. At this point, I'm sure Chuck is losing money or at best breaking even by releasing albums every year, filming videos, launching websites, etc. etc. He's on PublicEnemy.com forums all the time interacting - he does it for the fans.

.... and we can't get Pete to answer 10 questions or Serch to post here unless he's promoting something - I love 3rd Bass and all - but they aren't in Public Enemy's arena, not even close.

[DJ Queue]

Hell yeah, I concur. I even got my old DJ alias printed in Revolverlution
Chuck pays attention to his forum and his fans. I'm sure he that when he's busy....he's busy, period, but he almost always answers questions and is down to talk. Like you said, nobody from the 3rd is near that arena. I don't even know what the deal is with Pete, but Serch.....man he acts like he's down to defend hiphop, yet he's not exactly a part of it. He down to hold his own on a mic, reach and teach etc etc, but he knows were here and the most interaction he has online anyway with his fans is brief messages on Myspace. An entire site and board dedicated to the work him and a couple other fellas have done all their musically known life is just left under the rug.

Shit's ill.
P.E. is still one of the few crews left in hiphop who fall into what I call the "intelligent hiphop" genre. Damn right bless 'em.
  --Q

[PL]

In Serch's defense, he can reach way more people on a site like myspace.  This site is great, but in reality there are only a few regulars that post.  I've only been to his site a few times, but it looks like he replies as much as possible.  PE was fortunate enough to have released 10+ albums and maintain a following for > 20 yrs.  Those guys are awesome - I remember seeing them on a big tour with the Geto Boys, Latifah, Naughty, Tribe & LONS; it was a great show.  It's just impossible to compare the 2 groups. 

[MistaJohn]

I'm not comparing the groups - In my opinion no group comes close to the impact Public Enemy has had on music and minds - PE is untouchable.

I'm commenting on the appreciation Public Enemy (namely Chuck D) has for their fans - PE is driven by giving back, while it seems like most of these other cats are driven by bleeding the fans and will check in when it benefits them or when it's convenient.

[PL]

MistaJohn,
Meant to ask you.....ave you heard Chuck D on KRS' new album, Adventures in Emceein?  The song is called "Today's Topics".  It's pretty nice.   You can check it on iTunes.

[MistaJohn]

Hey PL,

On my version of the album, Today's Topic is only 45 seconds long with a Chuck D verse of rehashed rhymes. I'll have to check into if I'm missing most of the song.