Chuck D Archives

Chuck D Explains How Public Enemy #1 Was Made & Got Them Signed To Def Jam

Public Enemy has a litany of power-packed jams. 1987's "Public Enemy #1" is one of the singles that showcased the Long Island, New York collective as something different—in vocals, production, and command. Appearing in "Once Upon A Rhyme" for B-Real TV, Chuck D gives his Prophets Of Rage band-mate's platform... Read more

September 24, 2016 Video

Common & Stevie Wonder’s Snapshot of Black America Is Raw & Uncut (Video)

Common's 2014 album Nobody's Smiling not only signified a reforged musical partnership with producer No I.D., but also a concept record inspired by Chicago. The MC's hometown continues to be plagued by skyrocketing rates of gun violence, and while it manages to be a hotbed for vibrant talent including Chance... Read more

September 22, 2016 Video

Hip-Hop Took The Gold In August. Hear The Best Of The Month (Audio)

August was filled with the Olympics and some of the worst heat of the year, but it also brought some great Hip-Hop. De La Soul released their first album in 12 years, and it debuted at #1 on the Rap chart. Andre 3000 had some choice words for ghostwriters. Nas... Read more

September 10, 2016 Audio

Prophets Of Rage’s “The Party’s Over” Gets The Fight For Our Rights Started (Audio)

After a Summer of touring and protests, Prophets Of Rage, the supergroup consisting of Public Enemy's Chuck D, Cypress Hill's B-Real and all of Rage Against The Machine, minus Zack De La Rocha, is far from done. They've recently begun releasing new music, starting with "No Sleep Till Cleveland," a... Read more

August 25, 2016 Audio

Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch & Chuck D Revisit Biggie’s ‘Who Shot Ya’ in Living Colour (Audio)

Musical hybrids through-and-through, Living Colour's sound is nearly impossible to describe in one genre. A full-fledged Rock band, the New York City-based outfit also heavily borrows from the sounds of Heavy Metal, Jazz, Funk, and certainly Hip-Hop. On September 9, the longtime group whose discography stretches back over 25 years... Read more

August 18, 2016 Audio

Prophets Of Rage Clear The Way For Power To The People (Audio)

Today (July 18) marks the first day of the Republican National Convention, the purpose of which is the formal selection of the Republican candidate for president of the United States. In many instances, the RNC is just a formality and this year is no different - having overwhelmingly succeeded over... Read more

July 18, 2016 Audio

Flavor Flav’s 1984 Mix Shows What Time It Is (Audio)

Public Enemy's Flavor Flav is one of Hip-Hop's all-time most recognizable personalities. While he only released one solo album, the man born William Drayton, III has brought mad flavor to classic P.E. records since the Long Island, New York group's inception. He is a hype-man extraordinaire, and an MC, but... Read more

June 30, 2016 Mixes, Throwback

Chuck D Had Real Revolutions In Mind When He Wrote “Fight The Power”

Public Enemy's Chuck D has penned some of Hip-Hop's most inspirational verses. While P.E. only had one official Top 40 single (1994's "Give It Up"), songs like "Rebel Without A Pause," "911 Is A Joke," and "Don't Believe The Hype" are etched in the memory banks of millions for their... Read more

June 22, 2016 Fresh

Masta Ace’s Latest Video Resonates Through Time & Shows Why He’s A Top MC

Masta Ace's latest studio album, The Falling Season, is making noise for the 30-year Brooklyn, New York rhyme veteran. From the era of 12" singles and un-skippable albums, Ace has deliberately kept his latest artistic baby away from the popular streaming platforms. The latest in a series of a concept... Read more

June 13, 2016 Video

Chuck D, Tom Morello & B-Real Are Raging Against The Republican Convention (Video)

Last month, via a cryptic announcement that took on an incredible groundswell, Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, Public Enemy's Chuck D and Cypress Hill's B-Real announced they were forming a super group called the Prophets Of Rage. As we reported, given the political nature of much of the respective... Read more

June 8, 2016 News

Prophets Of Rage Are Fighting The Power Across The Nation

In less than a month, the Prophets Of Rage have gone from a grassroots digital whisper campaign to the revitalization of at least three legendary music entities. Three-fourths of Rage Against The Machine has merged with Public Enemy's Chuck D and DJ Lord along with Cypress Hill's B-Real to form... Read more

June 6, 2016 Fresh

Chuck D & B-Real Talk Merging With Rage Against The Machine & Significance

This month, it was revealed that members of Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill had come together to form Prophets Of Rage. The band, featuring R.A.T.M.'s Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk merges with the vocals of Chuck D and B-Real for an upcoming project. P.E.'s... Read more

May 31, 2016 News

Members Of Public Enemy, Cypress Hill & Rage Against The Machine Are Forming A Supergroup

The emergence of a new website on Tuesday (5/18), prophetsofrage.com, set the Internet ablaze with speculation that it might be related to a new project involving Rage Against The Machine and, possibly, Public Enemy. The site, which experienced server problems throughout the day, simply features a countdown clock to June... Read more

May 19, 2016 News

The Return Of Rage Against The Machine Appears To Be Prophetic.

It has been five years since Rage Against The Machine played a concert together. The Los Angeles, California mainstays of Zack De La Rocha, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tom Commerford have not released an album since late 2000's cover collection, Renegades. That being said, the onetime Epic Records outfit who... Read more

May 18, 2016 News

EPMD, Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, Naughty By Nature & More Announce Tour

In 2015, Ice-T launched the Art Of Rap Tour. Taking its name from Ice's acclaimed Hip-Hop documentary, the summer tour featured Rakim, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick, and a number of other acts. For 2016, the O.G. is keeping The Art Of Rap Tour strong. Several '15... Read more

May 9, 2016 Fresh

Russell Simmons Crowns Def Jam’s Greatest Album & His Favorite Artist (Video)

Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin began releasing Def Jam Records singles in 1984. Started in a New York University dorm room (occupied by Rubin), the company would expand to become a reported $115 million property by the late 1990s. From original flagship artist LL Cool J, Def Jam would play... Read more

May 2, 2016 Throwback, Video

A$AP Ferg & Chuck D Envision a New World & It’s Beautiful (Audio)

Every generation has artists it can claim as having been the messengers of truth, of enlightenment, of political engagement. For some, it was Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. For others it was Public Enemy and X-Clan. And for others still it's Tef Poe and Immortal Technique, Kendrick Lamar and Run... Read more

April 26, 2016 Audio

Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions vs. A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders. Which Is Better?

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

March 28, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Q-Tip Opens Up His Archive Of Live A Tribe Called Quest Recordings To Celebrate Phife Dawg (Audio)

While Q-Tip did not appear on last night's edition of his Abstract Radio show on Beats 1, he dedicated the entire episode to his fallen A Tribe Called Quest brother, Phife Dawg, and celebrated him with a 2-hour mix of live and rare Tribe recordings, from Tip's personal archives. During... Read more

March 26, 2016 Audio

There Are Only 8 Left. Which One Will You Name The Greatest Hip-Hop Album Of All-Time?

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

March 22, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Got DJ Skills? We Need You To Make A Finding The GOAT Sweet 16 Mix

Last September, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: what is the greatest Rap Album Of All-Time? “Finding The GOAT Album” has considered more than 120 albums from the 80s, 90s and 2000s (40 in each), with options for... Read more

March 16, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back vs. N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

March 14, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Here Is Your “Finding The GOAT Album” Sweet 16. The Bracket Just Got Real.

Yesterday (March 8) closed Round 3 of “Finding The GOAT Album.” You—the voter—definitively took 32 albums and divided them into a "Sweet 16." The last bracket took the Top 10 albums from the 1980s, the 1990s, and 2000s, respectively and included two user-generated Wild Card winners. In examining the Sweet... Read more

March 9, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Chris Rock & Ice-T Discuss Making “New Jack City” On Its 25th Anniversary (Audio)

Twenty five years ago tomorrow (March 8, 1991) New Jack City was released to theaters. Largely conceived and written by Barry Michael Cooper, and directed by Mario Van Peebles, the film starring Wesley Snipes would live well beyond its impressive theatrical run. A quarter century later, the Warner Bros. movie... Read more

March 7, 2016 Audio, TV/Film

Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back vs. Common’s Be. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

February 25, 2016 Finding the GOAT

Public Enemy’s 1988 WNYU Radio Concert Still Moves The Needle (Audio)

1988 was a benchmark year for Public Enemy. The same calendar year that Chuck D, Terminator X, Professor Griff, and Flavor Flav released It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, the crew appeared on WNYU radio, 89.1 on the FM dial. This week, the New York University... Read more

November 18, 2015 Throwback

Public Enemy Performs A Fight The Power Medley In Brooklyn (Video)

Jimmy Kimmel closed out his week-long stay in Brooklyn, New York for "Jimmy Kimmel Live." There, he bid adieu a week (that also included an interesting Jay Z interview) in style. On Friday night's show (into Saturday morning), Kimmel called upon a Hip-Hop group closely associated with BK—even though they... Read more

October 24, 2015 Video

Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back vs. EPMD’s Strictly Business. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

October 21, 2015 Finding the GOAT

Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back vs. Jungle Brothers’ Straight Out The Jungle. Which is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

October 6, 2015 Finding the GOAT

Boogie Down Productions’ Criminal Minded vs. Public Enemy’s Yo! Bum Rush The Show. Which Is Better?

One year ago, Ambrosia For Heads launched a debate among its readers seeking to answer one of Hip-Hop’s most hotly-contested questions: who is the greatest MC of all time? “Finding The GOAT MC” lasted between September 2014 and May 2015, engaging millions of readers and ultimately producing its winner, as... Read more

September 25, 2015 Finding the GOAT

It’s All The Way Live: Public Enemy To Release Their Second Concert Album

Boogie Down Productions, Tupac, and Lyrics Born are just some of the Hip-Hop artists to release live albums. For the second time in 10 years, Public Enemy is doing the same. Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, DJ Lord and company will release Live From Metropolis Studios on September 4,... Read more

August 8, 2015 News

Public Enemy Expect No Sympathy From The Devil In These Trying Times (Video)

Public Enemy's just-released Man Plans, GOD Laughs is a zeitgeist album—politically, socially, and sonically. Chuck D recently told Rolling Stone, "With the situation of unrest in society, and the police brutality issue and what happened in Baltimore, don’t expect no sympathy from the government on the people, especially in the... Read more

August 4, 2015 Video

Public Enemy’s Energy Only Grows. See The Man Plans, GOD Laughs Title Cut (Video)

Today (July 15), Public Enemy made their latest album, Man Plans, GOD Laughs available for stream. Formally released next week (July 22), Chuck D, Professor Griff, DJ Lord and Flavor Flav used the moment to bum-rush the bandwidth with an LP that shows its admitted influence by the likes of... Read more

July 15, 2015 Video

Chuck D Says That In Hip-Hop, The Third Verse Is “Becoming Useless.” Do You Agree?

Approaching Public Enemy's 13th studio Man Plans, GOD Laughs (slated for July release), Chuck D is in the midst of a press campaign. An affiliate of Chuck D's Rapstation Network, Tim Einenkel, recently interviewed the Long Island, New York legend for his The Library podcast. In one excerpt, the booming... Read more

July 13, 2015 Fresh

Public Enemy’s 13th Album Is Inspired By Kendrick Lamar & Run The Jewels

After 28 years of releasing albums, Public Enemy aims to make a dent in 2015. The Long Island, New York Hip-Hop group's 13th studio album, Man Plans, God Laughs will arrive in less than a month. On June 16 via Facebook, the band announced the news, sharing the artwork. Additionally,... Read more

June 20, 2015 News

For National Prevention Week, Watch This 1987 Public Enemy Anti-Drug PSA (Video)

Beginning May 17, we are in the midst of National Prevention Week, a seven-day annual event produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). With that in mind, Ambrosia For Heads is proud to shed light on not one, but two anti-drug PSA's this week that aired briefly... Read more

May 20, 2015 Exclusive, Throwback

Ice Cube Reveals He Originally Wanted Dr. Dre to Produce Amerikkka’s Most Wanted (Video)

As we reported earlier, today (5/16) is the 25th anniversary of the release of Ice Cube's debut album, Amerikkka's Most Wanted. To celebrate the milestone, Cube has made a series of videos detailing behind the scenes stories about the making of the landmark LP. In part 1, the rapper born... Read more

May 16, 2015 Video

Once Again It’s On: Ice Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted Rings True At 25

A quarter of a century ago today (May 16, 1990), Ice Cube released his solo debut. AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted signaled his post-N.W.A. career, and the acrimonious split left fans eager to hear Cube's perspective. However, what those supporters received was more dynamic than one man's tale of anger and revenge,... Read more

May 16, 2015 Food for Thought

Chuck D Gives a True Music History Lesson in His Conversation with Nardwuar (Video)

When it comes to conducting interviews, Nardwuar is a crate-digger, literally and figuratively. When he got his shot to interview Public Enemy's Chuck D, courtesy of Brother Ali and Z-Trip, the Canadian journalist took full advantage. As is often the case with Nardwuar interviews, he drove the discussion by going... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): KRS-One vs. Chuck D…Who You Got?

We have reached the third round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 42 MCs remaining, we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into... Read more

March 11, 2015 Throwback

Chuck D Fights For The Power Of Free Speech Alongside Jasiri X & Jahi (Video)

Chuck D helped make the Pittsburgh Pirates logo famous—even when the MLB team was having some losing seasons. For "Spread The Words," the Public Enemy front man travels to the Steel City to join MC (and activist) Jasiri X and P.E. 2.0's Jahi. There, they stand above the skyline—on Mount... Read more

January 31, 2015 Video

DMC, Chuck D, PMD, MC Serch & Terminator X Come Together With An Edge (Video)

Twenty five Januaries ago, in 1990...could you have imagined Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Chuck D, Parrish "PMD" Smith, MC Serch, and Terminator X together? The thought alone drains boombox D-batteries, and makes speakers shudder. In 2015, these things are not only possible, but able to be captured on video. "Hellraisers" is... Read more

January 30, 2015 Video

Easy Mo Bee Partners With Chuck D’s SLAMJamz For January Album

Easy Mo Bee produced hit records for both 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. He kicked in the door with Big Daddy Kane, and helped Miles Davis close shop in style. The iconic Brooklyn, New York producer/DJ for Hip-Hop, Jazz, and R&B continues to stay dedicated to his love of music.... Read more

December 30, 2014 Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of November 2014 (Audio)

November was dominated by members of Wu-Tang Clan and Shady 2.0. Eminem, the Wu, Royce Da 5'9" & DJ Premier, Ghostface Killah and Slaughterhouse all had big records (or several). Here's a playlist featuring music by them, as well as De La Soul, Chuck D, Juvenile, Big K.R.I.T., M.O.P., AZ,... Read more

November 30, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

De La Soul & Chuck D Make a Powerful Statement for The People (Audio)

De La Soul and Chuck D have come together on one track to make a powerful statement together. Here's what De La had to say about "The People": "The idea for the song came from a couple of samples, and the track’s vibe is earnest and has a pressing tone... Read more

November 28, 2014 Audio

Ice Cube & Chuck D Recall The Transition From N.W.A To Amerikkka’s Most Wanted

In the spring of 1990, Ice Cube broke out in his solo career with Amerikkka's Most Wanted. The controversially-titled Priority Records release found the South Central, California MC out of N.W.A, and amicably so at that point. A would-be platinum album, in many circles, it contends as Cube's finest work.... Read more

October 15, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Blow Your Speakers With Bachir’s Bomb Squad Cassette Mix (Mixtape)

With Chuck D and Public Enemy (deservingly) in the headlines regularly again—for a litany of reasons, let's take a sec to look back. When it comes to the production collective known as The Bomb Squad (Hank & Keith Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, the oft-uncredited Johnny Juice, G-Wiz, and Chuck D)... Read more

October 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Public Enemy Performs One Of Their Earliest, Biggest Hits With The Roots (Video)

While 1988 would be the year Public Enemy's seminal It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, 1987 is integral to the story. That would be the year that the Long Island collective dropped their debut album, Yo! Bum Rush The Show. The album was a homogenous blend... Read more

September 17, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Rick Rubin Says Chuck D Thought Public Enemy Was Too Old To Sign To Def Jam In 1987 (Video)

In the third volume of Noisey's series on Def Jam Records' 30th anniversary, founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin devote their attentions on Public Enemy. Likely in conjunction with P.E.'s performance of "Public Enemy #1" with The Roots on Jimmy Fallon's "The Tonight Show" yesterday (September 16), the vignette pays... Read more

September 17, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Edo G & Chuck D Slam Lyrics Over A Chirped Up Rock Sample (Video)

Edo G's After All These Years album is sizing up. Going from Roxbury to Long Island, the O.G. slams a track alongside Chuck D of Public Enemy. "Fight" induces such an attitude, with a '70s Rock vocal sample (Ten Wheel Drive & Genya Ravan's "Ain't Gonna Happen," which was used... Read more

September 8, 2014 Fresh, Video