Chuck D is most well known for being the frontman for one of Hip-Hops gift, Public Enemy.
Tuesday October 28th of this year 08, influential activist and lyrical heavy hitter Chuck D graced the steps of PCC (Pasadena City College). After a productive print session and a delicous grilled cheese sandmich I rushed through the hallway to take my front row seat (fuck that! it was chuck D, no way I would have tolerated anything after the 3rd-second row). I walked into what was 10 mins of his speech. I'm going to try to give a synopis from the 4 pgs of random shit (notes I wrote) D preached. Chuck D's speech entitled: Fight the Power: Race, Rap, & Reality couldn't have come at a better time than this. Only days until the US presidential election D strongly see that as soon as someone turns 18, all that kiddie boo boo caa caa shit has got to go. Chuck D see's growth through education and knows that in order to get things done there ain't no way anyone can be a "Collegiate Thug". Aint no way that's possible says Chuck D since, well first off, "It's an oxymoron!!!" D explains. Since this was a PCC Cultural Event he stressed to PCC students the need to get all you can out of college. That all that life in the streets with gangs, violence and intolerance, to name a few, will lead you no where but prison. That's a whole different playing field. D's says life in prison has its own set of rules. A set of rules that not even our governtment will touch because they don't want to disrupted the negative impacts this foreign force constructs in our society. He also touched on mainstream music and how Hip-Hops orginal messages of unity and a common strugle have been lost in a haze of booty shaking and material and instant gratification. My favorite line is definietly " Weebie?, Who the fuck is Weebie!? That shit already sounds like childs play".
He knighted our generation, not the Empty (MTV) generation but "the youtube, facebook, myspace generation" or the "Massses to the Asses". He expressed the importance of knowlege and how the study of music alone, like Jazz and Rhythm and Blues, can be located geographically. Teaching not just how the music evolved but the migration of Black peoples, aka history. Over all, the solid 2 hours Chuck D's speech were eye-opening and sensible. I'm sure those new Hip-Hop afficianados and activist of the like with surely left his speech encourage to make change or be change. I know as soon as I left, all giggle cuz i got to speak @ the mic, were uplifted by Chuck D's ability to share awareness and real and possible reality in a urgent and profound manner.