Jump to content

Chuck D

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chuck D
Chuck D in 2000
Chuck D in 2000
Background information
Birth nameCarlton Douglas Ridenhour[1]
Also known asCarl Ryder,Mistachuck, Chucky D, Chuck Dangerous, The Hard Rhymer, The Rhyme Animal
Born(1960-08-01)August 1, 1960(age 63)
Long Island,New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper, songwriter
Years active1984–present
Websitemrchuckd

Carlton Douglas Ridenhour(born August 1, 1960), known professionally asChuck D,is an American rapper,[2]best known as the leader and frontman of thehip hopgroupPublic Enemy,which he co-founded in 1985 withFlavor Flav.[3]Chuck D is also a member of the rocksupergroupProphets of Rage.He has released several solo albums, most notablyAutobiography of Mistachuck(1996).

His work with Public Enemy helped create politically and socially conscious hip hop music in the mid-1980s.The Sourceranked him at No. 12 on its list of the Top 50 Hip-Hop Lyricists of All Time.[4]Chuck D has been nominated for six Grammys throughout his career, and has received theGrammy Lifetime Achievement Awardas a member of Public Enemy.[5][6]He was also inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 2013 as a member of Public Enemy.[7]

Early life

[edit]

Ridenhour was born on August 1, 1960, on Long Island, New York.[1]When he was a child, his mother playedMotownandshowtunesin the home and his father belonged to theColumbia Record Club.[8]He began writing lyrics after theNew York City blackout of 1977.[9]He attendedW. Tresper Clarke High School,[10][11]where he was offered no formal education in music.[12]He then went toAdelphi Universityon Long Island to study graphic design, where he met William Drayton (Flavor Flav). He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Adelphi in 1984 and later received an honorary doctorate from Adelphi in 2013.

While at Adelphi, Ridenhour co-hosted hip hop radio show theSuper Spectrum Mix Houras Chuck D on Saturday nights at Long Island rock radio stationWLIR,designed flyers for local hip-hop events, and drew a cartoon calledTales of the Skindfor Adelphi student newspaperThe Delphian.[9]

Career

[edit]
Chuck D in 1991

Ridenhour (using the nickname Chuck D) formedPublic Enemyin 1985 withFlavor Flav.[3]Upon hearing Ridenhour's demo track "Public Enemy Number One", fledgling producer/upcoming music-mogulRick Rubininsisted on signing him to hisDef Jam Records.[13]Their major label releases wereYo! Bum Rush the Show(1987),It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back(1988),Fear of a Black Planet(1990),Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black(1991), the compilation albumGreatest Misses(1992), andMuse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age(1994). They also released afull-length album soundtrackfor the filmHe Got Gamein 1998.

Ridenhour also contributed (as Chuck D) to several episodes of the documentary seriesThe Blues.He has appeared as a featured artist on many other songs and albums, having collaborated with artists such asJanet Jackson,Kool Moe Dee,The Dope Poet Society,Run–D.M.C.,Ice Cube,Boom Boom Satellites,Rage Against the Machine,Anthrax,John Mellencampand many others. In 1990, he appeared on "Kool Thing",a song by thealternative rockbandSonic Youth,and along withFlavor Flav,he sang onGeorge Clinton's song "Tweakin'", which appears on his 1989 albumThe Cinderella Theory.In 1993, he was the executive producer forGot 'Em Running Scared,an album byIchiban Recordsgroup Chief Groovy Loo and the Chosen Tribe.[14]

Later career

[edit]

In 1996, Ridenhour releasedAutobiography of MistachuckonMercury Records.Chuck D made a rare appearance at the1998 MTV Video Music Awards,presenting theVideo Vanguard Awardto theBeastie Boys,commending their musicianship. In November 1998, he settled out of court with Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G."Wallace's estate over the latter's sampling of his voice in the song" Ten Crack Commandments ". The specific sampling is Ridenhour counting off the numbers one to nine on the track" Shut 'Em Down ".[15]He later described the decision to sue as "stupid".[16]

In September 1999, he launched a multi-format "supersite" on the web site Rapstation. The site includes a TV and radio station with original programming, prominent hip hop DJs, celebrity interviews, free MP3 downloads (the first was contributed by rapperCoolio), downloadable ringtones byToneThis,social commentary, current events, and regular features on turning rap careers into a viable living. Since 2000, he has been one of the most vocal supporters ofpeer-to-peer file sharingin the music industry.

He loaned his voice toGrand Theft Auto: San Andreasas DJ Forth Right MC for the radio stationPlayback FM.In 2000, he collaborated with Public Enemy's Gary G-Whiz and MC Lyte on the theme music to the television showDark Angel.He appeared withHenry Rollinsin a cover ofBlack Flag's "Rise Above" for the albumRise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three.In 2003, he was featured in the PBS documentaryGodfathers and Sonsin which he recorded a version ofMuddy Waters' song "Mannish Boy"withCommon,Electrik Mud Cats, andKyle Jason.[17]He was also featured onZ-Trip's albumShifting Gearson a track called "Shock and Awe"; a 12-inch of the track was released featuring artwork byShepard Fairey.In 2008 he contributed a chapter toSound Unbound: Sampling Digital Music and Culture(The MIT Press, 2008) edited by Paul D. Miller a.k.a.DJ Spooky,and also turned up onThe Go! Team's albumProof of Youthon the track "Flashlight Fight." He also fulfilled his childhood dreams of being a sports announcer by performing the play-by-play commentary in the video gameNBA Ballers: Chosen Oneon Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

In 2009, Ridenhour wrote the foreword to the bookThe Love Ethic: The Reason Why You Can't Find and Keep Beautiful Black Loveby Kamau and Akilah Butler. He also appeared onBrother Ali's albumUs.[18]

In March 2011, Chuck D re-recorded vocals withThe Dillinger Escape Planfor a cover of "Fight the Power".

External videos
video iconInterview with Chuck D at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, June 10, 2022,C-SPAN

Chuck D duetted with Rock singerMeat Loafon his 2011 albumHell in a Handbasketon the song "Mad Mad World/The Good God Is a Woman and She Don't Like Ugly".

In 2016 Chuck D joined the bandProphets of Ragealong withB-Realand former members ofRage Against the Machine.

In July 2019, Ridenhour sued Terrordome Music Publishing and Reach Music Publishing for $1 million for withholding royalties.[19]

In 2023, Chuck D released a four-part documentary on PBS entitled "Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World."[20]

Rapping technique and creative process

[edit]
Chuck D in 2013

Chuck D is known for his powerful rapping.How to Rapsays he "has a powerful, resonant voice that is often acclaimed as one of the most distinct and impressive in hip-hop".[21]: 248 Chuck says this was based on listening toMelle Meland sportscasters such asMarv Albert.[21]: 248 

Chuck often comes up with a title for a song first.[21]: 31 [22]He writes on paper, though sometimes edits using a computer.[21]: 143 He prefers to notpunch in[21]: 280 oroverdubvocals.[21]: 282 

Chuck listed his favourite rap albums inHip Hop Connectionin March 2000:

  2. N.W.A,Straight Outta Compton
  4. Boogie Down Productions,Criminal Minded
  6. Run-DMC,Tougher Than Leather
  8. Big Daddy Kane,Looks Like a Job For...
  10. Stetsasonic,In Full Gear
  12. Ice Cube,AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
  14. Dr. Dre,The Chronic
  16. De La Soul,3 Feet High and Rising
  18. Eric B. & Rakim,Follow the Leader
  20. Run-DMC,Raising Hell( "It was the first record that made me realise this was an album-oriented genre" )[23]

Politics

[edit]

Chuck D identifies as Black, as opposed to African or African-American. In a 1993 issue of DIRT Magazine covering a taping ofIn the Mixhosted byAlimi Ballardat the Apollo, Dan Field writes,

At one point, Chuck bristles a bit at the term "African-American." He thinks of himself as Black and sees nothing wrong with the term. Besides, he says, having been born in the United States and lived his whole life here, he doesn't consider himself African. Being in Public Enemy has given him the chance to travel around the world, an experience that really opened his eyes and his mind. He says visiting Africa and experiencing life on a continent where the majority of people are Black gave him a new perspective and helped him get in touch with his own history. He also credits a trip to the ancient Egyptian pyramids at Giza with helping him appreciate the relative smallness of man.[24]

Ridenhour is politically active; he co-hostedUnfilteredonAir America Radio,testified before the United States Congress in support ofpeer-to-peerMP3 sharing, and was involved in a 2004 rap political convention. He has continued to be an activist, publisher, lecturer, and producer.

Addressing the negative views associated with rap music, he co-wrote the essay bookFight the Power: Rap, Race, and Realitywith Yusuf Jah. He argues that "music and art and culture is escapism, and escapism sometimes is healthy for people to get away from reality", but sometimes the distinction is blurred and that's when "things could lead a young mind in a direction."[25]He also founded the record company Slam Jamz and acted as narrator in Kareem Adouard's short filmBling: Consequences and Repercussions,which examines the role ofconflict diamondsinblingfashion. Despite Chuck D and Public Enemy's success, Chuck D claims that popularity or public approval was never a driving motivation behind their work. He is admittedly skeptical of celebrity status, revealing in a 1999 interview withBOMB Magazinethat "The key for the record companies is to just keep making more and more stars, and make the ones who actually challenge our way of life irrelevant. The creation of celebrity has clouded the minds of most people in America, Europe and Asia. It gets people off the path they need to be on as individuals."[26]

In an interview withLe Monde,published January 29, 2008,[27]Chuck D stated that rap is devolving so much into a commercial enterprise, that the relationship between the rapper and the record label is that of slave to a master. He believes that nothing has changed for African-Americans since the debut of Public Enemy and, although he thinks that an Obama-Clinton alliance is great, he does not feel that the establishment will allow anything of substance to be accomplished. He stated that French PresidentNicolas Sarkozyis like any other European elite: he has profited through the murder, rape, and pillaging of those less fortunate and he refuses to allow equal opportunity for those men and women from Africa. In this article, he defended a comment made byProfessor Griffin the past that he says was taken out of context by the media. The real statement was a critique of the Israeli government and its treatment of the Palestinian people. Chuck D stated that it is Public Enemy's belief that all human beings are equal.[27]

In an interview with the magazineN'Digopublished in June 2008, he spoke of today's mainstream urban music seemingly relishing the addictive euphoria ofmaterialismandsexism,perhaps being the primary cause of many people harboring resentment towards the genre and its future. However, he has expressed hope for its resurrection, saying "It's only going to be dead if it doesn't talk about the messages of life as much as the messages of death and non-movement", citing artists such asNYOil,M.I.A.andThe Rootsas socially conscious artists who push the envelope creatively. "A lot of cats are out there doing it, on the Web and all over. They're just not placing their career in the hands of some major corporation."[28]

In 2010, Chuck D released the track "Tear Down That Wall." He said "I talked about the wall not only just dividing the U.S. and Mexico but the states of California, New Mexico and Texas. But Arizona, it's like, come on. Now they're going to enforce a law that talks about basically racial profiling."[29]

He is on the board of theTransAfrica Forum,a Pan African organization that is focused on African, Caribbean and Latin American issues.

He has been an activist with projects ofThe Revcoms,such asRefuse Fascismand Stop Mass Incarceration Network.[30]Carl Dixinterviewed Chuck D on The Revcoms' YouTube programThe RNL – Revolution, Nothing Less! – Show.[31]

In 2022, he endorsedConrad Tillard,formerly the Nation of Islam Minister known as Conrad Muhammad and subsequently a Baptist Minister, in his campaign forNew York State SenateinDistrict 25(covering part of eastern and north-central Brooklyn).[32]

Personal life

[edit]

Chuck D does not drink alcohol.[33]

Chuck D has said on Twitter that he is the maternal great-grandson of architectGeorge Washington Foster.[34][35][36]

As of June 2023, he has three children aged 34, 30, and 10. The two oldest by his first ex-wife Deborah McClendon and the youngest by his ex-wife Gaye Theresa Johnson.[12]

Chuck D lives in California and lost his home in theThomas Firethat occurred from December 2017 to January 2018.[37]

TV appearances

[edit]

Music appearances

[edit]
  • In 1990, Chuck featured onSonic YouthsingleKool Thing.
  • In 1993, Chuck rapped on "New Agenda" fromJanet Jackson'sjanet."I loved his work, but I'd never met him," said Jackson. "I called Chuck up and told him how much I admiredtheirwork. When I hear Chuck, it's like I'm hearing someone teaching, talking to a whole bunch of people. And instead of just having the rap in the bridge, as usual, I wanted him to do stuff all the way through. I sent him a tape. He said he loved the song, but he was afraid he was going to mess it up. I said 'Are you kidding?' "[41]
  • In 1999, Chuck D appeared onPrince's hit "Undisputed" on the albumRave Un2 the Joy Fantastic.
  • In 2001, Chuck D appeared on the Japanese electronic duoBoom Boom Satellitestrack "Your Reality's a Fantasy but Your Fantasy Is Killing Me" on the albumUmbra.
  • In 2001, Chuck D provided vocals forPublic Domain'sRock Da Funky Beats.
  • In 2010, Chuck D made an appearance on the track "Transformação" (Portuguese for "Transformation" ) from Brazilian rapperMV Bill's albumCausa E Efeito(meaningCause and Effect).
  • In 2003 he was featured on the track "Access to the Excess" inJunkie XL's albumRadio JXL: A Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin.
  • In 2011 Chuck D made an appearance on the track "Mad Mad World/The Good God Is a Woman and She Don't Like Ugly" fromMeat Loaf's 2011 albumHell in a Handbasket.
  • In 2013, he has appeared inMat Zo's single "Pyramid Scheme".
  • In 2013 he performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Music Masters concert tribute toThe Rolling Stones.
  • In 2014 he performed with Jahi on "People Get Ready" and "Yo!" fromthe first albumby Public Enemy spin-off projectPE 2.0.
  • In 2016 he appeared inASAP Ferg's album "Always Strive and Prosper"on the track" Beautiful People ".
  • In 2017 he was featured on the track "America" onLogic's album "Everybody".[42]
  • In 2019, he appeared on "Story of Everything", a song onThreads,an album bySheryl Crow.The track also featuresAndra DayandGary Clark Jr.

Discography

[edit]

with Public Enemy

[edit]
Main article:Public Enemy discography

Studio albums

with Confrontation Camp

[edit]

Studio albums

with Prophets of Rage

[edit]

Studio albums

Studio EPs

  • The Party's Over(2016)

Solo

[edit]

Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • Action(DJ Matheos Worldwide International Remix) – Most*hifi (featuring Chuck D. and Huggy) (2010)[45]
  • Don't Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin'(as Mistachuck) (2012)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"Chuck D biography".MTV Artists.Archived fromthe originalon January 2, 2015.
  2. ^D, Chuck; Jah, Yusuf (2007).Chuck D: Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary.Gardena, Calif.: Offda.ISBN978-0-9749484-1-6.
  3. ^ab"Public Enemy is 'moving forward without Flavor Flav' after Bernie Sanders rally dispute".USA Today.RetrievedMarch 6,2020.
  4. ^"The Source: Top 50 Lyricists [Magazine Scans] – Genius".Genius.RetrievedSeptember 17,2014.
  5. ^"Chuck D – Grammys".grammy.RetrievedJanuary 1,2023.
  6. ^"Isaac Hayes, Public Enemy To Receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards – Okayplayer".okayplayer.Archived fromthe originalon January 1, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 1,2023.
  7. ^Bowenbank, Starr (February 3, 2022)."Every Rapper in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".Billboard.RetrievedJanuary 1,2023.
  8. ^Coelho, Saroja (April 29, 2022)."Hip-hop legend Chuck D shares the stories behind songs that 'shook the planet'".CBC.RetrievedJuly 30,2022.
  9. ^abChang 2005, pp. 237–238.
  10. ^D, Chuck (November 19, 2014)."40 years ago I entered this high school on LongIsland.I was taught to challenge society at WT Clarke with #Audacity..pic.twitter /ChY4r9WYDz".@MrChuckD.RetrievedApril 17,2020.
  11. ^D, Chuck (March 31, 2013)."My Song of the Day Jackson Browne who I happened to meet up with 1996 at a Songwriters ceremony Peep THESE DAYS".Twitter.RetrievedApril 17,2020.
  12. ^abTouré (December 3, 2019)."Public Enemy's Chuck D Talks About Hip-Hop Music".AARP.RetrievedJuly 30,2022.
  13. ^"Hip-hop, you don't stop".the Guardian.Archived fromthe originalon May 16, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 17,2014.
  14. ^"Chief Groovy Loo And The Chosen Tribe".Discogs.RetrievedOctober 7,2012.
  15. ^Reiss, Randy (November 17, 1998)."Public Enemy's Chuck D Settles B.I.G. Copyright Suit".MTV. Archived fromthe originalon September 28, 2012.RetrievedOctober 7,2012.
  16. ^Arnold, Paul (March 9, 2012)."Chuck D Explains Why Suing The Notorious B.I.G. Was" Stupid "And Why Jay-Z And Kanye West's Bases Are" Corrupt To Rap "".HipHopDX.RetrievedJune 23,2017.
  17. ^Gallo, Phil (September 2, 2003)."Godfathers & Sons".Variety.
  18. ^Williams, Kam (June 30, 2009)."The Love Ethic".KamWilliams.RetrievedJune 30,2009.
  19. ^"Chuck D Sues Publishing Company Reach Music for Withholding Royalties".Billboard.August 8, 2019.RetrievedOctober 15,2019.
  20. ^"Chuck D on His New Hip Hop Documentary 'Fight the Power'".npr.org.February 18, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 24,2023.
  21. ^abcdefEdwards, Paul (December 2009).How to Rap.Chicago Review Press.ISBN9781569763773.
  22. ^Coleman, Brian (2007).Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies.New York: Villard/Random House. p.360.ISBN978-0-8129-7775-2.
  23. ^Fletcher, Mansel (March 2000). "100 Best Albums Ever".Hip Hop Connection:21–42.
  24. ^Field, Dan (1993)."New York, New York; Chuck D, Public Enemy's Mouthpiece".DIRT Magazine(Zine) – via Online Archive of California; University of California, Los Angeles Library Special Collections.
  25. ^"Chuck D: The D is for Dangerous".Crave Online. August 6, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2013.RetrievedOctober 7,2012.
  26. ^Thorpe, David (Summer 1999)."Chuck D".BOMB Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon September 20, 2013.RetrievedJune 13,2012.
  27. ^abMortaigne, Véronique (January 29, 2008)."Chuck D: let rap sans strass"[Chuck D: Rap Without Rhinestones].Le Monde(in French). Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2008.RetrievedJune 19,2019.
  28. ^Muhammad, Cinque (June 26, 2008)."Hip-Hop Conspiracy? Critics charge conscious rap is silenced".N'Digo Online.Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2008.RetrievedJuly 5,2008.
  29. ^"Chuck D Takes Aim at Arizona; Public Enemy In the Studio".Billboard.September 14, 2009.RetrievedMay 8,2012.
  30. ^"Chuck D takes the pledge for the Month of Resistance".revcom.us.
  31. ^"CHUCK D on removing Trump, George Floyd, and the new Public Enemy video".YouTube.August 24, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2021.
  32. ^Witt, Stephen (August 15, 2022)."Mayor Adams Endorses Tillard over DSAer Brisport in Bed-Stuy senate race".PoliticsNY.
  33. ^Christgau, Robert; Tate, Greg."Chuck D All Over the Map".Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics.Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 15,2024.
  34. ^Chuck D [@MrChuckD] (April 4, 2019)."My family claim to fame is my great grandfather George Washington Foster was the second licensed Black architect in New York and spit his design work on this building still here. #Flatiron #StriveForGreatness 👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿"(Tweet).RetrievedJuly 30,2022– viaTwitter.
  35. ^Chuck D [@MrChuckD] (March 12, 2022)."Of course George Washington Foster being my Moms grandfather 1st licensed Black architect in NJ, second Black licensed architect in NY ( worked on Flatiron Bldg) you also clear up long family rumor on Jefferson Davis. Yeah slavery was a MF – Wikipedia"(Tweet).RetrievedJuly 30,2022– viaTwitter.
  36. ^Chuck D [@MrChuckD] (July 30, 2022)."My great grandfather George Washington Foster designed quite a few buildings in nyc and a slew of buildings in New Jersey his state. Everytime I pass the @FlatironNY building I think of history"(Tweet).RetrievedJuly 30,2022– viaTwitter.
  37. ^Kenneally, Tim (January 10, 2018)."Chuck D Lost His Home in California Wildfire, Court Papers Say".TheWrap.RetrievedOctober 26,2020.
  38. ^"A discussion of the music wars on the internet".Charlierose. Archived fromthe originalon April 23, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 17,2014.
  39. ^"Newsnight debate on unity in America".News.bbc.co.uk. January 21, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 17,2014.
  40. ^"Cover Your Ears".
  41. ^Q,June 1993
  42. ^"Stream Logic's New Album 'Everybody'".XXL.May 5, 2017.RetrievedMay 5,2017.
  43. ^"RCS Music".rcsmusic.Archived fromthe originalon December 13, 2017.RetrievedDecember 29,2016.
  44. ^"Chuck D Drops New Video and New Album".publicenemy.Archived fromthe originalon December 30, 2016.RetrievedDecember 29,2016.
  45. ^"Action (DJ Matheos Worldwide International Remix)".Amazon.RetrievedDecember 2,2013.
Other sources

Selected publications

[edit]
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related toChuck D.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toChuck D.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chuck_D&oldid=1235406674"