GRANDMASTER FLASH

First I start off by congratulating hip hop's big coup into the world of music. Finally the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame has voted and inducted Grandmaster Flash AND THE FURIOUS FIVE MCees. This is major. This is big. MELLE MEL, SCORPIO, RAHEIM , KID CREOLE, and EASY MIKE are on their way. It will be March 12th at the Waldorf Astoria - the inaugural dinner. Thing is, many musical folk know GRANDMASTER FLASH the DJ and the name, but I'm here to tell you how important the components are, as well as the aura around the fame. I go back to 1978 and tell you that the energy that Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel brought to the pre- recorded hip hop planet was indescribable from 1977-1979. So much that people got signed just by being around Flash and that energy. Not to say Kurtis Blow didn't deserve to get the first major rap deal in 1979 with MERCURY Records, but the folks Robert Ford and JB Moore who signed him after seeing him get down with FLASH at an Armory didn't have a clue on what half the crowd's noise was all about. They heard noise about EDDIE CHEBA checked him out, but on the same show BLOW was getting down with Grandmaster Flash and the electricity was in the air provided by the super-quicksilver DJ. Talking about being at the right place at the right time.

When recording came along in the name of SUGARHILL, we expected FLASH was somewhere on the hip hop recorded horizon. By 1979 a group on Brasilia Records named, The Younger Generation, recorded a cut called 'We Rap More Mellow'. As a DJ with Hank and Keith Shocklee, we played it even while wondering why the anonymous identity. Come a month and a half later, SUPERRAPPIN emerges on BOBBY ROBINSONS' ENJOY label; RED label 12". HOT, FIRE! Take the train, take the train'... By the next summer, 1980, it was the summer of FREEDOM. Taking the TK Records group band FREEDOM's Get Up And Dance and ripping it for over eight minutes and change proved that these five emcees ,and this mysterious space age disc jockey were light years beyond the next, whatever act that attempted to rap. Period. They were the standard, the blueprint, and the template. The Lakers, Celtics, Cowboys, Yankees , without a stadium in the BX ...yes the Bronx.

This is why it's no better selection to represent this stunning achievement than one of hip hop's co founders. Yes, KOOL HERC and AFRIKA BAMBAATAA share hip hop's co founding with FLASH, but Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five were our first worldwide superstars. All seven of them, the five emcees and the two DJs FLASH (and yes EASY MIKE was as important as a fifth Beatle). A group thing, a thing that many solos need to bear witness to in the rap game today; in the millennium to get its groove - ur. I mean BEAT back. I, Chuck D, no doubt state that it's about time and thank you.

JB & US As of the last writing it's somewhat WACK not hearing James Brown on so few of these stations that claim that they're the homes of hip hop and R&B. At the Godfather of Soul's home goings in New York @the Apollo and in Augusta GA, at the James Brown Arena; the hip hop presence was nearly absent. I drove the three hour I-20 east trip to Augusta and witnessed 10,000 people, common folk, representing the man for there would be no rap, no funk, and half of soul itself. It has signified a selfish sign of the times where both neglect and prejudice have been joined toe to toe in the ring. Neglect, because of the community not reinforcing the history of importance. As said in a previous terrordome, the 'I' in these times as opposed to 'WE' has set black folks back one hundred years to 1907. When WEB Dubois and Booker T Washington were shouldering the burden of the black masses with logic, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding; understand there were folks who rejected and turned their hollowed heads. Within 15-20 feet of my eyesight on the podium, I saw in my vision Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton, Dick Gregory (who single handedly showed me how to parlay whatever I did into a college lecture.) - awesome. Men who put it on the line saying it loud very black and proud. Afterwards I ventured backstage and met REV AL and REV JAX and they were pleased to see me there representing for the hip hop nation, whom they felt fell off. It wasn't trying to be anything more than a visit out of respect for me in my three hour drive to AUGUSTA GA. Listening to GIVE IT UP, TURN IT LOOSE, and various JB tracks.

DJ JOHNNY JUICE Across the USA, tour 56 had been quite an adventure. Immediately adjustments had been made to cover the DJ LORD in ASIA equation. In stepped DJ JOHNNY JUICE to the rescue. Back in 1985 myself and HANK SHOCKLEE were putting together two acts for Fred Munao' s SELECT RECORDS and EDDIE O LOUGLIN'S NEXT PLATEAU record company. We signed Kenny Houston aka TRUE MATHEMATICS to SELECT, and next signed a crew of Long Island rappers we named, the KINGS OF PRESSURE. Since we had become primary promoters of the 'Strong Island' hip hop scene, we had the magnetic respect of the local rap cats. WBAU, the LI club named ENTERAGE, and community events. We were commissioned to put together the KINGS OF PRESSURE (named from a Freudian slip of the tongue while being lost around Philly and wondering what the hell was a town named KING OF PRUSSIA) from auditions at the infamous 510 South Franklin Street DJ studios in Hempstead. I always dug groups, and was further inspired by this flyer I saw while doing a Spectrum City gig in Chicopee, Mass. There was a picture of a local group called the ALMIGHTY HOMEBOYS. I swear there seemed to be one hundred cats piled up on top of each other. The group later to be the LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL, were amongst the thirteen emcees that auditioned later in LI - CHARLIE BROWN, DINCO D,and a young BUSTA RHYMES were considered just a hair bit young as they were nearby UNIONDALE HIGH SCHOOL 11th graders. There were two guys that were going for the DJ position in the KINGS OF PRESSURE, one was a local guy named DJ SPANK; a cat from around the way who sniffed it was a good way of getting paid. The other dude was this little Puerto Rican giant of a B-boy who had way too much energy to match his attitude. This cat had the attitude that I wanted to center the whole group around. We took flicks in a circular fashion similar to what NWA would do three years later for Straight Outta Compton. All wore the same sht Juice was wearing every damn day. In fact DJ Johnny JUICE was to be the fashion leader that they were told to pattern their look from. This attitude was coupled by the fact that this guy was extremely skilled on the turntables. DJ Johnny Juice not only was the DJ for the KINGS OF PRESSURE recorded 'You Know How To Reach Us' 12", but he provided the rhythm cuts and scratches on YO BUM RUSH THE SHOW and IT Takes A NATION OF MILLIONS albums in 1987-1988. As peripheral components of the BOMB SQUAD before it was aptly named three years later, both JUICE and TERMINATOR X used contrasting yet fitting styles on those PE records. TERMINATOR was funky and used across the rhythms, while JUICE was a precisionist and executed inside and often dictated the beat. So it was a bit of history making for the high school phenom. While the road beginnings of PE took me from the daily duties of the production team, I felt that the necessary task of closely managing the acts slipped away in my absence.

After the January 1988 production of the, then. yet untitled 'IT TAKES A NATION' Juice graduated and moved on Westward and more worldly as part of the military - Navy Seal to be exact. Occasionally we would catch him somewhere on the planet, where both he and the crew were at. Flash forward to the late 1990's and we simultaneously were picking up some things at the local WAL MART. He was working in his home studio and we had some room to breathe at PE headquarters nearby. From that point DJ Johnny Juice helmed the NY production team and studio. Ever since then, the studios and the web have been held down immensely. Fantastic work on remixes such as MKLVFKWR, were proceeded by brilliant work on the REVOLVERLUTION album. Tracks like 'GOTTA GIVE THE PEEPS WHAT THEY NEED' and GET YOUR SH_T TOGETHER ' exhibited an upgrade in classic BOMB SQUAD style. His work on NEW WHIRL ODOR and especially BEATS AND PLACES was flawless. This tour #56 was special indeed with Juice at the helm of the decks, in place of DJ LORD who was spinning in ASIA.

SAN DIEGO The new HOUSE OF BLUES was a fantastic opening to the tour. Smack dab in the middle of the city, the two year old venue was transformed from an old Woolworth building. It's a beautiful thing in a beautiful city. San Diego downtown is as city as city gets. Before the gig, myself and JAMES BOMB headed to the comic store M THEORY where there was a line around the building. It's definitely a good feeling signing CDs, records, and DVDs from many years past, and it serves as a humble reminder to the world that has supported PE. Now the comic book has a growing life system of its own - action figures included. On this tour I ran into many who listen to the ON THE REAL radio show on AIR AMERICA. Others had caught wind of everything ranging from the comic to the ALI RAP project on ESPN. The gig was hot, and after a final run through of the set we were ready for the two plus hour performance. Juice held it down and also spearheaded the baNNed opening the show.

XCLAN... ... opening was big time. Peeps had been surprised and for years awaiting this combination. BROTHER J had built up a great network out west and a great lineup to continue the tradition of the BLACKWATCH Movement. They were a great addition and we're looking forward to finishing the US in March 007 with them.

TOUR 56... The San Diego bus ride to TUCSON and PHOENIX was By Time I GET TO ARIZONA laden for the crew. TUCSON was visited for the first time in fifteen years. Some promoters on the tour depended on pre ticket sales rather than walkups. Arizona was like this. PHX cancellation resulted into our most amazing turnaround. Mike Malve of Atomic Comics had hundreds of folks due at his store in the day. Upon hearing the cancellation, we suggested a parking lot performance that was attended and reported by two television stations, and both of the cities newspapers. After that event and dinner at Red Lobster we rolled into a club named the BLUNT CLUB and ripped an hour set.

On to SANTA FE NEW MEXICO... ... where bassist banned leader Bryan Hardgroove does a radio show and resides. I rented a car and drove from Albuquerque with intent on flying out of that airport to LA the next day. With myself and Hardgroove driving the forty-five miles up, the terrain was spacious and thus symbolized this tour. How much room was in the west.... The show was the final one at ALLEGRTA (sorta like a CBGBs thing going down.) Although I lost my voice from double duty the day before, it was a great performance where everybody took up the slack. Because of the elevation it was interesting how cold it was. Nick Van Axel and Omar from the Orang Mechanik drove the four hours down. It was also interesting hearing how close the four corners were and hearing of the town named Farmington, NM which has about a million folk that have supported music and concerts via the reservations, a walkup is a usual thing for a flexible promoter to rely on. Flew from Albuquerque to Los Angeles and watched the sun set over the edge of the mountains, and in this town I witnessed and ate a bonafide quesadilla, no BS...I mean the bomb for real.

SOCAL... The gigs in southern California allowed us almost four days for a media splash. Since I reopened the interview gates on December 1st it's been non stop. I was on a two year semi-hiatus, and still did about 5-10 a week. Now it's sometimes ten in a day. Tower records closing has been a blemish on West Sunset. The HOB Sunday night gig in LA was a smash. Of course Hollywood was in the house, but Roosevelt LI was definitely there. Some childhood peeps who migrated alongside EDDIE MURPHY in the 80's were there, some that rolled thru during AARON and DAMIEN HALL's GUY and solo explosion in the 90's. As I was doing interviews with FIDEL RODRIGUEZ, CHARLIE MURPHY strolled through and we talked for a few amongst the electricity. During the show DJ LORD returned from ASIA, thus some of the set had to be thoroughly sound checked with new adjustments. During the first fifty minute blaze the LA crowd was getting worn out, with back to back joints. Flav's set was really animated when uncle jam himself GEORGE CLINTON snuck up behind him and did a few of his cuts. The show was an example of LA coming out full blast and supporting the move. Those that couldn't make it tripped down to ANAHEIM the next day, whereas I drove after doing a taped interview with TAVIS SMILEY on his PBS show. Days off are cool when you have progressive things planned. GOLDEN APPLE COMICS had another successful PE comic signing, and it's something else when you're talking and signing something for somebody who's been waiting most of their lives. Fringe benefits included the LEVIS company upstairs invite the entire tour upstairs for jeans, gear etc. The landing of the Tourship next was the Bay Area, San Francisco to be exact, where major anticipation was about FLAV who missed our last performance at the FILLMORE in 2002. The crowd at the mezzanine was holiday festive indeed and packed. Earlier in the day I did an interview with XCLAN at the radio station for DAVEY D. A great interview.

NORTHWEST BIG SKY... There were dates like Sacramento, Sioux City and Rapid City that couldn't go on, however Eugene Oregon, Spokane WA, Billings MT, and FARGO ND were revelations in itself. All in all the thing that hit me about touring the BIG SKY territory, was the vast amount of land and space. Yes, from the endless mountains of western Washington state, the flattened landscape of MONTANA and the mixed peaks and valleys of both DAKOTAS, one had to give props to the wonders of God. Also I must admit that the clubs both in Billings and FARGO were some incredible setups, that today's artists should venture out to.

SCREAM Sitting here writing this Tdome, experiencing the BET Scream Tour very up close. This level is arena especially and is louder than six A-bombs. The exposure of these artists, labels, and songs totally obliterate anything NOT getting those repetitive doses. All of these artists definitely worked on their respective shows. Sitting here watching 15,000 people doing the Chicken Noodle soup is a dose you gotta see to believe.

PRODUCTION... ... is often a wasted topic to battle on these boards. There is no clear on time of production sound genius today, but we have many great sounds across the Internet that folks are not giving enough time to evaluate. Whatever happened to sounds that were so twisted and terrible that the challenge was figuring out if it was innovation or not. Production today is usually a 'safe' venture into sound instead of a sonic adventure. Since less and less major deals are poppin' it should be a swell time to expect the unexpected.

AHMET ERTEGAN Along with Mr Brown... R.I.P. A music mogul in the truest sense. I'd followed his works and story throughout many collected books and videos I possess. Twice I was in his presence. Once awarding a plaque and a check from him to early R&B singer FAYE ADAMS during the R&B Founders Awards in 1997, the other time was getting a song award and I gotten some props from he, SIR ISSAC HAYES, and the late great FRANKIE CROCKER. This year has chipped off a bit of stellar contributors to the world of rock, rap and roll. Producer and arranger Arif Mardin passed just before RUTH BROWN. Hip HOP lost Professor X, ROBERT LOCKWOOD JR. and earlier who'd guessed that WILSON PICKETT passing along with Mr Browns would bookend the year. That's a lotta soul, and who's gonna pick up the soul lapse?

ON THE REAL Back in the saddle, and the On The Real radio shows Sunday nights EST on Air America 37 radio cities, www.airamerica.com, XM Satellite 167 shows are set off on their way to podcasting and access 24/7 off these sites. First show back was a JB tribute of course, had to get that in. Myself, engineer Matt 'I fo an I' Ianni, producer David 'Dr Octopus' Fazekas, and occasional partnering by the wonderful Ms. Gia'na Garel, along with guests and calls... there's gonna be some rumbling from us in the radio earth. Heard Howard Stern was awarded some 83 million stock bonus from SIRIUS satellite. This on top of that $500 MILLION contract. With that paper I wonder where they can pay anyone else... I just was a guest on LADY B's BACKSPIN show, and as always it was a fantastic time. It was, and is, always a pleasure, especially doing more talking off the air than on. We promised the 'First and only Queen Of Hip Hop Radio' the gig in Philadelphia upon landing there when we hit Tour 57 in March.

SOUL-PATROL.COM Speaking of the show one of my guests was the CEO, head of the incredible 'Site Of Soul' www.Soul-Patrol.com owner Bob Davis. Bob is also from Roosevelt, Long Island and I went to school with his brother Mike Davis. The site will make up for the loss of soul that we've been experiencing for the past thirty years. Bob fills in the blanks with interviews, facts, updates, music, and passion. Established in 1996, go ahead and venture through it. Interviewing him was a walk into soul security itself; made you feel good. That's what soul music does, makes us feel good with ourselves. Go ahead it's infectious, and you don't wanna leave. WWW.SOUL-PATROL.COM

TAVIS, TOM, THE BOOK Out West made time to stop by and get interviewed by Mr. TAVIS SMILEY who asked me about ALI RAP, The PE Comic, and other things. Always a cool thing with MR. T. His make up person, I think her name was Ms. Veronica, had thoroughly explained why it wasn't cool to shine on the air. I usually don't want it, but her science and experience on how the cameras and the lights were different on people of skin color was the first I heard. Cool, now I know. I know for one thing the camera always adds 10-15 pounds on anybody under six feet easily. I'm in shape in real life but on camera depending on what I wear, the weight shifts. I did the ALI RAP video after the tour in October, the program before in the late summer.

AFRICAN UNION CITIZENSHIP Can you please inform people about what the African Union has recently proposed? They are going to allow dual citizenship to people of African decent in any of the 53 nations within the African Union. They want to tap into our vast technological and financial resource. In return we will have citizenship rights to any of the 53 countries in Africa. Which will allow us to purchase and sell land and property as well as open business.. etc.. This is very important. I feel it is worth looking into.. This is the link to petition http://thiscause.org/p/menu.php?p=Brooks27753DB&r=0V31537SXS and this is the link to the information. http://afrigeneas.com/forumb/index.cgi?noframes;read=17809'

FEMALE SUPERGROUP With the alarm ringing about the formation of a super group featuring REMY MA, SHAWNNA and JACKI- O... First of all, while I commend them highly and hope this works out, (because hip hop needs more female rap like Canada needs population) but why is it automatically a 'super group'? These artists are just getting their legs under their careers. Is it because they're funded by a big white corporation somewhere? I'm so tired of this form of legitimizing what's real and what's not real. The label red tape from corporate idiots will keep them from releasing it upon their initial ambitions. Major label's form of hypnosis is coming to a crash. They depend on mass marketing humans into 'robots' and thus the process - understood. But what gets me is the publicity machines, the radio jocks, the people who work at these machines just because it's a JOB. Thus CREW GRRL ORDER and the rest of the acts on SLAMjamz have to fight to get an interview or any coverage. It's what it is. I don't believe that the recording is better with majors, or even the videos right now. Just the machine. I'd said almost ten years back that there would be almost a million labels and artists. And now we got MYSPACE and YOUTUBE. Remember I walked away from a multi figure deal in 1998, to venture on the musical road of freedom. That group hopefully can release this year and maybe give CGO and NORTHERN STATE, currently the only three and over person female groups in rap. A super group is MC LYTE and whoever she assembles on her level. Again we have to promote where we can, CREW GRRL ORDER www.Myspace/crewgrrlorder is in effect and getting ready to release two more videos and songs in the next one hundred days, including a collab with NORTHERN STATE on the track Six Chicks With PMS Plus One. Also NORTHERN STATE has just completed their album www.northernstate.net and will be doing it down at South By Southwest Conference in Austin TX March 9th -18th.

SUN RA Subject: Son of Pat Patrick! As you well know, the new governor of Mass. is the son of Pat Patrick from the Sun Ra Arkestra.

MEDIASTREET Also we've lined up with a company named MEDIASTREET, a leading independent manufacturer of innovative digital solutions for the photographic, music, arts and consumer electronics industries that has created the Motion PMP DVD player. A special branded version of the player will hit the streets 2nd Quarter 2007 pre-loaded with SLAMjamz/Public Enemy music and music videos. “The SLAMjamz PE-PMP is the ultimate cross-over player that allows our fans to enjoy their existing library of CDs and DVDS as well today's most popular digital files formats.

Celebrating Public Enemy’s 20th year anniversary of making music that makes a difference and makes an impact, our collaboration with MediaStreet is a perfect match with parallel ambitions. The eMotion PMP DVD player can playback virtually every format media disc available including CD, DVD, VCD, CD-R and DVD-R. eMotion is also capable of playing back MP3 and WMA music files as well as DivX and MPEG4 video files for greater flexibility and versatility. The unit has a built-in 3 -in -1 card reader fro SD, MMC and MS memory cards. In addition to the media card slots, eMotion also includes a USB 2.0 port for easy connection to USB hard drives, digital cameras and media card readers, adding even greater flexibility to the media player’s capabilities. Hit www.mediastreet.com.

More T-Domes this year, especially since the selling of ELEMENTAL magazine, stay locked. Peep the new style with intro headers...can you dig it?

mistachuck@rapstation.com