Quote: "People have to respect the art form and culture, but before they do that they gotta respect the people & community it originated from. In order to respect the people you gotta know the people, which in many cases means knowing thyself. Many cats say they love hip hop to the bone marrow, but if they disrespect black folk, as many are black themselves, their love for hip hop is null and void."- Chuck D

On 1/9/02 11:29 AM, Cawasdis B wrote:

Man, that latest Terrordome was amazing. I'm 30 years old and I can see the transitions that you spoke of regarding the stages 12-17, 18-26, etc. Thankfully, I was able to go through my progressions properly and now I'm starting to pull things together for self and move forward.

The part about give the records deals to the female dancers was hilarious, yet I'm sure it wasn't meant as a joke. I felt it. Still funny as hell though.

I was listening to the song "I" from PE's last CD. The word play is great, especially "dissing pyramids, but praisin projects." Tight keep doing what you doing brotha.

Lastly, there's a book that I've been hearing about for a while, but I can never remember the title or author of it. It's about the black elite, frats/sororities, and such. Do you have any clue about the name of this book? Is it Aristocrats of Color?

holla

I DONT KNOW ABOUT THE BOOK, BUT I’M GONNA CHECK IT... THANX FOR THE WORDS ON ' I' AS I ENVISIONED A HOMELESS WALK THRU THE HOOD LIKE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DID IN 'PHILADELPHIA'... PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/6/02 2:40 AM, Jake P wrote:

Chuck,

I really respect what you’re doing. I’m a 13 yr old white kid from England. When I saw your email in hhc couldn’t resist showing my appreciation. I’m halfway through your book Fight The Power, and I've got many Public Enemy albums. It struck me when I bought the first album I got of yours (Yo Bum Rush The Show) how different from other emcees you are. Today hiphop is so obsessed with the hood and drive-bys that the lyrics have lost all meaning. Oh yeah, and I know its partly people like me who are fucking up hip-hop, but I try to stand out from the crowd. I’m not one of these white kids who likes hiphop while its in fashion, acting like flavor flav and shit, or even one of the residue who are left over. I just want you to know that if you’ve reached me, then you’re doing a damn good job of spreading your message. Thanks man.

JAKE; CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR YOUNG LIFE...DONT RUSH AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO DIG THE MUSIC AND MESSAGE...PEACE AND THANKS AND KEEP YOUR BRILLIANCE.. CHUCK

*****

On 1/5/02 11:12 AM, Kristof B wrote:

MistaChuck, First, let me start off by commending you for being the phoenix rising from the flames that was the Reagan era. I am happy that when there is oppression about that visionaries such as yourself are there to journal the events. To keep scope with so many distractions fragmenting youth and the creation of so many subcultures, Hip hop needs to be. But it seems as though people have forgotten what created hip hop. Now, I am a political Hip hop musician, much like many Be bop artists were. I am writing you to solicit your advice to anyone bringing it political, post 9/11.

THANK YOU Kris. LETS HEAR SOME OF YOUR MUSIC....PEACE CHUCK

*****

wassup chuck,

I’ve been a fan for quite a long time and I just recently read your column on "Turning 30". I just wanted to say that it is one of the most well-versed, poignant criticisms on mainstream hip hop culture that I've ever read and I think it's great that people like you who've been around the game for so long to not be afraid of getting the point across regardless of what's going on in the mainstream nowadays.

Peace, Yvette.

*****

Chuck, I just wanted to thank you for saying something that was meaningful to at NCSU. I am an alumnus and have seen you here maybe 3 times since my freshman year...for some reason, this was the most memorable visit for me.

You said a few things that shook me into realizing how much older I am than the students at the school now. I am 27 and many of them were in middle school my junior year in college!!! I am not hitting my 30's without a clue, though. I will be moving to Brooklyn in the next few months to start teaching and to go back to school (Bklyn College).

And so you know, I let a few key folks on campus know that they can't be a thug and be in college, too. It IS a bit of an oxymoron. :)

Thank you again, Peace and blessings

T. Ama Dada

P.S. We are having a speaker for our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival, Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, I met him at a conference in Illinois and was astounded at his perspective on a lot of things. If you cross his paths, take a listen, Dr. West says he's an upcoming voice on the spirit of Afrikans and Americans in this age. bless

*****

On 1/17/02 11:06 PM, Tim H wrote:

Dear Chuck, It's late, I'm wiped out from a hard day at work and a lot of other stressful junk, and I might not be thinking too straight. But I wanted to tell you how much your music and writings have meant and continue to mean to me. I first heard a bootleg demo PE tape a few months before the first single dropped, and I was electrified. It's an effect you've never stopped having on me. I found one of your columns recently while I was flipping through a magazine at Halcyon in Brooklyn, and felt that old familiar rush of your words. I surfed to the rapstation site and thought I'd just express my appreciation. Your music, passion, and spirit helped turn this suburban punk's head around and gave me a lot of hope in some dark days. Not many artists have that effect on me--so, thank you. I've bookmarked the site and will be checking back regularly. I wish you peace and happiness, health and continued success in the new year and beyond. You're one of the few peers I truly admire. God bless you. Sincerely, Tim Brooklyn

THANX AND LIKEWISE TO YOU TOO. BY THE WAY THERE WAS THIS MC OUTTA THE BRONX IN THE LATE 70S BY THE NAME OF TIMMY HALL...AWESOME VOICE...THOUGHT ID LET YOU KNOW...PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/17/02 8:32 PM, btraynor wrote:

Hello my friend, 'tis Brett (Afromvenus).

In the wake of our IHOP(Tuesday)encounter a feeling of great strength abounded, in wave connection of rhythm I sensed in a full force motion, your spirit. Never in my day has vibration resonated so, that the whole of my soul lift in such a way, fueled by pure inspiration; a synchronization I would call our meeting. To my wonder I reflect upon your idea of the moment, of the evening, and all the intrigued faces suddenly transformed by the power in which you wielded. Thirsty for awareness, you quenched the lot, bringing new light upon the all so often dimmed spectra of an academic existence. Indeed it was a comedic satire so eloquently composed in the free style format so indicative of a Master of Ceremony. And thus I wish to continue the dialogue, straight sended thought sparked on the topic of consumption, combustin' on out the word is born through metaphor. I explore the plant realm at the helm of my ancestry old knowledge, druidly archaic, word sprayin' like pesticides poisoning the planet. I scram in plan of fulfilling the vision paradoxically set in place, riding the wake. Yes, the topic to be that I drop a beet from the root up my friend, where to begin? In the soil my soul toils and turns providin' the earth for what it provides me, and the seas flow to and fro. Yes my afro flows upon air, water, fire, and earth for the earth we be primarily water to dissipate and burn, the cycle steady, breakers, spinners, MCs, be ready. So we go in the shape of shifting, holding strong the bond of being, interconnected in your moment of devouring pancakes. I sprung into your auric mist to shift the scene of machines into things created by means of growth, ground up, community sparkin' in the mode of food supply my friend, and in this wind of wealth from the earth, all is webbed in a garden of grail.

Thanks once again Chuck. And lets do continue, next time refined in less rhyme to point, every so suddenly shifting, I'll tell of my tales of drifting, spinning, breaking, digging, plantin' the seeds of revolution. Peace..................BT

I THINK THAT YOUR DEDICATION IS SPECIAL KEEP THE BELIEF...PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/17/02 5:53 PM, Marsh wrote:

Yo dude, I’m a white 22 year old dude from Canada, I just wanted 2 say thanks ur music did alot for even me as a youth, u paved the road for tons of hiphoppers

u rule man!!

THANX, YOU KNOW I HAD A GREAT TIME TOURING CANADA IN 1999....WHAT PART YOU FROM?...PEACE CHUCK

*****

AND ANOTHER CANADIAN LETTER........

On 1/17/02 5:31 PM, Israel P wrote:

Hi chuck I am a 25 white male from Canada, I first started listening to P.E. back in 1988 with the release of your first album YO bum. Since then I have fallen in love with P.E., your music has been so inspiring over the years and although some people say "P.E. is an old band they don’t have what it takes anymore". I think that P.E. still knows the time. Your music has inspired so many rappers out there and especially the Black community in such a way the P.E. is considered a hip-hop icon. We see Black people or like you like to say chuck "THE BLACKMAN" as equals. I once saw the movie called Beloved staring Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey, It was about Black slavery in Amerikkka, and it really affected me, made me wonder how Amerikkkans could do such a thing to their selves. Especially to black people that loved Amerikkka but not the way they were treated. Chuck you are a great American and although I am Canadian I see that love for American that you have. Well I hope you get to read this Chuck. say Hi to Flavor..Termantor-X...DJ Lord.. And the whole crew of P.E. My dream is to see you perform live sometime in Western Canada because you have many fans that Love you out here, and I am one of them, I hope I can meet you to someday. well till then Chuck, thanks for your love and devotion to humanity and for your wonderful music. Peace Israel P AKA Spafy Calgary Alberta Canada.

MORE THAN 'AMERICAN' I CONSIDER MYSELF A WORLDLY PERSON...A QUALITY THAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS....

WE PERFORMED IN CALGARY IN 1999, AT THE COLLEGE...HAD A GREAT TIME...PERHAPS 2002 LOOKS LIKE A RETURN, THIS TIME IN A WARMER SWIRL...PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/16/02 7:01 PM, WegnerWils wrote:

Hi....I have been a poster on your site for years now "raped4thegrapes" or some variation of that name. I think my most notable talk with you was about getting some concert shirts for us fatter guys Nah I’m just kiddin anyway I just heard PE was gonna be at the electric factory for an "old school" show Feb 10th....along wit run DMC, slick rick, biz, and a slew of others including BDK.......so what I’m getting at is a request of sorts.....can we please...PLEASE get Burn Hollywood Burn w/ him gracing us with his lines????... please don’t give me that we'll hafta see anything’s possible stuff.... let’s see it happen.....ok...good! that’s all, simple enuff huh? Thanks in advance...

Wils

IT’S WORTH MAKING UP SOME SHIRTS JUST FOR YOU. THANX FOR YOUR SUPPORT.....WE'RE NOT DEFINITE ON THE DATE.... JUST WAITING FOR FLAV TO MAKE THE CALL...PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/19/02 1:05 AM, Jet L wrote:

Sup Chuck? I have never ever sent any kind of fan mail to anyone before. When I saw I could Email you through Rapstation.com, I just had to give respect! I've been a fan since Yo! Bumbrush da Show, and I read most of your book, Fight the Power while anticipating the release of the next one. I wanted to let you know that when in grade 4 or 5 I began asking questions to my teachers about Martin Luther King and the Rights movements. Sometimes I wonder if I would be in college studying philosophy, and social studies if I hadn’t heard Public Enemy. I still listen to all the old albums, and never believed the hype! Paul W PS. Although your book, Fight the Power, was maturely written, I was hoping to consume more something more personal in regards to your struggle with music or with society at large.. IE conveying your message. It’s lonely here in the trenches.......peace

PAUL...WELL THE PLANNED BOOK IMPRINT OFFTA IS COMING WITH A MORE DETAILED EXPOSE IN SOME AREAS....THANX FOR THE DEDICATION...PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/15/02 11:29 PM, ferpa.tof wrote:

Dear Chuck, First of all, happy New Year for ya!! I’m from Brazil...I’m a 17 year-old boy who loves your songs, I grew up listening to P.E and now I«m a Hip Hop fan... I know that P.E is one of tha few rap bands which brings tha Hip Hop to another level....to a cultural and political level. This is very positive to tha Hip Hop culture, because there are some industry’s and some "rappers" in tha game who only think about money and makin gangsta rap to sell. Here in Brazil tha Hip Hop movement is very strong (until this moment). And our inspiration to make rhymes comes from bands like P.E... I have been watching tha Hip Hop scene...and I«m disappointed, because...rappers today only sing those "gangsta" raps....there is no more "community spirit", something like Africa Bambaataa used to fight for. I found this site right now...and I just wanna know...What do you think about tha Hip Hop today??

YOU CAN FIND MORE MUSIC ON MY ONLINE LABEL WWW.SLAMJAMZ.COM. IT’S IN MANY DIFFERENT GENERATIONS AND COUNTRIES REPRESENTING AT ONCE....

Do you think that tha true Hip Hop "spirit" is lost??

NO, BUT ITS UP TO CERTAIN HEADS TO PRESERVE IT AND MAKE SURE YOUNGER CATS MAINTAIN THEIR DEDICATION TO IT Thanx for taking time to read this... And know that you have a lot of fans here in Brazil... Fernando aka Ferpa aka Spin Masta

PEACE, FROM YOUR BRAZILIAN NUMBER ONE PUBLIC FAN, WE WOULD LOVE TO HIT BRAZIL AGAIN...

*****

Hello Chuck D. I am Stacee Powell. I just got home from hearing you speak and I would just like to say that I was so excited and well informed by you. I really feel you on all the things you were speaking on, especially how rappers and people in general act towards the entertainment business. I was so blessed to have been able to hear you, and I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your schedule to come and educate us on some real stuff. I would really love to talk to you so much more longer, but I have to get up on this homework because I can't let my money be wasted, or should I say my parents money; and plus I know you probably get thousands of e-mails a day. There is so much that I wish to speak to you about. I learned so much from you tonight, and I know that there is so much more information to be obtained from you. I can't stress how incredibly happy and blessed I feel to have been in your presence, because this was a once in a lifetime experience for me that I will never forget. I won't take up any more of your precious time, but I will be talking to you often because as I said before, there is so much stored inside of me that I would love to get out and I feel that you are the person to help me. Thank you once more and I hope to see you again.

Stacee

*****

On 1/15/02 1:13 PM, Davion H wrote:

Whassup Chuck I was really impressed with your article on the Hurdle of Thirty. Hip Hop's growth really does parallel the Black male growth cycle. Being 26, going on 27, I found your article very enlightening. It touched on my experiences as an aspiring hip hop artist.

Basically the industry has grown-ass men, imitating teenagers; it's ridiculous. The challenge is finding new and entertaining ways to speak to our peers without coming across as preachy or corny. But we shouldn't have to compromise our self respect or values either. Perhaps we can learn from successful rock artists who have served their fans well throughout their careers. Artists like The Rolling Stones, Metallica, even George Clinton find ways to satisfy their core audiences while gaining new fans. These guys may not re-invent the wheel, but they appear to have fun doing what they do. A big part of that, as you mentioned later on in your article, involves giving fans a good live performance. No matter what, I will always support groups like The Roots and Public Enemy, because these artists understand that true fans want to experience the music in more ways than just listening to the CD or watching the video. Anyway, that's my thought. Just had to drop you a line about it. Peace Davion H

YES MAYBE WE CAN LEARN FROM THOSE CLASSIC ROCK GROUPS THAT NEVER SEEM TO GO AWAY...WERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT INDEED...PEACE AND THANX CHUCK

*****

On 1/15/02 11:54 AM, Kevin G wrote:

Thanks MR. D for your endless insight . I really enjoyed your thoughts & views on the 30-50 aged artistic living. I like to call it walking down the hill. I'm in no rush just enjoying the view.

There's been something on my mind that needs to get out in the world and you are the man to do it. I'm concerned with the lack of American musical history that people have ( young & old ) . I'd like to produce a television series with you as the host. That explains a family tree of American music history.

You know it's a black history from African music to slave music to folk to country to blues to jazz to r&b to rock to hip hop. To whatever they wanna call it. Of course the rest of the industry denies it.

You know the stories how people rang the radio stations when they first heard Elvis asking if he was black or white; how the famous R&R song writing duo Leiber/Stoller went around to all of the juke joints and stole the slang for lyrics (hound dog); how when the Beatles came to America and wanted to find the blues legends that inspired them to write songs but they were no where to be found cause they were not legends in the US of A they were dishwashers, common workers, poor broken down people with no record deals or money; or how Chuck Berry wrote the worlds greatest Rock&Roll songs and when they were published six other peoples names that he didn't know appeared on the singles. etc.......

So I'm not talking some lame Ken Burns slow moving put me to sleep his-story.......I'm talking in your face "Musical Roots".

It needs to happen. It needs to be told. Hip Hop needs it. History needs it.

Peace K

SOUNDS GREAT...BUT I CAN’T FRONT ON KEN BURNS ABILITY OR RIC BURNS FOR THAT MATTER ...THEY'RE SHARP. AS I’M A DOCUMENTARY FAN I UNDERSTAND WE CAN’T PUT IT ALL IN THE TIME LIMITS....BUT I’M GAME...PEACE CHUCK

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On 1/15/02 2:56 AM, CHANNELTHIRTYSIX wrote:

Hey, I just saw this thing on MTV that had Jennifer Lopez entertaining the U.S military with the P.E.’s song Can't Truss It. And to make things more disgusting for me was watching JHO try to do the Flav dance. What tha Fuck. Will you comment on this. Do you approve that this was used at the U.S military camp as a form of fucked up entertainment?

Love you and Flave $-eva MayiZ311

WELL I DIDN’T KNOW THE FORMER IN LIVING COLOR DANCER, STILL HAD IT, OR REMEMBERED....PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/11/02 11:07 PM, Johnny MF wrote:

I know you’re a busy man, just wanted to drop a note to tell you how much inspiration you and PE have given me all these years. when you first came out I was a kid with no sense of direction. fortunately, it was PE that grabbed me up instead of a crack dealer. the dope you pushed on me stays with me and I hope it sticks with my son now that he's old enough to know right from wrong. I still listen to Yo! Bumrush...Takes a nation...Fear of a... etc. still have my PE medallion from a show I saw you guys play back in the day. Hope to meet you someday but I don’t "need" to because you’ve been here the whole time bro. Thanks chuck. salaam Johnny "DJ High-Q"

THANKS AND SOMEDAY WE'LL MEET BRO...PEACE CHUCK

*****

On 1/11/02 6:53 PM, the worst wrote:

Chuck, Hey I remember reading some where a quote that you said about Johnny cash, I’m almost certain it was it, it my have been Mos Def, but I think it was you. if you could repeat that for me that would be great. The things that you write about hiphop and music in general I think can be applied to the "fine" arts as well. I am in art school and have just recently left Pratt, it seemed like that where more concerned with me being what they view as an artist, rather then what I want to do as an artist. besides that the place was falling apart and it was way too expensive. I ask myself the question almost every day, "do I really need to go to an art school to be an artist, look at the artist that have gained the most successes in the last 50 years; DeKooning, Pollock, Kiefer, etc... but none of them had any real formal "education" in art. but I guess to do anything anymore you need to posses a BFA, and most of the time an MFA as well. ill be almost 20 grand in debt when I finish school. and even the fact that student have to pay for education in the first place, it seems very self destructive. how are we supposed to rise above if we have all these chains holding us down. I go to the Maine College of Art now, I feel that I am being better nourished here then at Pratt. but hell, ill be totally honest, I miss the hell out of Brooklyn and all of NYC... Thanks in advance, and thank you for addressing what you have in your life and in your music, it has made this "white boy" from central jersey alot more aware of the world around him. Patrick

PAT....GETTIN AN ART DEGREE IN 1984 AT ADELPHI U GAVE ME THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ART WAS SUBJECTIVE...THUS COMMUNICATING THRU MUSIC WAS A KEY...I THINK YOUR ARTIST TAKE ON LIFE WILL HELP YOU ESPECIALLY IN THESE HYPE DRIVEN TIMES...YOU’LL SEE RIGHT THRU IT...PEACE CHUCK "art is in the business of being dangerous..."

*****

Hi Chuck,

I just was reading your T-dome comment.

Remember that old saying "Men are like wine, when aged they get spoiled...Sike:) they get better".

Now you can't tell in this rap game who is 30 or even 30ish, because they are soo busy trying to catch up with Lil Romeo.

I think rap cats hitting that hurdle in life, their beats should be a little mellow, but cats that's in their prime life 29-30(Cube or LL) are trying to capture that youthful sound and it makes them look like the old man at the club trying to pick up chicks with a messed up sound.

I was looking through some mags and they had pics of old hip hop heads like KRS One, UTFO, Whodini, and Roxanne Chante', and you can really tell the aging on their face, but if they put out a cut today, I think it will go over well. Because the art is now more appreciated and their sound is more mellow than anything. DMC said on a Philly radio station that he can't run behind cats like Jigga, Nas, DMX no more, he had his time at the plate, it's now the younger Gen-X time to show off their skillz. It's like looking at the student you taught and watching him/her do an excellent job at the skill.

I think learning rap or hip hop takes time and practice. It should not be rushed. Almost like sex: take your time, don't rush the moment or you'll make an complete ass out of yourself.(AND I'LL TALK ABOUT YOU FOR YEARS...:)LOL)

On this Nas and Jigga beef, I think both are great, but Nas, I think he is scared to do any shows. I think just because you call yourself a thug, you can be shy as hell. Maybe that's in the case of Nas. He is just shy. I know you can't be in the business and be shy. But canceling dates or just a no-show, Clear case of being shy.

Peace Yvette

*****

On 1/10/02 5:56 AM, LEKAN L wrote:

Greetings Chuck D, I have a few questions that I wanted to ask you about the NIGHT OF THE LIVING BASEHEADS video that you put out back in 1988.

Did you get inspiration for the title from the horror film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD?

HOW COULD I NOT?

I don't mean to sound stupid or dumb but, In the NIGHT of the LIVING BASEHEADS video, the BEEPER TIE COMMERCIAL, kinda lost me, what was the message you were trying to get across to the audience?

MATERIAL TRENDS AT THE TIME.....PEEPS WERE GETTING BEEPERS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE THING AS OPPOSED TO THEIR PURPOSE...

If you could shed some light and break down THE BEEPER TIE COMMERCIAL for me , I would be very grateful. As I am born and raised in the UK, there are certain aspects of US pop culture that sometimes don't translate as well to and overseas audience as they do to the US audience.

Best Regards
Lekan

*****

On 1/9/02 11:13 PM, Robert D wrote:

Hello chuck, last time I tried to email ya last week wishing you and yours a happy new yr. and stuff. Well I will keep this short.....b/c I am not sure if I will get this one back as well. Well I know ur busy and stuff.....but like I said as a common man, at 33 you r the 1st famous person I wrote to and I apologize b4 sayin that the joke is on me jack... for not trustin ya but u wrote me back once and I wrote u again in October . Oh well ur busy and well Chuck like I said who am I to think that I could really befriend myself with a famous person. But hey it is a dream so yes Chuck even white men like me dream......so we all have dreams. I told ya b4 I been following ya from Bum Rush The Show to Poison Goin On. I have all ur stuff, well I hope this makes it to ya. Take care and god bless...like I said sorry but my profession don’t allocate time to really follow ur books or read ur stuff but I do look for ur new CD’s ......... Peace, Rob

WE'LL ROB I HOPE WE CAN ACCOMODATE YOUR READING INTERESTS AS WELL ...THANX CHUCK...