Words Are Enough: Chuck D

Throughout the '80s and into the early '90s, Public Enemy produced several hard-hitting albums that set the standard for unapologetic political commentary in hip hop. And with explosive anthems such as "Fight the Power" and "Bring the Noise," MC Chuck D quickly turned into the father figure for politically conscious MCs and activists throughout the world.

While it's Mista Chuck's growling timbre and rapid-fire rhyming that first draw in listeners, it's the informed, infuriated and inspiring content of Public Enemy's lyrical lessons that uplift them.

The most infamous of Chuck D's political statements of course confronts the canonization of the King of Rock and Roll:

Elvis was a hero to most/ But he never meant shit to me you see/ Straight up racist that sucker was/ Simple and plain/ Mother fuck him and John Wayne/ 'Cause I'm black and I'm proud/ I'm ready and hyped/ plus I'm amped/ most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps

But D's rhymes go well beyond assaulting white icons to recitations on the many challenges faced by the black community and any people who work against the powers that be.

He takes on the degrading depictions of the blacks by the media,

Yeah I'll check out a movie/ But it'll take a black one to move me/ Get me the hell away from this TV/ All this news and views are beneath me

the emptiness of popular music,

You singers are spineless/ As you sing your senseless songs to the mindless / Your general subject: love is minimal — it's sex for profit

and problematic gender relations:

She wants a lover right now/ But not no brother/ Her man gotta have a lotta money/ To get under her cover

Meet Mr. Successful/ I guess he's blessed yeah / But he happens to be a brother/ Who only wants blue eyes and blond hair

Despite all his critical comments, Chuck D's most important — and most consistent — moral is a constructive one: that empowered change comes through self-improvement and education.

As the rhythm designed to bounce/ What counts is that the rhymes/ Designed to fill your mind/ Now that you've realized the pride's arrived/ We got to pump the stuff to make us tough

And with such change comes a better world:

Peace and love on this planet/ Ain't that how God planned it?

— Taylor Carik (cari0021@tc.umn.edu)