Public Enemy Reconsidering Performing at DNC

By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:12:57 PM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention (all tags)

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Update: What a difference an hour makes. The Rocky Mountain News just updated its article to say a compromise is trying to be worked out that will allow Public Enemy to play at a concert in Denver.

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Public Enemy Won't Play at DNC Protest Event

Earlier reports that Public Enemy will play at a Recreate '68 protest event during the Denver National Convention are false. [More...]

Group member Chuck D said he does plan to come to Denver, but not until Wednesday -- and then, he'll be working with BET and Air America.

"We’re at a transition point where we have a black man who might be president. You’re starting to see all the ugliness come out, the lies and stuff," he said. "My position is to be at the DNC in support of change. ...In my heart I don’t want John McCain to win. I know Barack Obama will bring about change no matter what. Focus is very important on what the next four years hold. That’s more important than one big party.”

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Public Enemy Reconsidering Performing at DNC | 17 comments (17 topical)

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Well, That Settles It! (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by creeper on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:26:10 PM EST

Who in their right mind would refuse to accept the recommendation of a rap group? (snark)

Funny you mention Public Enemy (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by txpolitico67 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:26:23 PM EST

because one of my favorite songs by them is "98 Oldsmobile". This first popped into my head with Biden and the Oldsmobile reference.

I WISH Flavor Flav would mix it up. Chuck D is an awesome radio host and a pretty darn smart guy. He's right about one thing: if ANY rap group is out at the DNC making trouble the conservative media will use it against Obama.

Change (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by sister of ye on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:27:41 PM EST

"I know Barack Obama will bring about change no matter what."

That I can believe. I'm a MI voter, and this is the first year I've ever seen my vote be jerked around. Count me one who refuses to get on board with "change" until I get some clue about what kind.

The real test is to ask PE where obama (none / 0) (#6)
by PssttCmere08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:32:56 PM EST

stands on the issues and what changes he thinks obama will make; and is it more than a "heart" thing that makes him sure he should vote for obama.


Clues (none / 0) (#10)
by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:41:25 PM EST

Obama changed his life by getting close to people like Rezko, Wright and Ayers.

Obama changed little with community organizing

Obama changed little in the lives of the people he represented.

Obama changed the way Democrats vote in caucuses.

One can tell about the person much more from what they do than from what they say.


: OK messed up (none / 0) (#11)
by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:46:13 PM EST

I write the way I talk, not grammatically correct.
One can tell about the person much more from what the person does than from what the person says.

I LOVE PE. looooooveeee (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Little Fish on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:44:29 PM EST

That would be a concert I'd love to be at.

Nader asked some good questions. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by lentinel on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:18:15 AM EST

"I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that?"

"I mean, first of all, the number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."

I haven't heard a thing either.

Chuck D. says, "I know Barack Obama will bring about change no matter what."
Bush brought about change too.
What are we talking about?

Not to be too picky (none / 0) (#1)
by angie on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:17:36 PM EST

But "Public Enemy" is the name of the group -- Chuck D (the man quoted) is a rapper and a member of the group. (fwiw, Flavor Flav is also a member of the group). The way this blog reads it sounds like "Public Enemy" is the rapper quoted in the article.
And yes, I know my Public Enemy -- fight the power!

: Thanks for the clarification (none / 0) (#3)
by Dadler on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:26:18 PM EST

I was going to make it, but now I just have to say I assume they're talking Chuck D and not Flav.

Public Enemy? (none / 0) (#8)
by SueBonnetSue on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:22:30 PM EST

The name alone will turn people off. It turns me off, but then I am not a fan of the rappers, or their messages.

: Well Chuck D is old school political rap. (none / 0) (#13)
by DFLer on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 09:12:40 AM EST

You might consider checking him out before painting all rap music with the same brush.
for example, from a recent interview in The Observer

In a way, he is the Noam Chomsky of hip hop, a full-time activist who still takes his cue from the community-based politics of the Black Panthers in the late Sixties.
'I don't understand the direction hip hop has gone in,' he says quietly, sounding resigned rather than angry. 'Rap is supposed to be about keeping it real and not relinquishing your roots in the community. Without that, it's just posturing. Somebody who claims to speak for the hood don't need no private jet.'

The name Public Enemy is political statement in itself.

That's it! Flav will hang a clock on the VP. (none / 0) (#9)
by Teresa on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:26:56 PM EST

Oh yes Flav and his clock... (none / 0) (#14)
by DancingOpossum on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 10:10:21 AM EST

Fabulous!! Just keep him and his ladies from "Flavor of Love" far far away!!

I am not a huge fan of rap but I always loved Public Enemy. They're old school, and always had a strong vision of what rap could be and how it could speak to people. I remember my 60-year-old mother being utterly transfixed by the opening scene of "Do the Right Thing" where Rosie Perez is dancing to "Fight the Power."

Music (none / 0) (#15)
by lentinel on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 02:49:32 PM EST

During the sixties the "left" reverberated to folk music.
It had a whiny pathetic loser twang to it.

It really hasn't progressed much.
Rap is about money.
If there is any political message, it does not include advocating action. Too much money at stake.

I wish progressives would listen to Jazz. Charlie Parker. Lennie Tristano. Something real. Something truly revolutionary and uncompromising.

Uhh (none / 0) (#16)
by CST on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:13:16 PM EST

Public Enemy is not about money. Ever heard "fight the power"? They absolutely advocate action.

Not all rap is about "money and hos".


: No. I haven't heard it. (none / 0) (#17)
by lentinel on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 04:15:06 PM EST

In "Fight the Power" - how do they suggest that we go about doing it?