122 Quotes by Chuck D

Public Enemy is the security of the hip-hop party.

You’re always going to sound like yourself, but you can make really strong attempts to keep some similarities, but move away from what you did before for popularity’s sake.

As black people we were out to further our equality. I don’t pay attention to the controversial connotations put on by media and the undermining labels they place on us. We pay attention to what our community situation is and what we need.

I tell each artist they have to grow toward a revenue stream.

I became tired of submitting my art to a panel of corporate strategists who decide if it meets their standard of what gets into stores or not. It was quite simple for me: they act like judge and jury of my art, and that is unacceptable. I wanted to give it right to the public.

My mother went to university, my father didn’t. But they are very educated, very wise people. My father went to the military, so he’s worldly.

I think the Internet was the saving grace for Public Enemy. Before that, travelling the world saved Public Enemy.

One of the problems with hip hop is lack of infrastructure and not being able to control its own course. I don’t like that hip hop is full of infantile 35-year-olds. Hip hop cannot afford to be lazy.

I want to always move forward with everything I am doing. So, I do the radio show, speak at universities and other social institutions all around the world, appear on TV, and continue to create music all in the hope to keep the struggle alive.