Biography of Public Enemy

Without question, the most talked about rap group ever and among the most controversial and publicized bands of its day in any genre. Carlton Ridenhour, a Long Island college student and former radio disc jockey, has parlayed a booming voice, congenial, yet forceful, personality, and the articulation skills necessary to cogently present often inflammatory viewpoints into a hugely successful performance, marketing, and proselytizing empire. As Chuck D, Ridenour is Public Enemy's theorist, lyricist, and head rapper. He's quoted constantly, seen on television around the world, and idolized by legions of black and white youth. Through five albums, Public Enemy has served as the hip-hop vanguard, rapping about issues of race, rage, and inequality without lapsing (too often) into vicious sexism or homophobia, though they've been tagged with charges of anti-Semitism. They did eventually cut loose former minister of information Professor Griff, following a flap about comments he made in an interview, but the group has been able to ride out storms over lyric content and maintain their popularity without any stylistic compromise. Hank Shocklee, Terminator X, Flavor Flav, and the rest of The Bomb Squad and crew also deserve praise, especially Shocklee and Terminator X, whose dynamite production keeps things anchored through hard-hitting, rapid-fire snippets and impressive studio techniques. Flav's absurdist raps and onstage antics provide some welcome levity and comic relief.After laying low for nearly three years, the reaction was swift and mostly unfavorable when Public Enemy's first new full-length album since Apocalypse 91 was unveiled in 1994. Not only did Rolling Stone and The Source give Muse Sick N Hour Mess Age bad reviews, but the album sold poorly, disappearing from the charts quickly. In the summer of 1995, Chuck D. announced that Public Enemy was retiring from live performances, giving the members time to pursue other studio projects. ~ Ron Wynn