The First Time With... Series 22 - 2. Chuck D

THE FIRST TIME WITH... SERIES 22 - 2. CHUCK D (320kbs-m4a/128mb/56mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 4th October 2020

Chuck D shares his musical milestones, in conversation with Matt Everitt.

As the leader of rap group Public Enemy, which he co-founded in 1985 with Flavor Flav, Chuck D helped create politically and socially conscious hip hop music in the mid-1980s. After hearing demo track "Public Enemy Number One", fledgling producer Rick Rubin insisted on signing him to his Def Jam label and Public Enemy went on to release genre defining, land-scape changing albums such as 'Yo! Bum Rush the Show' in 1987, 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back' in 1988, 'Fear of a Black Planet' in 1990, and 'Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black' in 1991.

Chuck D has collaborated with artists such as Janet Jackson, Kool Moe Dee, The Dope Poet Society, Run–D.M.C., Ice Cube, Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, Anthrax, George Clinton, Meat Loaf, Henry Rollins, John Mellencamp, The Go! Team and many others. He also appeared on Sonic Youth's 1990 single 'Kool Thing'.

Alongside his music projects he continues to be an activist, author, publisher, lecturer, producer, radio presenter, and is the voice of DJ Forth Right MC in the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their landmark third album, 'Fear Of A Black Planet', Chuck D has recently curated an art exhibition of original visual works inspired by the music, legacy and history of Public Enemy.

In this episode Matt talks to Chuck D about the first key musical moments in his life and career to date as well as Public Enemy's return to Def Jam and the release of their new album 'What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?'

Public Enemy - Fight The Power [Polygram Tv]
Public Enemy - Contract On The World Love Jam (Instrumental) [Mercury]
Ray Charles - What'd I Say [Atlantic]
Ruth Roberts And Bill Katz - Meet The Mets
James Brown - Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud) [Polydor]
Stevie Wonder - Fingertips (Parts 1 & 2) [Motown]
The Drifters - Under The Boardwalk [Global Television]
Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie [MCA]
Heatwave - The Groove Line [Sony Music]
Sly & The Family Stone - Underdog [Sony Music]
Parliament - Funkentelechy [Casablanca]
The Fatback Band - Master Booty [Polydor]
Spectrum City - Check Out The Radio [Vanguard]
Run‐D.M.C. - Raising Hell [Sony Music]
Public Enemy - Bring The Noise [Def Jam]
Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush The Show [Mercury]
Public Enemy - Timebomb [Mercury]
Public Enemy - You're Gonna Get Yours [Def Jam]
Public Enemy - Countdown To Armageddon [Mercury]
Public Enemy - Rebel Without A Pause [Global Television]
Public Enemy - Welcome To The Terrordome [Mercury]
Public Enemy - 911 Is A Joke [Def Jam]
Public Enemy - Shut Em Down [Def Jam]
Public Enemy - Public Enemy Number Won [Enemy/Def Jam]
The Impressions - People Get Ready [ABC/Paramount]