Chuck D

Chuck D, the legendary frontman of Public Enemy and author of Interficial Artelligence, shares insights into his dynamic writing process. He intriguingly compares songwriting to architectural design, emphasizing structure and originality. The conversation also highlights the importance of spontaneity in art and the significant role of imperfections in creativity. Chuck reflects on the dual nature of social media, discussing its potential for artistic expression while cautioning against mindless consumption. His journey encapsulates a blend of innovation and traditional artistry.

Chuck D, the legendary frontman of Public Enemy and author of 'Interracial Art: Intelligence', shares his insights on the intersection of art and hip-hop. He discusses how visual art serves as a powerful form of self-expression and a therapeutic outlet in today's fast-paced world. The conversation also touches on the cultural symbolism of 1980s youth trends, the struggle for rap music's recognition in major awards, and the need for genuine representation in discussions about U.S. foreign policy, particularly concerning Ukraine.

Forty years ago, Chuck D showed listeners how exciting, radical, and unpredictable hip-hop could be. His song “Fight the Power” became a protest anthem for a generation, and a Greek chorus in Spike Lee’s film “Do the Right Thing.” The Public Enemy front man talks with the staff writer Kelefa Sanneh about his life in music. “I wanted to curate, present, navigate, teach, and lead the hip-hop art, making it something that people would revere,” he says. Now, at sixty-two, Chuck D is an elder statesman of his genre, and also a critic of it and some of its more commercial impulses. His latest project is a four-part documentary, “Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World,” which is airing now on PBS. “I’ve been to one hundred sixteen countries over thirty-eight years, so I’ve seen the changes,” he says. “People have made their way to me to say, ‘Chuck, this is what this art form has meant to me,’ in all continents except for Antarctica.”  Plus, Alex Barasch, who wrote about “The Last of Us,” joins David Remnick to talk about why adapting video games to film and television has been so challenging: for every “Tomb Raider,” there are dozens of forgotten shows and flops. “The Last of Us” has been years in the making, but it’s paid off for HBO, winning both critical and commercial success.