Retro Chicken

It may be a stretch to say Gil Scott Heron invented rap, but his classic “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” certainly sets the stage for the powerful and politically charged tirades by Public Enemy and others (the first time I heard Gil Scott Heron was actually something sampled on Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation of Millions”).

Gil Scott Heron’s early recordings are in the Impulse! label (home of John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and other jazz masters) and I think is a testament to the musicality and depth of his music, transcending the politics and issues of his time.

I don’t think anyone remembers, but it was a big deal when Spike Lee released his classic movie “Do the Right Thing.” Bigger still was Public Enemy – the pioneering rap group – who recorded “Fight the Power” as the theme song for “Do the Right Thing”.

Featuring Chuck D, Flavor Flav and DJ Terminator X – Public Enemy rapped faster, with more innovative rhymes and over tighter grooves – and ushered in a whole new era of rap. Culturally they spoke to the black masses (as well as to masses of disenchanted suburban white kids) and communicated an energy that was inspiring and exciting.

I found this video for “Fight the Power” (probably filmed by Spike Lee) and it totally captures what Public Enemy was all about. In the recording, Chuck D is at the top of his game and he is complimented beautifully with the high, raspy interjections of Flavor Flav. Unfortunately people today only know Flavor for his wacky reality TV show and don’t realize just how great a rapper he is and how integral he was to Public Enemy’s sound and message. (Yes, even in this video his antics are crazy – but back then no one thought he was out of his mind – Public Enemy was too cool and they sounded too good.)