Chuck D., founder of the legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy, will give a talk, “Race, Rap, Reality and Technology,'' on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Union College's Nott Memorial.
The talk, sponsored by the Union College Speakers Forum, is free and open to the public.
A native of Long Island, Chuck. D. was born Carlton Douglas Ridenhour. While attending Adelphi University, he helped promote hip-hop concerts and co-hosted a radio show with two rappers who later joined him in forming Public Enemy, Bill Stephney and Hank Shocklee.
In 1988, the group released “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back,” considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. The record helped introduce rap to white, alternative rock audiences.
The group's next two albums were also successful, but by 1994, Public Enemy's influence began to wane. In 1996, Chuck D. released a solo album, “The Autobiography of Mistachuck,” followed by the book version.
Public Enemy continued to record over the years, most recently reuniting for the song, “Hell No We Ain't All Right,'' in response to the Katrina disaster.
Chuck D. has been a huge advocate of Internet music file sharing, even leaving the Def Jam label when they refused to allow him to distribute Public Enemy's music through free Internet downloads.
He also continues to be active politically, testifying before Congress on race relations and hosting a show on Air America Radio, “On the Real.”