School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Chuck D

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Chuck D's real name is Carlton Douglas Ridenhour. He was born in 1960 on Long Island, near New York. At home Motown and show tunes were played. He studied graphic design at Adelphi University, where he met William Drayton, the future Flavor Flav. He hosted a hip-hop show on the radio and designed flyers for hip-hop parties.

Music and breakthrough

In 1985 he founded the group Public Enemy with Flavor Flav. Rick Rubin heard the demo Public Enemy Number One and wanted the group for his label Def Jam straight away. Yo! Bum Rush the Show in 1987, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in 1988 and Fear of a Black Planet in 1990 followed. Well-known tracks are Bring the Noise, Fight the Power and Welcome to the Terrordome. The music was hard and full: layers of samples, sirens and loud beats sliding over one another.

Influence

Chuck D has a powerful, booming voice, which he copied from the rapper Melle Mel and from sports commentators. His lyrics deal with the disadvantaging of Black Americans, with politics and with the media. In doing so he helped create politically conscious hip-hop in the 1980s. Later he worked with rock musicians such as Sonic Youth and Anthrax, played in Prophets of Rage and spoke out in favour of the free sharing of music over the internet.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Fight the Power by Public Enemy. Notice the stacks of samples and sounds playing at once, and the heavy, commanding voice of Chuck D, who raps straight through them.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists