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Chuck D

Chuck D Quotes

Rapper

Chuck D, born William John Drayton, is an American rapper, music producer, and political activist. Born on August 1, 1960, he is a founding member of the iconic hip-hop group Public Enemy. Chuck D is known for his sharp political commentary and radical lyrics, which have had a profound impact on hip-hop and popular culture.

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All People Hip Hop Rap Knows Ifs Thinking Trying Artist Hops World Hips Needs Way Causes Real Black Kind Records Should Different

Famous Chuck D Quotes

“I'm envious of the way that electronic dance music has organised itself. It has been able to understand what it ain't rather than what it is. And I think that slipped away from hip-hop as soon as the DJs lost the majority of the say so in the direction of the music.”

Thinking Way Has Beens Able Lost Majority Hip Hop Hips Hops Envious Djs Dance Music Organised

Author:Chuck D

“It ain't this big I, little You. Music is to be shared. Music is not a hustle. [Hip hop's become] cultural stripmining [by the major labels]. Some people get into this music to make a killing but music is a way to make a living.”

People Way Littles Bigs Majors Music Is Killing Hip Hop Hips Labels Hops Hustle

Author:Chuck D

“It's not about what you get out but what you put into hip hop as a genre.”

Hip Hop Hips Genre Hops

Author:Chuck D

“The powers that be are trying to meld, shape, and corral the culture of hip-hop into another speaking voice for the government.”

Trying Government Culture Voice Shapes Hip Hop Hips Hops

Author:Chuck D

“The biggest thing that has happened to hip-hop is the clinging on to the corporation as the all-mighty hub of the music.”

Happened Hip Hop Hips Corporations Hops Clinging Hub

Author:Chuck D

“McDonald's offers a king's ransom to any hip-hop artist who is able to put Big Mac into a song. MTV - and more to the point, Viacom - is succeeding in extending a teenage life to twenty-nine or even thirty-one years old. It is about extending this market and removing any intelligent substance in the music.”

Years Bigs Able Artist Song Kings Offers Succeed Twenties Intelligent Hip Hop Nine Hips Substance Thirty Hops Teenage Mcdonalds Macs Extending Mtv Ransom Hip Hop Artist Teenage Life Big Mac

Author:Chuck D

“If you want to speak about different ethnicities and diversity, rap and hip-hop are all over the planet. Every country, from Turkey to Australia, now has tons of hip-hop artists. The music and artistry have moved way faster than the corporatization of the music. You do need organization and opportunity for these artists to express themselves, and I don't think it has to come from a corporate co-signing.”

“They [US Administration] have exploited hip-hop and some of the culture around it - magazines, videos, etc. - to recruit people into the military. The Army says it will give out Hummers, platinum teeth, or whatever to those that actually join.”

People Giving Culture Military Army Hip Hop Video Teeth Magazines Administration Hips Etc Hops Recruit Platinum

Author:Chuck D

“I think hip hop should be a living word. And what I mean by the living word is like yo, you gotta have the words that provide life.”

Thinking Should Mean Hip Hop Hips Hops

Author:Chuck D

“For a long period of time, the media covered rap music and hip hop the same way they cover a lot of black people, people of color, you know, the bad news happens to be news. They used to have these little stupid colloquialisms that pop up like, "You know what? No news is bad news!" They trick the masses into thinking that any news is great for you. And I just think that's a piece of crap.”

“Public Enemy is the security of the hip-hop party.”

Party Enemy Security Hip Hop Hips Hops Public Enemies

Author:Chuck D

“Hip-hop is a part of rock & roll because it comes from DJ culture. DJ culture is the embodiment of all genres and all recorded music, if you actually pay attention to it.”

Ifs Culture Pay Attention Rocks Hip Hop Hips Pay Attention Genre Hops Embodiment Djs Recorded Music

Author:Chuck D

“One of the problems with hip hop is lack of infrastructure and not being able to control its own course. I don't like that hip hop is full of infantile 35-year-olds. Hip hop cannot afford to be lazy.”

Years Problem Able Courses Hip Hop Hips Lazy Hops Infrastructure Infantile

Author:Chuck D

“People are so confused about race and hip-hop that people didn't even consider the Beastie Boys one of the greatest rap groups of all time because they were white.”

People White Race Boys Groups Hip Hop Rap All Time Hips Confused Hops So Confused

Author:Chuck D

About the Author

Born: August 1, 1960
Known for: Rapper
Quotes: 180

Related Topics

People Hip Hop Rap Knows Ifs Thinking Trying Artist Hops World Hips Needs Way Causes Real Black Kind Records Should Different

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Chuck D: Lyrics of a Rap RevolutionaryRelated source material

Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary, Vol. 1Related source material

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