CHUCK D On Africa Being The FUTURE of Hip-Hop, LL COOL J's Icon Status & History of FIGHT THE POWER

Living Legend Chuck D of Public Enemy stopped by Sway In The Morning and we got to hear first-hand some of the most iconic stories of his rise in the music business. He told the story of how the song "Fight The Power" came to be and illuminated its ties to Elvis. He also spoke on the greatness of LL Cool J and reiterated why he was so important to the culture.
chuck also talked much about the next generation and gave some hints as to where he thinks the next generation of hip-Hop's growth is. Check out the full interview below.
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Exclusive interviews from Sway Calloway and the Sway In The Morning/ SwaysUniverse.com team with some of today's biggest celebrities, like Kevin Hart, Kanye West, Eminem, Usher, Jessica Alba, Steve Aoki, Torey Lanez, Julia Stiles and so much more.
CHUCK D On Africa Being The FUTURE of Hip-Hop, LL COOL J's Icon Status & History of FIGHT THE POWER
• CHUCK D On Africa Bein...
Sway’s Universe
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[@EDOGZ818]

Listening to Chuck D puts me in a zone, focused on his every word!

[@DutchWeazel]

That is exactly how it started way back 😄 His voice command attention That's probably why he wanted to be a sports commentator first 😁👍

[@delmonoldham7943]

Indeed!

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Fr, fr! Chuck is the beginning of my love of HipHop, of music and of language... I was 7 yrs old in 1989 when I first heard "Fight The Power" and saw _Do The Right Thing._ It changed my life!

[@amihogatai8432]

say that again!

[@jimr9499]

You ain't kidding. Chuck puts me in the zone of wanting to change the world!!

[@grinchoi1]

I could listen to Chuck drop gems and talk hip-hop history all day. Class is always in session.

[@ayo30s]

Chief Chuck D, Thank You for all your contributions to Our World. This was Educational And Informative, 👊🏾🦁🦁🇳🇬🇺🇸

[@lefty206]

No dey carry last 🙏🏿

[@IamDannyStone]

This was a legendary interview. Chuck D dropped so many gems it felt like I was in a high-end jewelry store. He has so much Hip Hop knowledge but from a world perspective which we rarely hear. This was a masterclass in Hip Hop education! 🎶🔥

[@fuldatotz]

hrtdhtfjjtj

[@davishayden8219]

Born in 71 I know what ReaRealHip-Hop is and Sounds.Public Enemy is ReaRealHip-Hop 2Up2Dwn Rastafari 🔥💯🔥 Rastafari 🔥💯 Rastafari 🔥💯🔥💯

[@liteskinnedbobbybrown6256]

Salute to the Legendary Chuck D!!❤🙏🏾💯

[@MindTrickedX24]

This was an amazing sixty-seven minutes, and I need a part two and a part three. Chuck COMMANDS your attention (The voice of power!), and then drops gems and wisdom that are needed. (As an aside, shout-out and RIP to Clarence Reid, a.k.a. Blowfly. When Chuck mentioned that part of "Blowfly's Rapp," I legit pointed at my monitor like that DiCaprio meme.)

[@gworldwide]

"You give a gift w/ evil intentions, then you a curse You wanna roll but you dead inside, you a hearse" 👀🔥💥

[@thomasmcginnis2782]

Africa is the original birthplace of the human race, and even music itself(isn't it?). If you hate on the motherland, you are hating on the roots of your(our) family tree. If we destroy mother earth, we destroy what gives us life. Let's act like we know family. Respect to all who return it.

[@Skelly.B]

Great interview. I could listen to Chuck speak all day, he drops so many gems. Salute

[@georgeharris7448]

Blessings great wisdom from the legend Chuck D.

[@marcusforrest8088]

A Historian of the game

[@armoriya]

PUBLIC ENEMY was once known as SPECTRUM CITY.

[@2solid4tv48]

Most 90s dont know public enemy is lol

[@pigatt1]

First time I heard that was on SiriusXM. When I heard it, I said, that dude sounds like Chuck D!!

[@ivanbello8920]

Yo D looks flawless like many others keeping healthy, intelligent & out of trouble,….salute!

[@SimonePhoenix]

Honors & respect ALWAYS to Brother Chuck, one of our elder statesmen & historians of hip hop. Bless up. 🙏🏽

[@genetallen7130]

LL is the G.O.A.T.

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

Peace! Emphatically No!! That’s Rakim Allah! Rakim snuffed LL on “No Omega”.

[@tegusentertainment8021]

Yes sir

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

@@tegusentertainment8021 Rakim decimated LL and everyone else on “No Omega”! Rakim is the G.O.D. MC! I be been listening to LL since 1984! He’s definitely one of the very best but not numero uno..

[@trueballertv665]

@@99alfailiwaqain51 um no! You need to hear Murdergram from LL! He is waaaayyy more versatile and battle ready than Rakim!! LL is his own category! He just don’t rhyme to rhyme he rhymes and it’s shows mass appeal!

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

@@trueballertv665 Peace To The Gods! Of course I heard Muder-Gram and I know that was a response to “No Omega” and it 😨 failed! When the God called it “No Omega” he already defeated LL & Puba! Rakim is a master lyricist and sublime lyrical composer! Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em is a perfect 💿 album.. Rakim’s ill lyrics and Large Professor’s/Paul C production…LL had to growl and scream 😱 often to get his point across. You say Battle ready? Did you do the knowledge to “Lyrics of Fury”? STOP 🛑! Rakim delivered the best battle ready Lyrics ever it’s called LYRICS OF FURY! You must be 20 years old son! 😂 😂 LOL. On the other hand ; Rakim is 007! He never had to yell or scream or growl! Just the title No Omega shows and proves Rakim is in a different intellectual & spiritual tier than LL! Line for Line and lyric for lyric Rakim will “TAKE 7 MC’s AND PUT EM IN A LINE AND ADD 7 MORE EMCEES; WHO THINK THEY CAN RYHME; IT’LL TAKE 7 MORE BEFORE “..🥲 YOU KNOW THE REST SON, So FALL FAR BACK!! Rakim’s lyrics are imperial..

[@amihogatai8432]

i could listen to chuck all day for days.

[@nobbystyles4807]

"london england are you ready for the def jam tour, make some noise for public enemy" that was dave pearce, a uk radio dj.

[@first_to_lett_a_rhymme_flow_]

94.9 fm 📻 whatever happened to him. Did he start playing house 🏡 music 🎶 around 89/90⁉️⁉️⁉️

[@grinchoi1]

That intro gives me goosebumps

[@curtis75black]

10:58 !! Say that Shit Chuck !!!!

[@grinchoi1]

Facts on facts

[@uno_tvm]

Chuck D is right about AFRICA we are here and have a story to tell. Tunnel Vision Martians. We studied the greats. Sway we gon' be on there in due time. Namibia checking in

[@ngonsainti]

That's what I'm saying ! Chuck D is on all fronts. Totally dedicated! Almost like a shaman, Hip Hop’s healer and elder, making sure everything is said, done and goes alright for the next generations to take care of the Culture, EVERYWHERE! Chuck you are amazing! So much love shown and shared! I'm so glad I was able to stand and sit next and in front of you to feel the total respect for fans or rather friends as Prince would say !

[@kendricjonrs8581]

SWAY WE KNOW YOU HAVE DECADES OF INTERVIEWS AND YOU KNOW THIS IS THE ONE

[@virgochild71]

Everytime I watch Chuck D interviews I'm always in awe of the man. He drops so many dope gems and every interview are different but still awesome to watch /listen

[@OjonesMusic]

Speak on it, Chuck D!! Gary Bird came down to Tuskegee (my hometown, shout out to The 46), Alabama... to share the "GB Feeling" and did so by debuting his song, THE CROWN #YouWearTheCrown #IWearTheCrown #SoProudToSay #ThatWeALL #WearTheCROWN ✊👑

[@dorothyedwards7225]

👍👍👍👍Awesome interview. The PBS special was great too!🥰🥰❣😍🤗💓🤎🖤💖

[@tegusentertainment8021]

Goddamm right LL was it, real recognize real personified!!

[@sirleroyale4412]

Public enemy was a big impact in hip hop beats and rhymes like no other

[@CDMESD]

Chuck D is my Hero. Public Enemy is one of my All-Time favorite groups. Can't wait to see this doc.

[@everything4304]

Chuck needs a podcast quick

[@Best..YT..Music..Playlists]

thats cool that Yo! was named after the album. ive been in this for nearly 35 years since I was 8 and I NEVER knew that.

[@jjw56]

THE BEST CHUCK D INTERVIEW, this is for the hall of records. Thanks for finally recognizing DOUGIE FRESH. I SAY SWAY ALL DAY SON

[@Dezzyyx]

The new documentary was amazing, one of the best if you really want to understand Hip-hop.

[@jimr9499]

Where's it at? I hadn't even hear about it's existence until Chuck mentioned it jus now.

[@Dezzyyx]

@@jimr9499 BBC

[@MarlonD805]

Him and DJ Premiere are the true hip hop historians

[@bmuhamad]

Hank Shocklee also paused the moment, last week on Unique Access. I was also blessed to meet Chuck at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, in 1987.

[@dametalounge]

Damn Sway, Chuck D really rocks with y'all cause I never seen the brother speak so comfortably on an interview. Chuck D, Thank you sir for being my Hip Hop father and raising me and my siblings right. Salute brother. Oh Yeah and PE is unequivocally The best HIP HOP group in this life time Period!🤴🏿💪🏿👊🏿

[@josallins1]

CHUCK D! PE! PURE 🔥

[@lstoryrecords_]

Thankyou chuck d for much of your wisdom.

[@louisawuah9892]

A living legend .

[@ronstud]

Chuck D is that guy!

[@beatdon7751]

Chuck don't look 62 shouts out to PE💯

[@dmagwaza]

"The future of HipHop and rap music, whether people like it or not, is Africa."

[@jayjones251]

Keep dreaming

[@chuckkent5395]

Much respect. To me Chuck D is the Goat✊🏽

[@the.old.kanye.]

The last 10 years of rap haven't been my favorite. I was born after the greatest year of rap ever and grew up with the best of the best. Then after my college years all i had was Kendrick and ye and cole and drake. Spent most of my time at bars until the pandemic. Now ive acts started watching tv, or at least KZbin as tv. Definitely didn't watch any tv during my 20s though. Then i aged up during the pandemic and didn't get to naturally transition into the next phase of my life. I wish I had made comments 10 years ago when i was really getting upset about the direction. Now its not my time to speak. But i still hope my generation can make an impact on something

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

I'm an old head who grew up on PE and the Golden Age since '89... I'm 40 now. And real HipHop is in an _incredibly_ beautiful place right now, I dont care what _anyone_ says! 2022 was such an incredible year for HipHop, it was almost impossible to keep up with it all... the last few yrs been crazy - billy woods & Elucid (Armand Hammer) and Backwoodz Studioz; Griselda Records (Westside Gunn, Conway, Benny, Rome Streetz, Boldy James, etc); TDE (Kendrick, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and more), Mello Music Group (Apollo Brown, Quelle Chris, and more); Pusha-T; Dump Gawds: Mach-Hommy, Tha God Fahim, Your Old Droog; JID; Blu & Exile; Run The Jewels; Joey Bada$$; Planet Asia... etc etc etc. And cats from the '80s and '90s are dropping their best music in years - Public Enemy, KRS-ONE, Nas, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, DJ Muggs, Black Star, Black Thought, Alchemist, etc. It's CRAZY! I got playlists with thousands of tracks from the last decade on my channel... The 2000s was the worst decade for HipHop but it started getting better in the early 2010s.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

PS. Sorry for the rant 😁

[@demetriusrousseau7919]

Thank you for clearing up that Elvis part, Chuck! 💪

[@nubreaks2]

I wish PE had brought Derek B over when they toured America. I was able to see them when I was stationed in Germany with Run-DMC and LL.

[@InTheGranite617]

*** It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. *** Is in Top 1-5 Boom Bap Rap\MC LPs and the whole Public Enemy Crew! The Best Album,and MCn & Hype Man most will Never Get to that Level of Knowledge, and Live Show will Never be Duplicated! Other Than KRS-1 BDP. And Rakim, EpMd, Beastie Boys, N.W.A., Red Man, Big L,Biggie, Big Daddy Kane, Cypress Hill, Geto Boys,Eazy E, 2 PAC and of Course WuTang Clan who changed the whole Game. “R.I.P. To Those Brothers up top.” 60s-70s-80s-90s Music 🎼 will Never Be Duplicated.👊🏼💯👐🏼🤘🏼👐🏼🤘🏼👐🏼🤘🏼👐🏼🎼♾️Respect,Peace ✌🏼Sway, Chuck D, Heather From Boston Taxachusetts…

[@omowale07]

Dope Ass Interview Sway!!!

[@Ytliar24]

Chuck.D talks real! As he said : Stop the arrogance! You see when someone travel all around the world, his/her way of thinking is different. He/She is more conscious of the reality! I 💯 agree with him!

[@williebateman3613]

Very powerful man much love 💪🏾💥💥💨💯

[@geebee44]

Awesome...

[@do7hemath937]

"Small chance, a smart brother's gonna be a victim of his own circumstance."

[@marcus.6487]

mane…™️ ✊🏿

[@Next2kin25]

I was at that concert in Oakland when my friend threw a barrel bomb at Will Smith. The coliseum was wild that night and yes my friend said Will Smith fired on him. Will was pissed off.

[@Davo32310]

Africa is not the future of hip hop 😂😂

[@javionriley8739]

Nobody listens to afro beats besides immigrants from Africa 😂😂, tf is this old head gen-X NYC black dude talking about

[@Davo32310]

@@javionriley8739 And even then Fela Kuti had to study and mimic James Brown for Afrobeats to be created. 😂😂 These NY Blacks are a disgrace always sucking up to outsiders. 😂

[@therealgg5050]

​@JaVion Riley really ,YOU KNOW THE TRUE LISTENING LISTENING

[@gutterboyDennis]

I love my African brothers and sisters but there not the future of hip hop because they get there style and swag and talk and walk and beat ideas from us American s... Our struggle and street life diffrent which the whole world admires our story

[@therealgg5050]

From what wrote it shows you've never been to Africa 😅 travel to the motherland 😊

[@HRDRZ]

🔥🐐🔥💯

[@marcuswitty375]

Terminator X Buckwilding

[@kenk4269]

🔥🔥❤❤💯👊🏾

[@PhreAnbesa]

Tla Rock...it's yours...he was breaking bells

[@marcusforrest8088]

Ppl listen Mr Chuck D given game

[@macanoodough]

Regarding NYC losing school funding. It's interesting living in AZ when I come from NYC. What we pay in FICA is not what we get back in returns, by far. Yet in AZ they do. So our high schools have NFL grade equipment on the field, Ballet & Music... When I hear the locals complaining about the people moving here from the big cities, I let them know I'm only getting back what I paid in taxes all those years living and working in NYC.

[@gotjuice9]

Much respect to Mistachuck!

[@ray1411]

Why does Chuck sound like he's stuck in the 1990s? Everybody knows "America" doesn't mean a Canadian, Brazilian, or Mexican. He knows this. And, who do you think wants to listen to multiple languages in rap? Nobody. Wyclef proved this point. I have met Latinos who don't like Reggaeton. Why is that? Even they know, for some reason, multilingual rap artists don't translate well for the listening audience. And tell that little girl Hip Hop was never homophobic. And KRS One married early. Ice Cube married early. Will Smith married early. Rakim married early. Hip Hop always celebrated the nuclear family. Stop pushing a damn agenda. That girl is part of the reason I never tune into Sway anymore. She always chimes in with her alternative lifestyle, feminist rhetoric without any real knowledge or grounding.

[@papinaureliomucaleque4196]

You just can't speak any other language, period.

[@ray1411]

@@papinaureliomucaleque4196 Yeah, like most high earning consumers.

[@papinaureliomucaleque4196]

Like most close-minded and " I am the best " people. I speak several and I don't even try...learning languages is just fun man. Now, that doesn't make me better or worse than the next person but to suggest that someone else's mother tongue is rubbish is just foul.

[@ray1411]

@@papinaureliomucaleque4196 I never said anyone's native language was rubbish. I simply suggested other languages arent as attractive due to their lack of importance in the marketplace. Thats how things work. Sorry.

[@kiongokiragu826]

🤯🤯🤯

[@johntate455]

How about Big Daddy Kane

[@rocksofoffence.righteousam2422]

✅

[@munganduchivubwe]

Sway Chuck Heather B Tracey G 🤗🤗🤗👈🏾👍🏽🙏🏾

[@superiorson]

HIP-HOP is black American culture dude

[@camillejarrett5008]

❤️

[@mackl8305]

We lost jazz and every other genre. we keep bigging up everybody else before the americans that made the culture we will lose hiphop too

[@jermainepeters5702]

dre got credit ...

[@bootneyleefarnsworth7307]

All the false and misleading "Rap" and "Hip-Hop" history started with Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation.

[@IAMHIPHOP974]

Pioneers

[@rogermeadows5419]

DJ Mario

[@bootneyleefarnsworth7307]

@@rogermeadows5419 What about him??

[@IAMHIPHOP974]

@@rogermeadows5419 Herc then Flash and Bambatta

[@bootneyleefarnsworth7307]

@@IAMHIPHOP974 None of the three pioneered anything. Bam's lies have been debunked everywhere.

[@PoorRighteousTecha7]

CHUCK IS A WALKING HISTORY BOOK... ! PEACE GOD..

[@forensicaccountant259]

Imhotep Gary Byrd...L E G E N D A R Y

[@siriuslyspeaking9720]

"Hip-Hip changed the world", but didn't change the communities, it was created in and the people who live there. Hip-Hop changed and shaped individuals , but it has not brought about any find of fundamental change. A lot of other things can change and have changed individuals, to varying degrees. Hip-Hop is not unique, in many of the ways, it promotes itself, as being.

[@calioumarx4289]

Chuck D nt only intelligent knowledge historian but chuck d & puplic enemy are history black culture

[@Sausedeez5666]

Will Smith been that dude 😂

[@AnthonyMorales71]

When I saw Chuck D in the thumbnail I stopped. Right away! PE stays in the ears at the Gym.

[@sessomsnae142]

💜💜

[@johncadogan2675]

The best there is p.E

[@nibbles187]

I thought I was a Hip Hop historian until I watched this interview. Chuck D knows his stuff, thanks for the history lesson!

[@ministerservertavares4714]

Love, Peace and Respect to Dr. Chuck D for CONSISTENTLY representing Hip Hop CULTURE around the WORLD!! The FUTURE of Hip Hop is in AFRICA... Amen! Ase'!! WORD!!! 🙏✊🤜❤🖤💚

[@curtis75black]

Props to Chuck D for letting the world know Will “The Fresh Prince” Smith wasn’t a Sucka even in 87 !! 7:51 !! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@peetvader478]

Before jada got his balls

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

What a legend 🥰 My generation I still have my public enemy albums ❤️

[@mallen1317]

PE albums with lyrics on the sleeve 😊

[@fifthquarter4785]

Miss Curtis, you are fine!

[@chowoods]

In 1988 Philadelphia Chuck D talked to a young 18 year old at the time after the show at the old Spectrum. I was fresh out of high school and I got a hour lesson n life in the parking lot. He was sitting in his 98 Oldsmobile. I would never forget him taking time to speak with me.

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

Peace! That’s what’s up!

[@ELLoffisiELL]

Awe inspiring to listen to and witness Chuck D, man. SO humble, yet the whole culture is basically built off his back (along with the other forefathers). Loved that analogy of Hip-Hop as a skyscraper in the beginning, and how he stays grounded in it. Much Respect!

[@skillz4daze]

For some of you youngstas and hip hop fans Krush Groove is on KZbin for free with ads so you can see when Hip-Hop started to become dynamic and can see a young LL Cool J, Run Dmc, Russell Simmons and more. 46:36

[@marvin469]

I'm 48 & I just sat down & watched it. We didn't have cable or money to go to the movies. I saw "breaking"/wild style etc in the 90s (late like a mf lol)

[@SimonePhoenix]

My FAVORITE hip hop movie! Respect to ALL the forefathers of the culture, those who are now ancestors & those still with us. Bless. 🙏🏽

[@michaelcooke8989]

Hey you forgot my girl Shelia E and my home boys fatboys .

[@do7hemath937]

Krush Groove is a must see. It blew my mind to watch it again a few years ago and see New Edition was in it too. Tougher than Leather is a classic rap movie too.

[@iiicuuubreathingfullyoohoohooh]

Beyond ‘Bars’. Chuck D is spitting solid pyramids throughout the whole interview. Definitely a worthwhile hour, seven minutes and forty four seconds.

[@gregoryardis8671]

Chuck D is a treasure to the world

[@uspdjs216]

Whose world? Not mine or anyone I know!!!

[@alken355]

One of the greats 👍🏽

[@amihogatai8432]

chuck is an encyclopedia, straight up!

[@DutchWeazel]

RESPECT to CHUCK D!! And SWAY of course 😎🥂 This show IS where Hip Hop lives, been a PE fan since I was a little kid (42atm.) I can even go so far to say they might be responsible for sharpen my ability to understand the English language as a youngster (from The Netherlands.) Reading the lyrics while listening to their albums 🔥 Once again RESPECT

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

_Absolutely!_ I was at the young, incredibly precocious, age of 7 in '89 when I saw the music video for "Fight The Power", and watched _Do The Right Thing._ 😍🥰 Life would never be the same... I got all P.E.'s albums up to that time and listened to almost nothing else for a couple years. That was the beginning of my love for HipHop, music, language and history - especially the history of civil rights movements... because of Chuck & crew, I started reading The Last Poets and Langston Hughes around then, and the Autobiography of Malcolm X. Will forever be indebted to Chuck... and PE is still putting out great music! Still the GOAT for me. Good lookin' out, Sway 🙏🏼 RESPECT!

[@jimr9499]

Yo yo yo it's @Jimmy1982*Playlists!! Idk if you remember me but I see you commenting on all the door hip hop shit that I'm on. So jus wanted to say whatup and it makes me happy to actually, physically see another person out there who is a real head like me.

[@nglza]

W e e f f i n’ L O V E y o u CHUCK D!

[@kevlamar6613]

My OG, helped raise me when I wasn't trying to hear Pops. Salute Chuck!!!!! ✊🏿

[@pauldavis1963]

only three questions were asked to Chuck D in an hour interview. LOL!!!

[@SKI1333]

LL COOL J. #1 on my fav 5. This is some good history. Thanks Chuck.

[@dionne681]

I love Chuck D stories seen him as a keynote speaker in 2004 at my college much respect 💪🏾

[@cjtfla]

Fantastic special. Can’t wait for the rest. Authentic, informative, provoking, disturbing, this thing is “louder than a bomb”. Thank you PBS and Mr. Ridenhour (and all of the PE posse through the years, Shockley brothers, Prof Griff, James Bomb, Terminator X-DJ, and Flav. You guys need to do a live tour with a viewing of this special of just Florida. 50 dates in 1 year. But just Florida. Like… All over Florida. And when you get done with that, you can add another 50 no problem. But just Florida. And we’ll need probably another 50 more. “An let the good get even”. Come on down….. Welcome to the Flora-dome! ✌️🙏 🙏🙏 PE#1

[@J-PRO757]

LEGEND!

[@Next2kin25]

I used to perform Black steel in the hour of chaos to my family and friends.