Fight The Power

As several reports have stated, MTV has refused to play newest Public Enemy video for "Give The People What They Need," the first single from Revolverlution. MTV will only air the video if all the references to political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal are removed from the audio track and the video. In a recent post on Davey D's FNV newsletter PE frontman, Chuck D, adamantly stated, "I refuse to edit out the Mumia [Abu Jamal] audio and visual." He then claimed that MTV/Viacom were only trying to reduce rap videos to "a screen of swinging monkeys". For Chuck's full statement, use the force... umm, I mean, click the "more"...

Chuck D's response to MTV's requests:This is serious. In a climate where they're playing the hell out of Nelly and Khia dumbing American kids (17 and under... like who else is gonna be fanatical about adult life requesting videos?) down to 'its so hot imma take my clothes off' down from 'my neck to the crack of my ass' with a 'shot of courvosier'. No offense to the prior two artists, because I really don't think they know any better. I'm pulling the race card here because MTV has admittingly reduced black faces to blackface... Quantity is the measurement needed for the almighty bottom line ala the corporate dollar. Blackface at its dumbest makes a lotta money for VIACOM. On also owned BET peeps know BRUCE BRUCE more than newsman ED GORDON, reducing us as black folk to comedy where we think Americas laughing along with us in reality they're laughing at us. It's the same reason I left Def Jam...we start off rebelling against the one sided control ways of the establishment, only to find that it eventually becomes a worse establishment itself. A joke in the shadows of making money 'holla! Really it ain't about playing the Public Enemy video. So be it. I do art and songs to provoke and not be a joke. It would've been simple as hell for them to rather say they didn't like the video. But as a black M-A-N it's the NERVE of them judging what's acceptable coming out of a blackface. If they think having a political viewpoint in music is irrelevant, it's because they've taken the nazi approach in censoring it themselves. Deep down... rap to these standard people is disposable romper room shit that will never resonate to the LED ZEPs, BEATLES, NIRVANAS, AEROSMITHs, FLEETWOOD MACS, BON JOVI status they still uphold in their hearts and minds. But based on the ridiculous yet influential decisions they make while in bed with their big business partners (major labels) is unacceptable as far as my community is concerned. Judging that anonymous circle of people in the standard department I feel, think and ultimately know they would rather reduce us into a screen of swinging monkeys, and retreat to their tri-state bridge and tunnel confines.Thus it always seems I exist in a twist of paradox. I refuse to edit out the MUMIA audio AND visual, that's crazy and they must be out of their fucking mind!