Public Enemy: Chuck D and Flavor Flav’s Rift Grows After Sanders Rally
Over the weekend, a rift within legendary hip-hop act Public Enemy came to a head; the band had committed to perform at a rally for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Los Angeles. P.E.’s Flavor Flav sent a cease and desist letter to SandersĀ noting that the show was just Chuck D and that Flav would not be participating.
On Sunday, Chuck D responded to a tweet from a fan saying that without Flav, there is no Public Enemy. “I would not have a Public Enemy without a Flavor,” he said. “However, I will park it in the driveway take off the plates wait to re-register it when it’s running right and drive the smart car called Enemy Radio,” and it was Enemy Radio that performed at the Sunday night rally. Enemy Radio features Chuck D., as well as PE membersĀ DJ Lord, Jahi and the S1Ws (the group’s security team).
I would not have a PublicEnemy without a Flavor Odette. However I will park it in the driveway take off the plates wait to reRegister it when itās running right and drive the smart car called EnemyRadio. Then we expect your PUblicEnemy support when that vehicle is ārightā ready
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020
After Flavor fired back at Chuck, Public Enemy posted a statement to Instagram, noting that the split wasn’t because Flav doesn’t support Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. “Public Enemy did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views. Ā Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work.Ā Public Enemy Radio toured Europe and co-headlined with the Wu-Tang Clan in May 2019 without Flavor. They have also done numerous benefit shows without Flavor. While Public Enemy Radio was moving forward, Flavor Flav was starring on the reality show Growing up Hip-Hop New York, where an episode featured his children discussing an intervention and putting him into rehab.Ā Itās time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well.”
