4.29.2000  'Free' Music Can Free the Artist
(from NY Times website) by Chuck D
ATLANTA -- Unlike many of my fellow artists, I support the sharing of music files on the Internet. The Recording Industry Association of America has sued Napster, an Internet application that helps people find, copy and share songs free of charge on the Web, arguing that it encourages users to violate copyright laws. Some artists have spoken out against Napster as a threat to their livelihoods, and most recently Dr. Dre and the band Metallica have become involved in lawsuits against the service.

But I believe that artists should welcome Napster. We should think of it as a new kind of radio -- a promotional tool that can help artists who don't have the opportunity to get their music played on mainstream radio or on MTV.

As someone who has been connected to hip-hop and rap music for 22 years, I've seen how difficult it has become for the majority of artists, songwriters, producers and independent labels to get their music to the fans directly, without signing with a major label and subjecting themselves to rules that are in the best interest of the label.

Beginning in the late 1980's when video hit the scene, record companies upped the ante on what it took to promote and market a song, totally squeezing the small, independent entrepreneur out of the distribution game. Now, with most radio stations playing popular favorites and with the high cost of making and distributing music videos, it is almost impossible for an independent record producer or an artist to get music to fans.

I believe this structure has hurt the artist more than someone passing a song around free of charge.

Not that most artists ever have much say about how their work is marketed and sold anyhow. Most contracts only guarantee artists a few cents in royalties from each record sold. And if a song doesn't become a hit, the label can cease selling it but still own rights to it forever.

The major labels have also benefited from being a step ahead on the technology that allows the listener to hear and keep music. As the technology progressed from phonograph to stereo hi-fis, eight-track, cassettes and CD's, record companies have been the only ones able to repackage the music they own to fit the new format. And in fact, when companies like Sony bought record companies, they gained control of not only the music but also the device needed to hear it.

The last straw was the CD period, when labels increased their markup without raising artists' royalties in kind. At the same time, record companies created the concept of a disposable artist; with jacked-up marketing and promotional costs, record companies stopped nurturing career artists. They have been able to fatten profits by flipping small batches of artists in and out.

That is today's music industry.

Well, Napster has been a thorn in that bull's side. By exposing people to music, companies like Napster are creating new fan interest and establishing a new infrastructure for unknown artists to attract an audience -- a new radio for the new millennium.

But the question remains: Will the corporations that dominate concede to sharing the musical marketplace? We'll see. Until then we will slowly see formations of new rules and regulations that will eventually support many more artists than the record companies of yesterday. The Internet has created a new planet for musicians to explore, and I'm with that.

Chuck D is the lead rapper in the group Public Enemy and the founder of Rapstation.com.


4.28.2000 9:09 pm edt  Chuck D Embraces Napster In Times Column:  Public Enemy rapper says controversial software is 'creating new fan interest.'
(from SonicNet website)  Senior Writer Chris Nelson reports:
Napster, the controversial MP3-trading software, is "a new radio for the new millennium," Public Enemy rapper Chuck D writes in an opinion column slated to run in The New York Times on Saturday.

"Companies like Napster are creating new fan interest and establishing a new infrastructure for unknown artists to attract an audience," he writes.

Napster has in recent weeks become ground zero for the debate over digital-music distribution and online piracy.

Rapper Dr. Dre (born Andre Young) and hard-rockers Metallica have sued Napster Inc., claiming the program enables copyright infringement.

Meanwhile, rap-metal band Limp Bizkit have taken Napster on as the sponsor of a free summer tour that also features rap group Cypress Hill.

Any piracy that takes place is offset by Napster's benefits, Chuck D (born Carlton Ridenhour) writes.

"I believe that artists should welcome Napster. We should think of it as a new kind of radio — a promotional tool that can help artists who don't have the opportunity to get their music played on mainstream radio or seen on MTV."

Napster links its users online and allows them to search for MP3 music files on each other's computers, and then download them free of charge.

Jenny Toomey, singer/guitarist for indie band Tsunami and former co-owner of Simple Machines Records, has written about digital-copyright issues on a Web page called "The Machine" (www.insound.com/machine). She stressed repeatedly that she respects Chuck D's work as an activist in the digital-music arena.

But, she said on Friday, "Napster and companies like it are building their businesses on business models that are based on not compensating their artists for the work that they do."

Napster publicist Roy Dank said the company had no comment.

While Chuck D does not address specifically how artists should earn their money in the age of Napster, he contends it's an important tool for getting music in the hands of listeners.

"With most radio stations playing popular favorites and the high cost of making and distributing music videos, it is almost impossible for an independent record producer or an artist to get music to the fans," he writes. "I believe this structure has hurt the artist more than someone passing a song around for free."

Veteran hip-hop outfit Public Enemy sold last year's There's a Poison Goin' On in MP3 format through the Atomic Pop label. They've also issued several recent singles as MP3s, including "Do You Wanna Go Our Way???" (RealAudio excerpt), "Swindler's Lust" and "41:19."


4.26.2000  Chuck D Headed to Oakland
(from Davey D's FNV Newsletter)
Mr. Chuck D will be in the Bay Area next week. He will be speaking at two Oakland High Schools.. and he'll be a featured speaker at Jessie Jackson's upcoming Silicon Valley Digital Divide Conference.. For more info on the conference drop an email to Jessie point person Butch a quick note at AbWing@aol.com


4.19.2000  Chuck D gives State of Hip Hop Nation Address "Two Thou"
(by Dean Engmann)
Chuck D came to my hometown - Madison, Wisconsin - on Friday and gave the State of the Hip Hop Nation in 2000.  I also had the chance to see him speak at two other sessions: Hip Hop 101 and Guerilla Radio: The Internet and the Music Industry.  Having followed Public Enemy for so long, I understand Chuck's viewpoints pretty well by now - but I was pleasantly surprised to hear the comments coming from the people around me.  I could tell many of them were hearing mistachuck speak for the first time, and they were amazed.  I didn't hear a negative comment all weekend, but I often heard praise and thanks for the talks Chuck gave.  

You can read the other articles below to see what Chuck talked about at his keynote speech.  Some of my favorite points that he made follow. Chuck spoke about how hip hop is more than just music, it's a cultural exchange.  It's not based on how you look, it's based on how you think.  Society will judge us on our visual characteristics, not our character.  Use your senses against what's being poured at you.   Learn to navigate information.  Artists need to come together to fight the music companies, not the bootleggers and the fans of the music.  People need to govern their own minds & thoughts - make & maintain your own individual thoughts.  Don't become a robot.  

Before I knew it, the hour and a half vibe session was over.  I had met Chuck earlier in the day and we talked about hooking up after his last session.  I found Chuck signing autographs and speaking to some people that had come to talk to him.  I got to the front of the line, expecting to just tell Chuck I'd meet him in an hour or two, but he told me to come on over and sit down.  After the line cleared away, we headed over to a room where Chuck was going to do an interview or two.  In that room, I briefly met Davey D, but I didn't want to talk too much and interrupt the interview that was going on, so unfortunately I didn't get to speak with him about anything.  Chuck was busy for the next hour or so being interviewed and meeting with different people.

I met Chuck D at his hotel and we hung out for about 2 hours.  I wanted to interview Chuck and this was the first time I've ever met him in person.  I did the interview, (which will be available in the interviews section sometime soon) and we spoke about quite a few different things...actually, he did most of the speaking, and I listened quite a bit.  I guess I was still a little bit in shock that I was chillin' in mistachuck's hotel room.  I won't bore you with all the details, but I just want to let everyone know how genuine Chuck is.  In my opinion, he's the definition of "keepin' it real".  Even though he was probably tired, and he still wanted to talk to Afrika Bambaataa yet, he hung out with me.  The whole day was an experience I'll never forget.  Thank you Chuck.


4.19.2000  Double the PE!
(from NME.com)
PUBLIC ENEMY have announced two more UK dates for May to coincide with the band's appearances at the English and Scottish HOMELANDS FESTIVALS.

In addition to their English Homelands date on May 27 and Scottish Homelands date on June 3, the band also play Bristol New Trinity (May 26) and Liverpool King's Dock (29).

The show in Liverpool is part of an event organised by BBC Music Live, which also features live performances from Run DMC, Space and Asian Dub Foundation. Tickets for the event are priced £15, and are available through Ticketmaster on 08701 514 000.

Public Enemy are also in the process of putting together a Remix EP for release later in the year, featuring tracks from last July's 'There's A Poison Goin' On' album. No release date is currently scheduled for the project.

For tickets, go to the nme.com Ticketshop - click here

Or call the NME 24-Hour Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663. Calls are charged at national standard rate.


4.18.2000  Chuck D Schools Wisconsin: PE front man explains Hip-Hop
(from aka.com)
While at a recent music conference in Madison, WI, PE front man Chuck D told an audience that Hip-Hop should be seen as more than just music. He described it as being a social, political and artistic movement that bridges race, social class and age.

"Hip-hop is cultural exchange. It's drawing people together while other things in society are trying to separate people," Chuck said Friday at a hip-hop conference held at the University of Wisconsin. Chuck also encouraged people too use the web to get their music and bypass what he calls the profit-driven corporate musical industry.


4.18.2000  Chuck D Goes Beyond Hip-Hop
(from Hifiart.com)
Rapper Chuck D says hip-hop should be seen as more than just music.

The member of the group Public Enemy described it as a social, political and artistic movement that bridges race, social class and age.

``Hip-hop is cultural exchange. It's drawing people together while other things in society are trying to separate people,'' he said Friday at a hip-hop conference held at the University of Wisconsin.

The rapper encouraged those at the three-day conference to use the ``wild, wild Web'' to form a grassroots movement for their music and bypass what he calls the profit-driven corporate musical industry.


4.17.2000 10:06pm edt  Chuck D, Afrika Bambaataa Look For Rap's 'True School': Bahamadia, Crazy Legs, Medusa also participate in college conference on state of hip-hop.
(from SonicNet website) contributing Editor Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen reports:
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin isn't exactly known as a hotbed of hip-hop, but that's exactly what it was during the weekend, as Chuck D, Afrika Bambaataa, Bahamadia and other artists got together to discuss the state of the hip-hop union.

"For this weekend, Madison is the center of the hip-hop universe," Public Enemy rapper Chuck D said at the keynote speech for "Hip-Hop Generation: Hip-Hop as a Movement" (www.hiphopgeneration.org), a conference held from Friday through Sunday at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Unity was the central theme of the conference, which featured panels on "Political Empowerment in Hip-Hop," "Guerilla Radio: The Internet and the Music Industry" and "Direction of the Hip-Hop Nation." By night, such acts as Screwball, Zion I and Medusa performed, while during the day participants discussed ways to sustain the hip-hop community in the wake of increasing control of the record industry by a handful of labels.

"Corporations control hip-hop now," Bambaataa (born Kevin Donovan) said at the conference's opening panel, "Hip-Hop 101." "Tommy Hilfiger tells you what hip-hop is."

"It's all right to have a passion for the art and still hope to make money," Chuck D (born Carlton Ridenhour) added. "But if making money is your main goal, you should become an accountant."

Regaining Control Of Music

Chuck D said that major-label hip-hop accounts for only a small percentage of the music's worldwide influence. "The audience that has a concern for the art and the culture is a bigger audience than the one that's just in it as consumers," he said.

Napster, Gnutella and other technology that allows music fans to freely trade music online — but which major record companies have said fosters music piracy — will allow fans to reclaim the music from the corporations, the Public Enemy frontman said.

"If MP3 was the first rock to hit the planet, then file sharing is the second rock that will wipe out the dinosaurs who don't adapt," he said. Chuck D said the best hip-hop he'd heard recently had been underground submissions to his Web site (www.rapstation.com), from places such as Canada and Colorado.

"The record labels are lazy," he said. "It's just cats checkin' their own back yards in New York and Los Angeles."

While the "Hip-Hop 101" session focused on the genre's roots, Bambaataa warned against thinking that just because something's "old school," it must be good. He offered the alternative name "true school" for hip-hop of any era that is done with integrity.

"Rappers are always saying, 'I'm old school,' " Chuck D said. "Yeah, you're old school, but your music was crap then and it's crap now."

Keeping in the spirit of an open exchange of music and ideas, the conference was free for attendees. Conference organizer David Muhammed, 22, said he couldn't justify charging people for attending a conference that was about bringing together a new grassroots hip-hop culture. "I can't afford $30 to go to a conference," the UW-Madison student said. "I can't afford $17 for a CD. We need to free our culture."

While Chuck D expressed frustration that the conference didn't have more representation from big-name artists and labels, Muhammed said he was happy to see acts such as Dead Prez get the opportunity to get their message out to more people.

But that band, which embraces revolutionary politics on songs such as "Hip Hop" (RealAudio excerpt), canceled a scheduled Sunday night performance to go on tour with R&B singer D'Angelo.

More Than Just MCs

Another recurring theme during the weekend was the desire to define hip-hop broadly, reclaiming the term for the breakdancers, graffiti artists and DJs who are increasingly overshadowed by MCs.

The conference opened with a video of what one speaker called the first public break dance performance in 1981. Sally Banes, who wrote extensively about break dancing for the Village Voice in the 1980s, said breaking was a physical version of graffiti.

The video featured a young Crazy Legs (born Richie Colon), one of the most famous breakers. At a Sunday panel on "Racial and Cultural Diversity in Hip-Hop," he called for an deeper commitment to community.

"The problem is who isn't attending these panels," he said. "(These panels) need to be taken into the ghetto. We need to have the balls to go into the hood."

Chuck D called his Friday night keynote a "state of the hip-hop union" address, which he subtitled "Where We At: Backin' That Ass Up to the New World Odor." Casually dressed in nylon windpants and a black Rapstation sweatshirt, he called hip-hop a "worldwide cultural religion."

"I can go blindfolded through the streets of Seoul and hear someone say, 'Yo, man, check out the new Dead Prez joint,' " he said.

He spent the rest of his 90-minute speech criticizing the major labels and offering his take on the state of hip-hop at the turn of the century. "Corporations choose who the rapper is that you will like," he said. He also warned against "keeping it real" at the expense of a deep understanding of the music and the culture.

"You can't freestyle knowledge," he said. "Everything has a science."

Women In Hip-Hop

Saturday's sessions focused primarily on gender issues. Filmmaker Rachel Raimist screened her movie "Nobody Knows My Name," about women in hip-hop, to a packed room. The screening came before the "Women in Hip-Hop" panel, in which Raimist, Bahamadia and underground rapper Medusa discussed and debated with the women and men in the audience.

Saturday evening's "Ladies First Showcase" featured performances by Bahamadia and Medusa, as well as several freestyle sessions at which audience members climbed onstage. Screwball, Planet Asia and Zion I headlined Sunday night's conference-closing show. Milwaukee's Strick represented the local scene, and Medusa gave an energetic freestyle set.

UW-Madison Professor Craig Werner, who in 1988 was one of the first college instructors to teach a class on hip-hop, said the conference was an unqualified success. "The main thing is that all the different voices sounded off alongside each other," he said. "Old, new and other schools got together without conflict."

More than 1,000 people registered for the conference, according to a spokesperson, and people had to be turned away from several panels when the rooms reached capacity.

(Correspondent Alexander Shashko contributed to this report.)


4.17.2000  Chuck D. Goes Beyond Hip Hop
(from Hifiart.com)
Rapper Chuck D says hip-hop should be seen as more than just music.

"Hip-hop is cultural exchange," Chuck D said. "It's drawing people together while other things in society are trying to separate people."

Those limiting factors, according to Chuck D, include record companies that are out for profit over art and that fail to have a worldwide perspective.

He credited Public Enemy's longevity and widespread success of songs such as "Night of the Living Baseheads" and albums such as 1988's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," with the group's ability to reach every continent. In fact, Chuck D has done 42 world tours.

He also is spearheading a digital movement in hip‑hop and encouraged the crowd to use the "wild, wild Web" to form a grassroots movement for their music and bypass what he calls the profit-driven corporate musical industry.

Not that he considers himself a. technological evangelist, but Chuck D did maintain that through the World Wide Web everyone will share the marketplace and that the entertainment business is turning into the entertainNET business.

The hip-hop community, he suggested, should learn to navigate the Internet and continue to think critically about hip-hop as a movement.

The "Hip-Hop Generation" conference, which organizers said they hope will be the first of many at UW-Madison, is a start.

4.13.2000  Chuck D Joins The HOB Fight
(from DaveyD.com) words by Davey D
It looks like the House of Blues Boycott in Chicago has just gotten another player in the mix. Public Enemy's Chuck D and his www.rapstation.com team have stepped into the arena and are currently helping mediate the situation. Both sides are being spoken to and hopefully in due time a mutually beneficial solution will arise. We'll keep you posted as this continues to unfold.


4.13.2000  Chuck D Speaks at Wisconsin Rap Summit
(from Vibe.com)
The University of Wisconsin will host "Hip Hop Generation: Hip Hop as a Movement," an academic conference in Madison, Wisconsin from Friday, April 14th to Sunday, April 16th. Hip Hop activist and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D will be the keynote speaker. Panelists include hip hop pioneers Afrika Bambaataa and Crazy Legs, Hip Hop DJ personality Davey D, Professor Griff of Public Enemy, and Tash and Defari of the Likwit Crew. Topic discussions include "Hip Hop Culture vs. the Hip Hop Music Industry" and the "Political Empowerment and Hip Hop." Panelists will also include members from the Nation of Islam, The Black Panther Party, and other political groups. Rappers Bahamadia, Defari, and Screwball are some the artists scheduled to perform. The conference will also address misogyny in hip hop and racism against people of color.


4.12.2000  Public Enemy European Tour
(from Blaze.com website) compiled by Richard Louissaint
From the end of May to the beginning of June, the legendary political hip hop group Public Enemy will head overseas to Europe for a short tour. The group will begin their tour in Bristol, United Kingdom, and conclude it in Ireland.

As BLAZE Online reported on Monday, April 10,2000, (Chicago 7 Boycott at HOB: The Aftermath; Chuck D Joins The Fight) PE lead rapper Chuck D became the mediator in the Chicago 7's, a hip hop collective of local Chicago artists, battle with the Chicago branch of House of Blues. The protests stem from HOB not allowing local talent to hold a showcase in their venue.

Below are the dates for Europe.

4.12.2000  Online Hip Hop Awards 2000 Premieres This Week
(from Blaze.com website) compiled by Richard Louissaint
As BLAZE Online reported previously "Chicago Protest of House Of Blues", on Friday, April 10, 2000, the Chicago 7 coalition of local Chicago hip hop artists held a press conference and boycotted the Chicago branch of the House of Blues venue. The protest stems from the HOB rejecting the use of their venue by local Chicago hip hop artists.

During the demonstration, supporters and representatives of Chicago's hip hop community held up signs and chanted "The House of Blues ain't got no blues." The protest was covered by radio, television, print media, and internet outlets and has garnered the help of longtime activist and veteran rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy.

Today, BLAZE Online spoke with Jona Mercado, manager of the group I Was Born With Two Tongues, who told us of Chuck D's role as arbitrator. "Our [Chicago 7] big thing is that Chuck D is going to be the arbitrator." Mercado told us. "[He] is going to be the one going to the House of Blues saying this is what the protestors want and coming back to us saying this is what HOB can or cannot do."

"[Chicago 7] gave a list of demands [on Friday]," Mercado continued, "and are giving HOB till five o'clock today [Monday, April 10, 2000] to give some kind of response. And if there's not a response, we meet again and say what's the next step."

BLAZE Online will keep you posted on further developments in this fight. For more updates on the protests and Chicago 7, log onto www.chicagohiphop.com. The list of demands can be viewed at http://chicagohiphop.com/demands.html.


4.11.2000  Chuck D & Napster Fight the Power
(from Hifiart.com)
Napster, the software that allows you to "share" MP3s with other in the Napster community, is at the center of a
multimillion dollar lawsuit brought by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for alleged copyright infringement and trafficking in piracy.

The RIAA launched their action against the company in December, just four months after the site was formed by teenage student Shawn Fannin claiming Napster is robbing recording stars of their wages through lost copyright fees and royalties.

Chuck D of Public Enemy is the first high-profile artist to support Napster and says, "Most of the classic artists didn't own the masters of their past works, me included, which was scary. What I hope came out of it was that the artists in the audience could represent in the new revolution and become participants in a larger global music biz, thus making their own rules for success".

He continued to say, "I've relished in the fact that the majors are reeling from the impact of Napster. If the record companies don't share the marketplace with the advent of more than 100,000 start- up labels coming into the game, then they're gonna really scream when millions of heads all get hip to the 'NAPSTERBOOGIE'."

What started as a debate for or against the ethics of wholesale copying has now lurched into one concerning free speech. Several universities in the US have banned the downloading of the Napster software because campus networks were buckling under the volume of traffic the device was encouraging.

A verdict on the RIAA case vs. Napster is expected on April 10.


4.11.2000  Chuck D Speaks At UC Berkeley Law School
(from Davey D's website) by Davey D
Chuck D of Public Enemy rolled through my old stomping grounds UC Berkeley as he went to Boalt Law school and talked to a class full of up and coming technical law students about music and the Internet. It was a dynamic speech in which Chuck spoke passionately about this being one of the first times in history where the consumer was ahead of the music industry in terms of embracing technology. This was a good thing and quite revolutionary. He explained how in the past the music biz had forced consumers to adapt to various new standards without much input and regard for them. For example, the labels almost overnight got rid of vinyl in exchange for CDs. The CDs cost less then the vinyl, but labels gorged people by charging as much as 17 dollars for a CD that cost 1 dollar to make. While this was happening the artist who created the music on the CDs weren't getting any of the extra profit. In fact in many cases they were getting less. Radio stations which were once more responsive and interactive with the community are now one big giant commercial that are 'programming to you based upon studies and the amount of money the highest bidder can offer. He went into detail about how much money is put behind promoting a commercially viable record-3-4 million dollars by the time you add everything from videos to promo tour up. At this stage in the game the young entrepreneur would find many traditional media avenues cost prohibit. The Internet managed to change all that and offer folks an opportunity to have equal access to their audience and not have a record industry middle man filtering things in or out. More importantly the consumer is no longer a passive individual being dictated to..He is now an active participant.

Chuck also went into detail about how the music biz was once run by creative, music oriented people who were later usurped by lawyers and accountants who sought the bottom line as opposed to nurturing and encouraging the development of talent and innovation. Chuck warned the young lawyers that there will come a time in which they will have to battle with themselves about the types of decisions they will make on behalf of an industry that is notorious for exploiting people. He spoke about the importance of forging partnerships and evenly sharing profits and not having a master/slave type relations which is currently what exists in the biz. Isn't it disturbing how the hands of a few are in position to dictate the presentation of cultural expressions and emotions of so many to the masses? Chuck planted some good seeds of wisdom and left folks with lots to think about.. Hopefully by speaking to these future lawyers they took something with them that will inspire them to do the right thing when they find themselves in a position to effect change.. In closing all you emcees who got mad skillz get ready because Chuck D has something coming down the pipe that you will definitely want to be a part of... More details to come real soon..

4.4.2000  Chuck D on Politically Incorrect Tonight
Just a quick note to let you know that Chuck D will be on Politically Incorrect tonight - 4/4/2000.  Be sure to check him out, as he always has something good to say...


4.4.2000  10:00 est  Chuck D. Remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
(from MTV website)  -- John Gill
Public Enemy frontman Chuck D is doing his part to ensure that hip-hop fans remember the legacy of slain civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

4.4.2000  Chuck D to Speak at Hip Hop Conference
(from Vibe website)
The University of Wisconsin-Madison will host "Hip Hop Generation- Hip Hop As A Movement" from April 14th through April 16th. The three-day event will include panel conferences addressing various topics from "The Prison Industrial Complex," "Sexuality and Homophobia in Hip Hop," "Anti-Violence Youth Organizing," and "Guerilla Radio-The Internet's Impact on the Music Industry." Concert performances will include dead prez, Screwball, and Bahamadia. Speakers and panelists include Davey D and Chuck D. Chuck D's discussion will be on the topic of "Radio." The event is free and open to the public and participants can register at www.hiphopgeneration.org. The conference is described as being the very first conference dedicated solely to youth empowerment and social change through hip hop culture. The event will bring entertainers, scholars, community members, and activists together to examine urban youth culture as a force for social change. Also featured at the conference will be a graffiti exhibit by artists Jim Prighoff and dzine.


4.4.2000  Chuck D Says
(from NME website)
PUBLIC ENEMY's CHUCK D has become the first high profile artist to come out in support of underfire website and MP3 software provider Napster www.napster.com.

The website is at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit brought by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for alleged copyright infringement and trafficking in piracy. Their software, downloadable from their site for free, places vast music libraries at the disposal of any user running the programme. Essentially, they can go to another person who is Napster compatible and copy whichever MP3 stored material takes their fancy.

The RIAA launched their action against the company in December, just four months after the site was formed by teenage student Shawn Fanning.

The RIAA, akin to the BPI (British Phonographic Industry), claims to have the support of a number of high profile artists, including Puff Daddy, Kristen Hersh and The Black Crowes. They argues that Napster is robbing them of their wages as recording stars through lost copyright fees and royalties.

Chuck D, though, has seen nothing but good in the device and believes it can restore power to recording artists by bypassing record companies. In a posting on the Public Enemy website www.public-enemy.com he supports the freedom the device could afford the individual artist.

"I've relished in the fact that the majors are reeling from the impact of Napster," he said. "If the record companies don’t share the marketplace with the advent of more than 100,000 start-up labels coming into the game, then they're gonna really scream when millions of headz all get hip to the 'NAPSTERBOOGIE'."

"Most of the classic artists didn’t own the masters of their past works, me included, which was scary. What I hope came out of it was that the artists in the audience could represent in the new revolution and become participants in a larger global music biz, thus making their own rules for success".

But what had formerly been a debate for or against the ethics of wholesale copying has now lurched into one concerning free speech. Several universities in the US have banned the downloading of the Napster software because campus networks were buckling under the volume of traffic the device was encouraging.

Students at Indiana University, Oregon State, Northwestern and University of California in San Diego have complained that the ban amounts to a civil rights abuse.

Through presently adjourned, a verdict on the RIAA case vs iNapster is expected on April 10.


4.4.2000  Mix Master Mik & Chuck D In News
(from Platform Network website)  by Lauren Andrews
Mix Master Mike has recently dropped his second solo project, a four-track EP entitled Eye of the Cyclops.

Mike's debut solo album was called Anti-Theft Device, and it was released in 1998. Currently, this Beastie is on tour with Rahzel, "The Godfather of Noise" and Canadian rapper Choclair-- see tour dates below.

March 30 San Francisco, CA-- Maritime Hall w/ Jungle Bros.
March 31 Lake Tahoe, NV-- Lily's Beach Club (Casino)
April 1 Santa Cruz, CA-- Palookaville
April 2 Los Angeles, CA-- El Rey Theater
April 5 Tempe, AZ-- Pompeii
April 6 Albuquerque, NM-- Sunshine Theater
April 7 Austin, TX-- Mercury Lounge
April 8 Houston, TX-- Astro-Arena Rave Event
April 9 TBA
April 11 New Orleans, LA-- House of Blues
April 12 Atlanta, GA-- Variety Playhouse
April 13 Carrboro, NC-- Cat's Cradle
April 14 Old Bridge, NJ-- Birch Hill Nite Club
April 15 Brunswick, ME-- Bowdoin College
April 16 Kingston, RI-- University of Rhode Island w/ Wyclef
April 17 Durham, NH-- University of New Hampshire w/ Wyclef
April 18 New York, NY-- Irving Plaza
April 19 Cambridge, MA-- Middle East Club
April 20 Worcester, MA-- Clark University
April 22 Hartford, CT-- Connecticut Expo Center
April 23 Northampton, MA-- Pearl Street
April 24 Washington DC-- 9:30 Club
April 25 Providence, RI-- Lupo's Tentative
April 26 Orono, ME-- University of Maine w/ Method Man
April 27 Winooski, VT-- Higher Ground
April 28 New Haven, CT-- University of New Haven
April 29 Purchase, NY-- SUNY/Purchase
April 30 Manchester, NH-- New Hampshire College

On a more political note, Chuck D (of the notorious Public Enemy crew) will be speaking at an event sponsored by FIRST (Foundation for Individual Responsibility and Social Trust), called "We The Future Convention 2000."

Chuck D is slated to speak about the future of the First Amendment, which is something he has definitely had to deal with in Public Enemy's past.

This weekend-long event will kick-off on Saturday, April 15th in Philly at the Drexel University Great Hall, and will include various conventions and workshops to discuss the major issues effecting young people today. Other guest speakers include Congresswoman Chaka Fattah, Wendy Kopp (President of Teach for America), and Dr. Arthur Shostak (the World Future Society).

For more information on this convention call 215-241-7980 or log on to www.wethefuture.org.


4.3.2000  Public Enemy Go Home
(from NME website)
PUBLIC ENEMY have been added to the bill of this year's Scotland Homelands Festival at Straid Farm, Dalleagles, New Cumnock on June 3.

The band, who were already confirmed in January to play the English Homelands, will now be playing in Arena 01 at both sites of the 40,000 capacity, nine arena dance festival.

The festival will also feature live performances from Leftfield and Ian Brown.

Public Enemy played their first UK dates in three years last September, when they embarked on a three date mini-tour. A spokesperson for the band told nme.com that more live shows "were in the pipeline", although no details were confirmed. She added that the band also plan to release a remix EP later in the year, featuring tracks from last July's 'There's A Poison Goin On', album.

4.3.2000  Chuck D Speaks At Freedom of Speech Conference
(from Manhunt News website)  words: Davey D
Looks like the month of April will be a busy one for Public Enemy's Chuck D. He'll be touching down in several spots to offer his keen insight into Hip Hop, activism and free speech. Most notable is his appearance on Friday April 14th in Madison Wi at their Hip Hop Generation Conference. There Chuck will be speaking on a topic he knows extremely well- Radio. For more info hit them up at mailto:grdalziel@hotmail.com The conference is free for those who wish to attend. The following day Chuck heads on over to Drexel University where he will speak at the We The Future Convention 2000. Here Chuck will speak to the issue of Free Speech. This is something that is extremely relevant especially when one takes into account the types of moves being made by the record industry to censor lyrics and limit the type of access one has to music. Unfortunately this event isn't free to the public, but for more info call 215-241-7980 or hit up their website at http://www.wethefuture.org.

courtesy of www.daveyd.com and www.rapstation.com