Public Enemy had organized an Occupy/Operation Skid Row on the same Sunday than the Golden Globes, also the eve of Martin Luther King’s birthday, and the event went almost as scheduled.
Chuck D qualified Skid Row LA, which gathers the largest concentration of homeless in the US, as ‘Los Angeles dirty secret’, and when you arrive there, it doesn’t take long to realize he is totally right. The guy has a lot of guts to improvise a concert in the dirtiest,poorest and most ignored area of the city of angels, just located 20 minutes east of the Beverly Hotel, where all the beautiful people had their yearly self-congratulatory golden ceremony.
Chuck D had advertised the event in the media, but the police had said that they could shut down the concert as the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LACAN) had a permit to open a street festival but not to hold a concert.
This did not stop Chuck D and Public Enemy was announced to go on around 4 pm with other acts, following a 10 am press conference at the Grammy Museum at LA Live.
Many of the other acts originally rumored to be playing (Cypress Hill, Kurupt from the Dogg Pound, Mellow Man Ace and OG Kid Frost) finally canceled, and the event was announced as 'not a show',… I went there, and if it was not a show I don’t know how to call it. Public Enemy did perform a short but awesome set, 2 hours ahead of what they had announced, bu they, may be they wanted to avoid some trouble.
As a result, the crowd was relatively small – people avoid the area? – but Public Enemy, and especially Chuck D, were there for a strong message. He arrived on stage holding his lunch and his discourse was clear and ‘real talk’ as he said several times, talking about music business not representing the people anymore but being just companies, evoking the Wattstax Music Festival, ‘the black Woodstock’ which occurred 40 years ago in Los Angeles.
I am still not sure whether this event was affiliated with the general Occupy movement, but Chuck D mentioned it, saying how much it was reflecting the hypocrisy of the government, and declaring that music and art, entertainment in general, politics, and community should reflect the needs of the people. He was direct and bold, and everyone was listening to his inspiring talk about giving back to the community, and forcing the entertainment peopleto visit skid row. I don’t know if he also meant by this coming here to cover the event, but if it was the case it was a success, as I saw a lot of journalists and photographers.
He also talked about Hip Hop queens, and how hip-hop should start respecting women instead of dissing them, even joking about Jay-Z who recently said he had to stop using the B-word because he has a daughter, ‘at 42 years of age!’ he said mocking him.
It was a politicized talk of course, but a very positive one where it was a lot question of loving eachother and giving back to the community.
Professor Griff and Flavor Flav did their part too, talking how ‘the human family’ could galvanize all the energy and make the world aware of the situation. Flavor Flav talked about his fight against drug addiction,and gave a true message of hope.
Then it was time for the music at last, and Public Enemy served the crowd a truly energized set with some of their most famous numbers,‘911 is a joke’, ‘Shut’ em down’, ‘By the time I get to Arizona’, ‘Fight thepower’.
I had never seen them live, but it looked like they hadn’t lost any of their rap game; Flavor Flav with his signature clock around his neck was climbing on everything around him, or jumping and bouncing with frontman Chuck D.They were loud (my right ear is still ringing as I was too close to the large amps!) and were looking dangerous, fist raising, and making such a contrast with the loving and positive vibe they had just released. But the message was the same when you think about it.
They did not play very long but it already was quite a bold accomplishment to set up this free concert in the middle of the most ignored and forgotten place in LA. Before leaving the stage, they strongly encouraged the crowd to stay for the other few local acts.
In times when rap songs have become luxury product placement opportunities and rappers supermodels serial daters, it is refreshing to see that there are still some artists for whom rap has not lost its social consciousness.Kuddos to Public Enemy for actually acting up and following what they militate for.
They openeda door, it was a peaceful gathering and there was no arrest,… and what about the ripple effect they were talking about? Unfortunately, society will need many more of these events to actually consider it.