CHUCK D

February 17, 2007

Okay, Yesterday was pretty crazy. It was my birthday, and more significantly it was the day Chuck D came to sign his print at Studio Number One. Public Enemy is my favorite hip hop group of all time and Chuck D is not only the founder and core of the group, but one of the most important figures in music, politics, and culture since punk. I was into punk and hardcore all through middle school and high school, but by 88 I was feeling they had run their course. I liked the Beastie Boys (who had coincidentally originally been a hardcore band) and RUN DMC, but not until Public Enemy did I feel Hip Hop was the new Punk. I love Public Enemy’s first record: “Yo, Bum Rush The Show”, but it was only the warm up for the sonic and lyrical firestorm of “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” and “Fear of a Black Planet”. These records are must haves. Don’t make weak excuses… get them if you don’t have them IMMEDIATELY. My design studio (Studio Number One) was named after the song Public Enemy Number One from which the group’s name was derived. Obviously, I endorse P.E. and Chuck to the fullest and am incredibly honored to have been able to do this collaboration. The image was originally created for the ICONS issue of Swindle Magazine and the illustration was a collaboration between myself and my very talented intern Ernesto Yerena. Chuck liked it and asked if a print could be made (officially this time as opposed to my unauthorized 2002 Chuck ‘n’ Flav prints). The Print is signed by Ernesto, me, and Chuck D. Chuck is getting a cut of the poster sale which is why the print is $50 instead of $35. The print edition is out of 400.