“Fight The Power” is on hold as a legendary hip-hop crew deals with internal tensions. Chuck D officially rinsed Public Enemy of Flavor Flav, who is no longer part of the pioneering hip-hop group. The contentious back-and-forth began over a Public Enemy Radio performance scheduled for Bernie Sanders’ Sunday (March 1) rally in Los Angeles.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav,” the 35-year-old group wrote on Sunday (March 1). “We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.” Flav’s ousting comes two days after he sent a cease-and-desist to presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, accusing him of using his likeness to promote the rally.
The famed hypeman had been on the outs with Chuck D and Public Enemy for some time now, as he noted this wasn’t the “last straw,” but a relationship that had been souring for years with ancillary drama and lawsuits. Public Enemy Radio, which is made up of Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi and the S1Ws, also announced that they will be releasing a new album in April.
Related
Check out a timeline of Public Enemy’s internal discord below.
Public Enemy temporarily disbands following Professor Griff’s anti-Semitic comments (1989)
The group’s first membership drama didn’t involve Flav. Public Enemy went on a short hiatus after the success of their first two albums, according to statements made by label reps in 1989, following anti-Semitic comments from former group member Professor Griff. Once the public pressure subsided, the group returned in August and began teasing their Fear of a Black Planet album. Richard Griffin, who held down the role of PE’s minister of information, told The Washington Times, “The Jews are wicked. And we can prove this.” He also hinted that Jews are responsible for ”the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe.” Griff was later dismissed from the crew but then, following an apology, reassigned to a new position once Public Enemy returned.
Chuck D takes issue with Flavor Flav’s stardom on reality television (2005)
After reaching some of the lowest points of his life due to a terrible drug addiction, Flavor Flav’s entertainment career was given a second chance thanks to reality television. The man known for wearing clocks finally got clean after moving to Los Angeles in 2003 on the advice of Chuck D. Flav then evolved into a pop-culture darling while starring in shows like The Surreal Life, Strange Love, and Flavor of Love.
Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Professor Griff took issue with the way Flavor Flav was being portrayed on television, as they believed networks were taking advantage of Flav’s renaissance by playing up typical Black stereotypes, which they felt reflected poorly on the group’s message.
“Together, [Public Enemy] make music and are dedicated to spreading the good word around the planet. I would be lying if I said that the side of Flav shown on Strange Love doesn’t affect what I’ve wanted our collective to stand for because it does, and many have told us how deeply they are bothered by this,” Chuck D wrote. “His character and private issues are being trashed in front of millions for the mere sake of profit and ratings. To showcase the troubling conflict between his kids and ex is uncalled for, and we can’t stand by it.”
Flavor Flav says he spent $2,600 every day on crack cocaine in the ’90s (2011)
Flav didn’t hold back in his 2011 Flavor Flav: The Icon The Memoir book. The MC admitted to spending about $2,600 a day on crack and cocaine for about six years in the ’90s. It wasn’t until he moved to Los Angeles in 2003 that he changed his lifestyle for the better. If you do the math, that adds up to over $5.5 million in cash spent on drugs.
Flavor Flav arrested on assault and battery charges (2012)
Flavor Flav — born William Drayton — was arrested in Las Vegas when a dispute with his fiancee at the time, Elizabeth Trujillo, turned physical. Trujillo accused Flav of cheating on her and Drayton allegedly threw her to the ground twice. Trujillo’s 17-year-old son, Gibran, also got involved, with Drayton allegedly chasing him around the house while brandishing two kitchen knives.
Flavor Flav doesn’t support Harry Belafonte’s Many Rivers Festival in Atlanta (2016)
During Chuck D’s extended Twitter rant on Sunday (March 1), he pointed to Flav’s refusal to perform at Harry Belafonte’s Many Rivers Festival back in 2016 as the “final time” he would let Flav stand in the way of him giving back to the community. Chuck then created Public Enemy Radio as a way to work around Flav being a roadblock.
Chuck remains at odds with Flav and distanced him from the seminal rap group. The Public Enemy co-founder was rubbed the wrong way since Belafonte traveled thousands of miles to help induct PE into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, but Flav wouldn’t return the favor by performing in benefit of his Sankofa fundraiser. Chuck claims Flav opted to judge a bikini contest instead.
I heard I’m trending, like I care . I built @EnemyRadioRS so it does benefits & fundraisers … He said he never gonna do them. So his refusal to do @HarryBelafonte #ManyRiversFestival in Atlanta 2016 was my last time. I built Enemy Radio to get far away from that ridiculousness.
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020
93yr old @harrybelafonte could bust his ass come 3000 mls to present PublicEnemy its @rockhall induction 2013 ( many still are clueless on) &anyone feel that they cannot give a ounce of time to reciprocate that honor to his @Sankofa fundraiser-to judge a Bikini $how. #Ungrateful
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020
Flavor Flav refuses to condemn Donald Trump after Chuck D yells ‘F–k Donald Trump’ (2016)
At South By Southwest in 2016, Chuck D took the stage and ended the group’s performance by slamming then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump. “Black Lives Matter! F— Donald Trump,” Chuck D yelled in the politically-charged statement. However, Billboard caught up with Flavor Flav following the concert, and he didn’t exactly back up what his militant running mate had to say.
“I’m not really the politician of the group,” Flavor Flav said. “There’s a lot of people talking a lot of shit about Trump, but guess what? He’s winning. The man is winning. I ain’t gonna lie, but listen, the United States has been ran a certain way for decades and decades and decades. You never know: Maybe Trump could possibly do something. Maybe he might step in office and do something. I’m not going to doubt him.”
Flavor Flav sues Chuck D alleging unpaid royalties (2017)
Flavor Flav files a lawsuit in 2017 claiming he wasn’t being fairly compensated for royalties and publishing for songs he wrote and performed, in addition to his share of sales from Public Enemy merchandise. Per Rolling Stone, the lawsuit against Chuck was dismissed in January. “There was some songs that I wrote that I didn’t get credit for,” he told DJ Vlad. “Anytime I go after somebody for something, it’s a valid reason.”
Public Enemy moves forward without Flavor Flav (2020)
Last Friday (Feb. 28), on behalf of his lawyer, Flavor Flav sent Bernie Sanders a cease-and-desist letter ahead of his Sunday rally, alleging that the flyer was promoting his likeness even though he hasn’t endorsed a political candidate. “Hey Bernie, don’t do this,” he signed the letter.
Two days later, Chuck D swiftly cut Flav’s ties to the hip-hop group after 35 years. “If there was a $bag, Flav would’ve been there front & center,” he wrote. “He will NOT do free benefit shows. Sued me in court the 1st time I let him back in. His ambulance lawyer sued me again on Friday & so now he stays home & better find REHAB.”
Spoke @BernieSanders rally with @EnemyRadio. If there was a $bag, Flav would’ve been there front & center. He will NOT do free benefit shows. Sued me in court the 1st time I let him back in. His ambulance lawyer sued me again on Friday & so now he stays home & better find REHAB
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020
Flavor Flav responds to Chuck D: ‘There’s no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav’
Flavor Flav responds to Chuck D removing him from Public Enemy via Twitter on Monday (March 2). “Are you kidding me right now? Over Bernie Sanders,” he wrote. “You wanna destroy something we’ve built over 35 years OVER POLITICS? All because I don’t wanna endorse a candidate. I’m very disappointed in you and your decisions right now Chuck.”
And .@MrChuckD,,,i didn't sue you on Friday,,,i asked the @berniesanders campaign to correct misleading marketing,,,that's all it was,,,I'm not your employee,,,i'm your partner,,,you can't fire me,,,there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav,,,so let's get it right Chuck,,,
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020
Also .@MrChuckD,,,i'm not on drugs like you're saying and have been clean for 10 years,,,i have battled addiction before and like millions of other Americans I know the massive toll it takes,,,Chuck you know better than to lie about shit like that,,,,
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020