By: Lauren Halligan, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Sciences major

After a long year of touring the globe with Public Enemy, the rap group he cofounded in 1987, Chuck D will be visiting SCCC for the first time on Thursday, Feb. 17.

Despite his many other duties as a musician, author, political activist, radio host, and producer, Chuck D is taking the time to speak to students at SCCC about Rap, Race, and Reality, or as he described it, “the movement of people in a positive mode ”including how music propels society.

In an interview done for the BINNEKILL, Chuck D was proud to say that Public Enemy is currently in its 24th year of existence. Throughout their time together, the group has performed on 71 world tours and visited 76 different countries. Members of Public Enemy, including Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, and DJ Lord, take pride in the group’s longevity, and have no intentions of slowing down. In fact, they plan on releasing a new album in November 2011.

Aside from performing with Public Enemy, Chuck D is busy playing many other roles associated with his music career. He is currently running three Web sites that he is very enthusiastic about. Hiphopgods.com is a site “where classic rap lives on,” while at shemovement.com, female artists can share their music without the competition of male artists dominating the scene.

Chuck believes that, “One of the biggest tragedies (of our generation) has been the mass exodus of women in hip-hop.” What he’d like to see for the future of hip-hop is more women, as well as more groups (like Public Enemy), rather than solo artists.

His third Web site, his newest project, is rapstation.com, where radio stations that feature rap music can be heard universally.

Chuck’s many years as a performer have taught him that, “hip-hop always changes.” Because of the Internet, what used to be national is now “a worldwide cultural experience,” he explained. As a musician who’s been virtually everywhere (Public Enemy spent the last year traveling in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and much of Europe) Chuck D recognizes that, “Music is a great universal language.”

Chuck said one of his favorite aspects of touring the world is spending time in the Southern Hemisphere, while escaping cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere, contributing to his creative writing process. “I like to read the world around me. I write from titles, whether it’s news, magazine articles, stories, or just conversation.”

In addition to rap lyrics for Public Enemy, Chuck has written two critically acclaimed books: Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality and Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary.

To future musicians studying at SCCC, Chuck’s advice is this: “Learn the history of all music,” and “know that it has probably been done before.” He explained that all genres of music are related and he urges young artists to “identify the parallels.”

Chuck D’s message to all SCCC students is, “Soak in your college experience.” He went on to say how necessary a college education is for the upcoming generation, noting that unfortunately not everyone has the opportunity to experience college and its benefits. “Knowledge is life fuel” was Chuck D’s final statement to students; that is until his much anticipated visit on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Auditorium.

Tickets are free for SCCC students with valid ID (one per person); $3 for faculty, staff, and alumni; and $5 for the general public and are available in the College Store (or online at http://fsacollegestore.com/home.aspx).