Chuck D Slams The Grammys After New President Removed

The history of hip hop and mainstream outlets have always been a tense situation since the inception of the culture back in the 1970’s. Chuck D has always rapped about the systemic racism of institutions that run the entertainment world. An example of Public Enemy going up against Hollywood and its treatment of African American entertainers during its history.

Chuck D also did not pull any punches when he accused the “King Of Rock ‘N Roll” Elvis Presley of being a racist on the song “Fight The Power”. Elvis was a hero to most/But he never meant [expletive] to me/Straight up racist that sucker was”. The song’s content has been analyzed over the years such as in the video below.

So it is only fitting that Chuck D speaks out at a time when he is being honoured for which he believes an injustice has occurred. The 62nd annual Grammy Awards are set to take place in Los Angeles at the Staple’s Center on January 26, and during the ceremony, Public Enemy is all set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The history between Hip Hop/Rap and the Grammys is a sordid tale, as the genre was initially excluded from airing live on television. Now, Grammy shows are overrun with its influence.

In a lengthy letter he shared on Instagram, Chuck D aired out his grievances with the Grammys after it was announced yesterday that they’ve suspended their new president, Deborah Dugan. She reportedly only held the position for five months, and while there are rumors that she received the boot due to an “allegation of misconduct by a senior female member,” some believe that her quest for change behind-the-scenes proved too much for the status quo. In other words, she rocked the boat and got kicked to the curb.

Chuck D writes:

“Figures… I salute Deborah Dugan for her truth and courage to try and effect change. As always, a bunch of ignorant, testosterone-fueled, usually old white men stop progress and screw it up. Same old bullsh*t. They want to keep it status quo and make sure things like Hip Hop stay the poster child of their f*ckery.

In 1989 we protested the Grammys because they refused to acknowledge a new art form called Hip Hop/Rap. I responded with the lyric, “Who gives a f*ck about a goddamn Grammy.” We fought to be recognized and for things to change. We kicked that door in for others to come through.
After 35 years in this industry, folks should know that I always defer any individual accomplishment, always giving salutes to those before me and trying to open the door for those after me. In agreeing to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award when Deborah called me was no different.
We discussed these issues and what needed to change. Hip Hop can’t be judged by a bunch of old corporate guards who rewrite history to serve their corporate bottom line.

Chuck D believes that Deborah Dugan “was having her own struggles with an academy that thinks Public Enemy ended in 1992 yet want to give us a lifetime achievement award without acknowledging a lifetime of work.”  The Grammys may be saluting Public Enemy, but Chuck D has suggested that the institution has not completely rolled out the red carpet for him. Read his letter in full below.

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My open letter To The Grammy’s and Hip hop ✊🏾 ………… Figures… I salute Deborah Dugan for her truth and courage to try and effect change. As always, a bunch of ignorant, testosterone-fueled, usually old white men stop progress and screw it up.  Same old bullshit. They want to keep it status quo and make sure things like Hip Hop stay the poster child of their fuckery. In 1989 we protested the Grammys because they refused to acknowledge a new art form called Hip Hop/Rap.  I responded with the lyric, “Who gives a fuck about a goddamn Grammy.” We fought to be recognized and for things to change. We kicked that door in for others to come through. After 35 years in this industry, folks should know that I always defer any individual accomplishment, always giving salutes to those before me and trying to open the door for those after me.  In agreeing to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award when Deborah called me was no different. We discussed these issues and what needed to change. Hip Hop can’t be judged by a bunch of old corporate guards who rewrite history to serve their corporate bottom line. But it was obvious she was having her own struggles with an academy that thinks Public Enemy ended in 1992 yet want to give us a lifetime achievement award without acknowledging a lifetime of work. We had to haggle, to educate, to justify why a core member of our group for the past 22 years, DJ Lord, should be part of this award. We had to question why our biggest UK hit and the theme to the global Paralympics Games, “Harder Than You Think,” was left out. Maybe because it was released on my own independent label, SlamJamz, and not a major? Never could I have imagined that pushing for the recognition our art form deserved would turn into artists being coerced into disrespecting the craft, themselves, the culture and other people only to chase the bag and validation from corporations and award shows who don’t care about you.  I hope this letter will be a wake-up call for them. New folks but the same ol bullshit pattern doesn’t change a thing. So I’m not surprised that Deborah Dugan is out. I am appalled because it reeks of the same old jive, a New Whirl Odor that ..

A post shared by Chuck D 🎤 (@mrchuckd_pe) on Jan 17, 2020 at 4:25pm PST

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