Chuck D’s voice, commanding as ever, ripped via the gang as Taste Flav delivered his signature ad-libs and the identical dance strikes he did within the 1989 video for the groundbreaking monitor.
The Black Music Motion Coalition (BMAC) held its Restore & Rebuild L.A. fundraiser at Delilah in West Hollywood on Wednesday (January 29). Legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, most well-known for his or her work on Janet Jackson’s catalog, had been additionally on deck to award the third annual Music Maker Grants to this yr’s recipients, Sapphyre Bardot and Najaya Ruffin.
Particular visitors included Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Taste Flav, Sony Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt, Trae Tha Fact, Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis, powerhouse lawyer Dina LaPolt, SiriusXM’s Tracey Jordan and, after all, BMAC CEO/Chairman Willie “Prophet” Stiggers and BMAC Co-Founder Caron Veazey.
Following the grant presentation, Chuck D stepped as much as the mic and recounted his expertise within the city of Altadena, which was decimated by the current Palisades Hearth. Throughout his speech, he launched a 10-year-old named Grayson, whose household’s dwelling was destroyed within the blaze. Grayson, a prodigious drummer, confirmed off his chops for the gang shortly after he was introduced with hundreds of {dollars} to assist his household.
From there, Chuck D and Taste Flav carried out a dwell rendition of “Battle the Energy” backed by a full band. Chuck’s voice, commanding as ever, ripped via the gang as Flav delivered his signature ad-libs and the identical dance strikes he did within the 1989 video for the groundbreaking monitor.
View this submit on Instagram
A submit shared by Kyle Eustice (@therealkyleeustice)
“Battle the Energy” is without doubt one of the most important protest songs in Hip-Hop historical past, serving as a rallying cry for social justice and resistance towards systemic oppression. Initially created for Spike Lee’s movie Do the Proper Factor, the music was a defining assertion of the period. With strains difficult figures like Elvis Presley and John Wayne, it strengthened the necessity for unity within the face of oppression, one that also resonates right now.
The music’s affect prolonged past music, fueling conversations about race, injustice and the position of Hip-Hop as a device for activism. Its defiant message impressed a brand new era of artists to handle political and social points of their music, reinforcing rap’s potential as a voice for the marginalized.
Over the a long time, “Battle the Energy” has remained related, incessantly referenced throughout protests and actions advocating for racial equality, together with Black Lives Matter. Its affect on each music and activism cemented Public Enemy’s legacy as pioneers of politically-charged Hip-Hop, demonstrating that music—very like the Black Music Motion Coalition—is usually a highly effective automobile for change.
Lead photograph credit score: Todd Cooper
Video: @therealkyleeustice
Associated
