Upcoming Book to Feature Art of Public Enemy Frontman Chuck D

Photo Credit: Twitter 

The frontman of one of hip-hop's seminal rap groups is ready to show the world that his talents go beyond the spoken word.

Chuck D, frontman and co-founder along with Flavor Flav, of Public Enemy announced on Tuesday (Oct. 19) that he is partnering with Genesis Publications to release the first official book of his artwork.

"I was raised with an artist's mentality; my first 25 years were spent as somebody who wanted to live among graphics and artwork and illustration, and then for the next 30 years it was all music," said the musician, who studied graphic design at Long Island's Adelphi University before embarking on his career as one of rap's most political and socially conscious MCs, in a statement.

Adding, "In the last six years, I've reverted back into the arts, combining all of these elements in my work, still trying to change the world. This is truly what I want to do."

One of the sketches to be included in Chuck D’s book. The project currently does not have a name or release date. 

Fortunately for music lovers, his artistic ambitions were thwarted temporarily when Chuck, born Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, met the madness to his mastermind in fellow student William Jonathan Drayton Jr., who would go on to be better known as the group's clock-wearing hypeman Flavor Flav.

They unleashed their creation Public Enemy on the world in 1985 and in 1987 the release of their debut ablum "Yo! Bum Rush the Show" was released to critical acclaim and their decades-long journey to the top of rap's Mt. Rushmore had begun. 

Now the multi-platinum recording artist, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, educator, activist and visual artist is excited to share another side of him. 

The book will be accompanied by a commentary from Chuck D that guides the reader through his thought process and inspirations, sharing anecdotes and discussing the connotations behind his art, which ranges from portraits of his musical inspirations — including Nina Simone, Bob Dylan and the Beastie Boys —to his original creation of the Public Enemy logo and political cartoons and sketches.

 

Mystery Buyers of Wu-Tang Album Revealed

Wu-Tang may be forever, but the hip-hop collective's presumably mortal fans are still clinging on to hope that they won't have to wait that long to hear "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin."

The 31-track double album famously bought by the now-infamous “Pharma Bro” — hedge fund manager and pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli —for $2 million in 2015 at auction, has a new owner.

The New York TImes reports crypto collective PleasrDAO took ownership of "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" in early September in a "complex" $4 million deal involving the creation of an NFT through which the groups 74 members share ownership of the deed to the album. 

“This beautiful piece of art, this ultimate protest against middlemen and rent-seekers of musicians and artists, went south by going into the hands of Martin Shkreli, the ultimate internet villain,” Jamis Johnson, PleasrDAO’s 34-year-old Chief Pleasing Officer told Rolling Stone, "We want this to be us bringing this back to the people. We want fans to participate in this album at some level.”

This has been a crazy journey to get here and we can't wait to share more with you all

We are honored to own this piece of history ✨ https://t.co/ukgd03Gcwt

— ✨ PleasrCLAN (@PleasrDAO) October 20, 2021

Whether or not that participation includes listening to the album remains to be seen, but that may have a better chance of happening with PleasrDAO than with the album's previous two owners.

After Shkreli was convicted on two counts of security fraud and one count of securities fraud conspiracy in August 2017 and sentenced to seven years in prison, the United States Government, which had seized it, sold the album to satisfy the remaining balance ($2.4 million) of the $7.4 million forfeiture order owed by 38-year-old Shkreli.

At the time acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, stated the sale of the one-of-a-kind album was at least enough to pay out what was owed, but no figures were released

“Through the diligent and persistent efforts of this office and its law enforcement partners, Shkreli has been held accountable and paid the price for lying and stealing from investors to enrich himself. With today’s sale of this one-of-a-kind album, his payment of the forfeiture is now complete,” Kasulis said.

In 2015 "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" was marketed as “both a work of art and an audio artifact and that it includes a hand-carved nickel-silver box as well as a leather-bound manuscript containing lyrics and a certificate of authenticity. It also noted that “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" is subject to various restrictions, including those relating to the duplication of its sound recordings.

https://t.co/mYCMSOZysb pic.twitter.com/q6UBVHxek3

— ✨ PleasrCLAN (@PleasrDAO) October 20, 2021

Kanye West Legally Changes Name to Ye

Photo Credit: Instagram

Ye debuted a new haircut on Monday.

Kanye West is dead. Long live Ye! 

The mercurial producer, rapper, fashion designer, shoe mogul, one-time presidential candidate and soon-to-be ex-husband to Kim Kardashian, is officially just Ye today after years of using the monicker on his socials after dropping a now-eponymous album in 2018.

Born Kanye Omari West, Ye — no middle or last name — filed a petition for the name change Aug. 24, and Deadline reported it was granted Monday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams.

Ye cited personal reasons for the name change, but those looking for clues as to why he made the change need look no further than his 2019 interview with Big Boy for BigBoyTV.

I believe “ye” is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible it means “you”... So I’m you, I’m us, it’s us," Ye said when asked about where he came up for the name for his eighth studio album. "It went from Kanye, which means the only one, to just Ye—just being a reflection of our good, our bad, our confused, everything. The album is more of a reflection of who we are.