Flavor Flav doesn't like Chuck D using the Public Enemy name to support Bernie Sanders
Aux Features Music
Bernie Sanders, America’s hippest old man, has already secured a few key celebrity endorsements for his presidential campaign, including Killer Mike, Zola Jesus, The Strokes, Dick Van Dyke, and Garth Brooks, and this weekend he’s adding Chuck D of Public Enemy to that list with a rally in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav is not especially happy about this, and his lawyer even sent Sanders a cease-and-desist letter accusing him of using Flavor Flav’s “unauthorized likeness, image, and trademarked clock” to promote his campaign and that Flav himself “has not endorsed any political candidate.”
Chuck D is performing at Sanders’ rally as Public Enemy Radio, even though he will be the only actual member of Public Enemy onstage, and Flavor Flav’s letter says that Chuck D “does not speak for Public Enemy” alone and that “those who truly know what Public Enemy stands for know what time it is” and that “there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav.” This all comes from Rolling Stone, which says there was even a handwritten note from Flavor Flav at the bottom of the letter saying, simply “Hey Bernie, don’t do this.”
Unfortunately for Flavor Flav, it seems like he’s overstating just how much say he has over the Public Enemy name. In a statement from the other side, Chuck D’s lawyer points out that he could just perform as Public Enemy if he wanted to because “he is the sole owner of the Public Enemy trademark” and is also “the creative visionary and the group’s primary songwriter.” The statement even notes that Chuck D wrote “Flavor’s most memorable lines.” Chuck D himself went a little more personal, saying in a separate statement that, “Flavor chooses to dance for his money and not do benevolent work like this,” adding, “He has a year to get his act together and get himself straight or he’s out.”
Chuck D also tweeted about why he supports Sanders, saying he hates “the party [bullshit]” but likes enough about Sanders that he’s willing to back him now and keep working:
He also responded to people who are attributing Flavor Flav’s request to take the Public Enemy name off of the Sanders rally to some kind of political savvy, saying that he understands Flavor Flav’s “craziness” and that he knows this has nothing to do with Bernie Sanders specifically.
48 Comments
Is Terminator X still doing the ostrich farming thing?
Is that a dance?
Maybe Flavor Flav should just shut the fuck up? Also, you’re not an actual part of the band if the only thing you contribute with is “YEEEEAAAAH BOOOOYYY!”
Not getting into political choices here, but maybe if you think that’s all Flavor Flav did, you’re the one who should shut the fuck up.
That is a very reductionist view of Flav’s contribution to PE. He also contributes “FLAVA FLAAAAAV” and the occasional “TELL ‘EM WHAT IT IS!” A Hype Man has to have several clubs in his bag…
Which is especially weird, because Flav reportedly plays, like, 12 different musical instruments proficiently. But yeah… not the sharpest knife in the spoon.
“He can play 15 instruments, I can’t play Lotto.”
-Chuck D.
I heard Chuck D is very good at Guitar Hero. He totally owns the boss battle with Joe Perry.
Flav is also very good at keeping time.*rimshot*
Also, when anyone needs to check what time it is, Flav’s got their back.
At least he ain’t no holla-back girl. Is he?
Though ‘9-1-1 Is a Joke’ ain’t no joke…
I think that would depend on what town you’re in
He contributed much more than that.
If you’d ever heard Chuck’s solo stuff (you probably haven’t since nobody bought that record). You’d know that’s not true. Flav’s presence really is essential to their sound.
“If you think Bernie Sanders is that type, don’t believe the hype”
Flavor Flav
And to the soon-to-be unemployed Flava Flav: my windshield needs a wipe.
I’m sure Bernie is soo bothered by this. I mean, just look at Flavor Flav, isn’t he just the epitome of political savyness. A man with superior intellect. A man’s whose clock’s rhythm our feet march to. He’s a man’s man; he’s a man’s man’s man; he’s a man’s man’s man’s man. Okay I’m done
Well, Chuck D is the living voice of revolution, and Flavor Flav is a burned out chickenhead court jester brought in to provide comic relief for a band that was so serious and on message at all times that it actually needed comic relief. So I’m going to go ahead and side with Chuck on this one.
Pretty cool that Chuck D is trying to avoid a feud with Flav though.
These comments didn’t age well, Russell Hammond.
Flav was also the most musically talented member of the band. He is competent in 14 instruments and can actually sing.Anyways in Public Enemy he was the comic foil and hype man as that was the role he played, although he did rap on many songs. He was an essential part of PE,
He might secretly be a harpsichord virtuoso or whatnot, but most of what he actually did in the group was ruin tracks.
I believe Chuck D would disagree with you.
I’m with you on this. Flav was legit a great part of PE and was a fucking killer hype man. That being said, 15 or whatever years of his behavior and reality show shit has pretty much made me think he can leave or be replaced, sadly.Best line from the Flavor Flav roast:
“Chuck D couldn’t be here tonight. The D stands for dignity”
I don’t disagree with that. I was just disagreeing with the marginalizing of his contribution to PE. I don’t blame Chuck for kicking him out today.
That’s fine.Hype men are the worst idea in hip hop outside of “You know what would really round out our CD? A bunch of skits where we all just say really funny stuff! We could like all talk about getting high! Or maybe like two minutes of the sounds of us fucking bitches! Wouldn’t that be hilarious?” And Flavor Flav was even shittier than that.
Flav just needs to talk to Bernie and realize that they both think 911 is a joke…
These comments didn’t age well— El Cartoon.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/lavor-flav-fired-from-public-enemy-following-fight-over-sanders-rally/2308954/
Hell hath no fury like a star of a VH1 dating show scorned.
“Tell me about it…”
Brigitte Nielsen
He’s just cranky because he’s tired. That clock he wears has to be heavy
Medicare For All would cover the cost of a brace and physical therapy.
And that enormous weight is compounded by his genuine, 100% authentic Viking helmet.
“He ain’t heavy, he’s my clock.”
The clock isn’t heavy, but his uzi weighs a ton.
i had no idea until this happened that flavor flav was still alive
Neither did he.
Feeling the Bern on that comment, lol.
“I dig aspects of Bern. Hate the party Bulsht. But can relate to half the issues & get forward. Use your minds & be ready to fight whoever in office. My rap bro @KillerMike is nice.I am not-Wake the fcuk up get off your asses make yourself important where YOU live.”Right on! “This aint vodka”… right on. I think?
Saw people coming at Chuck D during this like Bernie is The Man (in the white authoritarian government sense); when did that twist happen?
‘Ain’t nuttin butter fued.
Two B’s in a bucketMutha mutha f*** itYou either Flava Flav itOr you Chuck Chuck Chuck it.
Aaaand Flav is actually out.
He’s queer?
The 60-year old should be quiet and sit down.
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