Public Enemy Star Chuck D Says He Put Hip Hop On The Map

26-02-2005 00:00

CHUCK D: 'I PAVED THE WAY FOR HIP-HOP'PUBLIC ENEMY star CHUCK D credits his band's pioneering approach to recording rap albums with launching hip-hop to international prominence.The celebrated artist refused to adhere to the recording policies of other 1980s rap acts - who limited their albums to just a few hit tracks - by utilising their talents to produce a disc full of worthy material, in the form of 1988's IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK. Chuck D also hails Public Enemy's debut offering with uniting the rival rap movements brewing up on the east and west coasts of America.He says, "This was the first hip-hop album that held together all the way through. At the time, hip-hop was a singles medium."Most albums were a couple of singles and filler. That's not what we wanted.This was also the first global hip-hop album, linking New York and LA."