Public Enemy made a giant splash at the 2020 BET Awards on Sunday night (June 28) when they opened the annual ceremony with an alternate version of “Fight The Power” featuring Nas, Questlove, YG, Black Thought, Rapsody and Enemy Radio’s Jahi.
The performance came on the heels of Chuck D, Flavor Flav and DJ Lord’s new video for “State Of The Union (STFU),” an in-your-face, anti-Trump protest anthem. On Tuesday night (June 30), Chuck appeared on CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time segment with host Chris Cuomo and talked about the DJ Premier-assisted song.
Chuck insisted it was time for Trump to vacate the office, or as he put it, “Nixonize” him.
“We’re saying go back to your casinos, your buildings, your fake reality shows — go back to the USFL,” he said. “You just don’t need to be president … You have to be a fool not to see this ridiculousness going on right now and the song answers to that.
“You gotta Nixonize him,” he said. “I say nix him now. N-I-X-H-I-M-N-O-W. I happen to be old enough to remember that there was so much foolishness done by a president that he had to walk away and they forced him to walk away. It’s like you created too much havoc and BS. ”
“Music can speak for the masses and can spark change. Culture is not the change, but it can be a reminder to do actual things for real people.”
Public Enemy rapper Chuck D speaks to CNN's @ChrisCuomo about his new song, “State of the Union (STFU),” an anti-Trump protest anthem. pic.twitter.com/T6WO5mCY9I
— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) July 1, 2020
As Chuck continued, he explained Trump is simply “not playing by the rules” and admitted the lyrics to “State Of The Union” could be considered disrespectful — but it’s fair game at this point.
“The song that I wrote, it has inappropriate language but in context, it’s appropriate for the dude that’s been inappropriate as president,” he said. “Simple as that. Music can make that change.”
Public Enemy, Nas, Rapsody, YG & Black Thought ‘Fight The Power’ To Open 2020 BET Awards
“State Of The Union (STFU)” arrived on Juneteenth and spoke to the current civil unrest in the United States. As protests continue to erupt in the name of George Floyd and other black people who have lost their lives at the hand of police, Public Enemy’s collective voice is louder than ever.
“The rest of the planet is on our side,” Chuck said. “But it’s not enough to talk about change. You have to show up and demand change. Folks gotta vote like their lives depend on it, ‘cause it does.”
Flavor echoed Chuck’s sentiments to Cuomo, saying, “Public Enemy tells it like it is. It’s time for him [Trump] to GO!”