Among my musical and political heroes growing up was Chuck D, frontman of the legendary rap group Public Enemy. Their album Apocalypse ‘91: The Enemy Strikes Black was among the most impactful musical experiences of my youth, along with Mozart’s Requiem and Tori Amos’ Under The Pink. In 2004 while I was in grad school in Buffalo, Chuck D spoke at a local university. He was incredible. Chuck spit truths in real-time rhythms and slants, his mother tongue all hearts and beats and slants. It was raw, revelatory and joyful to bear witness to.
Louder Than A Bomb: James Dolan’s silence around the Knicks is familiar, frightening & almost human
