'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. Recently,
I've reverted into the arts, combining all these elements in my work,
still trying to change the world. This is truly what I want to do. My
deepest thanks to Genesis for giving me a place to be able to display
all of this through my artwork.' - Chuck D
In his first fine art book, Livin' Loud, Public Enemy founder, hip-hop
pioneer and revolutionary activist, Chuck D, presents a body of artworks
which continue to address the social and politically conscious issues of
his lyrics.
In Livin' Loud, Chuck D's artworks reveal his visual dexterity as he
explores a diverse range of subjects paying homage to his musical
influences and peers from James Brown and Woody Guthrie to Def Jam
labelmates Run-DMC and Beastie Boys; a host of the most influential
hip-hop artists from Ice Cube to Run the Jewels; his twin passions of
baseball and basketball; creating a collection of landscapes on tour
with Prophets of Rage, and a range of sociopolitical pieces that explore
the issues continuing to shape our culture.
Chuck D has been creating musical and cultural observations that
challenge public opinion since 1985 and his visual compositions continue
to interpret and question the world around us. Chuck D's written
commentary traces his musical and artistic trajectory from his early
roots and the central figures that critically shaped him and his voice,
the formation of Public Enemy through to their Rock 'n' Roll Hall of
Fame induction, his time with Prophets of Rage through to current day
world affairs.
With a foreword by Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Chuck D's art
debut Livin' Loud is a visual experience of over 250 artworks, each
piece reflective of the man behind the music.
