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Written by: Sam Frank
(Mar.11) Public Enemy brought the beat back to New York City’s B.B. King’s Blues Bar on the fourth stop of their Beats to Mecca Tour. Commemorating Public Enemy’s 20 years of politically charged lyricism combined with masterful turntablism; The Beats to Mecca Tour, their 57th, includes vocalists Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and Professor Griff, DJ Lord, S1W James Bomb and S1W Pop Diesel, and “The Band,” consisting of Brian Hardgroove on bass, Khari Wynn on guitar and Mike Faulkner on drums.
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it was evident that Public Enemy
still posses the same energy and stage presence it had 20 years ago. |
The show got underway with a performance by The Band, which was followed by X-Clan. X-Clan, made up of Brother J, Master China, Kumu, Ultraman, ACL, Lord Cza, and DJ Fat Jack, hit the stage to promote their most recent album, Return From Mecca. “Brother J, he is a wonderful brother,” described Chuck D. “Being able to keep the X-Clan spirit alive and well and bring it to the forefront, I’m glad we’re able to assist.” And assist they did as Public Enemy’s entire crew, except for Flavor Flav, hit center stage to the backdrop of Jay-Z’s “Show Me Whatcha Got” before getting things underway with their seminal classic, “Welcome to the Terrordome.”
After a few songs Flavor Flav hit the stage with a roaring applause from the sold out audience. Chuck D got political with the track “Son Of A Bush,” which was welcomed by middle fingers from people in the crowd. After the show Chuck D expressed his thoughts about what is in store for Americans in the upcoming election year, “I would tell people as far as a saving grace that America better join the rest of the world instead of being Public Enemy number one as a country.”
Other highlights of the evening included a poem about heroin by a little girl who was expelled from her elementary school because she was accused of being a racist, Flavor Flav bringing his grandson on stage as he performed, and Chuck D telling a joke about people of various races standing at the edge of a cliff who sacrifice themselves in honor of their people.
As Flavor
Flav began singing “911 Is A Joke” it was evident that Public Enemy
still posses the same energy and stage presence it had 20 years ago. When
asked about the secret of their indefatigable 20 year career, Chuck D explained
that “it ain’t a choice. Either you gonna do the jams, or they’re
gonna do you.”
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