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I kind of think of Revolverlution as an open source album. Public Enemy released a few of their tracks on a website, and had a contest for the best remix. The best one got on the CD once it was pressed.

PE has been in the forefront of digital music releases for some time now. Def Jam wouldn't release "Bring the Noise 2000", so PE released it online. Def Jam sued, said they owned all rights to PE music, even though this was all remixes, and didn't want to sell it anyway. In the resultant dust-up, Chuck and Flav split from Def Jam, released the single "Swindler's Lust" for free to show their anger at being owned, and helped in the start of Atomic Pop, what was one of the first Internet focused labels. Atomic Pop released "There's a Poison Going On" (with Swindler's Lust) for $8 download only, $10 pressed, with an autograph from Chuck. They eventually folded, and it was weird seeing "Poison" at Virgin for $18 when I got it for $10. Chuck still has some links from http://www.rapstation.com/ and http://www.bringthenoise.com/ used to be a PE oriented site, now looks like Fark for Hip-Hop news.

The nice thing is you can give Chuck D a call and ask him about it yourself. He hosts Unfiltered, a talk show on Air America Radio. I believe it airs every weekday and can be heard either on the radio in 30+ markets or via RealAudio or MS streaming.

Chuck D's been pretty vocal on the side of pro-music sharing, so I'd be interested in anyone who might ask him why he doesn't want to be sampled...

like my man chuck d public enemy reprezent!! says "I trust the consumer more than I trust the people at the helm of these (recording) companies," and the o so great one liner: "P2P to me means power to the people,"

Chuck D is an amazing person. I've been listening to Public Enemy for years and I really enjoy their music. But it wasn't until the head to head between Lars and Chuck D that I realised what an intelligent person Chuck D is. It's not just because I agree with what he says - though I admit that does bias me - but it's clear that he is thoughtful and intelligent. I don't normally have respect for artists who express their opinions because, face it, most artists are braindead morons who couldn't tie their own shoelaces without an instruction manual. But I soon found myself looking for more and more writings by Chuck D. The man is brilliant.

Take things back three decades or so, when the Dead toured the country, bopping from city to city as a corps of hardy fans followed them around, taping their music and swapping the cassettes among other die-hard fans.

At first, the band didn't like it. They cracked down on fans, admonishing them that anyone caught recording live shows would be booted out.

"We assumed they were stealing our intellectual property," says Dead lyricist and road manager John Perry Barlow. But then the musicians shrugged, figuring they weren't in it for the money, Barlow says. (Which was convenient, considering that they weren't making much cash.)

"We figured it's bad for your karma to be mean to a Deadhead," Barlow says.

Obviously, the typical dumb-ass moderators don't know a good post from a hole in their ass.

Isn't this was what Chuck D was saying? Let's use the internet to promote new artists outside of the fat slob monopolies? Why in the fuck are we SO OBSESSED with downloading Metallica or Spears (or what the fuck her name is) when there's bands out there that may be worth listening to before they get sucked into the machine? Let's all promote bands who don't suck up those big fat assholes known as the record industry.

Fuck it. Based on the TRILLIONS of stories of how bands who sign up turn into sharecroppers (this is the worst kept secret by now), any dumb ass band who still wants the "big fat record contract" isn't worth listening to in my book. Even yesterday, the NARAS (Grammy) played rap listeners and built up the crappy media hype so someone would watch the Grammys, so it isn't any big mystery how these corporations treat bands and their listeners.

If you can't put two and two together yet and still try to download Metallica or whatever corporate hoe band, you get what rights you fucking deserve. And fuck the moderators if they don't think this is worth reading, it's the fucking truth.

Obviously, the typical dumb-ass moderators don't know a good post from a hole in their ass.

Isn't this was what Chuck D was saying? Let's use the internet to promote new artists outside of the fat slob monopolies? Why in the fuck are we SO OBSESSED with downloading Metallica or Spears (or what the fuck her name is) when there's bands out there that may be worth listening to before they get sucked into the machine? Let's all promote bands who don't suck up those big fat assholes known as the record industry.

Fuck it. Based on the TRILLIONS of stories of how bands who sign up turn into sharecroppers (this is the worst kept secret by now), any dumb ass band who still wants the "big fat record contract" isn't worth listening to in my book. Even yesterday, the NARAS (Grammy) played rap listeners and built up the crappy media hype so someone would watch the Grammys, so it isn't any big mystery how these corporations treat bands and their listeners.

If you can't put two and two together yet and still try to download Metallica or whatever corporate hoe band, you get what rights you fucking deserve. And fuck the moderators if they don't think this is worth reading, it's the fucking truth.

Courtney, whatever you may think of her personally, is to this generation what Madonna was to the previous one. She's a hardline chick with balls who's not afraid of her intelligence OR her sexuality. She's also not afraid to use those advantages to her benefit.

Does she sell herself on outrageousness? Absolutely. Does this discredit her views, or her music? Hell, no.

Courtney's music is about the same things that her words here are about -- and those are the things we're discussing, no? She's doing something that's a lot more on target here than almost anyone else talking about the issue. But then, I think the whole artists-suing-Napster issue lost a great deal of credibility with Eminem, that no-talent, started directing his pottymouth at the Napster users. I can honestly assure the "gentleman" that I have never downloaded any of his so-called music, nor do I ever intend to do so.

As far as artists who are eloquent when speaking live and on the spot, check out the transcript of the Charlie Rose show where Chuck D of Public Enemy squared off against Lars Ulrich. It's available at this link if you haven't seen it yet.

Just some more thougths for y'all.

Chancery

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -Albert Einstein

Now why the hell won't Metallica answer our questions?!?! Bastards. I think I'm gonna go burn my metallica CD now.

--Bob

Now why the hell won't Metallica answer our questions?!?! Bastards. I think I'm gonna go burn my metallica CD now.

--Bob