Carlton Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), best known by the pseudonym Chuck D, is a rapper, composer, actor, radio personality and producer. Chuck was born in Long Island, New York, USA. Chuck D. furthered 1980s political rap music as the controversial and influential lead rapper of Public Enemy.

After graduating from Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School, Chuck went to Adelphi University in Long Island, New York. During his rap career, Chuck D gave voice to the black consciousness .

Ridenhour also contributed (as Chuck D) to several episodes of the PBS documentary series The Blues.

Since 2000, he has been one of the most vocal supporters of Internet music file sharing in the music industry.

Chuck has been increasingly involved politically. He co-hosts Unfiltered on Air America Radio, he has testified before Congress about P2P, and was involved in a 2004 rap political convention.

Chuck D continues to be an activist, publisher, lecturer, and producer. He is the co-writer of the essay book Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality, along with Yusuf Jah (ISBN 0385318685) and film director Spike Lee.

Discography

with Public Enemy:

• Yo! Bum Rush The Show (1987)
• It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
• Fight the Power...Live! (video and album, 1989)
• Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
• Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black (1991)
• Greatest Misses 1986-1992 (1992)
• Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994)
• He Got Game (1998)
• BTN 2000 (online released mega-mix which initialized PE's leaving Def Jam records) (1999)
• There's A Poison Goin On (1999)
• Revolverlution (2002)
• There's A Poison Goin On (worldwide re-release via Slamjamz.com ) (2004)

He also brought out a very soulful 1996 solo record, "The Autobiography of Mistachuck" (on Mercury Records) and founded the record company Slam Jamz.

with Fine Arts Militia:

• Fine Arts Militia (2003)

External links

• Rolling Stone's Chuck D
• Chuck D interview with the Village Voice. October 22, 1991.