TRNN on the Real Off the Record Video Series: Chuck D and Johnny Juice on Hip-Hop and America pt.1

Washington, DC, July 07, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Public Enemy's Chuck D speaks to DJ Johnny 'Juice' Rosado about rap artists and rap music in troubled economic times in the latest video from TRNN's On the Real, Off the Record series.

"Rap has unfortunately devolved into the 'me first, I gotta get mine' [mentality]. Rap is an American music in every way, 'cause America's about the almighty dollar, and that what's it's about," Rosado says.

"[Rap music] reflected the Clinton administration superficially," he says. "But as far as culturally, it's always been 'What can I do for myself?' And you know, how can a rapper talk about something like the conflict in Palestine, or a conflict anywhere, when they don't even know what is happening outside their five-block radius in Brooklyn?"

Regarding the current economic crisis, Rosado says that most rappers have lost touch with the reality of the situation and are still living in their own worlds. "At one time, rappers could talk about how hard they had it. But they didn't talk about it with a pride, they talked about it as a way of bringing it out and trying to overcome it. Now, there's a shame that's involved in talking about those things, so people don't want to mention how bad they have it, they want to mention how much money they have, even though they have no money," Rosado says.

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