Chuck D

Chuck D
Chuck D in 2000
Chuck D in 2000
Background information
Birth nameCarlton Douglas Ridenhour[1]
Also known as
  • Carl Ryder
  • Mistachuck
  • Chucky D
  • Chuck Dangerous
  • The Hard Rhymer
  • The Rhyme Animal
Born (1960-08-01) August 1, 1960 (age 64)
Hempstead, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1984–present
Member ofPublic Enemy
Formerly of
Websitemrchuckd.com

Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), known professionally as Chuck D, is an American rapper,[2] best known as the leader and frontman of the hip hop group Public Enemy, which he co-founded in 1985 with Flavor Flav.[3] Chuck D is also a member of the rock supergroup Prophets of Rage. He has released several solo albums, most notably Autobiography of Mistachuck (1996).

His work with Public Enemy helped create politically and socially conscious hip hop music in the mid-1980s. The Source ranked him at No. 12 on its list of the Top 50 Hip-Hop Lyricists of All Time.[4] Chuck D has been nominated for six Grammys throughout his career, and has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of Public Enemy.[5][6] He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 as a member of Public Enemy.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ D, Chuck; Jah, Yusuf (2007). Chuck D: Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary. Gardena, Calif.: Offda. ISBN 978-0-9749484-1-6.
  3. ^ "Public Enemy is 'moving forward without Flavor Flav' after Bernie Sanders rally dispute". USA Today. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  4. ^ "The Source: Top 50 Lyricists [Magazine Scans] – Genius". Genius. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "Chuck D – Grammys". www.grammy.com. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "Isaac Hayes, Public Enemy To Receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards – Okayplayer". www.okayplayer.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (February 3, 2022). "Every Rapper in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2023.