WESTPORT — Chuck D, the hip-hop pioneer, social activist and writer, will be the featured guest at the April 3 inaugural program of the Westport Library’s VersoFest 2024.
Co-founder of the rap group Public Enemy, Chuck D will appear at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at the library, 20 Jesup Road. Tickets, costing $50, can be reserved in advance online by clicking here.
VersoFest 2024, planned April 3-7, is the library’s annual showcase of diverse music, media and panel discussions.
Also booked is the rock group, the Lemon Twigs, scheduled to perform the kick-off concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4. Purchase $20 tickets here.
Music producer Tony Visconti will discuss his career, which has included work with David Bowie, at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Register for the free program here.
During his April 3 appearance, Chuck D will discuss his career, including a recently published graphic novel, “STEWdio: The Naphic Grovel ARTrilogy of Chuck.” He will be joined conversation by Akashic Books publisher Johnny Temple and media host/music executive June Archer.
In 1985, Chuck D co-founded Public Enemy with Flavor Flav. The group — known for its “Fight the Power” message — released a series of best-selling albums about race, power and inequality, and the anger those issues can provoke. The New York Times named Public Enemy’s “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” to its list of the “25 Most Significant Albums of the Last Century,” and the Library of Congress in 2005 added “Fear of a Black Planet” to its National Recording Registry.
In 2013, Public Enemy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2020.
Chuck D’s “groundbreaking contributions to music and social activism have made a profound impact on our culture, and we can’t wait for our community to engage with his incredible insights and talent,” William Harmer, the library’s executive director, said in a statement announcing the VersoFest program.
For questions and more information, call the Westport Library at 203-291-4800.
Why are we glorifying the anti American sentiments of this genre. Can someone in this town responsible for these type bookings please get their head out of their a** for a minute and consider if this is inspiring or elevating in any possible way.
Sharon’s right again! Why can’t we get Scott Baio doing King Lear, Kevin Sorbo doing Hamlet, Roseanne Barr doing Hedda Gabler?
We need more white people doing white things!
How does every thing become a race issue with you lefties. When someone tells you who they are, believe them. “Public Enemy”? I rest my case.
Just take a look at your extensive oeuvre on this site: You criticize only the people who aren’t white. There’s a word for that.
I criticize you. Aren’t you white? A self-hating white, by the way. Who else have I criticized that aren’t white? Were they doing anything other than not being white? I only criticize based on behavior. I do not base it on race. I will not withhold criticism based on race either. Everyone should be held to the same standards. It’s a free country. If you want to be a criminal or on the dole or otherwise undesirable, that is your choice. A healthy society will make those choices unviable for you. Lowering expectations for behavior based on race is the definition of racism because it reveals that you believe the race in question is incapable of the same standards as another. I do not believe that. Furthermore, your type thinking is what leads to the problems we are having in our society via DEI, defunding police, celebrating thugs, lowering education standards, etc. You can call me whatever you want, obliquely in this case. I will tell straight out, you are the racist.
Your opinion, of course, means the world to me. I’ll be thinking of you during Black History Month. I know it must be a trying time for you.
I can only hope for you that my opinion will give you an impetus for self reflection and introspection. Perhaps then you can get over your racism. Celebrating Black History month and BLM isn’t fooling anyone anymore. Good luck with that.
I look forward to Sharon’s extensive thoughts on the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry of the ’90s. And whether she thinks Suge Knight should receive clemency prior to his 2034 parole eligibility.
Thanks for making my case for how “wholesome” this whole rap, hip-hop genre is. How dumb are you?
Chris, I have a feeling Tom Prince may ask you to not back him up on this since what you just said only proves my point. Criminal celebrating so called ” music” artists should not be invited to our community.
Chuck D is a college graduate with no criminal record. He is a rapper, producer, and writer, who is politically active and has testified before Congress.
It is interesting that you think he is a “criminal.”
I genuinely don’t know why the moderators think it is a good idea to give you a platform for your thinly-veiled racist comments. You seem oblivious to the embarrassment.
Exactly. Why can’t she just listen to her Doris Day records on the Victrola while she irons her hood?
On the other hand, she probably thinks Dr Dre is an actual physician.
I wonder if Sharon thinks the Grateful Dead means the menbers of the Grateful Dead are grateful for people being dead? Lol! Oh sharon, laugh a little bit in life!
So the ideological leftist twins both call me a racist because they cannot mount an intelligent argument against what I said. I don’t know Chuck D’s criminal record or lack thereof. I said the genre is “criminal celebrating”, which it is I looked at the type “music” he performs and the type of thinking it represents and I don’t like it. Many references to guns, shooting people , being in the “pen”, etc.You two should go together and watch him perform ,maybe get back stage passes where you can virtue signal your open mindedness to Chuck and his acolytes. Maybe you can wash Chuck’s feet in a true show of white unworthiness.
Sharon,
Last I read you were for the first amendement and freedom of speech. Has something changed? Are you only for it if it suits YOU?
Stephanie, Chuck D has a constitutional right to say whatever he wants. We do not have to invite him to Westport to promote his vile anti American , pro anarchy opinions. I hope that (for the last time) I can explain to those not paying attention in their civics classes, the protection the First Amendment provides in the Constitution. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or a bridging the freedom of speech, or of the press,or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”. In other other words, the government cannot , by law, stop you from the above activities. This has nothing to do with some fool in this town thinking that inviting this individual to perform his glorification of thug life “music” to Westport is a good idea. You can do whatever you want and I can say whatever I want. Public opprobrium is not a violation of the First Amendment and would would be completely appropriate in this situation.
No that would be you, who no doubt thinks Jill Biden has a medical degree. I recommend you go to her for your annual physical.
As I have recommended to you in the past, quit while you’re not ahead.
Stephanie you have no idea how amusing I find the vapid, inane opinions of leftists to be. If only they were not contributing to the demise of my once great country which makes them considerably less amusing. Maybe stupid people in Germany found those silly goose stepping Nazis amusing , until they didn’t.
Sharon,
I am Jewish. Please stop with your hate and gaslighting. This is not YOUR country! It does not, nor has it ever, belonged to YOU!