Chuck D. revealed Flavor Flav's termination was nothing more than a promotional stunt for an upcoming album, according to a statement earlier today, April 1.
In an earlier podcast appearance, as well as a statement on their website, Chuck D clarified that it was an elaborate prank to promote their new album, "Loud is Not Enough", released under their label. It follows their 2017 release, "Nothing Is Quick In The Desert."
Chuck D. explained the elaborate prank during his appearance on the "People's Party" podcast, hosted by Talib Kweli. He explained that they discussed it beforehand. Flavor Flav's lawyer sent out a cease and desist order after Public Enemy Radio appeared at the Sanders rally, which Chuck thought to be a good move before publicly firing "Man you don't f**kin' sue me again."
He continued explaining that in their stunt, the group tried to avoid getting the public confused, so Chuck then publicly asked Flav is he's suing again before going to "fire" Flavor Flav.
The Public Enemy Radio co-founder then stressed that it's not a hoax, and that the original intention is to get the people's attention. Chuck D. even added that he and Flavor Flav "have been better than ever" and that even if he wanted to, he could never fire his "partner."
Chuck D. also released a press statement on the Public Enemy Radio website, saying that this "hoax was a hoax for a reason". He said that he was already tired of the genre always getting a bad look while "the good news never made the news".
He then went on to explain that the prank involving the presidential candidacy platform was inspired by Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" in 1938, which broadcasted over radio and made people believe it was true.
"So it's April 1, 2020 and as we hoard food and empty store shelves, Chuck D and Flavor Flav hijack it as April 'FlavChuck' Day", he said.
He also announced the arrival of their first single "Food as a Machine Gun", which he described as an "attack on the industrial food machine that opens minds to the direct need, dependency, and necessity-yet killer-of our current lives." The concept is taken from author Kristin Lawless' "Formerly Known as Food." Lawless' book exposes the health and environmental risks that come as a byproduct of the modern food manufacturing industry.
The members of Public Enemy engaged in a very public spat last month between Chuck D. and Flavor Flav over their participation in one of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' campaign rallies. Public Enemy then resolved to "fire" co-founder Flavor Flav in a statement released last March 1. Their press statement said that the iconic hip-hop group would move forward without one of its co-founders. It then expressed gratitude for the years with him and wished him well.
Public Enemy, now known as Public Enemy Radio, has earned a reputation for releasing tracks with social and political commentaries, as well as heavy criticism of the U.S. Media. They released their debut album, "Yo! Burn Rush The Show" in 1987.
