One of the Biggest Rap Groups in History Breaks Up Over...Bernie?

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Las Vegas, hosted by NBC News and MSNBC. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Remember that time Yoko Ono (allegedly) broke up the Beatles?

And remember that time Bernie Sanders broke up Public Enemy?

That’s right — the democratic socialist has found himself at center of the dissolution of one of rap’s most (in)famous groups.

And when I say they’ve broken up, I mean the organization has fired its famed eccentric clock-wearer, Flavor Flav.

Brigitte Nielson, Anna Nicole Smith, and Flavor Flav (2004). pic.twitter.com/Ppy8sP9Z7J

— furfante (@nicolemilfie) March 30, 2016

As a bit of background, Public Enemy formed in New York in the 80’s and perhaps peaked — or cemented themselves into music history — with their 1989 hit “Fight the Power,” which served as the theme to Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated Do the Right Thing.

The group — known for their militant presentation, as seen in this explicit-language video — boasted a logo which looked like a silhouetted police officer in the sights of a gun. However, political co-frontman Chuck D explained to Rolling Stone magazine that the figure was a black man wearing a Run-DMC-style hat.

https://twitter.com/TampagirlC19655/status/1234475301339574273

As it turns out, Mr. D — who’s always been about revolution, and not necessarily the peaceful kind (he once called the 1963 civil rights march “a bit of nonsense”) — is a big fan of Bernie’s version of hope and change.

Therefore, Chuck agreed to perform at a Sanders rally, the promotion for which used the group’s name. Kind of.

Rolling Stone explains:

Public Enemy was billed at the rally as “Public Enemy Radio,” an offshoot of the group that includes Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi and S1Ws but not Flavor Flav. Still, two days before the rally, Flavor Flav sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Sanders campaign, accusing it of using the hypeman’s “unauthorized likeness, image and trademarked clock,” to promote the rally, even though Flavor Flav hadn’t endorsed a candidate.

Here’s more from the letter:

While Chuck is certainly free to express his political view as he sees fit — his voice alone does not speak for Public Enemy. The planned performance will only be Chuck D of Public Enemy, it will not be a performance by Public Enemy. Those who truly know what Public Enemy stands for know what time it is. There is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav,” a lawyer representing Flav, Matthew Friedman, said in the letter at the time, according to Rolling Stone.

… The continued publicizing of this grossly misleading narrative is, at a minimum, careless and irresponsible if not intentionally misleading. It is unfortunate that a political campaign would be so careless with the artistic integrity of such iconoclastic figures in American culture.

Not On My Clock: Flavor Flav Hits Bernie Sanders With Cease & Desist Over Public Enemy Rally https://t.co/a3PZzAry1t

Photo: David Crotty / Getty pic.twitter.com/BDmKuLMij2

— Bossip (@Bossip) March 1, 2020

As per NBC, the eccentric entertainer included a doodle:

Flav added a handwritten message at the bottom of the note, saying “Hey Bernie, don’t do this,” with a drawing of his iconic clock.

Chuck responded by saying Flav didn’t know the difference between Bernie and Barry:

… last final note the last final note was my last straw was long ago. It’s not about BERNIE with Flav… he don’t know the difference between BarrySanders or BernieSanders he don’t know either. FLAV refused to support @Sankofa after @harrybelafonte inducted us. He don’t do that pic.twitter.com/5Ky9dTnzmd

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020

Well, he certainly knows who Donald Trump is; Flav had this to say at South by Southwest in 2016:

“I’m not really the politician of the group. There’s a lot of people talking a lot of shit about Trump, but guess what? He’s winning. The man is winning. I ain’t gonna lie, but listen, the United States has been ran a certain way for decades and decades and decades. You never know: Maybe Trump could possibly do something. Maybe he might step in office and do something. I’m not going to doubt him. … [H]e’s winning fairly, but they still don’t want him to be president. They’re going to try to block that man from being president. If Donald Trump does become president, there’s only one thing we all can do: just sit back and let the man do his job.”

That was after Chuck had yelled during their show, “Black Lives Matter! F— Donald Trump!”

In response to Flav Sunday, Chuck referenced an incident about which he’s apparently still upset: The clocked hypeman refused to appear at Harry Belafonte’s Many Rivers Festival in 2016.

93yr old @harrybelafonte could bust his ass come 3000 mls to present PublicEnemy its @rockhall induction 2013 ( many still are clueless on) &anyone feel that they cannot give a ounce of time to reciprocate that honor to his @Sankofa fundraiser-to judge a Bikini $how. #Ungrateful

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020

Chuck established “Public Enemy Radio” in order to do fundraisers without his partner:

I heard I’m trending, like I care . I built @EnemyRadioRS so it does benefits & fundraisers … He said he never gonna do them. So his refusal to do @HarryBelafonte #ManyRiversFestival in Atlanta 2016 was my last time. I built Enemy Radio to get far away from that ridiculousness.

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020

I guess that last straw led to the last straw.

Hence, the group issued a statement Sunday:

“Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav. We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”

Spoke @BernieSanders rally with @EnemyRadio. If there was a $bag, Flav would’ve been there front & center. He will NOT do free benefit shows. Sued me in court the 1st time I let him back in. His ambulance lawyer sued me again on Friday & so now he stays home & better find REHAB

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2020

Flavor is sour:

.@MrChuckD are you kidding me right now???,,,over Bernie Sanders??? You wanna destroy something we've built over 35 years OVER POLITICS???,,,all because I don't wanna endorse a candidate,,,I'm very disappointed in you and your decisions right now Chuck,,,

— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020

He also claims he can’t be fired:

And .@MrChuckD,,,i didn't sue you on Friday,,,i asked the @berniesanders campaign to correct misleading marketing,,,that's all it was,,,I'm not your employee,,,i'm your partner,,,you can't fire me,,,there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav,,,so let's get it right Chuck,,,

— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020

Oy.

All this over Bernie, who Chuck believes can Fight the Power.

My Dad passing in 2016 and Granddaughter being born automatically put healthcare and childcare at the top of my brain. There ain’t a candidate running that can answer to 3 Black struggling generations living in the same crib, same time. If y’all don’t know THIS-it’s a bad problem pic.twitter.com/k8nJbhP8sV

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020

I dig aspects of Bern. Hate the party Bulsht. But can relate to half the issues & get forward. Use your minds & be ready to fight whoever in office. My rap bro @KillerMike is nice.I am not-Wake the fcuk up get off your asses make yourself important where YOU live. This aint vodka pic.twitter.com/ltfhdDLsqZ

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020

So there ya go — Bernie and Yoko. The muses that broke up the bands.

Some fans are upset:

I know Flav has issues but to shit on the brother over an old white dude is something I thought I’d never see from PE….like ever.

— ALL MYSTICS/ALL NATS (@SE_DC_4life) March 1, 2020