Chuck D will not tolerate the insensitive use of Public Enemy’s “Burn Hollywood Burn” amid the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.
After wildfires broke out earlier this week, social media users used a protest song to celebrate the city’s destruction. In response, the Public Enemy frontman asked those using the song to stop associating it with a natural disaster – and to learn the history behind it.
On Tuesday, January 9, Chuck D, 64, was the first to share a photo of the wildfires on Instagram and captioned the post, “🙏🏾 PRAYERS UP. BE SAFE. EVACUATE.”
Shortly after, he shared a statement clarifying the song’s true meaning and historical context.
“Burn Hollywood Burn is a protest song. Taken from the Watts Rebellion that Magnificent Montague called out against inequality in 1965 when he said ‘burn baby burn’ all over the airwaves. We made mind revolution songs about the one-sided exploitation of the industry. It has nothing to do with the families that they lose everything they have in a natural disaster, the statement read.
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In the comments section, he added: “Please do not use our song on your reels and images of this horrific natural disaster.”
On his Instagram stories, the rapper shared a number of resources and informational posts about the wildfires.
“Burn Hollywood Burn” is on Public Enemy’s 1990 album Fear of the black planet. The song — which features Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane — became an anthem for black empowerment, calling for more authentic representation of black creatives in media.
The fast-growing wildfires first broke out on Tuesday, January 7, and soon sent tens of thousands of residents – including celebrities – fleeing the growing flames and plumes of smoke.
Public enemy.
Michael Ochs/Getty Archive
Celebrities who have reported losing their homes include Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Milo Ventimiglia, Miles Teller and Keleigh Teller, Anna Faris, Paris Hilton, Cameron Mathison, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. Meanwhile, many others, including Mario Lopez, Molly Sims, Kid Cudi and Bebe Rexha, said they had evacuated as the fire continued to spread.
Tina Knowles — who is mom to Beyoncé and Solange Knowles — revealed on Instagram that her Malibu beachfront bungalow was gutted in a fire, which reflected the loss of her “sacred happy place.”
“I watched this on my birthday last weekend from my tiny bungalow on the water in Malibu! It was my favorite place, my refuge, my sacred Happy place. Now he’s gone!!” she captioned the post.
The businesswoman also thanked the “brave men and women in our fire department” who worked tirelessly to put out the fire.
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“Thank you for your dedication and courage and for saving so many lives,” she wrote. “This could have been a lot worse without the outside [sic] the dedication of disaster workers and first responders.”
She added: “To people who have lost their homes and possessions, I can only imagine what it feels like to lose your possessions and everything you own! My heart and deep prayers go out to all of you ❤️,” she wrote. “I cannot imagine the pain, suffering and fear you are enduring.. I pray diligently for our beautiful city of Los Angeles!! However, we are resilient and we will recover! ‘This too shall pass’❤️”
Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the LA fires.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education