When Chuck D talks, people listen. That usually happens while he’s rapping by-any-means-possible rhymes onstage or on records with Public Enemy, his legendary rap group.

This Friday though, instead of performing PE classics like “Fight the Power” and “Don’t Believe The Hype,” Chuck D will deliver the keynote address at “Stomp the Violence,” a Huntsville event set for 6-9 p.m. at the Von Braun Center East Hall 3, address 700 Monroe St. The theme of Chuck D’s address, titled “A Message for Sleeping Giants,” is conflict resolution.

The purpose of the “Stomp the Violence” event, is to “bring awareness to violence in our communities and increase discussions about it,” according to a press release. In addition to Chuck D, programming includes a dinner, ‘80s dance contest, fashion runway, local entertainment, art exhibits and more. Tickets start at $52 (plus fees) via eventbrite.com. That morning, Chuck D will bring his message to a 9-10:30 a.m. free student event at the Alabama A&M Wellness Center. The A&M campus is at 4900 Meridian St. N. Register via docs.google.com.

Public Enemy formed in Long Island, N.Y., and the group’s classic lineup also featured hype man deluxe Flavor Flav and the DJ Terminator X. Essential PE albums include 1988′s “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” and 1990′s “Fear of a Black Planet.” Lyrically, Chuck D’s rhymes often address the realities of the modern Black experience. His resonant vocal tone, believe it or not, was partly influenced by sportscaster Marv Albert, who’s called many games for Chuck D’s favorite pro basketball team, the New York Knicks. Public Enemy’s most recent studio album was 2020′s strong “What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?”.

Chuck D’s other projects include Prophets of Rage, a supergroup band also comprised of musicians from Rage Against The Machine and Cypress Hill. He’s also the author of books including “Fight the Power: Rap, Race, and Reality.”

This isn’t Chuck D’s first appearance in North Alabama. In 2017, he spoke at Florence’s University of North Alabama. Although Chuck D wasn’t doing advance interview for his Huntsville event, I had the pleasure of chatting with him via phone before his ‘17 UNA event. Below are a few edited excerpt highlights from that conversation.

Chuck, did the music recorded here in Alabama at Muscle Shoals, by artists like Aretha Franklin, Staple Singers and The Rolling Stones mean a lot to you?

Chuck D: No question. I grew up with that. I grew up in a Stax, Atlantic, Motown household. And, of course, a big fan of [Sun Records founder] Sam Phillips, who’s from that area, so knowing how all this stuff works and how it was in retrospect, I’m a big fan of the region. Passed through it many times because I have an ex that used to live in Tupelo, and I lived in Atlanta. So, big fan of that region’s music and its contribution to the world.

Down the road in Birmingham, Public Enemy opened for U2 in 1992 at Legion Field on the “Zoo TV Tour.” Do you have a distinct memory from that?

Yeah, the magnitude was tremendous. I played in Birmingham many a time and I remember specifically when I played in the Birmingham [Jefferson Civic Center] Arena, and I was surprised, my first year playing with LL Cool J, at how packed it was — 20,000 people up in there. I was like, “Wow, Birmingham turns it out.”

To me, Public Enemy always had a rock edge even though the music was so thoroughly hip-hop, and in 2013 Public Enemy was rightly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What are some of the rock bands you’ve listened to the most over the years?

Beatles, Rolling Stones hand down. And Funkadelic. Those three.

When you were getting started in your music career, did you ever consider another rap name besides Chuck D? (The now 62-year-old MC was born Carlton Douglas Ridenhour.)

Um no, but when great names came out, I said, “Man, I started out with Chuck D, I wish I could choose another one,” but I never did. I helped give Busta Rhymes his name [which was inspired by former Minnesota Vikings receiver George “Buster” Rhymes] and I guess if I chose [another] name it would’ve been I.M. Hip — that was another football player — but it was too late.

Your biggest influences as a lyricist?

Well you know, [Bob] Dylan definitely. I think Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Scarface. The Beatles have written songs that you’d experience and, “Wow, that says it all,” so Lennon/McCartney songs. Later on, the lyrics of Zach de la Rocha, very powerful. As far as lyricists and great music writers too, Carole King.

How about outside of music?

Oh yeah, well Martin Luther King Jr. and I think even a great influence is Minister [Louis] Farrakhan and President Barack Obama. I think their tones and their voices are incredible.

Public Enemy records are known for some really cool samples, like James Brown. Who’s an artist that more hip-hop artists today should sample?

Howlin’ Wolf (the bluesman) is a good place to start.

Do you still have a lot of the original lyrics you wrote down for classic Public Enemy songs like “Fight the Power” and “Bring the Noise”?

Yeah, they’re donated to the Smithsonian and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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