Chuck D won’t tolerate the insensitive use of Public Enemy’s song “Burn Hollywood Burn” amid the wildfires ravaging through Los Angeles.
After the wildfires broke out earlier this week, social media users have used the protest song to celebrate the city’s destruction. In response, the Public Enemy frontman asked those using the song to stop associating it with natural disaster — and to learn the history behind it.
On Tuesday, Jan. 9, Chuck D, 64, first shared 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. Extracted from the Watts Rebellion monikered by the Magnificent Montague in 1965 against inequality when he said ‘burn baby burn’ across the air. We made mind revolution songs aimed at a one sided exploitation by a industry. Has nothing to do with families, losing everything they have in a natural disaster. Learn the history. Godspeed to those in loss,” the statement read.
In the comments section, he added, “Please don’t use our song on your reels and pictures of this horrifying natural disaster.”
On his Instagram Stories, the rapper shared a series of resources and informational posts about the wildfires.
“Burn Hollywood Burn” was featured on Public Enemy’s 1990 album Fear of a Black Planet. The track — which features Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane — became an anthem for Black empowerment, calling for a more authentic representation of Black creatives in media.
The fast-growing wildfires first broke out on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and soon sent tens of thousands of residents — including celebrities — scrambling for safety from the growing flames and plumes of smoke.
Celebrities who’ve reported they’ve lost 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, have shared that they have evacuated as the fire continues to spread.
Tina Knowles — who is mom to Beyoncé and Solange Knowles — revealed on Instagram that her oceanfront Malibu bungalow was burned down in the blaze and reflected on the loss of her “sacred happy place.”
“This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu! It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone !!” she captioned the post.
The business woman also thanked the “brave men and women in our fire department” who have worked tirelessly to put on the flames.
“We Thankyou for your dedication and bravery and for saving so many lives,” she wrote. “This could have been so much worse with out [sic] the dedication of the disaster workers and first responders.”
She added, “To the people who lost their homes and belongings, I can only imagine how it feels to lose properties and everything you own ! My heart and deep prayers go out to all of you ❤️,” she wrote. “I cannot imagine the pain and suffering and fear that you are enduring.. I am praying diligently for our beautiful City of Los Angeles !! We are resilient though and we will recover! ‘This too shall pass’❤️”
Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.
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