Chuck D Blasts Those Misusing Public Enemy’s ‘Burn Hollywood Burn’ During L.A. Fires

Legendary Public Enemy emcee Chuck D took to Instagram on Friday (January 10) to voice his displeasure that people were insensitively misusing his band’s volatile 1990 song, “Burn Hollywood Burn” amid the devastating wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. Some social media users have been celebrating the city’s destruction by using PE’s protest anthem to soundtrack their posts, and Chuck clearly wasn’t pleased. The rapper clarified that “Burn Hollywood Burn” has roots in the Watts Rebellion and is inspired by the Magnificent Montague’s 1965 statement against inequality. “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,” Chuck wrote. He sympathetically captioned his post, “PRAY 4 LA🙏🏾,” and lashed out at malicious social media users in the comments, writing, “Please don’t use our song on your reels and pictures of this horrifying natural disaster.” (People)