That commercial sensibility combined with their political intention…produced rap nationalism’s founding fathers: Public Enemy. This is not to suggest that the groups formation was completely a smooth process. For Example, when deliberating over the concept and constitution of “Public Enemy, Bill Sptephney objected to the inclusion of William Drayton as “Flavor Flav,” contending that Drayton’s comedic personality jeopardized the potent dynamic of the group. (Stepheys instincts as the groups founder were partially correct. College educated black fans criticized Flaoer Flaves’s role in the group because, as Chuck D explained, ” They didn’t understand the psychology behind it.”) The other artists believed that Flave was just what Public Enemy needed. They felt as Stephney recalls qqouting the classic Disney musical Mary Poppins, that a “spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” S They believed that if Public Enemy was going to be a hard hitting, militant political group, Flavor Flav could help balance out the group. (Cheny76-77) Brothers Gonna Work it

This worked for Public Enemy and the reason was the addition of Flav. He brought a funny side to the group, a crazy side that made the group balanced. They are in the music business, seriousness doesn’t appeal to all audiences.

Tom