“Hip Hop Is Bigger Than The Commercial Side.”
JAHI of PE 2.0 speaks on the track “Mind Of Malcolm” and he also explains how PE 2.0 came together and the vision of PE 2.0.
ESHE: What inspired “Mind For Malcolm” ?
Jahi: Well if you know The history of Public Enemy, when they first came out, the way they were trying to promote their music was through cultural images on a flyer and putting them on sign posts. One time they had a photo of Malcolm and put it up, and as soon as they left I remember hearing Chuck and Griff talking about somebody saying “Who is that?” and it made them realize that not only could they say something in the music, but take it there in terms of imagery. I thought about the multiple meanings; I thought about that story that I heard from Public Enemy. Number two, my son is born on Malcolm X’s birthday May 19 and Malcolm is consistently “Our Shining Prince of Manhood” as Ossie Davis said it and what I thought is what if Malcolm was an emcee and he hooked up with Public Enemy right now, what would he say.
The first verse of it is as if Malcolm was an emcee. If I had to go three fold, I had seen Harry Belafonte about a week before and he lit a fire and that is why it’s “Mind For Malcolm” because we were talking body, lower shocker music but where is the mind music. No metaphors, no similes, just straight to it. For Malcolm it was a celebration of his birthday, a celebration of his legacy, what he’s meant to so many of us globally; the best way I could honor him and the best way I could honor PE 2.0.
ESHE: Tell us about PE 2.0
Jahi: PE 2.0 is considered the 2nd generation of Public Enemy. PE is Project Experience Millennium. Chuck and I have been friends since 1999. It was somewhat a symbol of Chuck feeling comfortable enough to pass the baton, almost like a quarter back passing to a running back. Not so much that I can continue on as an emcee, but so we can create more songs that can create more movement that helps to build more mindsets that are around and in the spirit of what you know and love about Public Enemy. PE 2.0 represents that and it also provides an opportunity; Chuck is an elder statesmen at this point. He should be able to get on stage, rock 45 minutes, not 2 hours. He should be able to do “Fight The Power,” “Don’t Believe The Hype,” do hits and be able to downsize to some degree and have the same team be able to cover some of the songs of Public Enemy’s catalog and on the flip side present new material over bomb squad productions.
Chuck created the logo for PE 2.0 so when you see it, you know its PE. It was really a culmination of a lot of work, a lot of effort and friendship and brotherhood. Understanding that this way in 20 years from now, I can pass the ball to somebody who’s next ; it’ll be PE 20.0. In some cases we are preservationist as well and we try to make sure we preserve the legacy of Public Enemy and move it forward at the same time. That’s my job, that’s my role, I’m the lead emcee.
ESHE: You do a lot of work in the field of education and mentoring with you, in particular young black males. Tell us about your life as an educator in addition to being an emcee.
Jahi: I’ve been an educator pretty much as long as I’ve been an emcee. To me the classroom and working with the youth is an extension of the stage in some ways. I’ve worked with the office of African American Male Achievement, pretty much teaching manhood development to African American boys in the Oakland Unified School District.
“My Brother’s Keeper” by President Obama really came out of them paying attention to some of our work out here. My thing is I make it happen for kids; I realize in all humility that I’m a motivator, that I can spark thought, I know how to teach. I’m in the business of empowering young people. In the 21st Century responsible black men in some way, some form have to engage in their community and provide some service to those kids; I do that equally and as passionate as I do music.
