Interficial ARTelligence

Legendary hip-hop artist Chuck D (Public Enemy, Prophets of Rage) details and illustrates his encounters with some of society’s most influential musicians, entertainers, politicians, athletes, and public figures.

In Interficial ARTelligence: Moments That Met Me, Chuck D presents  his encounters with some of his greatest heroes and other public figures. These seminal moments in Chuck D’s life include: an editorial meeting with John F. Kennedy Jr.; presenting an award to Davie Bowie; being recruited by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay to act in a film; eating chips and guac with Quincy Jones; being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Harry Belafonte; lobbying on Capitol Hill with Anita Baker; musical collaborations with Prince, Sheryl Crow, Janet Jackson, Erykah Badu, and John Mellencamp; and visiting Mumia Abu-Jamal in prison.

Chuck D says, “For a PErson like myself—an aged distance beyond a half century of life on Earth—I have experienced a vast array of PEople, PlacEs & Things. The memories are always a looping swirl in my mind. I’m often asked about them and I consider myself a decent storyteller. As an illustrator, I’m able to recreate that point of view as I saw it. So Interficial ARTelligence: Moments That Met Me is a tale with images from my PErspective in a time when so many people listen with their eyes.”

Chuck’s beautiful illustrations and remarkable commentary also include his cross-pollinations with: music industry titans like Berry Gordy and Ahmet Ertegun; musical icons Madonna, the Notorious B.I.G., the Rolling Stones, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Mavis Staples, Michael Stipe, Ice Cube, Patti LaBelle, Lenny Kravitz, and LL Cool J; athletes Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Julius Erving, Barry Bonds, and Barry Sanders; entertainers/actors Oprah Winfrey, Joan Rivers, Jeremy Piven, Dick Gregory, Robin Williams, Warren Beaty, Alec Baldwin, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, and Spike Lee; political figures like Angela Davis and Jesse Jackson; and many more.