Direct naar content

Fight the Power: The song that became an anthem of protest

It's 35 years since the release of one of the most provocative songs in music history.

Fight the Power by hip-hop group, Public Enemy, was radical both politically and sonically.

The song was written at the request of filmmaker, Spike Lee, who needed an anthem for his 1989 movie, Do the Right Thing.

The film became a box office smash and - despite controversy surrounding Public Enemy's image - the song soon became an anthem of protest and rebellion all over the world.

Public Enemy frontman, Chuck D, shares his memories of that time with Matt Pintus.

(Photo: Chuck D and Spike Lee pictured in 1989. Credit: Getty Images)

Datum:
Duur:

Meer afleveringen van Witness History

  • The making of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

    In 1982, audiences around the world fell in love with a gentle alien stranded on Earth and the young boy determined to help him get home. Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial became a global phenomenon and gave us one of...
  • ‘Genius’ sci-fi writer Octavia E Butler

    In 1995, Octavia E Butler became the first author to receive a MacArthur “genius” award for science fiction writing. From a young age she dreamed of writing books, but faced many challenges, including poverty, sexism and racism in the...
  • Making Turkish Star Wars

    When the set fell apart for an ambitious cinematic space opera that was produced on a characteristically small Turkish budget, nationally famed director Çetin İnanç had to think fast to save his film. What resulted was a domestic hit...