The Artist Honors Self Empowerment, Chuck D Calls For An End To Brutality

03/06/2000 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(3/6/00, 3 p.m. ET) - Rapper Chuck D, who presented the Artist formerly known as Prince with the male artist of the decade award on Saturday night (March 4) at the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles (LAUNCH, 3/5), took a moment before his introduction to call for an end to police violence.

"Since we're on Soul Train and still representing, let's represent stopping police brutality, all right? Stop Prop. 21, build more schools, less prisons."

Following Chuck's introduction, the Artist took the stage. The notoriously publicity-shy artist asked the cheering audience to remain standing while he read a passage that celebrated self-empowerment and freedom from contracts.

"Some people find it odd that when we win anything in this game we give praise back unto God," he said. "Well, in somebody else's game, any triumph makes us feel blessed. When it's your game, you make the rules, everything comes easy. All your friends are in key positions, so when you decide you don't want to play any more, you never leave empty-handed. Can somebody say 'golden parachute?' Well, it's not your game, you didn't make the rules, so everything comes hard. As long as you're signed to a contract, you're going to take a minority share of the winnings. A select few of us will do well. The majority will not. So, as a people, we'll be considered a minority. Let's stop. Take a moment and look at yourselves. There's nothing minor about you. You are a blessed people. You are the most talented on earth and you are still grateful. That is why upon winning in their game you always thank God. Tonight, I would like to ask one favor of you: imagine what we'll all be like in our own game."

-- Lucy Tauss, New York

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