Public Enemy Baseball Cap Formerly Owned by Chuck D

Rapper Chuck D wore this baseball cap as part of his all-black, urban attire when performing with Public Enemy in the early 1990s. Hip-Hop is one of the cultures closest to the streets but in the 90s Hip-Hop artists began to embrace surplus clothing, fatigues, camouflage, and military-style boots. Public Enemy adopted the military aesthetic into their style and was known to wear military fatigues and parade on stage like a squad of guerillas. Public Enemy often wore black along with their iconic logo of a Black man’s silhouette in the crosshairs of a gun. Their logo and style further symbolized their sentiment on Black liberation and provided a unique icon for the group’s political stance. Their unified color scheme, along with the militaristic outfits, Uzi props, and aggressive choreography made a sensational impact on stage during their performances.

Chuck D (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, b.1960) is known as one of the leaders of the Hip-Hop rap group Public Enemy. Known for his lyricism that focused on racism, police brutality, and corporate greed, Chuck D was a rapper who introduced a new political image that addressed the need for social and political change. Born in Queens, New York City and raised in Roosevelt, Long Island, both of his parents were political activists. Under the name Chuckie D, he rapped on Shocklee's demo track, "Public Enemy No. 1", which caught the attention of Rick Rubin at Def Jam Recordings. Ridenhour changed his stage name to Chuck D and assembled Public Enemy. Chuck D stands out as one of the most intelligent and articulate spokesmen for the African American community. Chuck D is known for his powerful rapping voice and is often acclaimed as one of the most distinct and impressive rappers in Hip-Hop.