Witness History

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


Listen Later

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)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Witness HistoryBy BBC World Service

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

898 ratings


More shows like Witness History

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,701 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

369 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

529 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

883 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,046 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

289 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,431 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,805 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,193 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,871 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

585 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

518 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

598 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

109 Listeners

Crossing Continents by BBC Radio 4

Crossing Continents

77 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,811 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

737 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

246 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

842 Listeners

Evil Genius with Russell Kane by BBC Sounds

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

358 Listeners

Have You Heard George's Podcast? by BBC Sounds

Have You Heard George's Podcast?

227 Listeners

Elis James and John Robins by BBC Radio 5 Live

Elis James and John Robins

320 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,192 Listeners

Sport's Strangest Crimes by BBC Radio 5 Live

Sport's Strangest Crimes

63 Listeners

Uncanny by BBC Radio 4

Uncanny

820 Listeners

Dua Lipa: At Your Service by BBC Sounds

Dua Lipa: At Your Service

998 Listeners

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley by BBC Radio 4

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

495 Listeners

Believe in Magic by BBC Sounds

Believe in Magic

614 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

288 Listeners

Miss Me? by BBC Sounds

Miss Me?

266 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

26 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

64 Listeners

Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

80 Listeners

Havana Helmet Club by BBC Sounds

Havana Helmet Club

3 Listeners