Chuck D, author, social commentator and founding father of the legendary rap group Public Enemy, will speak at UNCW as part of his “Race, Rap and Reality” lecture series on Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Warwick Center Ballroom.

“We wanted Chuck D to speak at UNCW because of his effect on modern pop culture,” said Lathan Goumas, a representative of the ACE Contemporary Culture Department. Goumas said most speakers invited to UNCW present material academic in nature, and he wanted to bring in someone who could entertain as well as educate.

Public Enemy released their first album, “Yo Bum Rush Show.” in 1987. This album introduced pop music to a unique cut-and-paste sampling style of production that brandished a subversive sociopolitical message articulated by Chuck D’s stentorian, machine-gun style delivery. Public Enemy’s second album, “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back,” was hailed as a instant classic and solidified Public Enemy as one of the most important rap acts of all time.

Between periodic releases from Public Enemy, Chuck D launched two Web sites, appeared on numerous news talk show outlets and wrote an autobiography titled

“The Autobiography of Mistachuck.”

Rolling Stone magazine named Chuck D as one of the “fifty most important performers in rock & roll history” in May 2004.

Chuck D’s appearance is sponsored by the ACE Contemporary Culture department. Tickets are available at the University Union information desk. The event is free for students and faculty with a UNCW ID.