Feel good story alert. Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Flavor Flav showed up big for the Altadena community following the devastating L.A. wildfires, offering both financial support and a powerful performance to help residents rebuild.
The two trailblazing rappers teamed up for a surprise performance of their anthem “Fight the Power” at the Black Music Action Coalition’s Restore and Rebuild event on Wednesday, showcasing their commitment to aiding those affected by the fires.
As of this week, officials have contained 99% of the blaze, but the damage to the area has been significant, with an estimated 9,400 homes and businesses impacted or destroyed in Altadena alone. The total cost is somewhere between $8 and $10 billion.
A particularly heartfelt moment occurred when Chuck D and Flavor Flav presented a $2,500 donation to 10-year-old Grayson Roberts, who is visually impaired. Grayson’s drum kit, a key part of his life, was destroyed in the fire. Thanks to the generous donation, Grayson and his family received a total of $10,000 in financial support to help replace the kit and cover other needs.
Here’s what’s also important: the rappers’ efforts to help the Altadena community began the day before when they visited the fire site to support Black families displaced by the Eaton Fire. The fire, which started in late August, destroyed numerous homes and left many residents struggling to recover.
Flavor Flav, in particular, has been vocal about the need for more assistance to Black families affected by the California wildfires. Flav partnered with GoFundMe and the Black Music Action Coalition to create a centralized fundraising campaign to provide immediate relief to those in need.
Their contributions to the community have not gone unnoticed.
But what’s amazing in addition to the financial aid, Chuck D and Flavor Flav’s visit provided a much-needed emotional lift, reminding the community that they have not been forgotten in the aftermath of such a devastating event. Through these efforts, both rappers have shown that they’re not just legends in music but also leaders in giving back to the people who need it most.
