Public enemy No. 1 was on trial before a jury of nearly 1,000 ISU students Tuesday night.

Chuck D, leader and co-founder of rap group Public Enemy, spoke about “Rap, Race and Reality” at Stephens Auditorium as part of 2001 Institute on National Affairs “The Business of Music in America” lecture series.

The rapper kept the tone humorous, joking about articles that referred to him as being a hateful person, when in fact the only thing he hates is the cold and snow of Iowa.

“I didn’t think he would be as down to Earth as he was,” said Mike Flowers, junior in marketing.

But D’s presentation correctly personified the outspoken, intelligent and sometimes controversial rapper. He touched on world issues such as America’s foreign policy and educated the audience on how the music business operates.

Much of D’s presentation dealt with race relations in today’s American society and the role that music, especially hip-hop, has played in that relationship.

“Rap music is black people’s CNN,” he explained. “And rap has gone from Fighting the Power to `Gin and Juice.’ “

An example D used of this was what he called “niggertivity.” In today’s hip-hop music, the word “nigger” is as common as baggy pants and diamond medallions, something he doesn’t agree with.

“These guys are using nigger as a term of love,” he said. “Turning that word around is almost impossible.”

D, who has also written a book titled “Fight the Power,” explained to the audience how the reality of being involved in the music world could easily suck people between the cracks. An example – the unexplained deaths of Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac.

The rapper explained how 2Pac slowly changed personas as he started playing more and more thug roles in movies. Eventually the reality of being a thug took control and led to his death.

“Were they gangsters? Hell no they weren’t gangsters,” D said about his slain peers.

Some people get beer muscles, D said, where after a couple beers they want to fight everyone. But others get what D calls “rap muscles” and lose control of reality. You “rap and act,” he said.

After speaking for nearly two hours, D offered his personal e-mail address to everyone in the audience and opened the floor for questions.