Public Enemy's Chuck D announced as Record Store Day ambassador for 2014

Public Enemy man Chuck D has been unveiled as the honorary ambassador for this year’s Record Store Day.

Previous years have seen the likes of Jack White, Iggy Pop and Ozzy Osbourne take the title, with the hip-hop artist encouraging fans to buy from local stores and independent outlets instead of global digital services.

This is what he had to say about the matter:

“Over 27 years and 93 countries visited, as a professional lead vocalist of the rap groupPublic Enemy, I don’t go 1 single day without emphasizing that the genre of hip-hop is spawned from DJ culture. The founding members of Public Enemy were, and still are, DJs. The tool and fuel for DJs has forever been recordings. And where these recordings have long connected, with pros and fans alike, have simply been The Record Store, the connection point of listener and the recording.”

The record store made musicians listen beyond themselves. It both complemented and supplemented the radio, in fact the best radio stations in the past followed the vibe of the record stores of their regions, thus growing and nurturing each other. The fans and listener had everything to gain, and if they wanted to get into making music, the Record Store turned into their first school and sonic passport out.”

In this age where industry has threaded the music sound with virtual sight and story I am honored to be called upon to be Record Store Day Ambassador of 2014. With the masses, neck bent into their smartphones, let all of us music lovers GPS our way into a reality that is the Record Store. It’s worth a great try, let’s do this…”

Record Store Day 2014 takes place on 19 April.

[via FACT]