Public Enemy might think 911 is a joke, but it sounds like the wildfires that ravaged Southern California late last year were far from a laughing matter for Chuck D.
The rapper Chuck D lost his home in the Ventura County, California, wildfire last month, according to court papers obtained by TheWrap.
The papers were filed in late December in relation to a lawsuit filed by Public Enemy hype-man Flavor Flav (real name: William Drayton) filed against Chuck D (real name: Carlton Ridenhour).
The papers describe Flavor Flav’s difficulty in serving the suit to Chuck D.
“Plaintiff attempted to serve Ridenhour or his wife in his home. As the Court can see, attempts were made on October 12 and October 13, 2017,” the court papers read. “An attempt was made again on December 8, 2017, but Ridenhour’s home was in the path of the Ventura County fires,” the papers read.
“Plaintiff has since learned that Ridenhour’s home burned down in the fire, and he is believed to be living in [a] hotel at an unknown location.”
TheWrap has reached out to Chuck D’s management in regard to the court papers’ claims.
As previously reported by TheWrap, Flavor Flav filed suit against Chuck D and others in August, claiming that he’s owed profits from his work with the pioneering rap group.
In the suit, Flav alleges that money and property rights have been usurped from the rap icon.
“This action involves the usurpation of money and property rights from Plaintiff William J. Drayton, known as ‘Flavor Flav.’ Drayton is recognized as one of the two key members of groundbreaking Hip Hop group Public Enemy. Public Enemy have been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and have sold tens of millions of records,” the suit reads. “Despite Drayton’s position in Public Enemy, the group’s management and related companies have for years attempted to minimize his role in the Public Enemy business, while continuing to rely upon Drayton’s fame and persona to market the brand.”
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.