FIGHT THE POWER: Is Public Enemy, the...

FIGHT THE POWER: Is Public Enemy, the rap world’s most provocative band, blacklisted from “The Arsenio Hall Show”? That’s what Public Enemy leader Chuck D says in the new issue of Spin magazine. It’s a charge supported by the fact that Hall’s adventuresome show has championed nearly every major rap act over the past year-- except Public Enemy, who were in town last week for a pair of shows at the Palace.

“Spike Lee told me it was because Public Enemy and him are a posse and Arsenio doesn’t like Spike,” Chuck D told Spin. “But I think that the deep down fact is that Arsenio is just plain scared.”

Asked if Arsenio fears a “black planet,” Chuck D responded: “I don’t know if that’s true because I think his planet to him is his whole ego. He’s just playing it safe. He doesn’t want to put us on his show because he’s scared to lose sponsors. Now the media have tagged us as racists, it’s the only excuse he needs.”

Hall’s publicist said the talk-show host had “no comment” on the charges.