RETURN OF THE ENEMY: The hard-edged, topical...

RETURN OF THE ENEMY: The hard-edged, topical rap of Public Enemy hasn’t fared well in recent years, as party-oriented rhymes and gangsta fantasies have dominated the genre. The pioneering New York group’s most recent album, “Muse Sick N Hour Mess Age,” made little impact.

But leader Chuck D., 36, is fighting to return topical content to the form. While his upcoming solo debut album, “The Autobiography of Mista Chuck,” is more “groove oriented” than PE’s groundbreaking sonic assaults, he says, the lyrics are no less pointed.

“Whatever I do involves topics,” he says. “[Social awareness] is one thing rap should at least try to reach for.”

The album is due Sept. 17 as the first release of D.’s new deal with Mercury Records and features the return of two former associates who have not worked with PE in recent years: producer Eric “Vietnam” Sadler and former PE “minister of security” Professor Griff, who was kicked out of the group in 1989 after igniting a firestorm of controversy with anti-Semitic remarks. The collection will be preceded this month by the single “No,” which D. says is a repudiation of “a whole bunch of things we need less of,” such as vapid talk shows.

It’s no coincidence that D. himself is trying to launch an interview show with meaningful content. He’s also negotiating with MTV and BET to serve as a correspondent at the two major political conventions this summer. He’s also planning to promote the record with a tour that will combine performances with a variety of lectures, political activities and community fund-raisers. A new PE album, “Afraid of the Dark,” meantime, is slated for 1997.

Ironically, in anticipation of the eyebrow-raising that may occur over Griff’s return, D. suggests that some people take these things too seriously.

“It’s only music,” he says. “It’s not food, shelter or clothing.”