Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy. About.com ranked him #9 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time, while The Source ranked him #12 on their list of the Top 50 Hip-Hop Lyricists of All Time.