Chuck D, founder of the popular hip hop group Public Enemy, has posted the following tribute on the PublicEnemy.com website:
RIP BO DIDDLEY
One of my most memorable moments in music period was the day I spent with Mr Bo Diddley.
Scott Free arranged a meeting which started from his bedside after he was recovering from his burns. He was talking music, Chess as in Records and things that was on TV at the minute. Bo was motivated by this idea he had been working on, that he sprung out of bed and rolled into the studio next door. He and Scott lit the board up with some super futuristic layered funk I couldn't describe. It was very percussive.
I later rapped on a project that he was working on. Couldn't help the fact that I better had paid attention, because it took 10 years for folks to catch up for what he did in the 1950s. I figured in order to get down with Mr Bo, I'd better set my mind, skill and soul somewhere around 2025.
Elvis was a hero to most but yall better make some room for Bo Diddley.
Bo Bo Bo
Godfather of rock and roll
Try to leave you out
What is that all about?
They don't know
Bout the guitar flow
Gotta jam my man
To the Diddley band
C'mon
Can't hold him back
Now this is the rap game mixed with the hall of fame
