Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-04-06
Public Enemy’s Chuck D and The Doors’ John Densmore team up as doPE
Public Enemy’s Chuck D and The Doors’ John Densmore team up as doPE. Their debut single, “every tick tick tick”, has been named the 2026 RSD Song of the Year, taken from the new album no country for old men, coming April 18 via Org Music.
2014 Record Store Day Ambassador and hip-hop legend Chuck D joins forces with The Doors’ iconic drummer John Densmore on a new project that blends spoken word, rhythm, and raw social commentary, bringing together generations of rebellion and reflection.
“It's been an honor working with Chuck D. on this project. He's got the rhymes & I've got the beats... & we made doPE!” said John Densmore.
no country for old men was recorded specifically for Record Store Day 2026. The limited-edition, oxblood docs transparent high-melt vinyl release arrives in record stores on April 18 via Org Music, housed in a deluxe gatefold package featuring original illustrations by Chuck D himself.
The origins of doPE trace back to a chance encounter after the two musical legends met on a Record Store Day panel in 2014. Densmore received an unexpected email from Chuck D a year later that simply read: “You’ve got the beats, I’ve got the rhymes, let’s make doPE.” Shortly afterward, Chuck stylized the word doPE, using the first two letters in The Doors’ iconic logo and the last two with Public Enemy’s unmistakable icon, launching a creative exchange that bridged generations, genres, and cultural movements.
When Chuck D began sending verses to collaborate on, Densmore responded with, “Everybody gets older, but not everybody gets elder.” The phrase became a philosophical cornerstone of the project, a meditation on responsibility, legacy, and the bond between generations. Their artistic volley evolved into “no country for old men,” the album’s title track and thematic anchor.
“John Densmore’s beat isn’t just rhythm, it’s history talking. He’s been scoring moments of our culture for decades, and that wisdom hits different when it meets the now. This collaboration is about locking generations together and pushing sound forward,” said Chuck D.
Produced by David “C-Doc” Snyder, John Densmore, and JP Hesser, “every tick tick tick” captures the urgency of hip-hop, the raw pulse of rock, and a shared sense of social responsibility. Record Store Day’s choice of the track as the 2026 Song of the Year brings the project full circle, since it was a 2014 Record Store Day event at Amoeba Music Hollywood that first brought Chuck D and John Densmore together.
“To me, the song ‘every tick tick tick’ captures that moment, as well as the times we’re living in,” said Record Store Day Co-Founder Michael Kurtz. “They both have an extensive history with record stores and with Record Store Day – Chuck served as RSD Ambassador and has celebrated by spending the day at various stores around the country. The Doors have released more titles for Record Store Day events than any other band, and when John released his book, The Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison’s Legacy Goes On Trial, he toured record stores from Los Angeles to Paris to bring it to fans. I’m excited about this new doPE album by John and Chuck and to have ‘every tick tick tick’ be Record Store Day’s 2026 pick for RSD Song of the Year.
To find out more about Record Store Day and participating stores, visit recordstoreday.com. The full list of special releases coming April 18 as part of Record Store Day 2026 is coming soon.
About John Densmore:
John Densmore is the drummer for the legendary rock band The Doors, who have sold over a hundred million albums worldwide. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and since then, he has earned a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has written, produced, and acted in theatre productions, winning an NAACP Award, authored three books, and contributed to the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, the Guardian, the Nation, and Chicago Tribune, among others.
About Chuck D:
Chuck D is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement award recipient. He’s the co-founder of both Public Enemy and the supergroup Prophets of Rage, alongside members of Rage Against the Machine and Cypress Hill. He is recognized worldwide as a music pioneer, social activist, fine artist, and best-selling author.
About Record Store Day:
Record Store Day is managed by the Department of Record Stores and organized in partnership with the Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS) and the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS). It promotes independent record stores year-round with events, special releases, and other activities. Record Store Day 2026 takes place on April 18.
no country for old men tracklisting
Side A
every tick tick tick
no country for old men
doomsay
the bones of my father
i love that i don’t love
people are strangers
Side B
breakthru
ops3ssion
dajali ii
everybody dies
no country for old men (dub)
saydoom (dub)
