Public Enemy came to D.C. Wednesday on a mission–not to fight the power, but rather to use the band’s influence to fight youth homelessness in the District and the rest of the country. The evening began at the Sasha Bruce House, where Chuck D, Flavor Flav and the rest of the iconic hip-hop group toured the facility and hosted a pre-Thanksgiving dinner for more than 30 homeless youths.

Following the dinner, the members of Public Enemy took to the streets themselves, playing a few of their hits on the back of a flatbed truck as it made its way through George Washington University’s campus en route to Lisner Auditorium, where the band was scheduled to put on a charity-driven concert (all ticket proceeds went directly to the Sasha Bruce House).

While the show itself was an opportunity for the band to showcase its legendary performances, it was clear from the onset that the evening’s goal was to put a spotlight on National Homeless Youth Awareness month. Flavor Flav, never the shy one with a mic in hand, continuously urged those gathered outside Lisner to purchase a ticket and support the cause.