Reviews (page 6 of 12)
First off, this album has great production, one of the best sounding hip hop albums. I also think that the interludes do a lot to add to my overall enjoyment of this project. The first half of this album is really solid, a lot of really good beats, samples, and rapping. The second half of this album isn't as good (besides Fight The Power of course) and holds me back from giving this a 5. I think the ideal version of this album would cut 5 or 6 songs from the second half.
Never got into this back in the days. The production, musicality, track flow, noise, samples are all fantastic. Sorry I missed out the first time. Need more angry music today.
1990 and they already perfected the art of flow. I think stylistically this is about as good as it gets for me in this age / style of the genre. Love production, especially on the vocal end.
Amazing
Good album with great instrumentals. First half could do with a bit more rapping though
Raw, Energetic, Ferocious, everything a rap record should be
Been Public Enemy since you thought PE was gym.
Te lang, maar wel een paar echt lekkere nummers, en een vette sound
7.5/10 Angry, urgent, propulsive, still sounding relevant today A lot of excellent verses & rapping Production is dense, intense. Maybe a little much, overwhelming, and doesn’t move much outside the rails Love Chuck D voice, Flava Flav not so much Best: Fight the Power
One of the most culturally important albums ever created. Sadly as relevant today as 1990. It’s raw and power, musically heavily still in the 80s. As usual with hip-hop. It’s a bit too long but impressively does keep the energy up 8.0/10
90s rap has such an awesome beat and a real message. Too many samples and extra noises that dilute how good this album could have been. “911 is a Joke,” “Welcome to the Terrordome, annd “Burn Hollywood” are top songs.
quite thoro
It took me multiple days to get through this album. I wanted to give it a fair shake because Public Enemy is such an influential group, and I try to really do an active listen with hip hop albums because the lyrics are so central. It's just so long, with so many tracks. I'll never understand the hip hop/R&B obsession with interludes and skits. A couple of them on here were funny/interesting, but for the most part I wish they just weren't a thing. Lyrically, it's crazy how many of these songs are still relevant today. The more things change the more they stay the same, I guess. I liked how socially conscious the album was. A few of the tracks haven't aged super well, and the Ice Cube feature wasn't my favorite thing (though "Burn Hollywood Burn" is otherwise a great track, and still relevant). But for the most part it holds up. It's a little heavy on the DJing and sampling for my tastes, but overall I prefer that kind of hip hop to the more modern styles. Chuck D and Flavor Flav are such an interesting combination haha. Chuck D raps like a preacher giving a sermon (if that's not obvious by the inclusion of the MLK Jr samples). He's powerful and convincing, and he's usually rapping about the bigger social/political themes on the album. Flavor Flav, who's already more of a meme to Millennials, just comes off sounding so much less serious next to Chuck D's gravitas — and sometimes that's needed to bring some levity to a fairly heavy album. But his lightweight, mumbly style often makes it seem (at least to me) that he's not in the same league as his partner. The major exception to that is on "911 is a Joke" — a song that, as someone from Philly, only gets truer with every passing year. This wasn't a perfect album for me, mostly because of the length. I'd probably put it at more of a 3.5, but I'll give it a 4/5 for its influence.
Loved it!
Chuck D makes me wanna join a revolution.
I have long been a fan of the interplay between Chuck D and Flavor Flav. Flavor actually gets somewhat serious here. As a white guy I can't fully appreciate the impact of Public Enemy's message, but I can certainly feel the power when Chuck starts spitting rhymes. I'm not sure I really have favorite PE albums but this one definitely has its share of bangers. Some great guest appearances on this album too, especially Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane on Burn Hollywood Burn. This is a 4.5 for me.
pretty good
Excellent slice of history. I really enjoy Public Enemy's use of sampling. Definitely a power duo.
Heavy duty in your face political rap. Touches on the heavy shit with killer production. Flava flav is a goat hypeman
Classic
Phat
Good vibes & important message. Rap music not hugely my vibe but definitely a great album 4/5
Enjoyed it, bit long but I intently listened to each track which can’t say I do for many albums. I get what the ‘wika-wika’ is now on turntables.
Not their best album but possibly the one that imprinted the group on a wider consciousness.
I bought this album back when it was new. I must have listened to it a lot back then as it was very familiar and I hadn’t listened to it in at least 25 years. Despite some questionable lyrics and some tracks that are too noisy with a lot going, it’s still pretty good.
Holds up fully, especially the beats and overall consciousness. One wishes one heard more hip-hop of this orientation (and less silliness) today. Terminator X and the Bomb Squad were legit in industrializing a certain style of rigorous beats and beds.
I really liked this. I forgot how much I liked Chuck D's voice as a rapper. Not only is it a great album, but I'm still amazed at Rick Rubin for hearing these guys, signing and producing.
I really injoyed it, a lot more than I expected. It was just too long.
Album Review: Fear of a Black Planet – Public Enemy Brothers Gonna Work It Out and Fight the Power—what a pair of tunes! This album is a definite keeper; it’s going straight into my playlist for repeat listens. As Public Enemy’s 9th studio album, it’s clear I’ll be diving into their back catalog soon. The album tackles heavy, thought-provoking subject matter with powerful delivery, making it both impactful and poignant. The combination of strong lyrics and sharp performance makes it a standout in early hip-hop. Favourite Song: Brothers Gonna Work It Out—a standout track, though all the songs are great. Least Favourite Song: Reggie Jax—didn’t quite hit the same mark for me as the others. Album Artwork: A striking image that perfectly captures the album’s bold message. An essential album for any hip-hop fan, blending social consciousness with unforgettable beats.
It's a good album, but after a while it feels repetitive.
Most old rap music sounds very outdated, but this doesn't. It doesn't sound anything like modern rap music, but it's still very listenable. The flow is better than their contemporaries’ and it sounds more sincere. Favorite song: Brothers gonna work it out
The thing about a lot of hip hop is that it references a culture and experience I can’t understand and haven’t lived. I think it is good to be spoken of and listen to though and this album is important in its messages. The music itself was okay but very much of its era, although clearly influential (I could hear OutKast at certain moments in particular). Listens: 2 Fave Track: Fight The Power Rating: 4 - it does what it has set out to do
No puedo parar de mover la cabeza!
This is Public Enemy’s third album and it maintains the furious intensity of their previous release. The samples are even more on the nose in this one, and are self referential in places, talking about the furore that surrounded It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Essential listening but you will feel drained by the non stop sonic assault by the end.
It Takes a Nation... was a great album and is often praised as their most notable record, but Fear of a Black Planet is very strong too, perhaps even stronger. The political message is really strong, it has a more experimental music background, guitar parts that are great, and it does not suffer from the unnerving gimmicks from It Takes a Nation. This is the golden age of hip hop at its apex.
Just yesss
VERY goood
I enjoy 90s hip hop/rap so much more than any other decade.
Another banger, good beats, message was strong even now, flows like a story. 3.7
Classic hip hop album that I hadn't listened to till now. I enjoyed it, would need more listens to further appreciate.
I’m here for this shit! Energy, Political stance! Flavor Flav!, Chuck D. Yeaaaah Boooooy!
Fun, 3.5 stars
Loved the instrumental opening with the samples! Was thinking this hadn't given us enough hip hop or rap!
Not sure why I slept on this album when I was younger and going through the annals of music history and hip-hop history. For whatever reason I never made it past “It takes a nation of millions…” Clearly that was a mistake as this album is every bit as worthy. The production is so dense, claustrophobic, and hammering, Chuck D raps with force and a sense of purpose, even Flavor Flav gets his chance to shine on “911 is a Joke.” This definitely runs a bit long like a lot of hip-hop albums from this era, but it still stays fresh.
solid album of politically charged hip hop with tons of samples and loops. some may say that they are a one trick pony, but they do it well… maybe the best of the genre in my opinion. highlights: “911 is a joke”, “burn hollywood burn”, “fight the power”
Good energy, solid production, and some classic Chuck D raps. But there are really only 3-4 good songs on the record
This is good stuff. I like Chuck D's rhymes, and the samples are brilliantly put together. Welcome to the Terrordome and Who Stole the Soul were the standouts for me, but the whole thing was pretty enjoyable.
Great rap album, not their best, but is better than most hip-hop albums released at this point
I wasn’t sure what to expect as I had not listened to this when it came out. It was blasted upon release. I don’t find near as offensive as portrayed back in the day. They had some good self reflection points related to the black community and were not afraid to call out some within their community, especially around fatherhood.
Well I liked that a lot more than a lot of other hip hop/rap groups that I've listened to in my time. The lyrics actually meant something which was really nice and every other song wasn't about sex, drugs, and depravity, which was a refreshing change. Public Enemy was rapping about issues bigger than themselves not just how great they were which I really liked. This was really solid. I also really liked what the Bomb Squad did on this musically it was really solid and full of energy which was great.
Great album
Public Enemy’s “Fear of a Black Planet” is a strong hip hop album which delves into social issues and empowerment of the Black community in the United States. By melding samples of a broad selection of genres and using many sounds, the musics created a novel sound and holds an important place in the evolution of music. “Fight the Power” is probably the most significant track from this album. Of note, commendations to Chuck D who continuously uses his platform to advocate change. This is directly opposed to Flavor Flav who uses his platform to “Yeah, boyeeeeee!”
Classic
Duplicate
Relentless and powerful to the point of exhaustion.
I’ve heard a couple of these songs but never the entire album. I really enjoyed it. And maybe “enjoy” seems an odd choice of words but i found myself agreeing with the lyrics, liking the messages and getting angry. For all the right reasons. I love how there are samples and when the actual lyrics started it sounded like another sample at times. Really well done. I won’t be listening to it on repeat, but i will listen to this again.
Classic hip-hop, they had a lot to say on this album and didn't sugarcoat it in the slightest. The shorter skit songs and the super energetic production all over it make it breeze by even though it's 20 songs and over an hour, no small feat. A lot of beats from this era haven't aged too well, but this one still holds up.
Foundational is the word for this album. Chuck D’s stentorian voice offsets flavor flav’s whiny one and the two balance out through terminator x’s command of the samples. Not as good an album as Yo Bum Rush the show, but the layers both sonic and lyrical meaning make it a must listen!
In my head this is what I sound like when I press the DJ button on my yahama keyboard and shout "fuck him and John Wayne"
Just not long ago watched a doc about Public Enemy. Was great. This is a great album and i enjoyed the lyrics. Person I was with when listening also loved and endorsed it, maybe a little more than me So for him 4 stars
Pretty fun and hype. Some of the backtracks were a little overbearing but otherwise it was both powerful and catchy with a strong message
A good old-school hip hop with something to say, in the vein of NWA. quite liked some songs on there.
Great album.
Provocative and dynamic. Good beats and powerful lyrics.
4/5 Hugely influential Hip Hop from the 90's, I can imagine the records scratching and how much fun was had recording this, in addition to the cultural impact this had (and which is still relevant)
I’ve always felt like PE had a problem with quality control. There are amazing songs on this album, but there’s also a lot of filler. They could’ve knocked probably fifteen minutes off of this album and it would’ve been perfect. If not for the bloat this would be a 5 star for me.
Solid, exactly the kind of tracks you want out of a 90's rap album, including a song raggin on the police. Got a little weaker later in the album, but still had the right tempo, beats, and attitude. This white boy says "Yes!" 4/5 or 84/100
Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate the aural collage--soundscape--this album is and am glad I listened to it. Will listen to this again and other PE albums, so I bumped it up a star for introducing me to one of the classics of hip hop.
Every year the message of PE becomes clearer to me. The US has such a long way to go...
Pretty neat, really different from anything I'd heard before, but still felt like the 90's. Some really cool and unique sounds
Another gem discovered! Who would have thought the songs featuring Flava Flav would be my favourite either?! Absolutely love the history of the sampling before it was a thing, and the political yet timeless message of the lyrics. A win! Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: yes Favourite Song: 911 is a joke
i love the sampling here omg and the instrumentals parts are so amazing too wow. 8.3/10
Good but a bit mundane
Solid. Effective.
Nice, if a little basic, beats and bars and hype to listen to. 90s rap remains cooler than the music you like.
Man this is the best 90s rap. Samples and everything
No puedo parar de mover la cabeza!
Very cool, very powerful
Relentless sound bombardment. The Bitches Brew of rap. Difficult but bangin’
Solid album with great head nodding beats and incisive lyrics. Could probably have been a bit shorter though
Fight the Power!
Pretty epic 7/10
Pretty fun to listen to but it does kinda trail off. Probably could've been a little shorter. 7/10
Incredibly well architected. Chuck D’s voice and Flav’s flav are top notch. Powerful commentary on the black experience in America. This is the real stuff. A touch repetitive sounding otherwise almost perfect. 4.5/5
Yeah!
Top notch production for early 90s rap, still gets the head nods
Really solid classic hip-hop.
A classic. I enjoyed it.
I like that the album didn’t glorify or romanticize collectivism. I did think it over referenced miscegenation a bit, and sometimes the album felt like it dragged on and many of the songs sounded the same, but I like that it took risks and crossed genres in many places.
Enjoyed it. Thank god it isn't full of shitty skits but still could lose to cut a few tracks. Themes are relevant today.
This is what I've been wanting from all the hip hop so far, finally one that delivers #299 albums in.
Even though Flava Flav isn't really a rapper and Chuck D is really the driving force of public enemy it's so great that Chuck was able to convince the label to keep Flava Flav on, he just brings a ton of personality. Real friend. It's almost a shame that mainstream news fearmongering of an artist isn't so common anymore because it makes for some incredible samples here
important powerful hip hop
:D
Why would I fear this? A black planet would fucking rule.
loved the storytelling! felt culturally iconic and gave a good boost to my mood for Friday workday listening! Fight the power, iconic as always
now this is some NICE hip hop!!! i listened this on my way to Colruyt and I felt ALIVE
Musically and in some cases lyrically revolutionary however there are some embarrassing missteps with anti semitism and homophobia.
Very great
I enjoyed this. Big beats and rhymey rhymes
- Pretty catchy, powerful lyrics - Not my favorite style of music but I still enjoyed - Favorite tracks: Who Stole the Soul, Anti-N***er Machine, Burn Hollywood Burn
Liked tracks: Brothers Gonna Work It Out Power To The People Fear Of A Black Planet Fight The Power
Amazing use of samples, great production
Solid 90s hip hop
Zo’n belangrijke message die ze in my opinion echt heel sterk overbrengen. Ook nog steeds heel relevant. En de main rapper (denk ik) heeft echt goede stem.
Never heard of this kind of music, very good! The album made me feel very happy
Brilliant but slightly too long.
Not in the mood today but definitely very good. Game changer in hip hop.
Leaning into the groove in the creation of a strong hip-hop community facing the backlash of white society for success. I think my favorite era. I don't know if it's age or perspective. But this is where I can fit my mind and perception into it. Historiography? Young enough for it to sound vintage? Beats are classic and the lyrics hold some important messages of a people grappling with life-threatening injustice while making their way and money. Great interludes that make you think and reset the songs. You can hear the influence of the last age of vinyl on hip-hop. At least a minute is added to the songs for the samples to play out, the club era, has to exist for the groove.
Another ripper Public Enemy album, this time with some fun features like Ice Cube. Catchy but I don’t think I liked it as much as It Takes A Nation Of Millions.
Fun hip hop album, got a little old by the end. They're no A tribe called quest
Public Enemy is awesome and this is a great album. Very abrasive and in your face style with loud sound collage style beats. The stuff Chuck D is rapping about is still relevant today...and his style is more yelling than rapping. There's a certain rock quality to their sound while still very much being a hip hop group.
Probably the first rap/hip hop album to be taken seriously, it is a rich, diverse, and ultimately unnerving listening experience. As the then current order is questioned and criticized - rightfully so …
This album is incredible. Songs like Burn Hollywood burn and fight the power do a very good job at expressing a sense of rebellion. Heavy lyricism with complex emotions and deep cultural themes really shine throughout this project. Def jam is legendary in terms of talent that has touched that studio.
Powerful, important album. Speaks to power and calls to fight against black oppression in an in-your-face but inspiring way; it’s now obvious why Public Enemy were so influential to many of today’s artists. Musically, lyrically, creatively, and philosophically, this album is a 10/10.
The year is 2002. A little game called Jet set Radio Future has released. A young boy named Taylor falls in love. The game had a built in radio and this album reminds me of it. Enjoyed the album! Very 90s
The black CNN for sure – all that plus the bad beats and the handful of stone-cold classics. It still lands with impact and bites with sharp teeth. For all the expansiveness and open creativity and often baroque weirdness of today's hip-hop, one would've liked to experience a future where the genre had maintained (or at least tracked closer to) this level of seriousness of intent, the integrity of vision, and muscular musicality. The praise of black women is a good thing. The legit criticisms are that it's maybe too long and there's a sameyness to the beats (which are admittedly high-quality and original and foundational to hip-hip history of course).
3.5
Not really a rap guy, but Public Enemy is good. Would listen again
Solid album, often regarded as the best hip-hop album of all time. I'm not so sure this will be the case since some of the music sounds a little dated, though the social and political side of it definitely stays relevant. Sick production too.
production is so good
Landmark hip hop album. Top tier production and sampling although it sounds dated by todays standards. At the time when it was released I’m sure this album was mind blowing for people. It’s sad that, in terms of the issues addressed by this album, not much has changed culturally. Definitely worth a listen as it seems to capture the feeling of society at the time. Also it’s very funny to picture Flava Flav playing Huey P Newton in a movie as teased in Burn Hollywood Burn
Very cool. Hadn't heard all of this before, incredibly ambitious in the variety of samples. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
Aggressively busy and noisy. Never lets you forget you’re listening to it. Very cool.
Childhood favourite. Still classic.
They sampled themselves LOL. Fun classic hip hop. Great closer, kinda funny it ends mid sentence
Forgot how much hip hop used to groove. I'm digging it. The flow isn't as solid as other rappers but the message is great.
PE rules. The beats are so heavy and it's impossible not to just feel it through the whole album. Listening to this on a loud stereo was great.
Classic, always worth a listen.
Classic gangster rap
I feel that I have had ample opportunity to sample Public Enemy with their previous two extended albums already heard in the project, It Takes a Nation... and Apocalypse 91... This felt a bit like a rerun. That said, I'm glad I like them and that this was pretty good stuff again.
A few years ago I put together a playlist where I tried to get one song from as many rap albums from 1990 that I could find. I didn't start listening to rap deeply until 1996, starting with Pac, Snoop, Warren G, Westside Connection, Wu-Tang, and Bone Thugs. I branched out quite a lot, and went a bit backwards in time but I mostly went forward, until about 2001. Most of the artists I exposed myself to either did not address racial and political injustice or did so indirectly. Unfortunately, I largely missed out on black nationalist rap and most politically and racially conscious rap completely. It's difficult to assess the credibility of this article suggesting there was an intentional effort within the recording industry to turn rap into "music which promotes criminal behavior" in order to boost publicly traded, privately-owned prison populations and therefore boost stock prices https://www.hiphopisread.com/2012/04/secret-meeting-that-changed-rap-music.html. There's probably some truth to that, but there are many other factors that went into it; but there is no doubt that rap in the early 90s was much more focused on systemic racism and injustice than the topics that came to dominate it in the mid-late 90s. At least you could say that it explored a range of issues and black experience, but popular rap later in the decade was much more narrowly focused. I also felt that it had a sense of optimism, that black people were becoming conscious of these injustices and there was hope that they were empowered and their centuries of struggle were finally forcing this racist society to treat black people as equals. This album carries all the boldness, fearlessness, anger, and pride as the rap records I loved, and it is has so much depth and range, lyrically and musically, and channels its aggression towards these issues. It's relentless, not only in the message but in the music, which demands you face it and listen to it. "Fear of a Black Planet" - yes, white people were and are afraid of Black people and this bullshit is constantly propagated in various ways across the media, as the title track and other songs on the album repeat. But although the album is aggressive and angry, it's also very non-violent, calling on white people to wake up and black people to continue organizing and picking themselves up. What's sad is both in seeing how racism is still so saturated and institutionalized, and how blind so many white people are to it. But Black people have continued to resist it, speak their truth and fight the power as Chuck urged throughout the album. Powerful, inspirational, uplifting, deep, thoughtful and righteously angry; a great album that deserves many relistens while reading and considering the lyrics. I've been wonderin' why people livin' in fear of my shade (Or my high-top fade) I'm not the one that's runnin', but they got me on the run Treat me like I had a gun All I got is genes and chromosomes Consider me Black to the bone All I want is peace and love on this planet Ain't how that God planned it?
Banger of an opening with the instrumental Focus on the beats and production. Very colorful and juicy. Especially for ‘90. You can definitely see how NWA and public enemy pulled from a lot of the same influences and informed each other as well Also holy shit. The number of songs on this album is insane. It’s 1hr long and has 20 tracks another Def Jams banger Flava flav? Insightful and creative commentary on being black in America and societies views of blackness. Good samples too
Some really good songs. Chuck D is always good and Flavor Flav is also there
Infectious beat, unique & consistent sound. Love Chuck D's voice. Sometimes aggressive so needs to fit a certain mood.
Enjoyed
Maybe just below It Takes a Million, but still a seminal release
No puedo parar de mover la cabeza!
So good. Even better now, with greater appreciation from time. 911 Is A Joke especially impactful for this reason.
Enjoyed this - first time listening!
Here we are
Way more dense and experimental than what I remembered. This had to be ahead of its time when it got released and it still sounds challenging today. It matches the politically charged themes of the album really well, but it also demands repeated listens before you can really make your way around it.
I sure don't fear a Black Planet now.
Flow reminds me of LL Cool J. And they're from Long Island :)
Fuck yeah. Learned a lot about Chuck D and Flava Flav (the original Hype Man) not to mention that they're also from Long Island The mixing is so good. Definitely pushed Hip-Hop in new directions in the late 80's all while staying socially conscious.
I grew up the black sheep artist in a police family. Band logo design was a favorite thing to me, so I decorated my notebook covers with band logos that I redrew. A police officer relative saw my book cover with P.E.'s bullseye logo on it and got mad at me because PE was anti-cop. I asked if they listened to PE or knew what they were rapping about. Fear of A Black Planet explains their gripes. Chuck D was/is the voice of a generation and the bravery it took to release an album like this was immense. 4/5.
Excellent hip-hop.
Loved it
Yeah, boyeeee!
Consistent and confident, just how we like them.
No puedo parar de mover la cabeza!
Of the 3 albums we've received by Public Enemy, this is my second favorite. I gave the other 2 Lps a 4, so I guess I'll give this one a 4 as well. They say that the sampling was very cutting edge on this, which could be true, but it seems like they're sampling themselves a lot. Why not? Everyone else was sampling them.
The saddest thing this album is still very relevant today. This packs a wallop. Incendiary rhymes delivered with force by Chuck D. The Flavor Flav material is a tad weaker but it still smokes. Fight The Power is an all timer! Welcome To The Terrordome is a banger! Nice to hear Ice Cube on Burn Hollywood Burn. Respect.
Fear of a Black Planet rocks. It’s a heavy record. Public Enemy created a vibe for their people, an aggressive, anti establishment, rebellious shout out. In a way that the Pistols did for the working class in Britain. Public Enemy scared the USA, their message was uncomfortable for the masses. Chuck D the finest vocal delivery a poet, an icon what a man.
Pretty good shit.
Listened to this with Adler on the ride home from our weekend adventure. We liked the up-tempo party vibe that didn't let up, and while I wasn't able to really lock in on the lyrics (which is my MO when it comes to rap — I can't keep up) and there were some noodly bits with the new sample machine, this was entertaining, if not a little longer than necessary.
Well damn. This packs a punch. It's crazy hearing the sheer degree of sampling from back when sampling was a free for all. I get that artists should be compensated for their samples, but damn if we didn't lose something when we started forcing artists to negotiate deals for each and every sample. No one could afford to make this record today. Flava Flav's songs usually drive me crazy, but not on this one. They were much-needed breaks from the maelstrom attack of Chuck D. I didn't know this album going into this, other than a few of the hits, but now I think this is their best one. Minus one star for homophobia, though.
Classic, for sure. Definitely glad I listened to this one
Slamming beats. Political message. Catchy lyrics. There's not a lot more one can say to this. There are a few tracks that I am not even going to say aged well, but have never worked, like "Meet the G That Killed Me". And I still don't know why Duran Duran thought covering "911 Is A Joke" was a good idea. "Pollywanacracka" is a little cringeworthy, but not as much. And "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man" is ust a goof (I find it interesting that both of Flava Flav's songs he wrote the lyrics while completely stoned....) So it is definitely a good record, but the homophobic track, and the one track dissing interracial relations kinda takes away from it for me...
Another solid effort from Chuck D and the Bomb Squad, and passable efforts from Flavor Flav. I think Flav is better on this album than their debut (911 is a Joke is solid) but overall I still think their debut album is slightly better. Maybe this one goes on a bit too long. A lot of cool sampling here (just listen to the opening track) and a lot of incredible lyrics. Some are tough to stomach (Meet the G that Killed Me...geez). I thought the best tracks for their combination of messaging and beats were Welcome to the Terrordome (despite some cringeworthy lyrics), Burn Hollywood Burn, the title track, and of course Fight the Power (although the version on Do the Right Thing is slightly better, except for the intro).
I may not be the target of this album but I enjoyed the political messages regardless.
I am not a rap fan...but, this is brilliant, and a cultural icon.
The visceral and justified anger on this album holds up incredibly well. I was incredibly impressed by the beats here. So dynamic and interesting. 4/5
Very good Album
Not quite sure what makes the album so weird, but this is undoubtedly a great rap album. I had no idea how much I needed this artist.
Peak Public Enemy - loved it. Fav Track: 911 Is A Joke
This was better than I was expecting it to be. Some of the best old school hip hop there is. Dark, poignant lyrics. Solid rhythm and beats. This a great all around album.
Iconic, It's crazy to me that things haven't got better.
yeeeahhh boiiii
Probably one of their best albums
Probably Public Enemy's best album.
first listen fearless commentary
Love the early 90s hip-hop sound. Public Enemy has such an iconic sound and the mix of hip-hop backgrounds and guitar is great.
Very good, great energy, powerful
Super fun!
Enjoyable album, especially early on, but it does go on a lot longer than it should and becomes quite samey in the back half. The goods are very good though, maybe lifting it to a 4.
Finally! This is great, and sounds amazing for 1990; there's the odd moment where it sounds a bit dated, but it's so much tighter and better produced than most other 90s hiphop we've had. It's full-on, but there's a lot of variety in the pace and flow, some fun sampling, it actually flows as an album without millions of interludes or skits, and Fight The Power is a classic. 4/5.
Super album mais un peu long et un peu daté
Wow. Great skits, deep lyricism. Tackles social issues and the plight of AA's in the early 90s. Despite touching on heavy topics the record comes across as fun as opposed to preachy. Messages still completely relevant today. Fave track - Who stole the soul?
Sometimes it's pretty easy to understand why an album is so classic and influential in modern music, even when it's hard to explain.
Excellent album. 4/5
Whoa... I haven't listened to this in maybe 30 years, and I can honestly say that even then I never really paid much attention. This album slaps! Lots of groups sample Public Enemy, but the samples really don't do these songs justice. The composition and flow as a whole is really great.
Liked this a lot more than I expected to. Was a fun listen and I didn't get bored. 3.75/5
I hate saying it, but Public Enemy’s albums don’t totally hold up. They’re more of a singles band with a couple of great album tracks (although that tends to be the case with a lot of rap albums imo…). Still, nothing here is BAD. there’s very little of the misogyny or homophobia that plagues a lot of rap albums from the time, and the crew is generally pretty entertaining. And the songs that land are all-timers. B+, which sounds low for such an important album, but is the right score.
Funny how recordings got much better once the 80’s where done lol… I love this one, it goes hard AF, funny how many of us got our first contact with Flavor Flave via vh1 reality shows and not this amazing sound. Love it.
The themes in this album still ring true today. Fight the power is the best track off the album, probably Public Enemy's most well known song. Overall the entire album is political, angry, and illustrated struggles that are ongoing in society.
For a 20-track album, this plays out amazingly well. I don't pretend to know all of these songs well, but none of these songs played like filler to me. It all demands a closer listen. And the friction between Chuck D's serious as a heart attack delivery and Flavor Flav's chaos is kind of perfect. What a great, weird mix.
A storming beast of an album even now, over 30 years later.
Two back to back Public Enemy albums? I didn't exactly give the previous one (It Takes A Nation...) a glowing review, I thought it was listenable and well done. Fear Of A Black Planet, I thought was more engaging with more interesting beats and as a whole was a more solid record. I'm still not a fan of the genre, so I have hesitation to give it a super glowing review, but this is as good as it gets for me for rap, so let's move on!
it is a good album. I like the rhythm and I particularly like how they address certain topics. 8/10
I have a soft spot for hiphop and sampling, so this was a joy to listen to. The constant drums and bass really carried the album, love it. This being said, some of the songs really overstayed their welcome and there was no need for the album to last an hour. Think this album is probably enjoyed best in snippets rather than a full listen. My favourite was definitely Fight the Power, such a good finisher. Solid 4
I really enjoyed this album. And I had problems with connecting to some earlier. Rap albums, where I felt like I was missing out on everything just from a cultural standpoint because I’m not American black. With this album, I realize that that was not the case this album was just so much better than 2Pac or BIG.
This is a really cool album. I don't think that I like it as much as It Takes a Nation of Millions, but this album is not far behind that one either. The chaotic samples chopped into great beats continues on this album, and Chuck D is as insightful and acid-tongued as ever 4/5
Yeah Boy!!!!
Really cool samples. I loved the politics for lots of reasons but it also seems like the logical evolution of what NWA started. 4
4 Love Public Enemy - not just their music, but what they stand for. If NWA started the fire, Public Enemy poured gasoline on it (Burn Hollywood Burn!) Alongside Rage Against the Machine and Dead Kennedys, they’re one of the best groups to blast when you’re pissed off at the government, society, or any kind of authority figure and want to see change (Fight the Power!) It’s sad how little has changed since this album released 33 years ago (911 is a Joke!), but I hope this album and the group continue to inspire progress and trailblazers in the world ahead. Anyway, political diatribe aside, looking at the actual meat and potatoes of the album, I can confidently say I love every song I cheesily referenced above, but I hadn’t heard much of the in between before. After listening through, I can confirm the beats go hard af on every track, and there’s no shortage of the socially-conscious lyrics and attitude that Chuck D and Flavor Flav are famous for. That being said, most of the tracks didn’t seem to reach the highs of the more popular songs for me, to the point where some of it even felt like filler. So, while I don’t feel like it’s perfect musically or structurally, I still really enjoyed the album and see myself listening again. The vibe successfully does a great job of getting you amped up to topple a system of institutionalized racism, and I absolutely respect that energy. I do think I might prefer It Takes a Nation of Millions more though - The songs on that album seem to have a little bit more of their own identity, and as a whole it feels a bit more airtight, though I can’t argue Black Planet is a great companion piece and follow-up.
Missing a little something in a lot of the album to give it that extra push, but I enjoy for sure. Chuck D is always one of my favorites in terms of delivery and flow. I still chafe at the antisemitism of the group, although not a focal point on this record.
Welcome to the Terrodome hits HARD. A lot of sampling used, reminds me of Paul’s Boutique by Beastie Boys, released one year prior. Very listenable all the way through and has aged very well. It’s a keeper
Angry, aggressive, an amazing beat throughout and still all painfully relevant. It's like Ice Cube's "The Predator" with its social commentary cranked up to 11. (And the song featuring Ice Cube was indeed great.) Not my thing all that much, but still brilliant. Favourite: Welcome To The Terrordome
Decent - not my bag 100%
I think I appreciated this album more than it takes a nation of millions although I feel that I probably underrated that album when I got it. I love the lyrics of public enemy because they're still relevant and are constantly hard-hitting but for some reason, I don't love them like I feel I should. It might be the production style but even that is pretty high quality and complex and I don't think it's the flow or the sound of the vocals. Either way I liked 911 is a joke, fear of a black planet, and fight the power.
Quite a cool experience to get this album right after their sophomore effort. Public Enemy turned the amount of samples way up, and Flavor Flav decided to turn his catchphrase way down. It's a win-win, and Fear of a Black Planet is a better record for it. At more than 60 minutes in runtime, the record is a mouthful, and perhaps it could be more focused if a handful of tracks were excluded (like 'Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya, Man!' and 'B Side Wins Again') or outros were trimmed - like on 'Power to the People'. But the storytelling is still incredibly on point with highlights in 'Brothers Gonna Work It Out', '911 is a Joke' (where Flav actually sounds great), and the cool 'Burn Hollywood Burn' with its equal criticism of typecasting and blaxploitation in films. Closing on 'Fight The Power' is crazy.
Fear Of A Black Planet is one of those quintessential rap records and quite the step up from their sophomore album. Chuck D delivers once again but the real surprise is that Flav is not only WAY less annoying… Most of the times he’s actually almost great! The sampling is on another level and easily outsmarts not only their contemporaries but almost all other hip hop artists. This being a Public Enemy record it is quite lyrically dense and you feel a bit exhausted after more than an over; even when I’m Chuck D’s capable grasp. If just a few of the outros had been shortened or a skit or two been omitted this might have deserved a flat 5.
Not a fan of rap. But this is an album I bought. You can’t ignore them
This album is such a mess with so much going on. The lyrics fight for your attention against the vicious backing tracks. It sounds magnificent. The message is more important than the music and wins out in the end, Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me. Tell It Like It Is
another album by an artist i hadn’t heard of but even just by looking at the album cover, i was excited to listen. after listening, i have to say that it was a very good album. i did feel as if it had too many songs but there weren’t any that i felt dragged on for too long. my favorite songs were: Brothers Gonna Work It Out, 911 Is A Joke, Burn Hollywood Burn, and Who Stole The Soul?
This album rocked pretty hard. The sampling and the back beats were extremely satisfying, and sampling themselves and news stations talking about them is a novel idea that works really well here. Plus the topics being way ahead of their times on ideals, despite the controversy one of the former members was apart of at the time, which is unfortunate. Album is only getting a 4 because it does lose the momentum it had gained as the album goes on, making the later songs feel a little unnecessary, but this album was still an absolute joy. Probably my favourite rap album I've had so far, and excited for the other Public Enemy record on the list.
Deels geluisterd maar maar klonk goed !!
Probably my favorite public enemy album. Love the messages and guest features, and the beat selection. Flavor Flav kinda got annoying on their previous album, which is my only critique for that album. The news outlets’ chops and scratches were also a nice touch.
"Every time I think about that black baboon putting his filthy black hands on her white as pure driven snow body I wanna puke!!!" yuh yuh pollywannacracka yuh
Good Ol’ Hip Hop doing its thing out here
Flava flav sounds like shit, but chuck d rocks. And the lyrical content is ahead of it’s time.
Solid rap album, has an intensity to it that sets it apart from other politically charged rap albums at the time. Solid closer, but there were a number of tracks that could have been left off of it.
Absolute classic. The rise of political rap, and one of the earlier examples of boom-bap style. This is definitely one to hear before you die.
What do you release after a landmark album like "It Takes A Nation Of Millions..."? You harness all that pent up anger and use it to create "Fear Of A Black Planet." Highly political, powerful, clever and all members are at the top of their game. Hiphop with a message. A true classic in music history.
Great rap album, not as perfect as other albums though
Wow, a 3rd Public Enemy album. I mean, I know they're influential but there are a LOT of other hip hop acts that were hugely influential. But... that album is pretty rad.
It took me 30 years to come to appreciate this album, but I'm glad that I finally got to a point where I can enjoy it.
Solid
It is best that you are maintaining focus while listening to this album, because once distraction can throw you off balance and it'll take some time to get back in the thick of things. This is Public Enemy at the absolute peak of their powers creatively and culturally, with Fear of a Black Planet being their most audacious, inventive, innovative, dense, confrontational and controversial. It is not a stretch to suggest that this is hip-hop's Sgt. Pepper, laced with the kind of social commentary that not only defined the 90s but of the present day. One would be a fool and not feel a heavy chest and chills down the spine in regards to the album's title, for that fear still persists. Favorites: Brothers Gonna Work It Out, 911 is a Joke, Welcome to the Terrordome, Meet the G That Killed Me, Burn Hollywood Burn, Who Stole the Soul?, Fear of a Black Planet, Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya, Man, B Side Wins Again, Fight the Power.
Public enemy levererar once again
Not my favorite PE album. Love Welcome to the Terrordome. Still fun for what is a really political album.
I sometimes think how much better PE would be without hype man, Flavor Flav. Chuck D is amazing and carries an awesome group.
Was not a rap fan at the time of the release but many of my friends were, so I heard this album many times. Started to like one, then 2 then more songs, then most of the album. Really good album with a well crafted social message.
Held up far better than Run DMC… I’ve never listened to this record in its entirety, but I really liked it. Was never much for rap in the past, but finding it more interesting than I thought I would. Sadly still relevant.
Some really good songs on this. Public Enemy political stance made them seem punk to me. Lots of energy on this record. I'd say the skits don't hold up but that's my complaint about most hip hop albums.
I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would. Could do without Flavor Flav, but I like the messages, Chuck D is very engaging, and I really enjoyed some of the experiments they did with the stereo mix. Not something I’ll listen to a lot, but much better than most hiphop I’ve been exposed to.
Legendary, raw, and energized. Chuck D can make you follow his every word and emotion- I'm ready to flip a cop car. This record rightfully played a part in fathering a whole movement of conscious hip hop, and still stands as both endlessly listenable and just as socially relevant today. It's as much a party playlist as it is a protest anthem, as much a window into its time as it is a reflection of now. Really great stuff. If only Flav weren't so corny, man. I think he had no business being lead for any tracks, but also find him overrated as a hype man. Highlights: Fight the Power, Burn Hollywood Burn, Welcome to the Terrordome, 911 is a Joke (the beat, lyrics, vibe) Lowlights: 911 is a Joke (Flav's delivery), Can't Do Nuttin For Ya Man.
foundational and transitional. Illmatic is my nominee for best rap album but nothing sounded like this at the time.
Pretty cool sounds from the samples. 8/10
This is definitely a landmark album in Hip Hop. I don't enjoy it quite as much as "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back", and its bombastic, production can be a bit too jarring at times, but it does an excellent job of getting Public Enemy's message across. I've always felt that P.E. channelled their anger much more effectively into their music than N.W.A. It's a challenging album to listen to and they are guilty of the occasional homophobic or sexist lyric, but nothing anywhere near what turned me off "The Chronic". It helps that they actually have a clear political message to convey, and don't waste time metaphorically waving their dicks around like Dre and Snoop!
3.5 strs
Great
Never listened to much Public Enemy before, but this album was awesome
first listen i appreciate this album but probably won’t be revisiting it
Angry rap. The best kind.
not well served by orpington
Listened at low volume, but enjoyed. Worth another listen at higher volume, I think.
I liked it a lot. My criticism is that most of the time there’s so much going on with the music it’s overwhelming.
I got two Public Enemy albums in a week. “Nation of Millions” earned my respect and this is even better. (prior listen)
Brilliant, both musically, and lyrically......
Solid album. Standout is "Fight the Power" but the whole album is a good listen. Can now understand how this album was so important for future hip hop.
Great album and a true pioneer of sampledelica. At times it does feel a bit anxious or overwhelming due to the insane combination of samples utilised, however this is made up for incredible songwriting and social commentary that is unfortunately still relevant 30 years later. Favourite Tracks: - Fight the Power - Welcome to the Terrordome - 911 is a Joke - Fear of a Black Planet - Revolutionary Generation - Power to the People - Who Stole the Soul? - Burn Hollywood Burn Overall Grade: 4/5 (A-)
Essential 90's rap. Classic is as classic be. 4.5/5
Hip hop is not really my thing but the album was interesting to listen to. Plenty of attitude and each track is punchy.
This album is probably Public Enemy’s best and confronts how they are portrayed in media while making a larger statement on the Black experience in America. Chuck D’s lyrics are insightful and are an incisive criticism on American society and media. His delivery is methodical and deliberate, the perfect complement to Flavor Flav’s more energetic rapid fire style. The only thing about this album that wore on me was its length. Perhaps I just need to listen to it again, but unlike some other albums that run over an hour, I definitely noticed it.
- Funky - Anti-authority but with some powerful messaging - Agree or disagree they don't hold back on their views - Musically fun
4.2 - I prefer this one to “It Takes a Nation…” The beats are better, the rhymes and cadence more relentless and the focus more devastating. Great use of news soundbites and snippets from political speeches. The brief DJ vignettes between tracks add to the overall flow. Highlights: “911 Is A Joke”, “Welcome to the Terrordome”, “Fear of a Black Planet”, “Fight the Power.”
No rest for the listener in this fast-paced rush of an album. Culturally significant, lyrically poignant, and catchy as hell, this is some great hip hop. I can easily see why this blew up and made such big names of the band members.
Very good
4.5
Classic fight the power and other interesting tracks
I really liked the high energy, samples and lyricism. First half was a little stronger than the second. Favorite: Burn Hollywood Burn
Urgent, angry, relentless beats, powerful lyrics. Exceptional
I liked it
Some absolute classics here, with a bit of filler. Claustrophobic and in your face. I have the cd.
Cool
In the interest of full disclosure, I was hoping the generator gave everyone "Born In The USA" on July 4th, just to be clever. Chuck D was a hero to many, but he never meant shit to me. That's not a diss, sort of like how the Elvis line in "Fight The Power" wasn't a complete diss. I just didn't know shit about Public Enemy until I was exposed to Rosie Perez dancing to "Fight The Power" during the opening credits of "Do The Right Thing". What an introduction to the world for Rosie Perez! Director Spike Lee says he got the inspiration to open Do The Right Thing from Ann Margaret singing and dancing in Bye Bye Birdie. Rosie outdoes the legendary Ann Margaret in her iconic dance sequence. Ann Margaret is forever linked to Elvis, and because of Chuck D's infamous line in "Fight The Power", so is Public Enemy. Chuck D is my favorite rapper. I just love his voice. Flavor Flav is probably my least favorite. But Chuck D's voice is so powerful it makes Flavor Flav's impact on me a non-factor. But I always go back to Rosie Perez owning that moment, dancing and shadowboxing to "Fight The Power" to let us know that "Do The Right Thing" is no ordinary movie. Fight The Power was the result of Spike Lee reaching out to public enemy to create a song for his film. It's just the perfect marriage of music and film. And this album proves that one can appreciate both Elvis and Public Enemy. Maybe this was the most appropriate album for the 4th of July after all.
Really liked this. I love the drum beats they use. Plus Flavor Flav wore lots of massive clock necklaces so that's a good thing.
Got this one on vinyl. Definitivno je ovaj album u to vrijeme bio jako potreban. Ma i sad je....Album koji je dosta "raznolik", ali tema je tu, politika, black people, prava. Nije mi iskreno čista četvorka, ali tu je.
Yet another brilliant album from innovative artists.
Golden Age of Hiphop? More like Golden Age of Sampling. That was my first impression about this album. It's not bad. And I know that sampling is one of the foundations of most great hiphop sounds. The opener is a beautiful sound collage of samples. I heard some familiar tunes and some soundbites. This is basically the entire album. Samples. In the so-called Golden Age of Hiphop, they can sample as much music and soundbites as they want without getting sued. Public Enemy did a great job using these samples to create a rich sound. They aren't like other rappers/producers who stack up layers of samples and beats like it's lasagna, but they painted every note with a piece of sound to push the overall atmosphere. It's one hour of dense beats, deep lyrics, and complex commentaries. That being said, it's dense. It's a pretty demanding listen. I didn't enjoy most of it, especially the second half, where it became monotonous. But I respect it. I like the popular singles, and how the samples are used. Apparently, they used jazz, soul, and R&B - elitist music - without leaving their humble roots. I know Public Enemy transformed rap from a fad to something revolutionary. Something that even requires social consciousness. This album really proved it for me. A classic from the Golden Age of Hiphop.
We need more music like this right now.
incredible
4.25
Oh man, all those samples! Sadly still relevant but such an empowering listen.
I may have said this in a previous review but whenever I listen to '90s hip-hop I like it a lot more than I expect to. Definitely want to check out some more of the genre
Raw, political, aggressive and loud. Very loud. There's so much going in the music - so many layers of samples - that it can be hard to focus on anything sometimes. But when it works, the energy is unlike anything else. I also think the songs are better the louder you play them. This was designed to be played at maximum volume. Chuck D's flow hits really hard and doesn't sound as dated as a lot of other hip-hop from this era. "Welcome to the Terrordome" stood out to me as a good example of his rapping. Other highlights: “911 is a Joke,” “Burn Hollywood Burn,” “Power to the People,” “Fear of a Black Planet,” the beat on “Reggie Jax,” “Fight the Power”
It's one of my favorite hip hop albums. I have a black and white t-shirt of this album cover. The songs are weirdly jamm-y and have big instrumental gaps, and yet also have a smattering of lyrics about slavery and race issues on top of music that is fun and energetic. It's a crazy sound.
Solid. Has all the musings of a good early 90s rap album. Found myself bobbing my head to the beats.
Classic rap. Fight the Power is powerful and amazing. It does get a little monotonous in sound and message but a classic none the less. 4.5 🌟
Another giant project, another great Public Enemy performance. There really is no one that sounds like this band. The recordings here sound like they're getting played out of a dumpster: I dig it.
Not much of a rap or hip hop guy but I thought it was pretty cool !!
This is a solid old-school rap album, great flow, great beats, the "skits" are all pretty funny and there aren't too many of them. Very focused on racial themes among different systems like hollywood, policing, government, and society as a whole. Great album, it's a long one at 20 tracks, but didn't feel like it. Chuck D has excellent delivery and lyrics. Flava Flav is up and down, luckily he's not as prevalent on the album. Can't do nuttin for ya, man! was probably the lowest point of the album, but there was a lot to like in here. So much of the message is still relevant 30 years later; which is depressing to think about.
A timeless album really. It's just so urgent and chaotic and really does feel exciting and dangerous even over 30 years later Also the guy talking about men in cages on Incident at 66.6FM sounds like Ben Shapiro
Took me ages to find the explicit filter settings to give this a proper listen.
I always sort of dismissed Public Enemy because Flavor Flav came across as such a clown. This album is pretty good throughout, and I’m disappointed I’ve missed out. Good rap rockin beats - will listen to again. 4.5 stars and rounding down for the clock-pendants and matching Elton john glasses.
Solid rap from the era. Feels like a 3.5 to me, but rounding up because of the direct confrontation of white supremacy and leaning into the way media of the time talked about and tried to belittle issues they brought up
This album was sick, had me dancing around the grocery store. Awesome beats, unique sampling, great rap. I’m so glad I got this album today, I’d never heard of this group and feel like I’ve discovered a secret gem. This is a very strong 4/5 and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Amazing social commentary, powerful and compelling lyrics.
Za pierwszym razem było ciężko, ale drugim razem jak odpaliłem to mi się słuchało całkiem nieźle, bity bardzo przyjemnie "funky" i wesołe
Frábær plata!
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Brothers Gonna Work It Out; 911 Is A Joke; Incident At 66.6 FM; Revolutionary Generation; Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya, Man! Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Just as the title expands from Nation to Planet, so does the sonic world they're pulling from. The abrasive screeches of It Takes a Nation of Millions are toned down, but the breadth of the samples is no less overwhelming (just a little easier to listen to). 4.5 rounded down but my favorite of the two.
A am familiar with some Public enemy songs but had never listened to an album in full. It's pretty full on. A lot of anger at the world. Is the planet any better now than what it was for Public Enemy back then? I'd say not. It's a good album.
As always I feel ill equipped to critique hip hop, but I was really struck by the diversity in this album, unified by humor, wit, and anger.
It took me a while after this was released, but it is a stone cold classic. Powerful and angry.
Fan ta den vita mannen FR
Gnarly
Alger andstæða við Aphex Twin að því leyti að hér hef ég þroskast og finnst þetta oftar en ekki ansi skemmtilegt, ólíkt því sem mér fannst í gamla daga. Mjög hress cacophónía á köflum og beitt. En er ekki titiltextinn á umslaginu ósymmetrískur?
Classic hip hop album.
Really good. Flav has more songs than I realized and they’re better than I expected
Hip hop is not my thing, but I’ve heard about Public Enemy in the past. Never listened anything from them before… After the first round, must confess that this album is all killer no filler! Excellent content, clean delivery, enjoyable, engaging… a big surprise! Adding some classic rap to my music mix, for sure
911’s a Joke and Fight the Power are anthemic and I found myself bopping to a lot of this album.
not even 75 albums in and i already got all public enemy albums lol
I know I said rap from this era was all the same, but Public Enemy was doing it different. 4.5/5
True 90s hiphop
storia
30-years after it's release, and in the context of a George Floyd world, the album had more punch to me than it might have. A solid album. Really enjoyed listening to it, and really paying attention to the lyrics. Added.
Classic. Very distracting music lol
man, I can do none for you man
Generic 80's rap