Fear Of A Black Planet

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

Rich and varied, enlightening, and angry and suspicious. Required listening.

that was a fun album, I’ll give it an 8/10.

This was immensely enjoyable.

A great album with a lot of well known songs. The message still rings strong today.

Gotta love classic dj rap

I liked it. Bunch of good stuff in thete

Classic jams! ...I didn't listen all the way through though.

No puedo parar de mover la cabeza!

I liked it a lot. I liked the messaging

Not sure how I never got around to appreciating this the way I did their first two albums. The production crackles, Chuck D is forceful, and Flav is used just enough. 4.5.

Deze vond ik leuk, de naam kwam me bekend voor maar wat een leuke old school vibe

Das oldschool baby, waarbij den dj nog belangrijk was. Ik vind het niet het beste beste dat ik ooit gehoord heb maar je hoort wel dat modernere hiphop hiervan veel heeft genomen

Really good listen. I find it more accessible than Millions, but with no song as immediately bracing as Don't Forget the Hype. I don't know how to judge good hip hop vs.not so good. UT I know what I like and I like this album 4 stars

Fantastic sampling and classic 90s rapping. Plus that cover just rules.

Fantastic Hip-Hop / Rap album. Strong lyrically and musically. As relevant today as it was back in 1990.

Really solid, personally find it to be a lot more upbeat and energetic than n.w.a and contemporaries, the beats are more creative and social issues are also better explored in this album

The background opening puts the song at 4- right at the start. Kudos for the lyrics being unproblematic and while keeping flow and still talking about issues. Pollywanacraka is Lyrical hilarity, same for can't do nuttin for you man. The mixes are new to me, love this. Fight the Power. 4/5

.

Good album, long to listen to all at once

The album that ushered in the new hip-hop tracks of the 90's! This was a snippet of the evolution of hip-hop music during this time. This album features a collage of samples, scratches, high-tempo beats, and lyrical genius within their rhymes. Public Enemy's most famous album was a joy to listen to.

Whoa! Loving this. I honestly don’t know much about Public Enemy - but Chuck D spits fire; and I also have more respect from Flava Flav.

I like it a little less than I used to -- over the course of the runtime it just wears me out a little bit. Feels like there's not quite enough variety in the production to sustain a full hour of this. Without that fatigue it's good though. I actually really like 911 is a Joke, goofy as it is, cause it stands out compared to a lot of the other music. It's a 3.5 that's hard to round off either direction, but I like Chuck D enough to push it to a 4 I guess.

Excellent - poignant lyrics and great tunes.

Black power

This will be interesting b/c rap isn't really my thing. Great listen. Love the flow.

Fight the power

All time classic. This was a formative album of my childhood, when I thought I was the most woke revolutionary kid in my southwestern Ontario farming community.

Este disco me recuerda el bombazo que fue la película "Do the right thing". Hipo-Hop que se hizo popular en los 90 y saltó a primer plano mundial. "Brothers gonna work it out", "911 is a joke", "Welcome to the Terrordome" y por supuesto "Fight the power".

Less Flava Flav is a big plus, liked this one much better than "it takes a nation of millions".

cool

Commanding, authoritative, and sadly every bit as relevant today as it was when it was released. Fave track - I really like "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man" but it feels slightly wrong to pick the goofiest track on the album, so I'll go with "Burn Hollywood Burn" instead!

Classic west coast hip hop, better lyricism than I expected

I like Chuck D. This album is varied, strongly written, and is a blast to play loud. Flavor gets on my nerves a bit, but he lets it loose in the right places.

Solid album, still relevant, still sounds fresh.

I wanted to give this five stars. This was an iconic album of my youth. Probably the most anticipated one. But you can’t separate the people from the music. The homophobic and anti-Semitic lyrics and comments by Griff… I can’t see past them. The fact that this still gets 4 stars is a testament to how bloody good this album actually is.

Favourite so far of albums. Can see why this is important album, was relatable then and still relatable. Fav song - burn Hollywood burn - completely correct about black film roles

fittyleven samples coheres into one funk groove

Fight the power!

Better than expected

Powerful

BRING THE NOISE

It’s no nation of millions

Enjoyable rap album! I am not a very avid rap listener (although I am a huge fan of Kendrick Lamar and Eminem), but I found the suggested album to be a very nice surprise.

Fedt album men kunne godt være lidt kortere

I've seen Public Enemy and always thought of them as slightly preachy. This album makes me think less "preachy", more "passionate". At certain points, the songs can run kind of long, but the instrumentals are fucking awesome and the energy truly never dies. Favorite tracks: "Fear of a Black Planet", "Burn Hollywood Burn", "911 Is a Joke"

wasn't expecting all the instrumental/light lyrical content, classic tenant in hip hop, fight the power indeed

Classic slice of hip hop! Political stuff that resonates today.

I like Public Enemy a good deal. Chuck D is always good and pissed off, and Flava Flav adds the right amount of levity. But if I had to make a critique, it’s that every track on this record is just so busy. It’s kind of exhausting. Between the constant sonic assault and the same basic late 80s/early 90s hip hop drum loop on every track, this record can get a little tedious. This record is a bit of a time capsule with a good amount of nostalgia attached, but a little goes kind of long way for me these days. 7.5/10

Neni muj vibe

Found it a little bit dated but that's fairly common for old hip hop albums

solid first listen, don’t think i’d put it on casually but great piece

Hip-hop is not my thing. I respect the message and the culture related to it. But the sound make me nervous.

More irritating than I remembered it

Cool funky beats. I’m not black nor I live in America

medio sobrestimultante

Very energetic. Lots of sampling and record scratches. 3/5 Favorite Songs: Brothers Gonna Work It Out Welcome To The Terrordome Burn Hollywood Burn

Así como el de wu tang, meros tesos importancia histórica y de black culture, pero no es algo que escucharía

Goede teksten voor het thema, politieke relevantie. Niet per sé mijn smaak maar kan soms.

I want to live on this planet

Cool

I’m usually a pretty big Public Enemy fan but this album kinda dragged for me. Fight the Power is however an all-time great and cannot be ignored.

1990. Third studio album. Has been viewed as one of hip hop's greatest and most important records. Holds critiques of institutional racism, white supremacy, and the power elite.

3-/5 J’arrive pas à mettre plus que ça à ce genre d’album … Des morceaux légendaires et classic parsemés d’énormes merdes. Toujours un peu long…

I liked it more than I thought I would. A lot of interesting ideas.

Vrm pas fous honestly, out of toute les og rap groupe c’est le moins bon

Love this shit. Punk rock

I feel we just need the first public enemy on the list, it's still good tho Will I listen to again: 50%

3,3 Highlights: Brothers Work It Out, Fight The Power

Better than expected. Would listen too again.

public enemy have a habit of filling projects with bloat, which was mostly kept to a minimum on the acclaimed "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back", but with 4 interludes and 16 full-length tracks, averaging nearly 4 minutes per track (excluding the interludes), this record definitely has them showing some cracks. there are some great songs here that can compete with many on their last record, but they are, unfortunately, usually overextended and overshadowed. they go deeper in lyricism and concept than before, but the actual music does take a hit in the end.

It’s a good time this first time through. Listening to some tracks solo kinda felt flat

The lyrics are great, but the music is dated enough to kinda take me out of it. "Welcome to the Terrordome" "Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man!" and obviously "Fight The Power" are the standouts for me here

fav songs: 911 is a joke fight the power influential, conscious, defining 60/100

rap

Non troppo il mio genere però il mix di sample gasa

Fight the power

Racism still exist today and it's ridiculous. Everything is still relevant to this day. Why do they hate black people so much? It's just the evolution of racism with crack thrown into it. Again everything is still relevant to this day especially the pollywanacraka song. Smh. Oh and fight the power and 911 is a joke.

The different sounds really help create a catchy melody. This contrasts well with the powerful, deep lyrics. This creates musical poetry

Time is weird. This was (cutting) edgy, when it came out, but now sounds kind of dated. Not surprising, though, I guess, since it has been (!) 36 years. Anyway, I was for sure aware of Public Enemy, back in the day, at least in part because this album finished #3 in the Village Voice's annual "Pazz and Jop" music critics poll for 1990 (their previous album, "It Takes a Nation," was # 1 for 1988). And yet -- although I was (and still am) glad that these albums exist(ed), and their message(s) promulgated, and eyes opened, I never felt compelled to purchase album, nor do I now feel inspired to listen to this one again. It's not music that makes me want to dance, or sing along, and, for me, that's what really matters -- I have to like the music. I do like this better than some of the other hip-hop we've listened to (not De La Soul, though!), but it shares with some of them the sense that it's mostly about the lyrics (poetry with a beat), whereas I'm just more interested in music than lyrics. And, given how much good (better) music there is out there, this one just doesn't make me want to listen again. I prefer a book, if I want thought-provoking words -- and then I'll go listen to an album that makes me happy, energizes me, and engages me musically. Anyway, to rate this one: 3 stars: 2 for the music, plus 1 for social significance. P.S. To sort of prove my point: I just checked my collection, and realized that I *DO* actually own "It Takes a Nation," but the fact that I'd forgotten this kind of proves my point (that I haven't been very interested in listening to it -- and/or proves) that I own too much music, lol.

it's got a frantic and angry energy that doesn't let up, just feels infectious. the production's very very dope, all in all strong and consistent. favorite song is Burn Hollywood Burn or Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya, Man! strong 3

Overall Rating - 2.88/5 (5.76/10). Seriously good flow on this album. Not something I'd listen to again, but these guys are good.

251.

Rocky CREATIVE

Average hip hop

hiphop, it was very good but very long and it got boring fast

Not for everyone, but that's the point of a sound and a band like this.....in the current climate, especially the unfortunate souls who live in the USA, sentiment is never more prescient...

Elvis wasn't a fucking racist. That is a bullshit urban legend that was further popularized by Public Enemy. As for the album itself.. Flava Flav is the most interesting thing here as the proto-ODB. Chuck D shines on "Welcome To The Terror Dome", but overall his flow is repetitive, lyrics are just ok and political topics are predictable without offering any real insight. The music here is a real step down from "It Takes A Nation of Millions". If im gonna listen to Rap from 1988, I will be more tempted to throw on "Long Live the Kane" or "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick" but overall, I think it was a few years away from being a genre to obsess over.

Interesting

demasiado monótono para mi gusto.

flavored flavvvv

guay

Fight the power fr fr. Nice stuff! Actually thoroughly enjoyed this despite having low hopes due to it's genre. Great message, and without that stupid ego that you get in hip hop of the 90s. Good samples and all x

Vähän samaan tieriin muidenkin east coast räpäytyksien kanssa. Hyvä meno ja poljento, mutta pidemmän päälle kuitenkin rupee vähän kyllästyttämään kun ei nostalgiaa kyseiseen levyyn löydy.

I like the flow of this album. It has a lot of different moving parts and different speakers throughout as well and I think the ads a nice bit variety to the album. I think the base is really good and it's also got a good sense of rhythm , and I like the instrumentation as well as the sampling that's used throughout. I think it's a fairly easy listening experience.But I feel I don't feel like it challenged me too much. But I think it definitely had something to say. It's not my favorite but it was still quite engaging throughout and I didn't feel bored at any points. Fav Track: War At 33 1/3

I liked the social commentary but disliked the overall length. It's way to repetitive for its own good.

Pretty good but they still have yet to fully click for me

very redman dirrty with dry shampoo in some sort of shoe commercial -911 is a joke -incident at 66.6 FM -Burn hollywood Burn

One of the first hip-hop albums that I enjoy but still find annoying. I can really appreciate the production for the 1990s. I was rocking my head to a lot of it, but I don't always pay as close attention to lyricism on the first listen as I should. I haven't marked it to listen again, but I might come across it again and appreciate it more when I do.

So I listened to this for 1 hour of a 6 hour drive so I wasn't fully focused on it. The hits had me giving this 5 stars but there was a lot of filler. Ultimately I enjoyed it enough but will never revisit more than two songs off of this so it can't be that high of a rating

Hip hop is generally not for me. I found this album repetitive and too much abstract and weird. The mixing is pretty weird and all over the place, but the rappers of public enemy have a nice flow to be honest.

Ну я хз если честно.

Hmm, it's not Nation of Millions is it. That's not to say that it doesn't have some really powerful and enjoyable songs on it, but it doesn't grab you in nearly the same way. One thing that is still true is that their lyrical content is absolutely excellent and right on.

911 is a joke is the same banger I remember as a teenager. In general, the album holds up better than some of the other early 90's hip hop.

Big problem I find with this album is how uneven it sounds. Like, You'll have tracks like "Welcome to the Terrordome" and then "Pollywanacraka" will turn the hype down, "Burn Hollywood Burn" and "Power to the People" and then the whole album becomes absolutely exhaustive until the immaculate closer. The parts are good, but it's the sum that drives me crazy, and since we're rating the sum, it's meh.

Anti what machine!!! Fantastic album jokes aside, great listen

A legendary album that rightfully deserves its place in the pantheon of hip hop. Public Enemy brought unprecedented anger to the genre, putting the political message center stage. I had the privilege to see them live in Beijing many years ago (it was a weird experience to watch them sing "Fight the Power" while cordoned off by two rows of visibly nervous CCP guards...), and their generosity towards the public didn't disappoint. Flavor Flav truly is a beast of a MC. I love this album, but unfortunately not every part of it has aged well. Some tracks could probably have been left out or shortened, especially since it's a very long, very noisy record with a LOT of skits and instrumental parts. It lacks the sobriety and simplicity of their earlier records, which makes it a bit too old-school for me, but not in a good way. The stratospheric level of energy can also be exhausting at times, and I can't listen to the whole thing without a few pauses. Still a classic, but certainly not an everyday listen, and not my favorite PE album (nothing hits harder than their first one for me). 6/10

When I was in middle school, some classmates proudly wore T-shirts with the band’s iconic target logo, a favorite among the suburban zoulous of the time. Socially conscious hip-hop was already becoming rare as gangsta rap was taking over, but Public Enemy has a unique blend of militant politics and hardcore intensity. It’s a brilliant album, dense and uncompromising, also a bit too old-school for me to revisit often, but absolutely fascinating.

3.5 - good album

I love the sound of the album and I think this is some of Chuck D’s best lyrics. Sampling is awesome. Fuck the system messaging is awesome. But god damn does this one just give me a headache by the end. I get that it’s the point, but a straight hour of it was a bit much for me.

Good grooves

It's fine but it was just kind of noise

Interesting record indeed. I was aware of PE in the day, knew some of these tracks but had never listened to the whole album. Christgau wrote in 1990 that Public Enemy had become not only "the most innovative popular musicians in America if not the world" but also "the most politically ambitious". Musically it could be called sampledelia with strong beats - high intensity, a bit chaotic. The rap flows are appealing, Chuck D and Flavor Flav a classic pairing. Lyrically, it was always interesting to me that PE was so political, the raps are fortunately more open-ended than the interviews and thinkers/writers cited. It's electrifying in small doses (makes a lot of other rap seem shallow, or other hip hop seem staid), but I don't think I'd choose to play through the whole album again, other than as an object of study. I get that it was hugely successful and influential, and a high-water mark of sampledelia before the industry developed sample clearance/payments processes, it's validly in the 1001, but for its alignment with my listening tastes, I'll just rate it as Okay, 6/10.

Classic old-school hip-hop.

Good album. Really liked the rapping parts and the lyrics. I didn't like how much sampling there was in the songs; feels like it breaks up the songs too much.

Brothers gonna work it out - this kinda goes hard, the energy is brilliant actually. 911 is a joke is an absolute ear worm. This album would get a higher rating if I enjoyed interludes but I do not. I do like the interactions with black history and circumstances, especially with the civil rights movement. Fear of a black planet is wonderful social commentary. Revolutionary Generation is good also. In some instances I found there was too much going on at any one time.

Of the most rythmic hip hop rap a true classic

no comment.

forgot to rate them - A for effort, instrumental in their endeavors to make sure voices are heard - not my go to for hip hop but Chuck D is killaaaa

Seems so much better than modern rap - but maybe I'm just old fat fossil.

Another one which I'm sure is fine. But not for me

Wel oke. Leuke rap

Belongs on the list. Not my favourite thing though

I enjoyed this. It had some interesting samples. I like the song Fight the Power. That was the only song I knew. I liked how socially conscious this was.

Fight the power!

Kaip ir praeitas jų albumas, solidus.

Fear Of A Black Planet is a rap album with a message and a throwback to a time when rap music had something to say. At times it may feel dated and a little bloated but it's an okay album and the messages and themes throughout cause you to look around and think for yourself.

It's okay, the samples are pretty funky though

Boom bap, boom boom bap. I like it better than most modern hip hop, all the scratching is really cool. They should do more of that. Adjacent to the music, the dancing and fashion associated with this is also really cool. It's very evocative, a really great album, but is evocative of an era and a culture that I am not a part of. Wick wick wick wickky wick wick wick

This sounds very angry and loud, I like it but I wouldn’t listen to it again. I enjoyed the lyrics and the message as it is very powerful and still very real unfortunately. It’s not my usual listen but I enjoyed it for sure

I ought to love this, I fully expected to love this. It certainly has its gems, and it is a good album, but good lord is it too long, the production quality is also hit-or-miss, really ruining many tracks that could be awesome. Fight the power is an all-timer (truly, motherf*ck Elvis *and* John Wayne) and I'm glad they left it for last, ending on a strong note. 3.5/5

Heel vet. Wel wat rauw en de beats zijn net te weinig melodieus voor mij

Repetitivo pero los instrumentales los salvan

Overall: 6/10 Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this as much as I was hoping. The beats are good, and Chuck's voice and lyrics are great, but for some reason it just didn't click for me. Fav Song: Fight the Power

Sampling was crazy on this. Wildly influential on modern rap. Highly politically charged.

not my vibe

Consider this album within the political climate f the 1990's.

Great sampling, cool album

Some strong points but this is more of a blueprint for current rap than something to return to, imp

Too many fillers. If you good shorten this to like 10 songs, this would be a classic.

A powerful album but didn't quite hit musically for me

Not my alley, but an essential album from a historic perspective

It brings you in their world, I will not listen to it a second time but it was cool !

As always, I can get with this, but my white ass can't pass judgment on what constitutes good rap/hiphop.

Overrated to me

I like Public Enemy and enjoyed this album. Not my favorite album of theirs, but definitely something I could find myself going back to.

Maybe by the end of this I'll have heard enough rap and hip-hop to have a better framework for forming opinions with it. Genuinely I haven't heard a whole lot. It's funny because this is the exact kind of record my parents would've hated me to have had in the house when I was young but listening to it now... I imagine there's people in the US for whom this album would be shocking, and those people suck. Today it's not very shocking to me but in the 90s probably, yeah. Anyway, Chuck D's voice is really good, huh? Favorite Song: Who Stole the Soul?

911 is a Joke has me torn between liking the message and having to listen to Flav's flow. But getting back to chuck right after makes it easy enough to forget at least. Getting that brief bit of 1990 AIDS homophobia made me double-take lol. I respect this a lot as an answer to the cultural response they were getting. I know already there is Public Enemy material I enjoy more though.

Some Public Enemy is better than no Public Enemy, and Chuck D's voice is one of the greatest things ever recorded. But there's too much nonsense here. As great as Nation of Millions is, this falls way short as a follow up. Aside from Fight the Power and Burn Hollywood Burn there's not a lot that stands out. I've always wanted to like this more than I do, but I've never come around on it. I guess I got a rip in my couch. 2.5⭐️

3 stars Some great traffics with political lyrics that have clearly been influential on artists in the years that followed. However, it suffers from some of the issues of early hip hop such as overly repetitive beats that make the tracks blend together over time and the album being a bit longer than necessary at over an hour. The combination of these factors can make listening to the whole album feel a bit tedious, which I’ll admit is what has kept me from revisiting it over the years.

Kewl

Flaaaavvaaa flaaaaaav

👍

The soundtrack for Black History class

An okay album, I liked Brothers gotta Work It Out the most.

Seda isegi täitsa kuulaks. Albun on tund pikk tho ja hakkab juba vaikselt aju lahustama.

fight the power

3/5. Ben geen hiphop guy (totaal niet) maar dit heeft wel wat, mooi in de tijdsgeest van toen ook, nog steeds relevant politiek activisme. Als je ff tijd hebt, check de film Do the Right Thing van Spike Lee, laatste nummer van dit album is daarvan de soundtrack. Goeie film in hetzelfde thema als dit album.

Good but not as amazing as their earlier work I feel

Good but overstimulating

Rv

Aged better than I thought

Me gusta más el otro, pero es una buena escucha

Sounds a lot like sir mix a lot. Would have to listen again to see if any I like particularly

Chuck D's flow reminds of a preacher & considering that fact that he's spitting truth about the struggles of the Black man. It's quite fitting. 3

Fight the power! Old school hip hop putting the civil rights front and centre.

Just had their previous album “It takes a Nation…” less than 2 weeks ago (having none for 830 days), and this was quite similar. Pretty sample/loop heavy, I liked the old-school feel, probably enjoyed this a bit less than the last but overall 3.25/5

Contract On The World Love Jam - 2.5/5 Brothers Gonna Work It Out - 3.5/5 911 Is A Joke - 4/5 Incident At 66.6 FM - 2.5/5 Welcome To The Terrordome - 3/5 Meet The G That Killed Me - 3/5 Pollywanacracka - 2.5/5 Machine - 3/5 Burn Hollywood Burn - 3/5 Power To The People - 3/5 Who Stole The Soul? - 3/5 Fear Of A Black Planet - 3/5 Revolutionary Generation - 3/5 Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya, Man! - 2.5/5 Reggie Jax - 3/5 Leave This Off You Fu*Kin Charts - 2/5 B Side Wins Again - 2/5 War At 33 1/3 - 3/5 Final Count Of The Collision Between Us And The Demand - 3/5 Fight The Power - 3.5/5

Beats were dope. Wild that they had an anti-race-mixing song. How do you do, fellow grand wizards?

5/10

pretty cool 👍

Like the stereo mix but this isn't the music of my people

When this first came out, I couldn't get enough of it, especially 'Welcome to the Terrordome', 'Burn Hollywood Burn', 'Can't do Nuttin' for ya Man' and 'Fight the Power'. The Spike Lee film 'Do the Right Thing' was my favourite film at the time with Radio Raheem playing the last song on the album on repeat. Great film. But the album went on the back burner when 'Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black' came out. That album is still my favourite for the actual tracks but this album takes me back to a time when I was discovering lots of new things in music, film and literature. A classic hip hop album.

My rating 3.3. Liked their first album better but this still rocks

I enjoyed this for the most part, but some of the samples got to be a bit irritating.

"As a person who likes protest music, this is ok. If you're into sample-heavy stuff, you'll like this. The best songs on this one have chuck and flav rapping together (Fight The Power, for instance). Personal fan of Fight The Power. 6/10 Probably in my collection"

Crazy beats

One of the sickest album covers!! Super relevant themes and cutting lyrics. I think the production is kinda messy, and I think I prefer It Takes a Nation of Millions, but this album definitely has room to grow on me. Favorite song on first listen was maybe Burn Hollywood Burn, probably because the image of an LA on fire is one of the most salient, enrapturing, and one of my most favorite political motifs.

I will never be a fan of the genre but I can tolerate Public Enemy for longer than most artists under the Hip-hop/Rap banner. There's something about their sound and style that sets them aside - I can't put my finger on what it is and I really don't want to spend too much time thinking about it, but, yes - tolerable.

this was a great time. hell yeah ✊🏼

Fight the power!!! Felt a bit repetitive at times, but solid 3.3

Better than It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, less crowded

Aclarando de antemano que no termine de escuchar el álbum, el mismo me pareció muy bueno, juega demasiado con coros, voces femeninas, samplings. Son canciones energéticas y divertidas. Le puse 3 estrellas por el hecho de q no es un género que consumo todos los días, pero me encantó.

Flavaaa Flavvvv

not a fan

Raw and unfiltered. Fight the power

For some reason this took me a few days to get through. No fault of the tunes. Just wasn’t vibing with it.

Public Enemy er kult, men de er også en one trick pony. Beaten går hardt & monotont mens Chuck D rapper over med sin karakteristiske, lite varierte flow. Noen tracks stikker seg ut. På denne skiva er det Welcome to the Terrordome og Fight the Power – begge bestående av en usannsynelig mengde samples.