Reviews (page 7 of 13)
There are some incredible songs on this album, 911 is a Joke, Fight the Power, Welcome to the Terrordome. It'd be a masterpiece if it was just those songs. Unfortunately, its so full of filler that I've tried to listen through it like 5 times and at this point I've just called it. 3 out of 5, 5 out of 5 if its 30 minutes.
Great. Know it well
Not my thing too old school sorry
So smart, so prescient. I would need to listen to the lyrics closely and repeatedly to really get its impact. Besides the songs I already knew, I really liked “Burn Hollywood Burn” and “Can’t Do Nuttin.” “Fight the Power” will be forever linked to Do the Right Thing as one of the best film musical combos of all time.
I've had Public Enemy on my to-listen list for a while and this album didn't disappoint. I love the sample-heavy style, my favorites are Brothers Gonna Work It Out and Who Stole The Soul? but I also have a soft spot for the pettiness in Incident At 66.6 FM
My heart dropped at another classic Rap / Hip-Hop album. Not my thing really. However, I was pleasantly surprised by PE FoaBP. OK, some tracks just don't work for me, but ... I like it. Nice ! (Probably sounds like Damning With Faint Preaise, but ... I will return to this LP.)
I enjoyed this, but not to the same extent as others so I hope to return to it at some point. The production sounds like plunderphonics in its infancy, a collage of samples which is cool and almost certainly cutting edge for the time, but falls short given what I can listen to today. The rapping is much better than the beats but it does still sound a little late 80s, early 90s to me in a way I’m struggling to get over. It could hit harder. It's obviously influential on music that I love. I’m hoping its qualities are going to dawn on me sooner or later.
Really good album. Almost as good as It Takes a nation of millions to hold us back
It was aight
While I’m most likely not the target audience at all I love this album. Especially the final song, “Fight the Power” this feels like the apex of early hip hop. The sampling is unmatched with how many references they’re throwing at you. The lyrics still carry a weight. My only nitpick is that it’s a bit too long. They could’ve trimmed a couple of songs. 4.5/5
Flawless
A seminal album. My mom claims she likes Public Enemy, but asked me to turn it off while I was driving. This merely adds to the joy of listening to this banger.
I always had great expectation on Public Enemy. I feel attracted to their thing, their name, style, attitude, image. However, their music always feels to me messy, too loaded, with no space to enjoy the parts, no space to focus on the rhymes or the instrumentation.. It seems that everything is always on top of everything else. Moreover, the speaking parts, here and there.. Respect for them, but musically, ;/ btw, I love hip hop, I do, old school and new stuff, so they should be rated higher for me..
not bad, not my type
It was ok
Interesting but not my favorite
From a young age, Flava Flav was always the silly clock guy. When I eventually started listening to Public Enemy, I was surprised with how serious the music was. Anyway, this album rocks. I don't really need an hour of it, but hey better value for their fans. Album cover: (A+) I'm sure this kept Tipper Gore awake at night.
Public Enemy have an awesome sound. The spotify band description calls the production "cacophonic" and that is definitely right. The production is overwhelming and confrontational in a way that couples with the lyrics. You should be a little uncomfortable from the barrage of sound, as well as the message being given to you by Public Enemy. "911 is a joke" is Flavor Flav on every verse. My only other explosure to Flavor Flav is his dating show from the 2000s. "Incident at 66.6FM" likely inspired Kendrick's recording on DAMN with the TV hosts criticizing him. Hip-hop has been a target of this kind of pearl clutching since the beginning. The bars on "Burn Hollywood Burn" are insane. "Reggie Jax" is the first song that I haven't liked. This album is great. It's got fiery political lyrics on top of genre and era defining production. An hour is a little long and the cacaphony does get a little tiring, but it's rarely bad. This music and the music inspired by it plays over scenes in so many 90s movies about black america. I can see Radio Raheem walking around with his boombox as I listen. 9/10
I own this and like it. Rock and anger has a place, and that place is here! Fear the Black Planet? Nailed it!
Good ass album, beats were good as hell.
1,5
1. okay!! 2. chaotic but I'm jamming out. went a little long 3. W song 4. the 'instrumentals' are really cool 5. another solid song 6. short and sweet, futurama triangle 7. examination of interracial couples, solid song 8. examination of police violence against black people, solid song 9. examination of anti-black racism in Hollywood, banger song 10. this one's fine. interesting stereo mix. at the end 11. this one's fine. examination of the way america suppresses black culture into conformity 12. another solid song. twewy stole this beat 13. this one's fine, ending is good 14. solid song 15. another solid song 16. this one's fine 17. this one is okay, a sheep keeps bleating 18. pretty good 19. short and sweet 20. solid ending I wasn't familiar with Public Enemy, but I came out a fan
Fantastic Album. From the sharp lyrics to the crazy samples everything about this album shines beautifully.
Fear of a Black Planet is undeniably an important album—culturally, politically, historically. But musically? It just doesn’t work for me. Public Enemy’s third album is loaded with sharp social commentary, touching on everything from systemic racism (“911 Is a Joke”), to the stigmatization of Black identity (“Who Stole the Soul”), to the empowerment of Black women (“Revolutionary Generation”). Tracks like “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” and “Pollywanacraka” even dare to push positive messages about unity and acceptance, including the then-controversial topic of interracial relationships. At the time, Public Enemy’s refusal to soften their message shook up the white establishment—and that’s commendable. But message alone doesn’t make a great album. Sonically, Fear of a Black Planet is mired in the early '90s—noisy, cluttered, and not in a way that holds up. The Bomb Squad’s chaotic production style may be revolutionary to some, but to me, it sounds dated and abrasive, without offering enough melodic or rhythmic payoff. There are few engaging hooks, beats, or samples that stick. As for the vocals, Chuck D’s booming delivery is iconic, sure, but not particularly enjoyable to my ears. I get that hip-hop leans more toward spoken delivery than singing, but even within that realm, there’s little nuance or variation here to keep me engaged. Flavor Flav’s contributions are even more grating, especially on tracks like “911 Is a Joke,” which feels more like shouting than performance. What also can’t be ignored is the presence of some problematic content. For an album that positions itself as socially conscious, it’s jarring to hear moments that come off as homophobic or antisemitic. Some might argue it's satire or cultural expression—but I don’t think the intent was clever irony. It feels crude and mean-spirited, which undercuts some of the very justice-oriented themes the album champions. In the end, Fear of a Black Planet is a landmark in hip-hop history, no question. It challenged power structures, sparked conversations, and gave voice to a segment of America that desperately needed to be heard. But for me, appreciating its historical importance isn’t the same as enjoying it musically. Culturally significant? Absolutely. But sonically? Hot garbage
All the Public Enemy albums generally sound the same, but that also means they are all good.
Standout Songs: Incident at 66.6FM Welcome to the Terrordome Burn Hollywood Burn Fear of a Black Planet Fight the Power I don’t often listen to hip hop, because I don’t usually like it, but this album was actually pretty okay.
Much like the previous PE album I got, I enjoyed the album all the way through. I again thought the songs worked well together as a whole, which I always look for. They did a good job with interludes and effects to blend the tracks into an overarching work. This album also had that late 80s/early 90s hip hop sound, and again I thought it contributed in a good way to the feel of the album and found it to be fitting with the messaging. In the same sense, though, it does take away from the "timelessness" aspect I find a lot of great albums to have. It also felt long, though the 1 hour runtime wasn't anything over the top. I think it was just a barrage that made it a bit tiring by the time it culminates in Fight the Power. I can see myself coming back to this one. It's a solid listen. Overall: 3.5/5
J - 2/5 Best Track - "Fight The Power" F - 1/5 Best Track - "Fight The Power"
I respect what Public Enemy is and their impact, but why did I get two albums just days apart? Like the last, they are speaking their mind on important issues. The music is slightly more engaging, but the album feels very long. I almost didn’t finish this one. My rating reflects my respect for what Public Enemy represents, but I can’t see myself revisiting any of this. And maybe I can avoid repeats for a bit?
Fantastic record
Public Enemy is one of the most distinctive groups, not only in hip hop, but in music history. Chuck D’s memorable voice, the Bomb Squad’s beats and, of course, Flava Fav. And Fear of a Black Planet is an extremely important album. I’m not going to say I listen to this regularly, although it’s increased due to the most recent election. This is just a classic album. Period. The significance cannot be denied. This is a 4 rating for me. 4/5
This was a little bunk. A few songs were genuinely good but a lot were mid or annoying. It's like they just discovered the soundboard and were spamming it at some points.
Great scratching, great lyrics. Good rap!
Great album from PE. Love the rawness of this brand of hip hop.
Pretty underwhelming for being one of the Most acclaimed hip hop records omof all time, I was expecting a bit more
I feel like I need to listen to this about 15 more times. This was a great listen though.
If you like rap (I'm not a big fan), you'd likely appreciate this album. Strong and clever lyrics. I liked that the last song on the album is the opening song to Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing movie.
Jag fattar inte hiphop :/ Tvåa.
"It’s a sprawling, messy, politically charged, and ultimately humanistic album. It features Chuck D and Flavor Flav trying to envision the future, and taking chances as performers." -- Jesse Ducker https://albumism.com/features/public-enemy-fear-of-a-black-planet-album-anniversary
10/10, this albums like a blueprint to all future rap. Talking about the disenfranchisement of black Americans , this particularly hits home because it reminds me a little bit of Kendrick Lamars raps, but maybe thats just my mind trying to make a connection.
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet This definitely needs more than the one full listen i’ve given it but it’s great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed it! Was a fun record with lots of really good beats.
Hip-hop is very hit and miss with me buy I like this album. It has energy, the lyrics are better than the usual (n-word, dicks, etc.) and it's an influential record. I have heard that the band has used some homophobic and antisemitic language but I haven't looked into this properly - it would be a deal breaker (and it means I won't round "up"). Otherwise, they have good and critical social content in their lyrics - they are not Nobel Prize quality but still. The album sounds good, varied and with good musicianship.
It was perfectly fine. I found the album to be too long, but nevertheless enjoyable
Super awesome. Samples were great and the rhymes ruled
Hey guess I never reviewed this one but solid stuff here. Wish I had sat down with the lyrics of this one but good stuff regardless great beats.
6/10… east coast hip hop
Respect what it does and a great message, but not my type of music. Really funky and groovy
Hip Hop Klassiker und mit Fight the Power einfach auch einer DER Banger auf dem Album. Reicht aber finde ich nicht an andere Hip Hop Größen ran, für mich schwankt es zwischen 3 und 4 Sternen
Early 90s HipHop wird nicht mein Freund. Schrott
I absolutely love Public Enemy for their ability to make an album with such amazing and important social commentary and criticisms of society, and yet at the same time this album is fun as hell and can also be enjoyed in a much more light hearted way.
Nice tunes but not my style - thx!
I like public enemy and this was enjoyable. Feel would’ve liked more if it was 20 mins shorter
Shit sucked. Way too sampled, not an ounce of musicality
While I do think 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back' is the better overall album, Public Enemy's 'Fear of a Black Planet' is ripe with experimentation, lyrical fury, and dizzying production that can easily overwhelm you upon first listen. I mean, I've listened to this album countless times, and I still think that it is a lot at times, but in a mostly good way. The production here, and the album in general, feels like flicking through various news channels - songs like 'Contact On The World Love Jam' and 'Incident At 66.6 FM' especially play into this aesthetic. And if there's one thing that remains obvious about all these news samples we're flicking through, it's their disdain for Public Enemy, their music, and hip hop in general after their commercial break with 'It Takes A Nation...'. So, what this album ends up providing for the listener is Public Enemy's much-needed responses to the media's baseless, and mostly racist, claims. But I'll jump to the lyrical side of things in a bit. First, I just want to stress how bat-shit insane the production on this thing is. It's untamed, and a sample warehouse - a Bomb Squad production that is the essence of "Throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks", and, miraculously enough, most of it sticks and leaves a permanent mark. The messy guitar sample and that funky bassline driving 'Brothers Gonna Work It Out' feel like a calm before the storm. The vocoded vocals of '911 is a Joke' are my favorite aspect of that particular song, though I also love the group ramblings that just hang in the background; they're absurd. 'Welcome To The Terradome' has too many incredible moments to list off - I mean, the core beat itself has this very industrial feel to it, and it's another example of the Bomb Squad just choosing an insanely bold, short sample loop to encompass their core beats. Some other small moments from this song that I love are the female vocals in the interlude, that one random electric guitar hit at the beginning of the second verse, and Flavor Flav's accent during the interlude. 'Anti Machine' has this insanely hypnotic groove driving a good chunk of the song, it lulls the listener into a false sense of security before hitting them across the head with D's verse in the final minute or so - I love the sound effects paired with his verse here. The whistle of 'Burn Hollywood Burn' alongside those horn hits makes for an explosive refrain, and the organ of the title track gives the entire song a very funky edge. 'War At 33 1/3' is the best beat here in my opinion, I love that wayward synth that drives the beat, it sounds like it's being perpetually tuned. And that screaming at the beginning of D's verse kills me every time. The other obvious highlight here is 'Fight The Power', just an incredible fucking beat - and not as chaotic as everything else here, sounding like something off their previous record. But even then, the sample list for this song tells another story; many smaller details in this beat can easily fly over your head on a first listen. The lyrical intensity on this album is brought up a ton. These guys are fed up, and any sort of restraint that Chuck D had on their previous album is completely gone (not that there was much there to begin with). It works (mostly) well, with 'Meet The G That Killed Me' being a bit of a blemish on the rest of the album. '911 Is a Joke' actually has Flavor Flav rapping something meaningful, with some genuinely poignant commentary on first responders' apathy toward the black community, with Flav even saying he'd rather call a cab because it would come quicker. 'Burn Hollywood Burn' has PE welcoming some feature verses for once, from the best-of-the-best. Big Daddy Kane's verse here is incredible, just the way he comes in with his deeper caodence on this chunky beat is great. I love this posse cut because it remains focused on the core message of the song, which deals with the pigeonholing of black actors and roles in Hollywood. A few songs here, like 'Pollywanacraka' and the title track, deal with these ideas of race mixing, both providing very unique insights into the world's view on it. And 'Who Stole The Soul?' tackles the idea of persistent dehumanization of the black community at the hands of various government institutions throughout history. Finally, you have 'Fight The Power', one of the greatest musical anthems ever. That Elvis line is still one of my favorites to come out of the band, and I love the way the first part of that bar just repeats to hammer the idea home. Going into the '90s, Public Enemy still sounded like they were operating on a completely different level than any other artist in hip-hop. Their group felt like an idea, a movement, and larger than music itself. They also just continued to sound really fucking good, everything fits so nicely in the mix despite the messy presentation.
fire
Too old of rap still classic but not my tastes
Not really my jam. But classic.
Fantastic. If any HipHop can be traced back to those dudes dancing in their high-waisted pants in the video for “Apache” then I can dig it. I enjoyed this from start to finish. Great samples, groovy grooves and strong songwriting.
Love this album. Still sound powerful and at times depressingly relevant. Definitely paved the way for rage and a direct descendant of Gil Scott heron and the last poets.
Not big fan of hiphop
23/1001 Another solid album this week, recovering from a brutal prior week. Public Enemy never really captivated me but I always respected and appreciated their music and heard plenty of it growing up. Chuck D always has control of what he’s doing. He somehow manages to be angry and yell at you for a whole hour and still don’t tune him out, although by the end I was ready for a change. He is so passionate and his poetry is so vivid, it is a joy to listen to voice that so uniquely his but you can hear and feel all the MCs of the early 80s melded into one strong and powerful flow. The thing that make the whole of PE great is those snippets and samples and cut and scratches and all the collage of aggression and passion sewn together masterfully with Chuck giving you an earful is just so raw. They building the next generation of sampling and producing in hip hop that will be carried for all of the 90s and beyond in some form or fashion. These guys are pioneers that stand the test of time. Listening back 35 years after after it came out and it’s even better today then when I first heard it (which I can’t remember when that was, but probably around 2000). So many hip hop albums from the late 80s/ early 90s seem very dated. This album, while sounding very much like the era, it was done so well that it doesn’t age the same others have. I may have considered a 5 if it were shorter, tho I don’t know which song(s) I’d cut to do so. Individually all these songs carry their weight, and as a complete work are very strong, but over an hour of all the parts is too much. As magnificent a MC that Chuck is, is voice and flow (which I love both) are just too much. I love pizza too, but I need I shouldn’t eat it for a whole hour straight. On top of that, Flavor Flav’s hype man act becomes tiresome too. Though he by and large is arranged perfectly where he fells love he is part of the music. The production is so heavy too that by the end my brain is over flowing with simulation. When I was done I had to put on some Coltrane to let my brain digest. But I guess that is the point of PE in a way. 8.5/10
Powerful
Preteen me that practiced drumkit to the album growing up in southern Louisiana would have given this record a 9
Remember Monkey... Always do the right thing
yeah! mir gefallen die soundcollagen die PE bei jedem song neu zusammenbasteln - hip hop in seiner rohen, urtümlichen form.
Das Album hat für mich ein bisschen von allem zuviel.
LOVED IT brought back many memories and 90s feelings though I have never actually heard most of it before.
Couple of bangers
Decent album, will require a few listens
I'm admittedly not much of a hip-hop fan, and I really only listen to Kendrick and Mac Miller but this wasn't bad. I like the substance of what they were saying in the songs and a lot of their points are still salient today. I appreciate what they were going for and the execution is objectively good. For me personally, it's middle of the road. I wouldn't rush to turn it off but I won't reach for it again. It's just not quite my speed. Also, the album was LONG! I wasn't expecting that
Swag
Questa volta basta una nazione di migliaia per fermarli
Definitely a classic - can't say I'd go back to it often for any reason but reading up on it was rewarding. Truly the golden era of hip hop.
Again, I was never into rap music when I was younger, and this list continues to surprise me with some great rap albums. This is a fantastic album. Blown away.
Classic
Solid, but not spectacular. The race theme is cool though.
Oh good grief, more hip hop. While I understand the cultural importance of much of this genre, on the whole I dislike the way hip hop vocals are delivered. Despite the comment above, I played this album twice, and kind of liked it, particularly the "constructed" backing music. At well over an hour, this is frankly far too long.
i lowkey vibed throughout this entire album. big 90’s rap jammer here. i think “911 is a joke” was one of my favorites. not download-worthy but still a fun listen. this album was an hour long but went by SO UNBELIEVABLY QUICK. i liked the transitions from song to song — this album almost felt like one continuous track. bravo! 4/5.
Angry, funny and hard as fuck
Not a rap fan, this sounds just like so many other rap artists
Fun production, fun album
[7/10]
Boring and unoriginal
Hablar de Public Enemy es hablar uno de los grupos fundamentales de la música negra. Sus tres primeros álbumes son esenciales. Este, contó con Fight the power, uno de sus mejores y más exitosos temas. También con Welcome to the terrordome, 911 is a joke con Flavor Flav haciendo de las suyas, Brothers Gonna Work It Out o Burn Hollywood Burn. Más de 200 samples en un disco imposible, legalmente, de hacer hoy en día. Saboteando y apropiándose de todo lo que les daba la gana, sembrando el caos en unos USA deseosos de seguirles. Como bien dijo Chuck D en Kool thing de Sonic Youth: Fear!
Loud, brash, explicit, and just being themselves. You have to appreciate something to unapologetic. Is it an everyday spin for me? No. Is it high energy and iconic. Yup!
Is true for most white people.
☀︎c’est un style musical que je n’avais jamais écouté auparavant, et ce n’est pas quelque chose que j’aurais écouté par moi-même sans ça donc je suis contente d’avoir essayé ☀︎c’est pas quelque chose que j’irai réécouter malheureusement, j’aime aucune des chansons au niveau musical →2☆ sorry
Cracker
They tried hard. But it was still dull. Also, I was driving when I played the album. Got tricked by some unnecessary sirens!! And many other strange sounds that made me doubt if I had some issue with my car!
Going with a 3 because the production and just sound is sweet but an hour of cuts and samples is a lot. I had a similar issue with the Beastie Boys album. Individual songs are solid but hip hop has a come a long way and as an album run it’s long and I hate to be dismissive, but after a while it’s like I get it.
this album is a microcosm of the afrocentric movement within hip hop. taking the negativity and owning it, putting it blatantly out there and forcing people to hear what these rappers have to say. i particularly love the skit 'incident at 66.6 FM', showing the reaction that the white community was having to these rappers that demanding they be listened to. this album is so much deeper than what is on the surface. i believe it is truly a work of art - and very worthy of this 5 star ranking. P.S. I will never hear Chuck D and not think of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 P.S.S. I will never stop laughing at the fact that Flavor Flav went from this to hosting 'The Flavor of Love'
Not as fun/entertaining as Doggystyle. Not bad, but a little bit boring as it kept going on, and also just too long.
Don’t know if I’ve ever actually listened to them before but have always heard how influential they are. Even though realistic and progressive lyrics like this aren’t to hard to find these days, I’m sure back in the early 90s this was pretty mind blowing. Also really liked their flow and was pretty entertaining to listen to.
Before my taste.
https://youtu.be/eJ_bgq8CCEg?si=5YHI_hnIbeAqbQTQ First time I’ve had a deep dive into a Public Enemy album and it was a little long, but fun nonetheless. Always a big fan of socially conscious lyrics when it comes to rap, and this album has plenty to go around. It also deserves a second listen to catch all of the different references from the 70s and 80s. It’s a travesty that almost all younger millennials know Flavor Flav as a reality tv star. Also definitely going to try and model my basketball public announcer voice after Chuck D’s delivery.
This album coming on the heels of Doggy Style kinda hurts it. You definitely feel it's age after the comparison. The songs and sound are pretty good, but gets really repetitive. Every song sounds pretty much the same.
No
I liked the lyrics. Had a hard time getting through the whole album. Could see myself listen to this in a specific mood. I have a feeling that this album has cultural and racial importance.
Absolute shite. The more exposure I have to this genre the more I hate it.
Great Interludes but mostly mid songs. Only Fight The Power remains the all-time classic
I love me some hip-hop. This is super cool, but probably a bit samey across an entire record. Favourite tracks: Brothers Gonna Work It Out, 911 Is A Joke, Fear Of A Black Planet.
I didn’t hate this! A refreshing paucity of explicit language and misogyny compared to other rap albums I’ve listened to for the project.
Still relevant to this day, great album.
Pretty fun, I've liked it. However, unsure if I'd ever feel the need to revisit it.
Lowkey didn't listen to all of this -- I'll circle back. But it's pretty good. Every public enemy song sounds lowkey the same to me but none of them sound bad so that's good.
Nice enough, better than a lot of other similar records. Maybe could have done with being a couple of tracks shorter. But good.
I enjoyed this one more than the last one of theirs although it was a bit of a drag to get through.
Never really listen to them, but I do like a bit of the Public Enemy. Chuck D is quite the charismatic character that makes you listen to him, plus has to be one of the most politically impactful narrators there’s been. The sampling and production is also top notch, not sure how they do it, but it keeps a really high pressing tempo while not becoming too samey. Just wish the bass for was prominent in the mix. Will be back to this.
Classic old school hip hop - I’ve never listened to one of those albums before that REALLY reflects what hip hop was originally about - criticising our society. The album touches a lot on the subject of racism and equality, it was certainly a very eye opening listen. I enjoyed all the beats thoroughly and this album definitely is up there
Awesome use of samples, much more than I thought there would be going into it
Bursting with energy and urgency, but in terms of straight up listening enjoyment it's not my favorite 90s hip-hop.
Varmasti ansaitsee lajinsa edustajana paikkansa listalla, mutta ei uppoa minulle ollenkaan.
Jaaha
Kovin on vihasta menoa...en sillon ku oli pinnalla ja en kyllä vieläkään
Oldschool rap on edelleen ihan kuunneltavaa kamaa. Levy on kantaaottava ja vieläkin ajankohtainen. Public Enemy myös edelläkävijä, että tekivät yhteiskappaleen bring the noise trash metalli yhtye Antraxin kanssa. 💪🏻
Hyvää OG räppiä. Siellä se kuuluisa James Brownin Funky Drummer -sample soi pariinkin otteeseen! Itselle ei mikään kovimmassa kulutuksessa oleva genre mutta mukavastihan tuon kuunteli!
Better than the last public enemy album but a bit long
Enjoyed this one, some cool samples & pretty consistent if a bit long
I’m a hiphop fan but am so ashamed to have never listened to this all the way through. Ever get emotional hearing musicians at their peak while also making a piece of art that’s really fucking important? That’s this record. I still have like five more songs before the end of the album, but that doesn’t matter…we’re calling it 5/5.
Once again, certainly unique or different in its musical approach, but not my cup of tea. Too much aggressive shouting and too many political issues.
Understandable why this album is probably considered one of the best rap albums of all time. It had everything: powerful messages, good beats, great sampling, some humor, and Chuck D might have the best voice in hip hop. Awesomely entertaining.
Maybe no one will know what I’m talking about here but I’ll try anyways. Do you guys remember that audio clip where some people would hear “Yanny” and others would hear “Laurel”? I would hear Yanny and it would baffle me that other people could hear something entirely different. That is, until one day, after listening to it with a group of friends, it switched. I could hear Laurel, clear as day. And I couldn’t believe that I ever heard Yanny in the first place. Putting a pin in this for now. I have heard many speak of the production style that’s used by Public Enemy. Often described using layers upon layers of loops and samples with atonal and industrial sounds chopped in sporadically, it never sounded like something that I would want to listen to. And it honestly wasn’t something I was very interested in. I’d heard Fight the Power before anything else and it was these qualities of the musicality that made me unsure Public Enemy’s sound is one that I could enjoy. I respected it, but I didn’t get it. Outside of its messaging and Chuck D’s imposing presence, it didn’t feel like something I could get into. It’s those 2 qualities that have made me leave a page for Public Enemy in my musical catalogue. The messages of the lyrics are challenging and important in all the best ways and Chuck D has one of the best voices in hip hop period. But listening to the album, I was having a hard time getting past the production. It is exactly as advertised and it was difficult for me to immediately find the groove that these tracks offer… until it looped for the 4th or 5th time and a flip switches for me and it all makes sense. I could hear Laurel, clear as day. And I couldn’t believe that I ever heard Yanny in the first place. I am completely entranced by this atonal, industrial, hodgepodge of samples.
I had kinda tuned out of PE by the time this one came out so I'm pretty psyched to have this chance to revisit it. Holds up better than most early 90s hip hop. I read a Chuck D interview in The Source probably a few years after this came out and he said their ambition when they were first starting out was to be The Clash for hip hop. I would say this is their Combat Rock - has a couple of undeniably great singles (Fight The Power, 911 Is A Joke, Brothers Gonna Work It Out) but mostly felt at the time like they had jumped the shark and yet in retrospect that was a bit unfair and this is better than most bands' best album. Random anecdote, not really relevant but I can't help myself: Around the time this record came out, I found myself catty corner from Flavor Flav as pedestrians at an intersection in Santa Cruz on a random sunny weekday morning. It was impossible to not instantly recognize him because he was wearing a bright yellow Abe Lincoln-style stovepipe hat and had a large matching wall clock hanging from a gigantic chain around his neck. I almost involuntarily shouted at him and he gave me a big jolly wave consistent with the vibe of his outfit as we were both crossing the street. He was heading in the opposite direction so unfortunately our meeting ended there, but I always admired his commitment to his role as well as his eagerness to engage with civilians like me!
I'm very glad this album is in this collection, but I'll admit I'm also surprised that there are three PE albums in total (so one more after this for me). To me, this is the original Public Enemy album, mainly because it was one of the first CDs I bought long ago, and while the videos don't really age all that well, it remains a classic for me, largely on the strength of Chuck D's voice and deeply political/social-consciousness lyrics and what was for me an awe-inspiring wall of sampled sound (despite not really getting/understanding at the time a lot of the musical and political/cultural references). My favorites are still "Brothers gonna work it out", "911 is a joke" (by far Flavor Flav's best work), "Welcome to the terrordome", "Burn Hollywood burn", and of course "Fight the power", with honorable mentions to the insidious "Pollywannacracka" and "Power to the people". Frankly, there are few duds on this great album.
Great start--love how the rap doesn't dominate but is another layer in their complicated mix. The rhythm is with them, though there's definitely a soggy, repetitive middle here. Wish the album had been the best 40 mins.
I've never delved into this Public Enemy album, which feels like a miss by me. The opening instrumental and then lead-in to Brothers Gonna Work It Out...fire. 911 Is A Joke...fire. Welcome To The Thunderdome...fire. However, after a while all the beats feel like they run together and sound the same. Don't get me wrong I like this style a lot and you do get a huge payoff with Fight The Power as a closer, but you do get the same style of song and message over and over. Honestly it's more of a minor critique from my point of view and since I'm more of a 90s rap guy it doesn't bother me but I could see it being repetitive for other folks. Some of the skits and interludes helped break up the album pretty well. This is a 5 for me. Maybe on the lower end of a 5 and behind some other great rap albums that are a better listen, but Public Enemy's cultural impact with this album can't be ignored here. And there are some straight heaters here too.
Getting some Griselda vibes from the instrumental intro. Right there with Kev on this one: Chuck D has such a silky and powerful vocal delivery. Unsure if I'm correct, but it seems like Pusha-T's Trouble on My Mind is referencing the same line in Welcome To the Terrordome. Both songs are jams -- this one features some of the best flowing wordplay from Chuck D so far. I mean, the internal rhymes are so nimble here its as if the entire thing is an elaborate tongue twister: "Crucifixion ain't no fiction; So-called chosen frozen; Apology made to whoever pleases; Still they got me like Jesus." Pollywanacracka is a nice change of pace, trading bombast for a filtered laid back vocal story of interracial relations. Instrumental and production is supreme on this. Anti-Nigger Machine is an interesting one in that it plays out as if it is going to be an instrumental and then abruptly (nearly 2 minutes in) drops into an unrelenting flow from Chuck D -- clean handover into Burn Hollywood Burn which features some solid inputs from a strong supporting cast (Ice Cube and BDK). Love the instrumental and really everything about Reggie Jax. This one certainly ran on the long side, and depending on what I was doing, was at times distracting. But for those failings, this is a very solid album featuring far better than average instrumentation and beat production, as well as detailed lyricism and delivery from Chuck D. On paper, Flavor Flav's whiny/snarly foil to Chuck D's smooth powerful delivery seems odd, but in practice it works quite well. I'd say that for me this exists on the low end of a 4.
According to my last Public Enemy review I really didn't care for them. I think a lot of the same sentiment is back this time. Felt kind of all over the place. It had a pretty clear message though throughout. Not the best, not the worst.
That album was incredibly hard to listen to and may be my least favorite hip hop album on here. I had to take a break half way through because I was getting a headache with so much going on at all time. Between the beats, the random noises, the talking, and whatever the hell Flava Flav was doing in the background. This made for an absolute mess of noise for me
Chuck D has a a rapping style that's smooth af. Flava Flav is an excellent compliment to him as well. Only song I really knew on here was Fight The Power, but felt myself jamming throughout. Loved the bits of rock added in. Been on a bit of a downslide here recently and this is an excellent comebacker for me.
I acknowledge that I am not the desired demographic for this album and I'll get my anxieties about this out of the way first. Homophobia and misogyny are alive and well. Can't we all just get along? On to the music. It's great. It takes me back to the 90s. The lyrics are still so relevant now in maga-Amerikkka. We need protest music and righteous indignation now more than ever. I feel like we've gone from “fight the power” to “chase the clout.” Consumerism coopted rebellion. I prefer rebellion. More of this, please.
I absolutely adored the first Public Enemy album I had on this list - "Apocalypse 91." It had so much of what I love about late 80's/90's hip-hop - killer beats that don't get old, great samples, energy, humor, a message, and a sense of importance without becoming self-indulgent or overly serious. So I was and wasn't surprised at how I felt about this one. It at times felt much more experimental than what would be their next album in "Apocalypse 91." This one felt a little more frantic, a little more all over the place. It still has that same energy, though, and that same feeling that if left unchecked the entire thing would burst at the seams with just how much energy it has. Aside from the classics "911 is a Joke" and "Fight the Power," I found it difficult to connect with this one or stay focused with it. Where the previous one grabbed me and didn't let go, this one grabbed me a little less tightly and was ok to let me go at times. I'm wondering that's due to the difference between a third album and a fourth album in a group's career, and the experience gained between the two. All of that said, I still loved it and it's getting four stars from me. Standout Tracks: Brothers Gonna Work It Out, 911 is a Joke, Pollywanacraka, Burn Hollywood Burn, Revolutionary Generation, B Side Wins Again, Fight the Power
Not a fan.
Great album. It’s amazing to see that much of American culture hasn’t really changed. 9 out of 10.
what can i say i love me some good social criticism
Everything about this album is so incredible and whole and futuristic, from album cover to samples to lyrics! Unbelievable!!
Wow, really blown away by this. For some reason (ignorance) this has never been on my radar but it rocked my socks. Steve Buscemi was right
Undoubtedly cool. I miss when mainstream music was this political
Why does music have to be so political these days??? 😒
Listened twice fully through. Their are a number of moments where I think, ok, it's gonna kick in here and be great. But then it just...doesn't. Samples are good. Messages are good. But as a complete musical package, it feels underwhelming and overly repetitive, with many tracks that don't go anywhere.
I enjoyed this, I did feel the album was a bit too long though.
definitely an album i gotta parse more, very clear in its messaging but also very densely layered lyrically, there's likely lots more to dig into than I have. Pairs well with the very hard hitting production. It's a kind of production where it is easy to tell what era it's from but it still does so much interesting stuff that, at least personally, it's easy to overlook it sounding dated in spots. consistently very good throughout, definitely want to dig in more
Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet is undoubtedly a classic, and there's no denying the massive cultural impact it had when it was released in 1990. The album is a revolutionary work in the world of hip-hop, blending hard-hitting political commentary with some of the most innovative production of its time. While I respect the significance of this album, personally, it’s not one I can fully vibe with from start to finish. Let me break it down. First off, the production on this album is absolutely stellar. The beats are thick, textured, and dynamic, with the use of samples and layered sounds giving it a unique atmosphere that was groundbreaking at the time. The beats hit hard, the basslines are heavy, and the way Chuck D’s vocals are woven into the music is just powerful. Tracks like Welcome to the Terrordome and 911 Is a Joke showcase this perfectly, with the production acting as a kind of chaotic backdrop to the powerful messages being conveyed. It’s dense and in-your-face, but also deeply hypnotic once you settle into it. Chuck D’s delivery is commanding and fearless, and he does an incredible job of mixing political, social, and personal themes in his lyrics. The man’s voice alone is like a force of nature, demanding attention. His deep baritone really cuts through and makes you listen. It’s impossible not to respect the clarity of his message and the energy he puts into every line. His partner, Flavor Flav, provides a much-needed contrast with his signature ad-libs, making for an interesting dynamic throughout the album. Now, I have to admit that despite all of this, the album doesn’t completely click for me. While the production is bold and impressive, sometimes it feels like it’s a bit too dense or overwhelming, making it harder to connect with the individual tracks. I love complexity in music, but with this album, the sonic chaos can occasionally feel exhausting rather than exhilarating. A track like Brothers Gonna Work It Out is a prime example of this. While it's got a strong message, the production feels so busy that it detracts from the focus of the song itself. Another downside for me is that while the album’s political and social commentary is incredibly important, it sometimes comes across as a bit heavy-handed. The messages are crystal clear, but the delivery can be somewhat one-dimensional. I appreciate the directness, but there are moments where I would have liked a little more subtlety or nuance in how the points were made. Fear of a Black Planet is a landmark album that deserves respect for its influence on both hip-hop and wider culture, but it’s not one I find myself reaching for constantly. The production is dense, the lyrics are powerful, and Chuck D’s voice is as commanding as ever. It’s an album that demands to be listened to, and while I admire its ambition and significance, it’s not something I’ll revisit as often as other albums in the genre. It’s definitely worth the listen, especially if you're into politically charged music or just want to hear a classic from hip-hop's golden era. I give it a solid 3.9/5 stars. It’s impactful, but it’s just not entirely my vibe.
it's nice !
8/10 Some of the best “Finger-Pointing songs” of all time, while there’s a bit of excess to the album that could’ve been left off, Fear of A Black Planet managed to pack quite a bit of punch with even more layered production and radical sentiment. I still prefer their first record as a whole package, but there’s no underestimating the impact of this one. fuck elvis all my homies hate elvis
Hip hop. A few standouts but a lot of it blended together.
Good listen.
My least favorite genre, and the third hip hop album in the last 8 days, so I wasn't looking forward to this. But god damn, this was really good, both musically and lyrically.
לפני שאני שומע את האלבום, חייב להגיד שזה נראה כמו פוסטר למשחק מחשב משנת 83 אחרי ששמעתי את האלבום, חייב להגיד שזה פשוט הקלטות של כושים שחיברו וקראו לזה שיר
ביט בסדר ראפר מציק
Probably the weakest of PE's entries on this list, but it's still damn good (with the exception of "911 is a Joke," which just sucks).
no estoy muy instruido en cuanto al hip hop se refiere, pero si reconozco que este álbum tiene sus buenos momentos. el mensaje político que trae consigo no resuena conmigo, así que intenté escucharlo exclusivamente por la parte musical. está bastante bien, es una buena introducción al género para mi, pero no creo que sea algo a lo que vuelva para escuchar todos los días.
Ok
For a group as loud as Public Enemy, I'm sure it was no small feat to follow up "It Takes a Nation..." from a few years prior. The group was, well, more "public" in their messages more so now than ever and were only moving upwards. Sample-heavy and hard-hitting lyrically thanks to the efforts of the legendary Chuck D and the Bomb Squad on production, "Fear of a Black Planet" keeps the momentum going from the group's previous album. Criticisms of racism in society/American media, and even on misogyny in the hip-hop community are among those on the agenda here. It all comes at a breakneck speed and may be a bit overwhelming at times, but these are messages that needed to be said/heard and are still poignant today, 35+ years on. Best tracks: Welcome to the Terrordome, Burn Hollywood Burn, Fight the Power
Public Enemy, in this instance, seems to be not only an Enemy of the Public but also of themselves. Because these guys are clearly musically talented – but the sound is just not engaging or memorable enough to warrant a positive review. The sound experimentation in Power To The People, Anti-Nerd Machine, and Leave This Off Your Charts (among other tracks) is irritating and hasn't aged well in the slightest. All of the singing/rapping is just anonymous shouting with no personality, no emotion other than performative anger. Nothing that makes me want to re-approach the music for a relisten. I had the same problem with the group's previous release, It Takes A Nation Of Millions. Although, in the case of FOABP, there are exactly two tracks I enjoyed amidst the sea of nothingness (Pollywanacraka, Final Count, and Fight The Power). What surprised me, looking at the other reviews here, is that this seems to be a highly regarded album even when compared to other hip-hop releases from the same period. Listeners praise FOABP for being rowdy, rude, and in your face, for having weighty lyrics and a relentless vocal delivery. I don't tend to pay attention to lyrics unless they're particularly terrible, so we can discount them in this case. Everything else mentioned are reasons I dislike this style of music. The relentless vocal delivery comes off as monotone and forced rather than whatever enthusiasm it was trying to achieve. (At least have some mellower tracks to split up the onslaught of bellowed cursing?) It feels haphazard, tactless, and kind of against the whole notion of music as an art. There's no subtlety, nor any attempt at it. Just shouting, scattered sampling from other artists (less impressive than it sounds), and hardly any humanity in the instrumentation. I agree with another reviewer here: "As far as I understand, this album is quite important for the history of hip-hop. But definitely, absolutely, without any question not for me." 1/5 Key tracks: Pollywanacraka, Final Count, Fight The Power
As a white European this doesn't resonate with me. I like the sampling, I like some of the raps. I liked some of the hype flava Flav brings. But overall it felt way too long and started to become annoying. Maybe if I had more connection to the subject matter would I rate it higher. I'm for sure never listening to the whole album again
One of my absolute favorite albums. Changes up throughout to keep it interesting. I can't adequately piece together in a review like this my love of it, of PE, and the effect it's had on me. I think very often these days of both "Brothers Gotta Work it Out" and "Fight the Power." "Who's that--Broowwwwnnn!"
PE is inarguably my favorite all time hip-hop group, and Fear Of A Black Planet is probably my favorite album they made. It represents the absolute culmination of the Bomb Squad, perfecting their unique approach to production. Hundreds of layered samples creating a cacophonous wall of noise that some consider unlistenable, but hits ALL of my brain's pleasure centers. This is an audio assault. All of that, paired with Chuck's revolutionary lyrics and aggressive delivery and this album just oozes power you can feel as well as hear. Fight the fucking power!
This group is talented, taking so many aspects of rap, hip hop and sampling to make a great sound that is iconic to the 90s. Really puts on display racism and America, where it was at in the 90's and mostly where it is today.
I'm a big fan of their first two albums. Glad I finally got around to giving this one a listen because it's a pretty awesome album. The music is creative and the message is pretty right on. Chuck D raps about the cultural issues affecting blacks in a powerful and meaningful way. The songs are powerful and angry without being violent. Still culturally relevant today. This is a pretty epic album. Fight the Power!
Fear If A Black Planet is definitely culturally and historically important. My first trip through felt very disorienting, yet as it flowed it started to make more sense. Second trip through I’m a fan. They’re laying down the absolute truth on racism in America, and it’s brutal. Sadly, America hasn’t grown much since 1990, and has regressed in some aspects. Fight The Power alone sums it all up perfectly. This album is still remarkably relevant.
The lyrics and rapping are great, these guys are so talented and the songs are meaningful testaments on society. I also love all the creative ways they craft their tracks, the SFX and samples are super fun. Overall really enjoyed, though it did feel overly long.
Etwas zu langes, aber ziemlich gutes Hip-Hop Album. Eingängige Beats.
I love the beats and the samples, some of the best in the scene Not a massive fan of their rapping for some reason but a high 3
I’ve always found Public Enemy to be a bit overrated unfortunately, but I probably prefer this to “It Takes A Million…”
Typically like 90s rap, but this was like eating a meal that tastes bad… you wanna finish the plate but you gotta force swallow to get it down.
Made a resolution. Going forward I'm not going to force myself to listen to an album end to end just for the sake of completing it.
Not for me
Esto es hacer buen uso de samples, no como otro disco que hace poco escuché. Gran disco. Un tanto largo para mi gusto. Más allá de mi distancia con estos sonidos, el texto que contiene es de los que me gustan. Nota: 3.5
A classic and one of the best hip-hop albums ever.
I know some of their most famous songs but havent listened to too much Public Enemy. I liked it more than I thought I would. 3/5 for me. 0/5 that it’s still so relevant.
Not a genre I usually listen to but was impressed even though I only recognized a song or 2. Liked it better than the Cure. Should have given that 2 stars.
Favourite era of hip-hop. Favourite area of hip-hop. Some really sick samples and equally sharp commentary. Fight the Power is good but damn Revolutionary Generation goes so hard.
Good album, though i do not think i am the target audience. Not a ton of standalone great songs but still enjoyable.
Fight the powaaaa!
It was good
Man I really wanna give this a 5 cause most of the 2nd half is so strong, but I can't really excuse the length or the underwhelming first half (outside of the sick Prince sample). Too many nothing songs in between the great ones. Chuck D got one of the best voices in hip hop, probably THE best, and the sampling on here is insane. Very high 4
1989 the number, another summer, sound of the funky drummer... Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me. Chuck D and crew deliver a mad album, a ratcheting, seemingly endless series of bangers that builds towards to absolute peak with the final track, "Fight The Power" Welcome to the Terrordome, bitch!
Pleasantly surprised by it. Needs a closer listening.
um
5 stars
Bouncy
Public Enemy's albums still have all the intensity they had at release, must have been quite the revelation then. Undeniably influential 4*
This was one of the first tapes that i bought, and it had the Parental Advisory/Explicit Lyrics stick and i felt like the biggest rebel owning it. With many more years and experience under my belt i don't really agree with some of the politics of PE, but man can they make some funky unique music. Thinking that they were getting all the samples and arranging it on 2" tape kinda blows my mind at what they were able to do in 1989. This was a fun trip down memory lane. War at 33 1/3 really stood out to me this time listening.
Did not listen.
Really enjoyable and exciting. I can't relate to it but there is enough in there ti allow me to empathise and understand a world I'm not from. That sets it apart from the likes of Springsteen
Good listen for some contemplative drive time. The energy of this album was much different than It Takes a Nation.
Ehhh I understand what this did for music but I just couldn't get into it with my current mindset. Appreciate the difference it made but didn't resonate.
What do you know, another group that thinks it's saying Something Important.
Didn’t get through it all. I love 90s rap but some of this is just too noisy for me
Really good hip hop
did we need 2 public enemy albums on the list?
Stone classic. Second best after It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
yeah
Did not expect this to be so musical. Great funky mixes. Lots to enjoy. Not just politics, but straight entertainment, too. It’s a fantastic classic. But it’s even more relevant now.
Fight the Power a strong closer.
Love this great album, just exactly what you need to listen to
I do remember this album. I always thought Flavor Flav and his persona took away from the seriousness of this group. He was a bit cartoonish. Where as Chuck D was/is the real deal.
a ideia é legal, mas n é um estilo q eu gosto, então PRA MIM, não serviu
Nice! I've been waiting for a 90s hip hop album. Public Enemy rocks. Their music is so punchy and angry, but still fun and humorous at times. This album is the perfect transition from the hip hop of the 80s to the 90s. In that regard, this sound is definitely a product of its time, yet it still feels fresh and holds up well in my opinion. Even the political commentary, which is at the heart of the album, has aged well for the most part. The beats and samples are phenomenal, the rapping is killer, there are some great features here.. This album is TIGHT. As of right now this is tied with "It Takes a Nation-" because I seriously can't decide which album I like better. I'll update once I relisten to it. Favorite track: Burn Hollywood Burn
Still sounds good, sadly still relevant. It's an energetic album with some great loops and samples.
It's okay, but just not my thing at all. If this list is about rating our own personal enjoyment of an album, I have to give this a low score, even though I can tell it has some pretty serious merit.
Holds up well
Very good. Does sound a bit dated now, sound wise and also in some of the attitudes, but an enjoyable listen. The singles are massive high points.
3.5.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Favorite album so far. Chuck, Flav, and Griff all brought their A game to this album
Rushmore rap album
Don’t believe the hype. ‘Fight the Power’ is the only redeeming song on this album.
Great hip hop that was very popular back in the day. I remember some of these songs being played when I was a kid. I didn't understand them until much later. Great beats and great early hip hop, really classic stuff.
- P E -
Early 90s rap is not my cup of tea.
Blends together. I would preferred it to be shorter but I really just think the songs don’t do it for me. There are some exciting parts, but I really started to roll my eyes whenever some clip of a speech was in the background of a song
Pretty fun. Probably not something I’ll put on super regularly but I’m glad I gave it a listen 7.5/10
I hate that this album NEEDS to be relevant today, after 25 years. It makes me so angry that there was this hope back then, that things could and ought be different, that the idea of rebellion and anger was only necessarily hinted at and that even in the videos you could see they meant to stand up to force change via more peaceful methods. Too bad that seemed to work until we entered the Trump era and whitewashed everything and racism is rampant and much much worse in many ways now-a-days. This album matters. Luckily it is both enjoyable and significant musically as well as politically. The truth in this album should be long gone, but here we are...
Great shit
Sign of the times, very good
kinda undefeated production
Favorite Track: Fight the Power
Public Enemy is a good example of the late 80s/early 90s hip hop.
Pretty solid album, and Public Enemy is hugely influential, they just aren’t my favorite sound of 90s rap
Rad
Thoroughly enjoyed. Excited for a re-listen when I'm less distracted.
not my cup of tea
Public Enemy have always been my favourite rap act. This is them at the top of their game. Few have the intensity of Chuck D, and Flav offers a nice counter point. The fantastic samples, making it flow as a whole album rather than ana collection of tracks. Others can express it much better but this is just vital. 5 Star 1 of the most essential albums of the last 40 years.
It's fine. A couple of interesting songs but I'll probably never go back to this again. 2.5
pretty aggressive tbh
A lot of songs, each with an interesting idea. Interesting uses of sampling
Decent, but didn't jump out at me. Way too long as well rating: ⭐⭐⭐ [69/100]
My last Public Enemy album, and my favorite of the bunch! I didn't get exposed to much rap music when I was a kid, so several years ago, I started going through some of the best rap and hip hop albums from the nineties. Fear of a Black Planet absolutely blew me away, and I fell in love with Chuck D's vocal style and the militant lyrics of this album. I haven't listened to this in a minute, because I knew it would eventually come up for me, so I'm really excited to revisit this album today. As much as I love the lyrics and rapping on this album, I love it musically too. Every song hits like a freight train; the samples, beats, and instrumentals are all incredible. This music hits as hard as any rock album that was coming out at the time, and it's an absolute treat for the ears. Chuck D's rapping is fantastic (it is on every PE album I've heard), and his voice booms on every track. The songwriting is fantastic too; the issues discussed weighed heavily on black America at the time of this album's release, and they still weigh just as heavy today. The songs about race relations really resonate well in the present day, as more and more people in America are starting to realize that the financial elite in this country are taking more than their fare share from Americans of every creed and color. That's not to say that the playing field between black and white Americans has become even in the last 35 years, because it certainly hasn't, but there seems to be more cause now for people of every race to band together and fight for a fair share of the country's wealth. One track that really stood out to me today was "Pollywanacraka." I'd never realized how brilliant is; to me, the lyrics address the flack and disrespect that black women who marry white men face from the black community. As black women continually get left behind in this country, who could fault someone for seeking financial and social safety to better guarantee their own future? And tying this song back to the title track, the child of any black woman and white man would still be black, so what criticisms of this woman would even be valid? I loved diving into this album again today, and I really appreciate the new thoughts it left me with this time. Fear of a Black Planet is a masterpiece, and even though it's dense, I'd have to say it's my favorite hip hop album.
3.9 - Yeah liked this, nothing mega though
It doesn't do it for me at all. I think I feel the same way I do about a lot of punk music - important political message - don't care for the music though. 2/5
It sounds like early 90's hip hop, which is a genre that sonically just hasn't aged well in my opinion. Hip hop is inherently supposed to be cool as hell, and I'm sure this was in 1990, but it sounds a bit cheesy today compared to contemporary music. It's the aural equivalent of hammer pants. 2.4
It was fine.
This is really good, and the subject matter is still really relevant. It is on ten all the way through, with lunch in the face after punch in the face which is a little exhausting after 65 mins given musically it's not that varied. Still a very strong 4 that could end up as a 5 with more listens.
Yeahhhhhhh boyyyyyeeeeeee
That album was actually pretty sick, I'm sorry I didn't focus on it but listening to it while working was dope af so it was really enjoyable, I think it wouldn't be the kind of songs I would listen without any context but while working best thing evaaaaaa
Wasn't that focused when listening to this one Old school rap, addressing big topics in the black community. Those issues are still there today 35 years later, uh-oh! Interesting to hear (what i interpret as) a MC behind the rapper's vocals and how predominant he is. You don't hear that anymore in today's rap I believe, or maybe I don't listen to the kind of hip hop that does feature it. 3
It's good, but I still don't like tap
Not for me
I just wish there was more music like this in the world. Music that has something to say, music that’s fueled by a righteous anger. We need it.
Great album
I've always loved It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (actually always - I was dancing to it in my car seat when I was three), but I haven't really explored PE beyond that album. This is fantastic. Groovier and a little more polished than It Takes a Nation, heavier on the samples.
Did not expect this to be so musical. Great funky mixes. Lots to enjoy. Not just politics, but straight entertainment, too. It’s a fantastic classic. But it’s even more relevant now.
Great album. Awesome beats and lyrics Standout songs: Burn Hollywood Burn Who Stole the Soul? Fight the Power
8 Очень крепкий рэп альбом старой школы с проглядывающими вайбами Jet Set Radio
Some powerful rhymes in there
Classic
Nope
Good but too sad to care
They definitely rock. I liked this one less than "Apocalypse 91", which happened to come up on my feed just two albums ago. This one felt more like a political cartoon than anything; they wanted to say something, and were very specific about what they were focused on. A few of the earlier songs landed pretty well musically. I didn't like the second half of the album.
So many of us in limbo How to get it on, it's quite simple 3 stones from the sun We need a piece of this rock Our goal indestructible soul Answers to this quizzin' To the Brothers in the streetSchools and the prisons History shouldn't be a mystery Our stories real history Not his story We gonna work it one day Till we all get paid The right way in full, no bull Talkin', no walkin', drivin', arrivin' in style Soon you'll see what I'm talkin' 'bout 'Cause one day The brothers gonna work it out Yeah, this album cooks. 5/5
not for me
Super powerful album. Crazy Production style too.
Aaaaaaawwwwwww! I fuckin' love this album.
The album that spawned the MAGA movement.
Fight the power alone makes this album better than the Beatles
Pretty good, songs run together and can get a little to repetitive for me but otherwise very good
Good stuff. I prefer Nation of Millions, but this slaps too.
Great album, loved the high energy production and amazing performance. The lyrics are top notch and have sadly held true as our society continues to get dumber and more bigoted. But art like this album gives me hope that voices like Public Enemy can continue to reach the mainstream and educate. I loved the texture of the production, gave the whole album a raw and immediate edge. This is one I’ll keep coming back to, there’s great depth here. Rating 4.5
Not usually my jam but solid album.
Wasn’t crazy about them musically but I got mad respect for their group politically just overall.
this album fucking rocks. this must've pissed people off so bad, it's still very relevant to this day. i will say flav can get kinda grating.
another album from public enemy, and it's another great listen. i don't listen to political albums too often, but compared to other artists, these guys are a lot better, than... let's say, rage against the machine. unlike ratm, these guys don't scream and holler and the songwriting feels much more elegant. the lyrics impact greatly, and there's some awesome sampling techniques throughout as well. i wish i could give this album a 4.5 though, because the repeating-repeating-repeating vocal chops get annoy-annoy-annoy-annoying sometimes.
Fight the Power
Powerful but dated.
Flavor Flav sounds the same in this as he does in modern day to me, which is impressive. Listening to this on headphones got a little disorienting on some of the tracks that alternate quickly between the left and right channel, especially the last minute of Power To The People.
Totally awesome. That’s it. And I’m not even a big rap fan at all. But this is cream-of-the-crop vintage as far as I’m concerned.
This one hits extra hard now that God help us the Tangerine Palpatine has returned. We're all pretty much doomed so we must fight the power I suppose
Never listened to Public Enemy up to this point but, this is an absolutely excellent album. Cutting lyrics that go with a great beat.
Boing? Album holds up well after 30+ years of sending a message from the oppressed black man. Song titles and content are clever as well as political; Pollywanacraka, 911 Is A Joke. Best cut is Can’t Do Nuttin’ For Ya, Man but they’re all good. Wrap that sh*t, G! (3.8*s)
Very angry and raucous, Public Enemy living up to their name with FOABP. I was annoyed throughout this listen but it's not as bad as the previous entry. It's very politically charged but the step up in production quality is noticeable. Lots of sound bites and media samples that didn't add much but "Welcome To The Terrordome" is good. It feels a bit dated and corny at times though I can see how this was culturally significant and I don't completely hate it. 1.65 for saying "Ya'll" 5,000 times.
This is a step up on production and mixing compared to their previous album. Lyrically it's slightly better as well and Flav not as annoying. Culturally, it had more of an impact but still too dated hip-hop. I'll give it a spot on the list though and don't immediately dismiss it...1.95.
As I hear more rap albums from this list it's becoming clear that I am a sucker for the old-school hip hop stylings much more than current/contemporary mainstream rap. While I didn't find Fear Of A Black Planet to be the greatest album I can't deny that it has an upbeat energy that resonates more with me than some other examples. FOABP will be chalked up as a fun romp albeit an at times hokey and annoying one. Regardless Chuck D, Flava and company carved out a sound that scratches a certain old school house party itch that I can enjoy at times. 2.87 stars
3-4
Boring
Good album but a little long. Music is nothing special but the lyrics are great and still resonate today.
Great hip hop album. 911 is a Joke, Welcome to the Terrordome, and Fight the Power stand out on this excellent album. Chuck D channels the anger, Flavor Flav in his prime, Bomb Squad brilliance. Great album by a great group.
I think you can not enjoy 100% a rap album unless you're a native speaker of the record's tongue. Because of this, I'm a bit afraid every time I get a rap one here. For example, I got one of Snoop Dogg and I couldn't enjoy it at all. The only exception to this rule (up to this point) is NWA's Straight Outta Compton, which I really dig and play often. When I saw Public Enemy (a band I hadn't heard before), I was hoping that this was another NWA, given the popularity of the band and the fact that they are seminal. And yes, I liked it, but not as much as NWA. Could I listen to this again? Yes, and I will. But I still felt it was not for me.
It's interesting to hear a rap album of this era specifically not mention beefs or objectify women. Yet I bet the people that say that is the only reason they don't like rap still not like this. There is so many bands directly influenced by this album and not just rap. I hear obviously ratm but I also hear Beck. I don't quite know how to word this, but it's such a breath of fresh air to hear a consice call to action for the black community. And that a third of the band is flav a flav. What a world we live in
Of their albums, this is the best. I'm still not a huge fan and I find it weird I've gotten all of their albums before other more represented groups. That being said, seems like less annoying scratch sounds and flavor flav make for a more timeless sound. Everything else sounded so dated but maybe that's what made it cool to begin with.
this album is pretty hard to rate because it's a powerful historical piece, but a rough form of an early art and is bogged down by too much indulgent deejaying and flava flav
masna repčuga
alright. all kind of sounded the same.
Didn’t get a chance to listen thoroughly but def a cool one.
Sonic wonderland! Sharp rhymes, cutting insights, slick samples, non-stop rhythms with tight transitions. Serious messages wrapped in creativity and humor. What more can you ask from an album? An essential classic.
Nice
I loved this. Way more funky than I was expecting. Booooyyyy
Pretty cool
Favorite track: anti-n* machine other picks: 911 is a joke, welcome to terrordome, who stole the soul, fight the power
Public Enemy does not sound dated at all - so many of the lyrics and topics are 100% as relevant today (30+ years later)! Yet what makes this album (and PE's other early (pre~1994) albums) especially fantastic isn't just the lyrics/topics but the kickass music - judicious samples and hard beats; if the music isn't any good, the message isn't going to be heard - and the music is great. Chuck D was never better than on this collection - "Welcome to the Terrordome" and of course the huge hit "Fight the Power" are standouts. I still can’t hear 1989 without immediately thinking “a number, another summer…”. "Burn Hollywood Burn" might be the best of them all - the beat is intense and high-paced, and guest verses from Big Daddy Kane and Ice Cube make this catchy as hell. Fear Of A Black Planet also works so well because it is truly a complete *album* rather than a smattering of tracks here and there. It's not the best hip-hop album ever made, but it might be the one that has the most to say. 5⭐️
A legendary album from a legendary act. When you hear Chuck D, you know you’ve heard Chuck D.
Uneven but influential, Public Enemy's "Fear of a Black Planet" will forever be associated with Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" (because "Fight The Power" is perpetually blaring on the boombox of Radio Raheem). A lot of the sample based interludes expand the run-time but contribute very little to album cohesion. Flava Flav's "911 Is A Joke" and "Can't Do Nuttin' Fo' Ya, Man!" contrast with Chuck D.'s serious political tracks but both feel less than essential. "Who Stole The Soul?", "Fear of a Black Planet," "Revolutionary Generation" and "Burn Hollywood Burn" are salient critiques of institutional racism. And "War at 33 1/3" is impressive in terms of flow and content. "Fight the Power" is the obvious breakout hit.
Scary, prescient , brilliant and political. A masterpiece.
👎not in the mood for hiphop
When I was young, I couldn’t stand this album, nor the genre. Now, with benefit of experience and hindsight, I now believe that this album is a masterpiece. It makes you think! It makes you move! What an eye opener!!
I like rap, this was a little too long. Overall a positive experience
my spotify algorithm must have got a shock. Burn Hollywood Burn was a highlight (but the name hasn't aged well this week)
Bit samey and way too long. 2.5/5