Reviews (page 8 of 13)
I liked this more than I thought I would. I liked the scratchy guitar and heavy hip hop beats in "Brothers Gonna Work It Out". "911 Is A Joke" is unsurprisingly a hit, the juxtaposition of the funky beat with an essay on police brutality and negligence makes it feel like it's a joke that's been told too many times. I could "get down" to "Power to the People", the fast-and-loose trumpet(?) is fun. The line "Don't diss your sisters" from "Revolutionary Generation" should be graffitied in every bathroom stall - and I endeavour to do so. It's absolutely a necessary album, it's messaging is still relevant today, and no song feels singular (which you don't get much of these days). You move from one song to the next without noticing, but each song is still unique. Am I a hip-hop die-hard? No. Will I be listening every ride to work? No. But, I appreciate it's significance, respect it's production, enjoyed some of the tracks, and I've added some to my hip-hop/rap playlist.
Found myself reading the lyrics a lot which I really enjoyed breaking down. For a long album, it kept my attention which is rare! I’m not sure I’d go back to it frequently but as a piece of art, it stands alone so well
Hhm, I think this is an album I respect more than actually enjoy listening to. Objectively, I think this is probably one of the pinnacles of music. Sonically it’s beyond astonishing, and probably the high point of sampling in hip-hop. It’s just such a claustrophobic, dense and violent sounding record that’s a complete sensory overload and absolutely flaws me. Sadly that denseness does mean I get exhausted by it relatively quickly. I think I could probably get myself to enjoy the whole thing if I forced myself to listen to it a load more, as I do ‘get it’ and it’s appeals. It’s just a really singular listen that’s both a braggadocious howl of righteous anger and a deeply confused paranoid mess with all the bleakness, uncomfortableness and remorselessness that comes with that. Rather than being a record with lots of political answers like you’d expect, it’s more a labyrinth of confused, unfocused seething anger that merely throws out questions rather than providing any answers. There’s something about its uniquely suspicious and scary vibe that I find really compelling. It’s like a case study of what desperation can do psychologically to members of marginalised communities, in all of its unpalatable and unrestrained glory. Hopefully it will fully click for me one day, as I would really like it to and I do think it’s amazing.
Every track is a heater. It's rowdy, rude, and in your face. It's also one of the most culturally influential albums of all time. This one is an all-timer
Basic bad rap crap. Life is too short not to skip bad music like this
Harsh hitting, political, surprised i've never heard of it.
Lately, I feel like I'm listen to same hip-hop album over and over again... I'll leave 2 stars today.
Good transitions between songs, long album, not a lot of substance
Favorite Tracks - Burn Hollywood Burn, Welcome to the Terrordome, Fear of a Black Planet, Fight the Power
Great. Never gets old.
hard to live up to a nation of millions but miles ahead of most other people
I loved a lot of this, but it felt like 3/4ths were skits and flava flav rather than Chuck D rapping
Too much Flava Flav
I am not a rap fan
Like. As a white kid in suburban small town UK, this did not reach me at the time (I think only the cool big city kids were allowed to "get into" hip-hop). But this is very clearly a fantastic piece of work, even if it's not aimed at me or my experiences.
INCREDIBLY solid album. This personally probably won't be a repeat me but this was pretty damn interesting. Very creative, reminded me a lot of Endtroducing... . HIGH 3.
not exactly my style but i like some of the beats, will listen to properly when i get the chance fell asleep to it tho so it cant be that bad
Haven’t listened to this since early 90s driving around Edinburgh in my mate’s old Renault. Can’t do nothing/fight the power brings me right back. Sampling at its height.
This is a fantastic album, and possibly my favorite rap album ever. The Bomb Squad evolves everything they've done over the last couple albums here, starting from their JB sample focus of It Takes A Nation Of Millions and widening it based on all kinds of sources to create a dense wall of sound rarely matched in this era. Chuck D pairs this with a wider range of social commentary that pulls no punches. This album may show it's age a little bit around the edges, but it remains massively impressive. I will never tire of this album.
Album 647 of 1001 Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet (1990) Rating : 1 / 5 I listened. I didn't care for it. It isn't music. If I want spoken word recordings, I'll seek them out.
I had a vague understanding of who Public Enemy are, but I knew that they were THE Hip Hop/ Rap group of the 80s and 90s. Also I feel like I did know somewhere in the back of my brain that Flavor Flav was in Public Enemy, but it made a lot more sense when I read it. Welcome to the Terrordome is definitely my favorite from this album and the only song I knew prior was of course Fight the Power. I love their use of sampling especially in their instrumentals
I'll probably get lit up for this as I've heard quite a lot about this album, but this didn't hit at all for me. Even the top played track felt like generic 90s hip hop. Not at all unpleasant, but if I was scanning through radio stations and heard this album I'd keep scaning.
Too much for me man. Maybe influential at the time, but it's mostly just a whole bunch of shouting nonsense lol. There's some good dj work, good scratches and itches, but it still boils down to a bunch of shouting.
I always enjoy this style of hip-hop music 4/5
Never had much time for this when it came out but it is a brilliant album.
A great mix of rap styles and sampling keep this album interesting and not one-note.
Fantastic foundational album.
Well I won’t be sporting any clocks around my neck anytime soon, but I have more admiration for this album consuming in its entirety. For me “Welcome to the terrordome” is the clear standout with a great backbeat. I liked a couple others. Rounding up for how impactful this was at the time. 3.5/5
In college there were 3 albums that were routinely played at every party we attended or hosted: Beastie Boys “Paul’s Boutique”, Jane’s Addiction “Nothing’s Shocking”, and Public Enemy “Fear of a Black Planet.” Pretty much sums it up for an album that made its way with little or no radio play, and took sampling to a whole other wall-of-sound level coupled with two of the most distinctive voices in the genre. 4.25/5
I have to grade on a curve with this genre from this era, as it can all feel a bit dated. I also don’t really know what’s ‘good’ or better when comparing this to its contemporaries. But this is probably my fave from what we’ve heard from this list so far.
Hear a drum I get wicked! Head bobber fo’ sure even if the record scratching and panning sounds very dated. Too many “skits” but showing this some love. 3.5 rounded up.
I’m rounding up for the influence on the genre but ultimately didn’t enjoy this as much as I expected. Still solid. Chuck D and Flavor Flav have to be two of the most recognizable voices in the game, even to this day. Maybe the most recognizable. Fight the Power as the last track is awesome. 3.75/5
Public Enemy during this era was on fire. A lot of hip-hop from this time hasn’t aged well, but their music is still just as fun to listen to today. While it might not carry the same impact as it did back then, these guys created a distinct sound that sets them apart from everyone else. The Bomb Squad’s production perfectly captures the energy of their music, and DJ Terminator X is a legend in his own right.
Eh, det høres jo tidvis kult ut, men repeterende beats med lag på lag med sampling og virrvarr gjør ikke så mye for meg as.
Har egentlig lyst til å like gammel hiphop. Men for meg blir dette bare en ugjennomtrengelig vegg av samples, record scratch lyder, rapping jeg ikke forstår og den samme raske beaten på hver sang. Skjønner rett og slett ikke hva som skjer, og blir helt overveldet. Imponerende å lage denne musikken i 1990, og sikkert gode tekster - men det må bli en ekstremt subjektiv 1er fra meg.
Very enjoyable, need to give it another listen
Ein Meilenstein des Hip-Hop: Fear of a Black Planet kombiniert künstlerische Brillanz mit kraftvollen politischen Botschaften und bleibt auch heute relevant. Aber halt Hip-Hop.
Been listening to all three PE albums on the list at the same time as playing catchup. I had forgotten I had already scored "It takes a Nation..." giving it a 4 - which in retrospect should have been a 5 as is by far the strongest of the three albums. I think PE work best when the beats / samples take a slight back seat to the vocal/rap delivery - in FOBP the beats/samples feel more dense/ in your face and as result Chuck D's lyrical power is diminished. Still a great listen just not as good ITANOMTHUB!
Fear of a Black Planet I’ve never listened to this. I had It Takes a Nation of Millions on CD and used to really like it, but I’ve never ventured much into PE, despite liking them. After listening all afternoon yesterday and this morning I feel like I’ve been punched in the head a lot, but in a good way. Lyrically and sonically this has to be one of the densest albums we’ve had. Nearly all the metal albums we’ve had, with their harsh guitars and kick drumming, aren’t even close to the power and attitude on here. I’m a big fan of the Bomb Squad’s excessively jam packed production, it has a brilliant relentlessness and edge, while also being catchy and groove laden. Looking at Whosampled there are so many samples on each song and they are used brilliantly, either as hooks or are intricately woven into the soundscape of each song - I love when you briefly hear something you recognise and then don’t hear it again. The well known songs; 911 is Joke, Welcome to the Terrordome, Burn Hollywood Burn, Fight the Power are all excellent and still relevant in 2025. I love the high pace of Burn Hollywood Burn, and Flavor Flav's drawling delivery on 911 is a Joke is great in contrast to the chaotic, noisy production. But there are also great songs, samples and moments throughout, Brothers Gonna Work it Out is excellent, the bass giving a great relentless groove, I love the use of the guitar stabs of Getting Better on Who Stole the Soul? Revolutionary Generation and Fear of a Black Planet are both great and well ahead of their time, Leave this Off Your Fuckin’ Charts use of soul samples and heavy guitar is great, kind of like a radio stuck between two stations with someone scratching over the top. Final Count is rare bit of minimalism before the onrush of Fight the Power My only quibble would be that an hour does feel quite long for the amount of musical and lyrical content. But that’s only minor really and doesn’t at all diminish what an incredible album this is, full of righteous intensity and anger, noise, hooks and power. It feels quite apart from many Hip Hop albums, neither revelling in stereotypes nor compromising its anger, combining the articulacy of De La Soul, the byzantine sample based construction of something like Paul’s Boutique, the societal critique of 70s soul and the power of it’s own righteousness - it really is fantastic. 5 is no joke 🪐🪐🪐🪐🪐 Playlist submission: Who Stole the Soul?
On balance I think it's important, influential, innovative, and a word that begins with 'i' meaning powerful political messaging. It lacks Run DMC and NWA hooks.
I understand it’s relevance, and it’s influence on modern hip-hop, but the best part of rap to me is always to flow, and this music has no flow at all, it kind of just sounds like a clash of sounds with random spoken word over it. 6/10 for the cultural impact and the message of the album, but the music just didn’t hit at all for me.
HipHop is not my taste
album to listen to when high
Foundational. Not the best of their work. +1 for 911 is a Joke. 4/5
Not my jam. I feel the seriousness of their message, but for me it's too angry to listen to while working, but not angry enough for running.
"Fear of a Black Planet" is the third studio album by American rap group Public Enemy. The deep, complex album was produced by the Bomb Squad and expanded the sample-layered sound of Public Enemy's previous album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back." The sound features elaborate collages that incorporate varying rhythms, numerous samples, media sound bites and electronic loops. It thematically explores organization and empowerment within the black community, social issues affecting African Americans and race relations at the time. Commercially, the album hit #4 in the UK and #10 on the Billboard 200. It also received rave critical reviews and, in 2004, was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its artistic significance. Piano synth keys begin the intro "Contact on the World Love Jam." Hip hop beats. Scratching. Various vocal samples of controversy of the rap world. "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" continues the onslaught of voice samples. A hard beat and Chuck E's voice comes in strong. It's funky and danceable with a bass sample. A searing guitar. Flavor Flav takes the mic in "911 is a Joke." A less serous tone but 911 is still a joke for people like him. Numerous horns open "Welcome to the Terror Dome." A perfectly annoying guitar sample. More danceable beats. Chuck D and Flavor Flav are rapping about the riots in Virginia Beach and criticizing the Jewish people who protested former Public Enemy member Professor Grif and his comments viewed as antisemitic. Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane join the party in "Burn Hollywood Burn." Harder, quicker beats as they criticize black stereotypes in Hollywood. They take the speed to another notch in "Who Stole the Soul." A long voice sample intro and then they're off. This beat is in your face as they condemn the music industry's exploitation of black recording artists. They go after and name drop Jack Be Quick...lol. The bass is brought in "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya, Man!." Flavor Flav comically criticizes welfare dependency as he's got nothing too. The album closes with "Fight the Power." Spike Lee ask them to write a song for his movie "Do the Right Thing." This was Public Enemy response and directed as a response for African Anericans. A James Brown-sampled beat. Various background samples that gives this a dense vibe. Scratching. Groovy, funky. I love the mimicking of a record stuck and repeat certain vocals. And why not diss Elvis and John Wayne; they deserve it. This album is just plain relentless, in your face and awesome. I typically try to look up the samples used in a hip hop album. I gave up on this one since some songs have over 20 samples. And that's one of the reasons this album is great: an absolute overload (or collage as they say) of vocal and music samples. Thank God for the Golden Age of hip hop where they could use these samples before the lawyers got involved. I read that Public Enemy would have lost approximately $5 per album if they would have had to pay for all the samples, even with all the album sales. The music is funky, catchy and danceable. The lyrics are clever, funny and serious, sometimes within the same song. An absolute classic album that you probably will never hear the likes of again.
od tego wszystko się zaczęło, cały rap. Bez tego nie byłoby ani Taco ani Young Leosi. Dobre sample, z bitem mam tak, że ledwo się wkręcę i zacznie bujać, nagle się zmienia. Ale doceniam. Mogę słuchać i nawet z chęcią kiedyś wrócę. Sama się sobie dziwię, ale 8/10
Fight the power forever!!!
Ok I guess.
90s hip hop. Good beats not quite my vibe
Cold chillin' in effect!! Saw PE open for U2. It was awesome. Another game changer for me. 5
Flava Flav! Some good shit here.
Thin beats. Saying interesting things but it takes too long
strong 3.9 but i have to differentiate it with It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back that I preferred, absolutely insane album nonetheless
So much of what rap is now and has been for the last 30-some years started right here. It’s incredible in many respects that so many of the political talking points are still current to this very day. Loved this front to back
A game show? A reality TV show? An album? Yes it wasn't bad
Non stop black power. I can understand why white kids back in the day knew every lyric, sang it loudly, and just didn't get it because they never lived it. Powerful album, a musical representation of all the great black preachers, and yet goes a different direction. It will be hard for me to listen as often as I should, I need to get used to the sonic energy of the band. 4.5/5
I liked it but im just not a huge public enemy fan
This was a fire listen. The runtime was a bit too much for my liking, and a few songs here felt like filler. Chuck D and Flavor Flav carry the shit out of this album with their boisterous, in-your-face personality, and impactful lyrics. Overall, it's just a fun listen. Top 3 Favorites: 911 Is A Joke, Fear Of A Black Planet, and Fight The Power No bad songs 3.75-4.00/5
It was pretty cool. And it doesn't sound dated.
Oh my gawwwwd, the radio dial/record scratch for one hundred years at the beginning of most/all of these songs is grating on my nerves. Respect to the culture, but I did not like this album.
Loved it. I’ll be back to spend more time with this one. There’s something about a lot of old school hip hop that can come across as corny, but Public Enemy avoids those pitfalls entirely.
This was a powerful album, both lyrically and instrumentally. First time listening to Public Enemy and won't be the last, found this album to fly by
Interesting and influential within context but listening more than 30 years later, it is still 'solid' but not necessarily 'have to hear'
Here we are again in full effect with the PE and the S1Ws. Again, I don't know whether the proper hip hop scene takes these guys seriously, but going back decades ago I sure got a kick (of amusement and in the butt) out of the samples and stomping beats, along with afro-centric indoctri... err... adamant admonition on social issues within black culture. Hence I'm still skeptical of 911, I ought to be ashamed of myself for going to their wantonly immoral shows, I didn't die right, all the people in the neighborhood get mad, it'll take a black to move me, red and blue lights are a common sight, Driving Miss Daisy no thanks, and you need to man wash your butt.
Exceptional
just based on the content, i'm not going to go my usual "fun album" route, but this is my third (of three?) public enemy albums in this project and i think this one is my favorite. i thought the tracks here were more consistent than the other albums i've listened to and, of course, the a lot of the messages on this record are still relevant today, even almost 35 years later. the beats here are great and pull from a lot of eclectic sources. chuck d's rapping is strong as ever and, of course flavor flav adds a lot of, well, flavor. now is this a contender for my favorite rap albums of all time? no, not really. but it was a good listen. closer to a 5 than a 3.
A classic, but not my vibe.
i don't love the references to Jews in "Terrordome" or the homophobia in "Meet the G That Killed Me," but I've looked past a lot of shit for other records. this is a top-5 hip-hop album for me.
Sadly, I found this album to be quite forgettable. The overuse of samples created a repetitive experience where many songs blurred together into a droning monotony. Flavor Flav’s nasal delivery grated on me, and while Chuck D’s commanding performance stood out, it wasn’t enough to save the album overall. That said, my criticisms of the album’s abrasive tone and confrontational delivery feel tempered by the context. The aggression and dissonance are reflections of the environment and culture that Fear of a Black Planet was born from—a world of systemic oppression and deeply entrenched racial injustices. Unfortunately, the issues this album confronts remain troublingly relevant today. Public Enemy’s approach was never going to be timid or restrained when addressing such vital sociopolitical matters, and I respect their unapologetic passion. Ultimately, I suspect part of my disconnect stems from not being in the album’s intended audience. As a middle-class white guy from England, my lived experiences differ drastically from the perspectives woven into these tracks. I can recognize the album’s importance and artistry, but it wasn’t one I could connect with on a personal level. Standout Track: Burn Hollywood Burn Score: 2/5
Hard, wel heel lang
I appreciate the funk in hip hop. Im not a daily rap listener, so this was a little tiring. No other complaints.
I started listening to this on my morning commute on a Monday and felt like I was filled with enough energy for the whole week. But when I came back to it in the evening I honestly just couldn't listen to it.
Pure Public Enemy energy
Excellent album. One of my favorites.
I am a fan of the band, and while I prefer "It Takes A Nation Of Millions", this is a good record.
excelent
I can't do anything else while listening to this. So much going on. Almost avant garde in places. Once I'm locked in, the music becomes mighty impressive, righteous and powerful.
Consistently hard hitting beats and lyrics, but not too many specific parts that really grabbed me. Could the runtime be shorter? Maybe. Welcome To The Terrordome is my favorite track on here, along with the closer Fight The Power. I don't really have anything bad to say about this, but I had higher hopes.
The layers of samples are so thick at times that it risks sounding messy, but somehow it never does. Albums like this just aren't viable any more.
Why did I just get yelled at for 63 minutes? Interesting to juxtapose this album with The Chronic to see the two distinct styles of 90's rap. I think the more laid back sound of West Coast is more my preference. 4/10
Fun for listening to at work. Nostalgic. 3/5
The genre as a whole leaves me cold, but compared to some of the other stuff I've listened to, it's marginally better. Two stars.
One of the greatest albums
It's a hip-hop/rap classic for a good reason. Welcome to the Terrordome / Fight the Power / Brothers Gonna Work It Out / 911's a Joke / Fear of a Black Planet. Chuck D and PE don't always speak for me, but they make their case solidly. Even the lesser tracks are good, and while I'd be inclined to cut everything under 1 minute maybe that messes with the flow... The production on this album is fantastic. This record sounds amazing today. The Bomb Squad definitely deserves their flowers.
have you ever heard this album well if you didn't you have to listen to it now even though I think that this album was okay I think that the instruments were pretty good and also the lyrics werent even that bad I think this album was good and I recommend listening to this album
Are these the pink Floyd of hip hop? Suppose this needs more listening to but just can’t be arsed. I feel it’s a 2 but appreciate it merits more so gone 3
Wasn’t my favotite
I know this is supposed to be a classic album. When I first heard it around the time it came out, it was something different. Being from a small town, we didn’t get to hear a lot of music like this. Now the whole album sounds like the same song. Meh 1001 album worthy: No - 1/2
But more rap than I was expecting. Not my favourite.
A political hip-hop classic.
Liked other albums by them more. But fight the power is such a bop
Nice
It was a matter of time before I checked out an album from Public Enemy. I have a soft spot for them, as they're one of the first and most prominent hip-hop groups to put the lyrical focus on racism and media scrutiny in America. I already enjoyed "Fight the Power" and "Welcome to the Terrordome" off this album Fear of a Black Planet. How does the rest stack up? I can walk away with the acknowledgment that this is one of the definitive Public Enemy albums that can't be ignored, and that starts from the lyrics. Chuck D's flow is strong on this one, where the words coming out his mouth are at a rapid-fire pace on beat while still able to be clearly understood, which is important when getting his point across about the societal issues facing African Americans and the group's perceived image at the time. Though thankfully Chuck doesn't take all the spotlight, as Flavor Flav owns with his funky delivery on "911 is a Joke", and Big Daddy Kane and Ice Cube join them for "Burn Hollywood Burn" who brought a lot of lyrical fire to the table. As for the background sounds accompanying these words, The Bomb Squad employed a variety of samples over a drum machine to give each track its distinct and danceable composition. Whether it's the "Get down" refrain from Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie" on "Welcome to the Terrordome", or the refresh given to Edwin Starr's "War" on the spiritual sequel "War at 33 1/3", this is an eclectic mix of funk and audio samples to make each song feel unique. However, the amount of sampling they got away with is a double-edged sword. For as much as these audio excerpts getting recontextualized can make a song unique, there are instances where it can be too much that it becomes distracting. From the broken-down ending of "Power to the People" to the instrumental "Leave This Off Your Fu*kin Charts" leading into the chopped vocals of "B Side Wins Again" and the radio archive interlude "Incident at 66.6 FM", it can be sensory overload at times. Not helping matters is that this album goes for over an hour, and its length can be felt in places. Still, I had a good time with Fear of a Black Planet despite how crazy its sound got for its time. It is worth a listen.
It’s not my favorite PE album but it’s solid and gets 3 stars just for the Vincent Price laugh track in 911.
I've "It Takes A Nation..." in my collection, but this album didn't hit me like that previous did. I think I was moving on to other things musically, so it took few more years to get back into hip hop via Paris, Cypress Hill, Ice Cube et al. While I'm sure this is an important album in the hip hop context, it's just "more of the same" to me. I do remember several of the tracks on this album, probably can get in on the hook from first go, due to power play in MTV and such, on tracks like "911 is a joke" as well as "Burn Hollywood burn" and "Fight the power". Also, I didn't like the interludes that we're quite common at this time, I feel they just brake the feel and flow of the album, instead of adding to the story.
An album like this should come out every couple of weeks.
I imagine back in 1990, this was a very good record. Nowadays, I'm not too sure. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate any part of the album, I just think it's a bit dated as hiphop has progressed a lot in production since then.
I imagine back in 1990, this was a very good record. Nowadays, I'm not too sure. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate any part of the album, I just think it's a bit dated as hiphop has progressed a lot in production since then. 3/5
Would give it 3.5 if I could, easy listening album
Best thing I can say about this album is that compared to other hiperty hoperty (c)rap music I’ve so far (too much) been served up there’s hardly any horrible gangster speak, glorification of guns and knives, misogyny etc. Apart from a track title little use of the N word as well which is another small blessing. Other than that I struggle to say anything positive but realise as I have said many times this music was never made for me in mind and perhaps it was made to make people like me react as I do. If so very well done 😉 1/5 15/11/24
Biggest thing listening to these long lists has been the appreciation of the golden age of hip hop. This solidly lands in that group.
Not bad but all the songs sound so similar.
I think my previous exposure to public enemy is basically bring the noise from the tony hawk soundtrack. This was similar but no nostalgia factor. Some of the beats and samples were annoying but that's probably my fault for trying to work to it. Generally like the sound, can tell it's influential old school hip hop. Don't think I'll be back quickly but it was alright.
I suppose it is fine. None of the tracks or themes resonated with me - makes sense - but I couldn't really get into it. Found it overall a little repetitive and didn't say too much of anything new. Fight the Power was the best track.
Listened to public enemy before, this is not as good as "it takes a nation of millions to hold us back" imo, but still decent and I'm sure a very important record. This type of hip hop doesn't exist anymore as far as I know, and this makes it feel dated. Feel I've said this before, but it's shit that the social commentary from 34 years ago still rings true. Fight the power and 911 is a joke are the highlights. 3.5
I could probably write the exact same notes as the previous Public Enemy album I reviewed. These guys may be pioneers of hip hop. They may be culturally relevant and historically significant. But, I. The grand scheme of all things rap: Public Enemy is weak. The only thing I will say is that I enjoyed the beats much more on this one. There were tons of recognizable samples used in interesting ways (like the Vincent Price laugh from "Thriller" during "9-11 is a joke"). If you want to understand more about hip hop's roots, listen to Public Enemy. If you want good hip hop from this era, listen to De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Tupac.
Glad I heard it and has its moments but doubt it'll be something I come back to.
Ish
Boom pow. Like a one-two punch. Nonstop driving force. Head boppin the entire time. Good workout music. These guys have a lot to say. Flavor Flavs accompaniment like an exclamation point. When this came out originally, I was not a fan of rap or hip hop music. Over the years I’ve grown to enjoy some of it and this one will now forever be on that list.
Hearing these jams took me back a few years. I was able to catch Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and crew live a few times in the LA area. The music is infectious and the messages are more relevant than ever. I grew up in the Hawthorne area and worked in Carson, so even this white kid felt the energy around this form of socially conscious rap music. I was a little closer to the west coast sounds of Dr. Dre and Ice-T initially but these guys won me over with their astute assessment of racism in America. Five stars.
You can’t fight the power of this record
Maybe I’m not American enough, but I wasn’t really feeling this one. I can see why it’s a seminal part of hip hop canon, it’s just not my music
That's not my taste in music.
Some great classic hip hop with themes as relevant today as they were back then! I even spotted a Tom Tom Club sample. Hell yeah.
Chuck D + Flavor Flav + The Bomb Squad = some of the most influential hip-hop ever made. Fear of a Black Planet is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Public Enemy’s political output. Following the groundbreaking It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, this album refines and expands on their formula, incorporating broader themes and more complex production. Musically and politically, Fear of a Black Planet stands as a defining moment in hip-hop. Iconic tracks like "Fight the Power" serve as anthems of defiance, pushing for social change with urgency and clarity. "Welcome to the Terrordome" delivers raw, visceral intensity, tackling black identity in America, while "911 Is a Joke" mixes humour with critique of emergency services in black communities. "Burn Hollywood Burn" challenges the portrayal of black people in media, reinforcing the album’s activism. The Bomb Squad’s production is a key element of the album’s identity. Their dense, layered approach incorporates samples from rock, funk, jazz, and industrial sounds, creating a chaotic yet meticulously crafted soundscape. The abrasive, experimental style—characterized by stuttering beats, loops, and harsh textures—mirrors the album’s rebellious tone. Tracks like "Fight the Power" and "Welcome to the Terrordome" showcase this, using distorted vocals and historical speech snippets to amplify the intensity. Scratching and turntable manipulation add another layer of disruption, reinforcing the album’s themes of resistance. Chuck D’s commanding baritone delivers powerful political messages, while Flavor Flav’s humour provides balance, creating dynamic tension throughout the album. The interplay between Chuck D’s gravity and Flav’s levity is especially notable on tracks like "Pollywanacracka", where their contrasting styles highlight the group’s unique identity. Post-Fear of a Black Planet, albums like Apocalypse 91 and Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age continued Public Enemy’s political agenda, but none matched the impact of this release. This album influenced hip-hop not only in America but internationally where acts were drawn to its take-no-prisoners attitude. Its bold, politically charged messages also served as a blueprint for acts like Dead Prez and KRS-One, not to mention Kendrick Lamar and Nas. Chuck D’s said the goal was to “bring chaos to the system”. It is safe to say this was fully realized in this album. Fear of a Black Planet remains one of the most important works in hip-hop, blending revolutionary production with social activism, and solidifying its place in both music history and cultural discourse. Did I own this release? No. Does this release belong on the list? Yes. Would this release make my personal list? Strong contender, although it is slightly on the long side. Will I be listening to it again? Not always an easy listen, but ulitmately rewarding.
Having only listened to Harder Than You Think (which is an incredible banger) and Fight The Power, I was excited to finally check out some more Public Enemy. Unfortunately I didn't end up liking this; I found it unvarying in its raps and flows, which makes the length feel even more interminable.
Makes me smile thinking of Nod loving this!!
Super solid
Pretty fun, hard hitting lyrics. A note about the last album, i did actually enjoy the last half. I like him more when its just his crazy producing and not his annoying voice
Landmark album. Might not be something I listen to much, but still sounds fresh and relevant.
Unfortunately this was not for me. I wanted to enjoy it and really made an effort to listen right to the end, when I was rewarded with Fight The Power. I'm going back to listen to It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back.
As I was listening to this (for the first time) I couldn't help wondering why I wasn't listening to more Public Enemy rather than the Beastie Boys back in the day. The lyrics were on point and meaningful, music was strong and layered. I personally felt the album was too long, or maybe I couldn't maintain that intensity for so long, but otherwise it is a great album.
This is difficult: am I rating based on whether I would listen again, or based on how well this album was executed. It's reasonably good on the latter, but probably going to be low on the former, so I settled on a 3.
The messages here are powerful and amazingly seem still relevant based on news and politics from across the pond. I’m not sure that musically this is their strongest work. It Takes a Nation of Millions… works better as an album. The skits and guest appearances don’t work for me here. Nice to revisit but might be a while before I come again.
Not my go-to public enemy but some great tracks like Welcome to the Terrordome
Feel like I need to give this more spins to really dig into its significance, especially on The Bomb Squad's work. But I liked what I heard on a first impression.
Took me a while to get through this one. It's very dense and you can't really listen to it in the background while doing other things! I really enjoyed it, which I haven't had with a Public Enemy album before. Harsh but intricate and distinctive production. Would listen again when I have the space to devote my attention to it properly.
Thick, dissonant layers of samples, often pulled from Funk, Soul, and Rock, combined with sirens, scratches, and breaks. Production team the Bomb Squad’s approach here is to layer sounds in a way that mirror the social tension and complexity in the lyrics—tracks like “Fight the Power” exemplify this with its stacked samples and driving rhythm, creating a sense of urgency. The production choices on songs like “911 Is a Joke” and “Burn Hollywood Burn” keep the listener off balance, as sounds collide and voices weave in and out, reinforcing the messages in the lyrics. Lyrically, Chuck D’s verses are relentless, addressing systemic racism, media manipulation, and cultural appropriation with sharp precision. “Welcome to the Terrordome” confronts criticism of the group head-on, turning controversy into a rallying cry, while “Fear of a Black Planet” examines racial paranoia and social power dynamics. Flava Flav’s interjections add a level of satire and comic relief but also underscore the serious themes. All in all, this is a top-tier album and you need to listen to it now !
Even as a white man, I will say this album was ahead of its time, and its message is more relevant now than it's ever been. On another note, it was released the year I was born. With that being said, it could have used a better producer to make the songs more like songs than poems. Kamala Harris For President. Favorite Track: "Fight The Power".
Not as fond as I expected. Maybe listened to it too passively instead of delving into lyrics
it has a cool interesting aesthetic though i want more
One of the greats apparently, I've never been that on board with public enemy personally. Kind of like the Stevie Wonder of rap. I get that it was important but do not enjoy listening.
rap icon
Burn Hollywood burn es un temazo, pero han pasado años y trata temas que no se han resuelto del todo. Si lo piensas es devastador que aun se hable de los mismo temas que ya deberían estar normalizados en nuestra sociedad.
Excellent. It's held up well over time and is still pertinent in far too many ways.
mixing is good
Oxford English Dictionary defines “album” as “a collection of recordings issued as a single…” - ok, I don’t have anything to say about this one. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it
I preferred the early Public Enemy album. But this was still good, some interesting themes and got me bopping at my desk. Simpsons: Yes, although only really Flavor Flav
At best it was just OK. Otherwise it was boring and dragged on too long.
I actually read the lyrics along whilst listening to this, definitely made it a more enjoyable listening experience being aware what they were rapping about. Yeah, I don't dislike Public Enemy, they seem a little angry but if I was singing about 400 years of racial injustice and oppression I'd be pretty pissed off too.
Sadly just as relevant today as it was 30+ years ago Still a great aggressive indictment of the American dream
Riktigt stabilt album. Ruskigt bra flow på vissa låtar. Man känner igen en hel del samples, och det gör det ju lite klassiskt.
Listened to this album hundreds of time when it came out. An excellent album with hard hitting lyrics and great samples. Would love to own a copy
For my money, this is the best Public Enemy record ever released. It's still just as relevant as it was when it came out, it sustains an incredible amount of energy over the run-time, and the beats are on a whole different level. Essential listening.
The production on this album is a maximalists dream with the volume of samples and flips here. This album is a prime example of Rap/Hip Hop as a form of protest. Hearing the news reports and the parodies of call in radio shows highlighting the experience of Black people in America in the 90s. What keeps this album in the light 4 range is the lengthiness of it and density of the production throughout the album. The last track was perfect though.
They sure don’t make em like they used to.
It was sobering to realize how relevant these songs still are, 34 years after the album was originally released.
I've listened to It Takes a Nation... but never this one, and I really like it. So much good music in the world. I need to listen to this one more
homophobia :( slaps tho
Honestly a little disappointing. A bit artsier and abstract than I would have thought, but I don't really think any of it lands for me. Individual songs are great, but a lot of the album does feel like filler. Still some powerful lyrics and fun beats, plus one of the most iconic songs ever. Too tracks: Brothers Gonna Work It Out, Welcome To The Terrordome, Fight The Power
A waste of good listening time
Eh
I quite liked this, though I admit that I tuned out the lyrics a bit. I could listen to it as background music quite nicely, but it didn’t grab me as much as other rap albums.
not bad, love when rap uses clips of rap-criticism.
Good
I gave "It Takes A Nation..." 4 stars, and this is better across the board, so it's gotta be a 5.
Fiery, bombastic, and socially conscious. A groundbreaking album for its time that is a kind of bridge between 80s and 90s rap. Filled with heavy drum breaks, electric guitars, and just so many samples the production is good but sounds dated, as does the rapping style. I would say it’s also overly long at 63 minutes but still an enjoyable listen. Fight The Power is a kick-ass song. 3.5 / 5.
First listen. Pretty good. Bigger fan of their 1988 album.
This album caused me to feel disappointed that they can't do sampling like they used to. It's dense and transformative. I really enjoyed this album a lot. I'm surprised I like this SO much more than "It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back". I have been listening to a lot more older hip-hop since then so it's possible I just have more of an ear now and need a relisten. But somehow I think this one just grabbed me more. I haven't had a chance to dig into the lyrics completely but what I caught was profound. I waffled between a 4 and a5 for this but I think it actually tips more to the 5* because already I am wanting a relisten.
when hip-hop is good, it’s as good as anything else. And Fear of a Black Planet is hip-hop at its finest. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-fear-of-a-black-planet?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Definitely an interesting take on hip hop (from someone that hasn’t heard a lot of hip-hop) and a classic
Everytime I listen to PE I feel there is more I should be listening to. Great beats, amazing lyrical content. Great stuff. 4.5/5
Maybe I’m tired but I found the album pretty one note and a bit dull. A shame because I really enjoyed their last album on here and I get their importance musically.
Enjoying this one a lot- the samples and hooks are super catchy. It touches on a lot of issues with race and makes commentary on the status of black people, specifically men, in the US at the time. Looking for some hits that stand out- I think thats the only thing this album is missing.
В общем я принял для себя, что олдскульный хип-хоп - это не совсем то, что мне нравится. Биты просто ок. По содержанию, конечно, интересно. Лучшая песня - Fight The Power.
I need to give this a few listens. First impression, I like but a few of the songs missed for me. I do like that late 80s early 90s hip hop sound a lot. But some of these songs failed to capture my attention as much as an NWA or a Beastie Boys. But about half of it is absolute bangers. Who Stole The Soul is insane. The title track too.
A classic!
Not my favorite genre and def not my favorite group from the genre
I have listened to 'It Takes a Nation of Millions...' a ton over the years, but never this one, other than the singles. I was really impressed - this is fantastic. I wish I had found this back when it was new. Great flow, energy and beats. Powerful message. What else are you looking for?
Chuck D and Flava Flav bringing the heat with this one. This album is very 90's rap/hip hop in a great way. Smooth rhymes, well put together songs and an album that flows. My biggest gripe with the album would be length, and that's more nitpicky than an actual problem. Definitely gonna be exploring them more and coming back to this one.
Just thought it really dull
Absolute classic.
911 is still a joke 35 years later.
👎👎👎
Very good classic, but it’s too long. Hip hop and rap are not my favourite genres, so I get tired of it after a while - It’s an important album with an important message. Politically charged rap and hip hop will always be better than gangsta rap to me.
I’m finding a pattern with the hip hop/rap albums on here. I start out quite excited and the enthusiasm quickly fades as every track sounds similar and starts to blur in to one. And they always love the sound of their own voices and go on for far too long. At least this one doesn’t feature misogyny or constant boasting about sexual exploits, and I do get its cultural significance
Too much filler, sound quality not great. Not my style of hip hop tbh
It has a classic 90s rap sound. Overall, great album, good lyrics. I'm not a fan of some of the miscellaneous sounds that get mixed into some of the 90s rap albums.
Classic hip hop
Solid 90’s hip hop
I'm a big hip hop fan, but these guys just don't do it for me. Not interested in listening again.
Wow, back to back Public Enemy. This one did not grab me as much as "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back". Tracks like calling into the radio station took me out of it. Overall still pretty good though.
Pretty solid 90s conscious rap. I didn't know Public Enemy was like that. The album is a little bloated with 20 songs, interludes and skits, but I enjoyed my time with it. I'll keep saying it, but racial issues in the 70s, 80s, and 90s are still issues today and these albums are still poignant. Best Songs: 911 Is A Joke, Burn Hollywood Burn, Fight The Power Worst Songs: Pollywanacraka
As the second Public Enemy Album on the list for me, the novelty has worn off a bit. I still like the energy and the lyrics, but I doubt I will come back for more.
I would have sworn this album came out a lot later than Apocalypse 91. It sounds so much more competent and to the point in every regard. Fear of a Black Planet sounds like a direct prototype to Kendrick Lamar's best work, and Welcome to the Terrordome is 100% where Cypress Hill found their whole sound. Really good!
Og rap. Not really my thing though.
Bombastic and rightfully angry. It sucks the world hasn't improved much since.
Better than Apoc but still not SUPER into Public Enemy.
Nice classic 90s rap. A little boring at the beginning and some parts but overall this is a classic I vibe with and respect.
Not as enjoyable as the last Public Enemy album (It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back). The sample-heavy style is very unique, and the rapping is full of passion, but this just isn't clicking for me personally
This album has a way of building tension with each track. The beats feel heavy, almost relentless, like the basslines on some early Beastie Boys records but sharper. The lyrics come fast, hitting hard, like a stream of powerful thoughts and ideas just flowing. It’s chaotic, but in a controlled way, kind of like a Bomb Squad production turned up a notch. You feel the energy, like a rally cry, without any polish to soften the edges.
Really good
Interessant, vielsagend und sehr sample- lastig.
this one was really cool, i just love old hiphop
I appreciate the level of artistry involved in this album, even though I find it difficult to enjoy. The sheer volume of layers of samples sometimes makes it sound like 'noise', even when there is a constant backbeat. And not being part of the culture that produced this album makes it hard for me to really get into. However, I can definitely see why it has such a legacy.
I appreciate their lyrical points but I simply can´t stand one hour of hip hop. favourite: "Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya, Man!" 1,5
Brilliant! Favourite track is Welcome To The Terrordome 5/5
FIGHT THE POWERS THAT BE!
This might be Chuck and Flav at their best. Remember when I fistbumped Flav after the Flo Rida show at the MGM in Vegas? Thanks HLTH 2017. Thanks Validar.
Have been listening to a lot of hip-hop recently, and while I can appreciate the art, I found it to be less pleasing to listen to than most of the hip-hop I've listened to (including from this era). Political message is interesting! But not as easy on the ear as the hip-hop I'm more familar with. 3.5 star rounded down
fuego de verdad de verdad
Just an amazing album. Great piece of work.
Appreciate how revolutionary this would have been when released
Brothers Gonna Work It Out 911 Is a Joke Welcome to the Terrordome Burn Hollywood Burn Fear of a Black Planet Fight the Power
1. jam - 1 2. brotherz - 1.5 3. joke - 1 4. incident - 1 5. uuelcome - 1.5 6. killed - 0 7. polly - 1 8. nigger - 1 9. burn - 1 10. people - 1 11. zoul - 1 12. planet - 1 13. revolutionary - 1 14. man - 1 15. jackz - 1 16. leave - 1 17. again - 1 18. uuar - 1 19. final - 0 20. fight - 1.5
I enjoyed the overall vibe of the album, but the message doesn’t resonate with me. It’s not for me. I also think the album ran too long. There were some fun and witty lyrics throughout the album which were appreciated. Not a bad album. Standouts: Brothers Gonna Work It Out, Welcome To The Terrordome, and Burn Hollywood Burn.
3.5/5 Soooo much better than "It Takes a Nation.."
Not for me
Excellent story-telling. Sonically interesting. Uncomfortable in certain parts but in a way that feels like a necessary part of the experience. I liked 911 is a Joke and Incident at 66.6 FM the most.
I found this album kinda annoying and I love throwback hiphop
I remember when this hit, it was very eye opening for the time. I was more into traditional hip hop like Run DMC, Whodini, Beastie Boys, Naughty By Nature, etc in the early 90s. I saw this as angry, not light fun music to listen to in college, so I didn't give it much time back then. From the outset it has aggressive relentless beats & energy, along with a unique audio mix meant for big speakers. In listening to it again, I remember why it never resonated with me... Chuck D just sounds like a preacher to me and I don't listen to music as much for the message as the song structure and instrumentation which are super important to me. Some of the samples are just distracting and disjointed. "Burn Hollywood Burn", "Anti-N Machine", "Revolution Generation", nothing catchy about them, it's all message no focus on the music. They spread a message and opened eyes to what a 90s black man was experiencing, us white suburb kids had no idea. Influential, check. Provocative & eye opening, check. "We do what we have to do to survive" is the message I walked away with. Would I listen to it again? Nope.
Good samples, great social issues addressed. But I just didn't care for some reason, maybe it was outdated for me. Definitely not enough to keep me interested
8/10 It's a groove!
Fuck you I'm giving this a 5 stars without listening because Welcome to the Terrordome has always been and always will be one of my favourite songs of all time.
Not really my type of rap. Had some good beats, but just not a fan of 90s rap
I do like some rap, particularly older. It has a great vibe to it. This definitely fit that, although the album as a whole felt more like a political statement than something I'd listen to regularly. There were a lot of songs I wouldn't really be listening to for music, which lowers the album for me. Guessing the messaging is pretty unique though as it's in this list. Overall, good music, but the album as a whole seemed to be more about statement than vibing to songs.
This record is gold. It is so punk rock. Maybe one of the most *punk* rap album out there. This is right up there with Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies, US Bombs, 25dalife, Descendents, etc. Its explicit, its direct, its angry, it's poignant, it's truth. I think what sets this apart from a lot of early punk though, is that a lot punk is raising awareness for real problems, Public Enemy was raising awareness and speaking from their own lived experienced. They're referencing MLK Jr, Malcolm X and Nelson Mandela. They're covering all issues around racism and social injustice. This is a true rap album, where its driven by true lyrics. But the music is really cool too. It's the boombox speakers, the record scratches, the radio samples, and vocal samples of civil rights figures. The loops and samples are kind of messy, but they really pull together and make really cool sounds and rhythms. I noticed a lot of soul, funk and jazz samples as well, which also makes this really fun. The music really carries this record through. Almost every song connects seamlessly to the next. It really just hums along and flows really nicely. For sure one of the greatest rap albums of all time. I kind of miss this era of rap. I love how dirty and grungy it is. I love that is completely unapologetic without every feeling gimmicky or silly. FIGHT THE POWER THAT BE ✊🏼
My ambivalence to Public Enemy continues
I remember liking Flava Flav as a hype man much better as a kid. His ridiculous presence in the videos might have contributed to that, a silly image alongside the important lyrical content provided a balance. Professor X's beats wouldn't work for anyone but Chuck D, great combination. 911 Is A Joke has one of the sickest beats ever. Welcome to the Terrordome is a great song. The "soundscape" tracks aren't great, they feel like a reminder that DJs were once as integral a part of the group as the MCs. Why did rappers add some random Jamaican saying "buck, buck" on so many albums? No irony in Ice Cube's "Fuck Hollywood" at the end of Burn Hollywood Burn. Power to the People is a good album track. It feels like the early 90s could have seen hip hop move to either socially conscious rap or gangsta rap. I guess it isn't surprising that entertainment won. Definitely an album that I remember more fondly than I like it now. The album tracks aren't that good. B Side Wins Again is good if it weren't for the static running over the whole track. And then it closes with Fight The Power. That's a great final track, has to be among the best last tracks of all time, sums up the album and is an amazing song.
The rap album that changed my life. This is when I realized how powerful music can be and it can be used as a weapon and to create social conscience on issues. Chuck D is a national treasure and still have not gotten his dues. This group is top notch and the message is clear and surely makes white people in power be affraid. The intro is a sample galore with Terminator X just killing that mix and scratch demo. It makes you want to stay and sit, listen to whats about to come out of that speaker. Fight the power is still very relvant and so is fear of a black planet and 911 is a joke. Its simply a top 20 rap album of all time without a doubt.
This album is good. If I was more into hip-hop it might even be great. The very clear 90's hip-hop/rap hits clean. And it's very hard to argue with the political/cultural message of the album - and it certainly makes no apologies for itself. It's in your face aggressive critique of society and the system on top of a beat that sounds more welcoming than you'd expect. Uh yeah! FIGHT THE POWER!! Standouts Pollywanacraka Fight the Power 4/5
I haven't listened to this album in 30 years, and I've never listened to it with the ears and mind and eyes of an adult who's learned, seen and experienced so many of the issues that were boiling points for these records and these groups...these Men & Women. What a remarkable, angry, focused example of what great protest art can be. All time classic
That was surprisingly still relevant. Really enjoyed this one, but I don't know that I would seek it out.
Boh, mai piaciuti.
Good stuff, but not as good as their other stuff. I don't have the same way with words that Chuck D does...
I liked public enemy, reminds me of the beastie boys. Never heard them before.
The description in the book made me like it a bit more. However, fight the power might be one of the only listenable track on here.
I would’ve enjoyed this album more if there were more lyrics than these wild beats.. but I dig Public Enemy
in het zelfde bedje ziek als alle rap... het is rap gedaan met de variatie...
All songs r such bangers
Yes, it's Hip Hop and yes there are samples, but it didn't convince me.
I have a ton of respect for this band and agree that this is the golden age of hip hop. The album is raucous, political, and perfectly crafted. It's a history lesson and history in the making - we are still dealing with bullshit almost 35 years later. 5 stars.
THIS was my introduction to rap music when I was younger. Sure I was a Beastie Boys fan, but this album opened up my mind to the power this music had to raise awareness. PE will always be a favourite with me.
I'm an old white guy that can't hear much of anything without my hearing aids. Even with them in, I struggle to keep up with rap lyrics. Maybe that's why I liked this album, or maybe it's just a good album. Or maybe it's just Schrödinger's Album...both good and bad until I put my ears back in.
Outdated and notably antiquated. Great use of samples typical of 1990's hip hop. The social concious aspect of this album is present but almost lost in shock and horror aspect, another common trope of 1990s hip hop. The vocals are very high in the mix and in your face. Which takes away from the emphasis of the lyrics. But one thing I can say that's a positive is that this album listens like a funkadellic album. And isn't all that bad in the chronology of hip hop. I mean without this we don't get Outkast.
Boom bap meets 80s
Boring
Some 5/5 songs, but I don’t love the album as a whole.
a good listen, nice walking around music
Great album. Relentless, inventive, political.
I didn’t know much about Public Enemy before I started this project, but they were consistently great. My favorite is still It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, but this is a lot of fun too.
More listenable than the last one but still not my jam.
Top quality hip hop. It really shouldn’t work, with Chuck S’s rap tempo bearing very little relationship to the track beat , but his voice and presence is so strong it makes it even better. Flavor Flav gets written off by a clown, but actually is very good too. The tracks themselves really full sounding. Only downside is it’s way too long so has a lot of filler in the middle.
3.5/5
These guys are very angry. It could do with fewer skits.
Raw energy. Kicking ass with a message. This rules.
It's pretty good and also nice to have a rap album that isn't gangsta rap (even though I enjoy that too). I do not care for the sample heavy production. 3.4
Hated the first two Public Enemy albums I had, but this one won me over. Easily their best. I finally don't feel like I'm trapped in a Pac-Man arcade machine while an angry black man retells me the fable of Hansel and Gretel. Now I feel like I'm on that interplanetary nebula kush. Hell yeah. Give me more of that. 3/5.
Sweet record.
I think this is the best Public Enemy album I've heard, but not fully sure
I've got plenty of respect for Public Enemy, but man I was not necessarily angling to hear another hour-long Public Enemy album within a week of the last one. The production is good but clearly dated, and the raps are dynamic but sometimes heavy-handed. I also just flat out got tired of Flavor Flav. I can't pinpoint why, I got nothing against him, I'm just not very into hearing Flavor Flav's voice anymore. Best song: Fight the Power
A Classic Album!
So, I don't know exactly what it is, but I don't like this album as much as I like "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back." I'm not sure if there's something in the production (it can be fairly shrill) or the way the album is sequenced. There are excellent songs, but after "Welcome to the Terrordome" it just seems to bog down and I get bored until almost the end of the album. I don't want to take away from the lyrics (they're great) and I really like PE overall, but I just don't love this album as much as I think I should.
Wow, this is great. It still sounds so good. The music has aged extremely well. The songs are not all five stars individually, but collectively this album is five stars. One of my favorite concert memories is seeing Public Enemy perform at an outdoor summer festival in downtown Des Moines where there was a small group of hippies with lit up hula hoops doing their thing up front by the stage for the entire concert.
Now this is more like it! Truly essential listening, one of the greatest rap albums of all time. I might like this one even more than Nation of Millions, but it’s too close to call. Okay?
This one caught me by surprise. I thought it was very good!
Pros: The flow is tight and the passion is abundant throughout the songs. None of these guys are phoning it in. They're pouring their hearts and souls and lives into these songs. Even when they're just rapping about sex, there's a level of heart here that's inspiring. Cons: But content isn't enough for me. I need the songs to be interesting rhythmically and melodically and almost none of the album did that for me. Songs were the same 4 bar loop over and over without ever doing anything to surprise me, and almost every song had the same rhythm and intensity. Which makes critical reviews and comments from band members land even more flat for me. Said frontman Chuck D., "We understood the magnitude of what an album was, so we set out to make something that not only epitomized the standard of an album, but would stand the test of time by being diverse with sounds and textures, and also being able to home in on the aspect of peaks and valleys". So while I recognize the cultural and historical significance of this album, it didn't much do it for me. Also - Whenever I distinctly dislike something, I tend to ruminate a little on why. Because sometimes it’s not the material’s fault. Sometimes I’m just tired or in a bad mood or I’m already dopamine saturated and I’m not going to like chocolate cake, forget about new music. So I put on another celebrated (albeit newer) album - Beck’s 2019 release Hyperspace. And after giving it a fresh listen, I can confirm - I just honestly didn’t like the Public Enemy album, because even after feeling tired from listening to that, every song on Hyperspace blew my mind. What a work of eclectic pop genius. If you haven’t heard it, check it out!!!
enjoyed all the way through, will listen again
Good bopping music
Adding this one to the list of albums I can't listen to when I have my player's window up on my desktop at work. The hard R is crazy. However, the album is very good. The lyrics are tight as hell and the beats are unique and punchy. I didn't mind the instrumentals/interludes here either, they helped with the flow and fit the overall message of the record.
These instrumentals are as dense as cinder blocks and it’s fantastic. The lyrics are politically charged and aggressive. I want Flavor Flav to be my hype man. Favorite songs were Brothers Gonna Work It Out, Welcome To The Terrordome, Burn Hollywood Burn, Revolutionary Generation, and Fight The Power.
very educational and moving. i never really listen to this type of music but i love this album. its really good! would definitely listen to it again
This paved the way for Flavor Flav to make trash reality television. 5/10
Didn't really click for me. I appreciate what it is, but it just felt too chaotic for me and not very cohesive. That may have been the intention but I just didn't enjoy it all that much
4.5/10. Honestly, I wasn't as fond of the album as everybody else seems to be. Something about it just doesn't click for me.
Another I need to sit down and listen to more closely. Overall a good listen though, although I maybe couldn't listen to it very often as it is quite intense. 4/4.5
Chuck D, I can't turn this up anymore. Stop telling me to turn it up. Liked this way more than I thought I was going to. Loved the concept. Loved Chuck D's raps. Didn't care for Flava Flav as he seems to be thwt little Weiner kid trying to hype up someone bigger than them. The one song where he takes the lead is the worst song.
Very good
Very old skool black power, sick beats, lots of sampling. Good rhymes, varied singers and songs
Pieerful album that sadly has many of the same cultural issues today as it did 34 years ago when it came out. Many of the songs here are bangers with awesome beats, like 911 Is a Joke, Burn Hollywood Burn, and Fear if a Black Planet. The lyrics are non-apologetic in how it talks about being black in America, with some of the breaks like Incident at 66.6 FM being particularly brutal, but funny at the same time. Flava Flav was much better here than in It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, in my opinion.
Not the type of hip hop I normally listen to but it was fun and I enjoyed it. 3/5
I'm just a low middle class suburban kid who went to pretty good schools, but god damn do I wanna fight the power!
Though the goosebumps this culturally critical album raises on my skin lack melanin, the heart and soul within are forever tuned into the fearless frequency of Chuck D and the limitless legacy of Public Enemy.
There are some real bangers in here.
bit too much going on, very noisy
Didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would but still decent enough
Quello che ha scritto Martina
I’m a longtime fan of hip hop, coming up with it during the golden years in the mid-late 90s. Public Enemy is one of the pioneers of the culture and that can be heard in their social and political perspectives on each of these tracks. The production from this era is more rigid than what I like, but Chuck D and Flava Flav have such iconic voices and cadences. PE is not something I’ll regularly listen to, but I will always respect them.
I enjoyed it, for the most part. It did have a surprising number of songs specifically about the ethics of having sex with white women.
I just cannot get into rap music no matter how many albums appear on this list. Also why are they always so long!? 😩
The album feels disjointed and Flava Flav’s interludes are deeply irritating. Not to mention, I really don't appreciate the homophobia and antisemitism (¬⤙¬ ) Public Enemy really live up to their name! Before you complain about my low ratings, go find me a hip-hop album that doesn't scrutinize minority groups!
This one has aged really well. Great social commentary. My ceiling for hip-hop strikes again, but it's very close to 4 stars. 3.5/5
Nice
No album embodies its politics more effectively. Its perspective is indelibly stamped on my skull since my teens. I hadn’t returned to it for a couple of decades: too long, too strident, an intensity that is more exhausting than invigorating. But its demands reward. It’s a university of noise that tapes ears and eyes wide open. The slamming shut of the sample copyright free-for-all soon after means we won’t see its like again. Flawed, oft-questionable, difficult to get through, but you don’t hang “Guernica” on a living room wall. So fast, so dense. “:..and John Wayne.”
Such a great sounding album! Old git here, but this is how rap music should be produced. Still sounds dangerous and abrasive, and sad how the "controversial" stuff like the call-in sampled on Incident At 66.6 FM resembles the golden age of radio compared to the shit nowadays on Fox News etc. Fight The Power pushes this to a 5 easily [EDIT - Much appreciated relief from the curse of the twos. A masterpiece]
Public Enemy's music is simply alive. Nothing else sounds quite like it. Fast, raw, angry hip hop. And I am here for it.
Can respect but not enjoy.
3.5
This is good, really good. Might even be enough to get me into rap
Intense, relentless, smart, crazy sample production
Love this album. Love the sampling. Love the skits
Nostalgic for me. It's also fascinating how something that was so revolutionary now sounds quaint after 30 years.
I like a bit of hip hop so I was excited for this, but just found it a bit difficult to listen to
I found this boring
I didn't mind this but I didn't love it either.
Yup!
I had a song by Public Enemy in the back of my mind, but I can't find it anymore. The background music to the aggressive chanting was quite interesting at times. But it didn't encourage me to listen to more of the album than short snippets of a few tracks. Hip hop is not my genre (is it music?) 1/5
Un buen álbum de hip-hop, bastante sólido, en donde destacan la complejidad de los samples de las pistas y las letras cargadas de crítica social, las que se cuestionan activamente la posición de los afroamericanos en la sociedad estadounidense y el racismo al que se ven expuestos a pesar de que el periodo de la segregación terminó hace (supuestamente) décadas. Entiendo todo el contexto en el que salió y su relevancia cultural, además del impacto que tuvo sobre el panorama del género en general. Aún así, después de unos cuantos minutos puede volverse bastante repetitivo con una textura, bpm y flow que termina sintiéndose mucho más largo que 1 hora.
Creative, cultural, bold and in yer face with some cool grooves to maximise its appeal, this is indeed a seminal album.