Reviews (page 8 of 12)
I have suffered the indignity of the Beastie Boys, Queen Latifah, and a host of late 80s / early-to-mid 90s rap albums that I have put out of my mind so poor were they as part of this generator, so I was wary when this one popped up. However, I quite liked it. There is something inherently listenable to it, much like there was when Run DMC came up. I liked a lot of the samples, and had fun picking them out - hello Vincent Price’s “Thriller” laugh - and the interludes were less about women and money (see Notorious BIG), and more about racism faced by the likes of Public Enemy. If I could give it 3.5* I would, but I don’t think I enjoyed it as thoroughly as I did a 4* album.
I continue to be surprised by how much I appreciate a lot of late 80s/early 90s hiphop, and this was no exception. I enjoyed this album, even... and this really is a surprise given how much I've whinged about them on other albums... the skit-adjacent bits! Fight the Power is obviously the standout here, but I liked a lot of this album. The style of sampling on albums like this is just so impressive to me and I appreciate that Public Enemy were outspoken about their politics and experiences. Probably a 3.5, but on balance I'm rounding down not up. It was a close run thing though. 3/5
ein track glost
unexpectedly enjoyed
Another solid album. Early 90s hip hop at its absolute best. Not an album I would have on repeat but definitely some songs to add to the favorites list.
Dated raps with very important messages over a ton of very fun instrumentals.
Very early hip hop in a fun way. Brought to mind how inflammatory the content would have been at the time.
Very average, don't understand the hype around these guys at all, the 90s shout all the bars style rapping isn't my favourite
Solid thought I would know more songs, I did hear certain parts of certain songs that were sampled in some of my favorite rap songs. Also amazing ending with "Fight the Power"
Lots of sampling, can see why it’s a classic but got a bit tired of the same formula over each song
Only knew Fight the Power before listening !
- kyä 90s hiphop toimittelee edelleen - hullun pitkiä nää albumit ollu kyl, kavereilla ollu asiaa
Hip hop is not my jam, but this wasn't a terrible listen.
Abrasive, heroic, stylish; but lacks the songwriting to back it up. I prefer their first album. It’s a lot hookier and I think conveys similarly important messages, though perhaps not as directly.
It’s ok. I just don’t love rap
Classic. Sick beats and the vibe is great, I've outgrown it though.
pretty good, interesting artists a bit too psychedelic
Decent - really enjoyed, solid 7/10 for me - however the fact the Musical Youth sampling was the bit that grabbed me most is a reflection of me and the fact I’m not really either a fan or indeed target audience
I like a handful of PE songs. But they weren’t written for me, and I get that.
Im happy Im finally getting a hip hop album😌 This one sounded good and classic 90s hiphop. But most of it sounding good was just the beat. For a lot of the songs, they werent even rapping, just yelling into the mic. Its cool when you do it at the end of the song or just a little bit, but not for most of the song. Im loving the beats tho and DJing. Just too much of hearing just that and not hearing rap for me to add these songs Saved: Burn Hollywood Burn 6/10
I'm well aware I am not the target audience for this album, and this is not my usual genre. But I did enjoy this album. I don't know that I see myself replaying this album much in the future, but it was a engaging listen. Three stars. (Favorite track: Welcome to the Terrordome.)
Enjoyed the vibes - felt too same same for me to really love it on first listen, but parts of it really grabbed me. Will definetly revisit & give it a closer listen. I expect it will grow on me.
I want to love Public Enemy but honestly there's just too much where it's just a repetitive drum sections and there's no raps just dudes making noise. I enjoy the rapping and style. Just wish there were more bars.
*1990. New York. *Fun standard 90s hip hop, but like most early 90s hip hop, it's too long. RATING - 6/10
M'ha agradat menys que "The Score" by Fugees.
Classic hip hop w/ real social commentaries.
Some of the tracks boasted impressive flows and lyrics while others only dated record scratches and random voice samples. Anyway, some good points were being made along the way, ultimately!
The highlights of this album were the samples, and the creative soundscapes they made behind the rappers. The message of the album is extremely important, but it really beats you over the head with it over its hour-long run time, leaving you exhausted by the repetition at the end.
Du rap comme on en a déjà beaucoup entendu, rien de transcendant.
Anstrengend
It cannot go unsaid how important Public Enemy is to hip hop, especially pertaining to their sonically dense and innovative production. These dudes were absolutely fearless in every way. Nothing but utmost respect to Chuck D, Flava Flav, and the Bomb Squad. That said, this is not a record I'd put on with any frequency, Fear Of A Black Planet is simultaneously timeless as it is dated, the aural barrage of sound is something I typically have to be in the mood for, and even still It Takes A Nation... is my preferred Public Enemy record.
This was much more tolerable than most of the other rap/hip hop on this list.
lofi hip hops cool ass older brother fun samples and sounds meet solid drum loops with an almost minimalist/steve reich influence
Not as good as I remember.
Chuck D. has got a cool voice and everything sounds interesting. Rap isn't really my thing, though.
I’m quite pleased this one has come up. It’s an album I’ve always intended to listen to but never got round to. I know a couple of the songs but am looking forward to hearing the entire album. Overall I quite enjoyed it, but it did begin to blend together a bit. Ideally I’d like to give it some more listens, and probably will do later when I have some more time. As mentioned at the start, glad this one came up.
Yet again nothing something I'd have listened to but enjoyed.
it was good but not really my thing
There's a strong message of anger at the system, but the music itself lacks some of the power of other hip hop with a similar message I've listened to so far. It's good, but for me, not great.
Overstayed its welcome a little. But pretty solid otherwise.
Se me ha hecho largo. De hecho no pude terminar el disco. Me recuerda al rap de Will Smith, pero supongo que tiene más que ver la década. Bastante harta de tanto hombre e inglés.
Se me ha hecho largo. De hecho no pude terminar el disco. Me recuerda al rap de Will Smith, pero supongo que tiene más que ver la década. Bastante harta de tanto hombre e inglés.
Not my typical genre but this was a solid listen! I think some tracks could have been cut in the interest of run time.
I love the energy of it, though the genre isn't quite my favorite.
Not my usual (def) Jam as hip hop has never really been a thing for me. I knew some of the tracks and found that on the whole I quite enjoyed it. I think I would give it another listen in the future.
I liked the beats and the feel of this album more than most similar albums from the time.
Dang this was good
The vibes of 90s rap are so nice. The beats are pretty simple, and most of the album feels like some dudes just messing around. A lot of the tracks take aim at institutionalized racism, in hollywood, in the music industry, in day to day life. The title of the album means the status quo fears black people in power, black people having success. It's okay having them be participants in society, but not leaders. Pretty clever with the space theming on the cover. Some of the tracks are just beats. Just vibes on those tracks, not as much substance. The album is a bit too long. The title track isn't what the album is known for - it's the final song "Fight the Power," you know it.
Not quite my style but definitely a good, listenable album
Definitely an important album, but not the most listenable. Still crazy to think that Chuck D paired with Flava Flav makes one of the most important b ratio duls of all time.
Good stuff
It was good, I can see how it was groundbreaking. Just not really my cup of tea.
A few of PE best songs on an ok LP
Some cool tracks, and overall quite enjoyable hiphop album. 3.5 stars
Though there's some great tracks on this, I think it's definitely more uneven than It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. "Fight the Power", "911 is a Joke", "Brothers Gonna Work it Out", and "Welcome to the Terrordome" are all pretty awesome, but there's a lot of tracks here that feel sort of half-baked. I do think the production is really ahead of it's time though -- there's samples here that are still getting used today. 3.5 stars.
3.5
Not a hip hop fan, but a good deal of this was worth listening to. Pleased it wasn't all about money and hoes and N words.
Coming during a time where the ability of rapping was improving and songs were reflecting the life of crime especially seen in groups such as NWA, this album sits an interesting space, very politically charged but reflecting the rap style of the 80s with it being very much on beat and the emphasis of the rhyme being the last word. The sampling is very fun and suits the songs. The main downside is as I already mentioned that it’s very stuck in its time, you can tell that this is an 80s group while if you look at someone like Rakim or ice cube their flows sound very fresh and don’t feel out of place in modern rap. Still fun to listen to and great to see where rap came from, but definitely not as timeless as other artists
Não sou fã do estilo mas o contexto histórico e social do album é bem legal então deu uma subidinha no conceito. As instrumentais me lembraram o apito da freakout kkkkkkkkkk e tem várias musicas bem parecidas entre si, o que deixou um pouco cansativo. As que mais gostei além da que imagino que seja a principal (fight the power) foram 911 is a joke e who stole the soul.
Legalzinho, mas não escutaria novamente.
Uma vibe bem hip hop clássico No início achei as músicas meio similares, as vezes não percebia quando trocava de uma pra outra. Mas no meio veio umas músicas mais diferentes, senti que o álbum foi melhorando pra mim Ouvir o álbum de fone foi interessante, tave um diálogo que ficou um em cada lado do fone (pollywanacracka) e músicas que ficavam mudando o lado Eu não paro tanto para ficar refletindo a letra quando é em inglês mas as partes que prestei atenção parecia ser uma forma de protesto anti racista muito foda, imagino que no cenário de 90 dos EUA tenha sido bem relevante Não dou mais nota pois as músicas não me pegaram tanto, mas daria 3,5 se tivesse como
bom álbum, um pouco repetitivo, samples muito bons. mas, pra mim, essa pegada de rap pioneiro (tal qual 'the sugarhill gang' por exemplo) é escutada apenas num mood muito específico. não escutei completo, mas até então: melhor: fight the power pior: pollywannacraka
fell asleep to this last night but had a good vibe
This one is tough for me because I don't love 90s rap music, like the actual music. It's a little too manic for me. But the lyrics? The social commentary? I fucking love it. If I could rate just the lyrics, 5/5. If I were to guess the impact of this album? Probably a 5/5. For me, on a personal, I'm gonna give it a 3/5.
Would have blown my mind when it was new
Not my thing. Stronger conceptually than musically. Goes on too long.
This was an enjoyable listen, especially considering the historical context. The production is unique and progressive, and the lyrics are impressive. I do feel like it's a little long, hitting an hour+. I also think though, in 1990, it would have been great to buy this CD and have this many songs. It never felt repetitive. Today, I don't think I would put this album on all that often; it is simply just a little too far outside of my personal taste. I'm glad to have listened to it though.
It’s OK. Always had a feeling that Public Enemy were one of the weaker “golden age” artists but get outsized attention.
Not bad. Just not really for me.
Not sure whether to go 2 or 3. It isn't terrible but there's no chance I'll listen to this again.
Classic hip-hop. Impressive for its time. Not feeling it in 2025
Pre: chuck d is the man Post: solid
I always start by saying hip-hop and rap aren't really my areas and always feel a bit like an imposter when I say things like "I enjoyed the albums beats and the rapping really flows". But that's what I'm saying. There's a real angry undercurrent here, a lot of the words are delivered like political statements of intent. I loved the loops and sampling, like a rapper with ADHD flicking through TV station channels. Some cool bars "I'll check out a move / but it'll take a black one to move me" which I think was talking about Hollywood's portrayal of black actors. This is never going to be my main listening genre (I always feel incredibly white listening to it) but this list has really broadened my knowledge. This album gets a strong 3.8 from me. "Your Mother's got Gold Nipples"
For some reason, every song feels different. I like the slow-paced songs that have those unique voices in the background more than others. Transitioning between songs with the ones that are a mix of many different things gives it more meaning to the more unique ones afterward. Not a hip-hop fan, and I would not have listened to one out of my own will, but this one sounds really good.
hard
I was slightly familiar with a couple of tracks: 911 is a Joke, Fight The Power. But I didn't know the album as a whole. I had assumed that the setup on all tracks is that Chuck D raps and Flava hypes, so it was interesting to see that Flava and others do some rapping too. Also, I had kind of pegged Public Enemy as more of a mid-80's group, so 1990 feels kind of late. Anyhow, decent album altogether.
This is what John Connor listens to
Weirdly some of the hip-hop albums have aged the least well for me. 3.
Yeah it might be political, hard-edged and full of mad beats, but it’s also surprisingly melodic
Cool vibe, I sometimes found the amount of sampling a bit too much.
Brothers gonna work it out - 6/10 911 is a joke - 7/10 Welcome to the terrordome - 7/10 pollywanacracka - 4/10 Anti-N machine - 5/10 Burn hollywood burn - 7/10 power to the people - 6/10 who stole the soul? - 7/10 fear of a black planet - 5/10 revolutionary generation -6/10 cant do nuttin for ya man! - 7/10 reggie jax - 6/10 b side wins again - 5/10 war at 331/3 - 6/10 fight the power - 7/10 Was really hoping this would be better because it was just a few years before Wu Tang but its a lot of yelling, ad lips from flava flav (lol), and yelling. I do think the skits were clever but I dont include those in the ratings.
Chuck D and Flavor Flav’s voices pair so well together. When they’re going back and forth on the same track, it absolutely rules. There were some misses on this album for me, and at times I felt like the samples were a little too hectic and cluttered. Best Track: Revolutionary Generation
That classic boom-bap hip-hop sound. It's good, but I couldn't help but think that most of the record sounds the same throughout when I was listening to it. Favourite Track(s): Welcome To The Terrordome Least Favourite Track(s): Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya, Man!
It’s a vibe!
I enjoyed more that Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. The samples and production felt pretty on point, although personally I'm not always in love with Chuck D's rapping. Last track is an obvious standout. Probably wouldn't listen to it from start to end. Although I find the album very compelling thematically.
It's OK. There are way too many repeats of like 1 to 2 second clips for a minute+ straight which is just annoying in every other song
Very very strong 3* almost a 4 but just too many songs that were not hitting like the best ones on here
Great early 90s rap with a LOT of substance. 3.5/5
Dense, sample-heavy production and Chuck D’s stentorian delivery about various social issues, some of which were pretty controversial at the time. Cool I guess, but not really my kind of thing.
I liked the lo fi sound. Overall it was okay
It's good. It's OK.
Not a hiphop/rap guy but this is a nostalgic album for me as it reminds me of a time when rap was actually interesting. So much of modern rap is far less musically diverse and creative, and lyrically self-absorbed, whereas Public Enemy have so much going on in each song that it's consistently interesting. Though it couldn't sound more of its time if it tried, its message is just as relevant in 2025 as it was in 1990. Best Tracks = Brothers Gonna Work it Out, Fight the Power & Welcome to the Terrordome.
Do Fear of a Blank Planet- ok yup
Yeah that was cool.
Not my usual genre but it was an educational trip back in time. I liked it
I’m not from the right country for this album to hit so hard as it should do.
Não é o meu estilo mas tem bons Beats
2,7/5
Fear Of An Overly Long Album.
All over the place!
Crack is whack Just say no.... The same goes for the album....it's fun but 20 songs is excessive. Too much of a good thing, isn't always positive.
Hectic. Greatness, confusion, and many points in between.
Good enough for a while, but it gets pretty tiresome at some point… and then it goes on for another 30 minutes… 3/5 Highlights: Brothers Gonna Work It Out Power To The People Fight The Power
Well... It's been long since the last hiphop album. So, here we have the next challenge. Public Enemy was really big in my defining years in my circles. Surprisingly - or not - teens like me, metalhead, started listening Public Enemy and even wearing their shirts. Music press in the Netherlands was pushing them. To a certain extent, I can understand this. Public Enemy to me is a bit the heavy metal-act among the hiphop I've listened this far. (Unfortunately) Not because they use a lot of metal-samples, but because of the nature, rather overpowering, of the music. What I like best is definitely the voice of Chuck D: that is one hell of a voice to start rapping. What I like least is that the album as a whole is first of all waaaaaay too long (it's 1990...), well over an hour, and secondly that there aren't that many highlights. Very few of the songs really stand out. Surprisingly, the most streamed songs are also the ones I like best: 'Fight the power' and most of all 'Welcome to the terrordome'.
Nice samples, nice flow, a good mix of experimental stuff whilst also being a smooth listen. Will always FW political commentary albums loads.
Understand why this album was made, and why I was made to listen to this. But it does not mesh well with me. The issues that they discuss were prevalent in their community; however, not all of their views hold well... Not bad but not brilliant.
No termina de ser mi rollo, pero aprecio ciertos ritmos y ciertos mensajes.
Some bangers on here to kick off, just slows down too much for my tastes.
While it may have gravity and impact, I’ve grown tired of justifying a connection to classic hip hop. It’s not worth it for me.
I don’t know how to explain it but this was good enough but some of the production and song structure just doesn’t age well. Some good tracks on here though. Didn’t blow me away or anything. It’s a product of the early 90’s speaking on topics very much still relevant but not as easily digestible as something like Straight Outta Compton
Great album! I haven't really listened to Public Enemy before now but the sampling and beats are great.
Complex samples collection from the golden age of Hip-Hop.
Nowhere near a mid album, but really not for me. I just couldn't get attached and it was a bit too long. 3 Stars.
It was okay. Not quite my sound.
Noisy, I like it
Very sample driven, to the point of sounding messy. Not nearly as good as Nation of Millions. 3/5
Felt like homework
It’s good, and the importance is easy to recognize. But I didn’t love it.
Thoroughly enjoyable experience
I love 90s hip-hop. I grew up with it but I have never been a big fan of Public Enemy, more specifically this album. I understand why it gets the praise it does but it’s too musically scattered to click for me. Too much background noise and not enough clean production for the style of hip-hop I like.
I know most of the songs on this album but I've never fully listened to it before (2). Pretty good, but less enjoyable than their precedent.
Not my favorite - cool sound though
Good album, not my normal cup of tea.
Giving this 3 stars not because it’s not a HUGE achievement in rap and it should be celebrated as such but rather just because it didn’t click with me. I think I need to give it a few more listens but it didn’t fit into my brain the way I wanted it to. This is an INCREDIBLE album- just not for me.
The positive is that it’s less ‘clunky’ (for lack of a better term) than their previous efforts. Production and flows are smoothed over and done very well. The negative is that most songs on here dont leave as much of an impression on me. “911 is a Joke” has gotta be the most unique song subject I’ve heard in a really long time. But “Burn Hollywood Burn” is the most impactful, scathing record for sure. Weaves media portrayals of black people into their long history of being oppressed. Really well done. Soft 3/5. No one does it like Public Enemy, not their best but still leaves you with a few things
Not really my cup of tea, but that considered I did enjoy the album
Saves the best till last. Some of the samples did sound a bit like someone was just mashing a soundboard randomly
Sterkir textar en vantar sárlega sterkara bít til að halda athyglinni
Ágætlega þétt en stundum of mikið að gerast, og svo eru textar náttúrulega minn Akkilesar-hæll.
Chaotische muziek mar niet vervelend
Hip hop clássico, muito maneiro.
I liked a lot of the cool mix tracks.
Sadly this is just as relevant now as it was when it was released. It's angry, aggressive, and important. Excellent turntablism and use of samples. Honestly, Chuck D's rapping isn't my favourite, but it's still pretty good. Flavor Flav on the other hand I find incredibly annoying. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it's not quite for me.
Angry men
Not my style, still great
Kinda cool but not my style
Försökt lyssna en del..men långt album. Vilket är en nackdel därför att det låter allt väldigt likt. Inte så stor variation. Såg att många satt högt och motiverar det med skivans budskap. Det må så vara..jag är dock mer intresserad av den musikaliska aspekten. Man gillar ju ändå de rätt enkla och sköna beatsen, men man tröttnar faktiskt lite. Jaja.
Se föregående recension. Stark trea.
I really enjoyed the sampling and creative layering, but a lot of the rapping felt a bit same samey.
I was there when this was released, I have a good understanding of it's cultural importance, but the music is just meh.
not my thing tbh all been done before
Want to like it more but the beats got a little repetitive
PRETTY SICK OLD SCHOOL FUNKY RAP
Surprisingly good, old school rap.
Some real tunes on here. The problem with it for me, and it’s not unusual of albums of the era is that it just goes on too long.
Finally listened to this album. Samples samples samples.
i liked it, not something i would normally listen to on my own time but i guess that’s kinda the whole point
I usually like social commentary music and the sampling was cool but this didn’t quite hit for me
Better than I was expecting tbh. I hadn't listened to this before but thought it was pretty enjoyable. I may give it another listen down the road but I don't see this as something I'll keep on repeat.
I dont kno man
Good just not for me
3/6
Solid enough album. Not exactly sure why there needed to be 3 Public Enemy albums on this list, but ok.
Good hip hop! But songs do blend together a lot and sound similar
This was enjoyable, but a tad repetitive depending on the track.
This was better than the last public enemy album I heard on this list. Still contains Flavor Flav so points deducted.
I liked it better than “it takes a nation”.
#665. Everything with Flavor Flav can be improved by having less Flavor Flav 3/5: fine
Aborder "Fear of a Black Planet", le troisième album de Public Enemy, aujourd'hui et plus de trois décennies après sa déflagration initiale, est un exercice complexe qui force à dissocier l'objet musical de son aura historique. Car si le message et l'influence de l'album demeurent d'une pertinence absolue, son enveloppe sonore, elle, accuse le poids des années, rendant son écoute à la fois essentielle et éprouvante. C'est cette dualité qui justifie une évaluation en trois temps : une reconnaissance de son génie historique (5/5), une admiration pour sa prouesse technique (4/5), mais un bilan global plus mitigé (3/5) en raison d'un son qui a malheureusement mal vieilli. Pour comprendre "Fear of a Black Planet", il faut se téléporter en 1990. L'Amérique est une poudrière de tensions raciales, et le hip-hop vit son âge d'or militant. Public Enemy, déjà solidement établi avec "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back", n'est plus seulement un groupe de musique ; c'est le "CNN de la communauté noire", pour reprendre les mots de son leader, Chuck D. Cet album est le point culminant de cette ambition. C'est une thèse, un manifeste, un cours d'histoire et de sociologie politique mis en musique. Chaque morceau est une prise de position radicale et sans concession. Le mythique "Fight the Power", déjà hymne du film "Do the Right Thing" de Spike Lee, ouvre l'album de manière explosive et donne le ton. La suite n'est qu'une succession de brûlots dénonçant le racisme systémique ("Welcome to the Terrordome"), la représentation des Noirs dans les médias ("Burn Hollywood Burn"), la manipulation de l'information ("Who Stole the Soul?") ou encore les stéréotypes liés aux relations interraciales ("Pollywanacraka"). Le génie de Public Enemy est de rendre ces thèmes complexes accessibles et percutants. La voix de baryton prophétique et la plume acérée de Chuck D sont celles d'un leader, d'un orateur qui harangue les foules. À ses côtés, Flavor Flav, avec ses "Yeah boy!" et ses interventions plus légères ("911 Is a Joke"), n'est pas qu'un simple "hype man". Il est le bouffon du roi, celui qui apporte une touche d'absurdité et d'humanité au milieu du chaos, rendant le discours encore plus percutant par contraste. Historiquement, l'album a non seulement défini le son du rap politique pour les années à venir, mais il a aussi prouvé que le hip-hop pouvait être un véhicule pour les idées les plus subversives et intellectuelles. Il a influencé des générations d'artistes, de Rage Against the Machine à Kendrick Lamar. Pour son courage, sa portée et son impact sur la culture mondiale, "Fear of a Black Planet" mérite sans aucune discussion la note parfaite de 5/5. C'est un document essentiel, un chapitre obligatoire de l'histoire de la musique du XXe siècle. Si le fond est révolutionnaire, la forme l'est tout autant. La production, assurée par le collectif The Bomb Squad, est une œuvre d'art en soi. À une époque pré-numérique où le sampling était un artisanat fastidieux, ils ont érigé un véritable "mur du son" hip-hop. Oubliez les boucles claires et les rythmiques épurées. Le son de "Fear of a Black Planet" est une cacophonie organisée, un collage sonore d'une densité presque suffocante. The Bomb Squad superpose des dizaines de samples par morceau : des bribes de funk de James Brown, des discours de leaders noirs, des cris, des bruits industriels, et surtout, ces sirènes stridentes qui sont devenues leur signature. Le résultat est un paysage sonore anxiogène, agressif et urgent, qui épouse parfaitement la colère et la paranoïa des textes. Des titres comme "Welcome to the Terrordome" sont des chefs-d'œuvre de production maximaliste, où chaque seconde est saturée d'informations sonores. Cette approche était techniquement une prouesse. Elle a repoussé les limites de ce qui était possible en studio et a créé une esthétique sonore unique, complexe et inimitable. On ne peut qu'admirer l'ambition et le savoir-faire nécessaires pour assembler un tel puzzle sans que tout s'effondre. La note de 4/5 salue cette vision et cette exécution technique hors-norme. Ce n'est pas un 5/5 car, et c'est là que le bât blesse, cette complexité est une arme à double tranchant. La brillance technique, poussée à son paroxysme, est précisément ce qui rend l'album si difficile d'accès aujourd'hui. C'est ici que l'auditeur de 2025 doit faire face à une réalité inconfortable : "Fear of a Black Planet" a mal vieilli sur le plan sonore. Ce qui était révolutionnaire en 1990 sonne aujourd'hui daté, et souvent, simplement désagréable à l'oreille. Le mixage, volontairement sur-saturé et agressif dans les hautes fréquences, manque cruellement de la chaleur et de la profondeur des basses qui sont devenues la norme dans le hip-hop. L'ensemble est souvent criard, métallique. La densité sonore, cette fameuse "cacophonie organisée", peut rapidement devenir une simple cacophonie pour des oreilles habituées à des productions plus aérées et dynamiques. L'écoute de l'album d'une traite est une expérience fatigante, qui requiert un effort constant de concentration pour ne pas être submergé par le maelström de bruits et de samples. Ce vieillissement n'est pas une critique de l'intention originale. The Bomb Squad voulait créer un son de confrontation, et ils y ont parfaitement réussi. Cependant, le résultat est un album qui s'admire plus qu'il ne s'écoute pour le plaisir. C'est une œuvre aride, exigeante, qui ne fait aucune concession à l'auditeur. Si on le compare à d'autres classiques de l'époque, comme "The Chronic" de Dr. Dre sorti à peine deux ans plus tard, le contraste est saisissant. Dre a inauguré une ère de productions léchées, chaudes et groovy qui restent infiniment plus accessibles aujourd'hui. En conséquence, la note globale de 3/5 n'est pas un rejet de la grandeur de l'album, mais un constat honnête de sa pertinence en tant qu'objet de consommation musicale en 2025.
It was alright, felt very half baked honestly. Some of the lyrics were great but I don't think the majority was. I'm sure the samples were great/innovative at the time but think groups get much better with it quickly after this. The feel of the album is pretty fun Rating: 3.0
Not a massive PE fan. Think there was much better hip hop acts about in the early 90s.
A classic rap album, absolute legends. Unfortunately, their message is still relevant and just as powerful today.
Classic hip hop that kinda just sounds like all the other classic hip hop on this list.
I hadn't listened to much Public Enemy before. It had some cool tracks, not my favorite hip hop style though.
I rejected hip-hop out of hand when it first appeared because I didn’t understand it. My understanding began to change when I heard this music in Spike Lee films. I began to recognize its significance, relevance and beauty as a musical form. Listening to this for the first time free of my former biases made me realize how much I was missing. This is a beautiful album.
3/6
Great stuff on here, Burn Hollywood Burn is a jam. Album is long IMO. But given its significance at the time, I think it does a lot. I dig it, and would listen again
Fight the power!
One of the best 1990s rap albums, impactful for what was to come the rest of the decade. Quite the global album in its themes. Its most popular song is included as the closing track even as it was released a year before.
Good! Fight the power is a classic!
Public Enemy's energy and deliberate, focused writing are what make this album. There's a slew of topics they set out to target centred around race, and they score direct hits pretty much every time. They're also drawing from an incredibly rich well of samples, so varied that it's dizzying. My favorite instance of this all coming together is Burn Hollywood Burn, the thesis of which is as simple as it is effectively communicated (Like, I guess I figure you to play some jigaboo / On the plantation, what else can a nigga do?). The main knock I have is that despite this range, the project started to feel a little one-note by the end, but only just. High 3.
Not my style. It was okay, but nothing stood out to me
I own an anti-nigger machine
I enjoyed
✊🏽
Don't feel the need to revisit, but this was a fun ride.
Lots… LOTS of sampling of news clips, conversations, sayings, etc… kinda works but there’s too much of it for me. The beats were cool and I liked the more rock-ish approach to hip hop than other stuff I’ve heard.
Not the best PE album. But still great.
I liked it
Didn't do that much for me
Good 90s rap. Great beats. Some great songs. That are pretty creative. But others just feel repetitive, not in a groovy way, more in a “ok, where are you going with this way” I was expecting some of the black power political lyrics, I didn’t expect to hear so much discussion about roles of black men vs black women. Directly trying to call out a sometimes resentful relationship. Not sure it did much to repair it - it kept trying to put a lot of responsibility on black women to be better, rather than talking about what they as black men could do. So, I thought that angle was surprising. Definitely a group that likes to provoke discussion.
They have a unique style, but this is one of those albums where the style is so prevalent that it feels a little repetitive after all. Still, I can appreciate this album as pioneering a specific sound in hip hop. Plus, even when the sound gets old, some of these songs don’t get old. Songs like “Burn Hollywood Burn” are great. Saved the best for last with “Fight the Power.” Most of these songs are great and enjoyable in isolation, it’s just hard to hear so much of the same style back to back.
Tänkte ge detta en femma efter första låten. Sen sjönk det till en fyra efter några fler låtar. Landar på en trea allt som allt. Långt och jävligt album. Segt att lyssna igenom. Många gobitar där i men inte bra som album i sin helhet.
It had its moments, for sure. 911 is a joke in your town!
Not for me, a bit simple and too old school. Not enough to keep me captivated.
2.5, not my style
Flavor
The squeaking became monotonous and annoying. It started to sound like a smoke detector. Really enjoyed three songs though and the masterful use of recordings.
This is still not really my thing, but it’s ten times better than any of the other rap albums I’ve heard from the same era.
Fight the power!
I am not a huge 90s rap fan but this album wasn’t bad I enjoyed it for what it was and thought it was interesting but wouldn’t listen to it on the regular it’s just not my vibe overall
3+
Repetitive. But really good production for the time. Also, I hope flava flave woke up and thanked Chuck d every day of his life
Ok album
Fun.
Good and stuff just a bit too proto for me
Chuck D sure has a lot of grievances.
Ta bien
Appropriate album to get the day before a big protest. Not my usual style but I'm enjoying the funky 90s musical backing.
The author loves the late 80s to early 90s era of hip hop. There’s THREE public enemy albums on the list, and no MF doom. This album is fine but the list is just a deep dive into one man’s taste, it’s horrendous.
Chaos op kunstzinnig niveau. Eerste paar nummers waren even inkomen. Voelde als een koortsdroom.
Paar leuke nummers maar zou het album niet vaker luisteren
While not a big fan of hip hop, there are some significant songs on this album. Fight the Power is the star on this one.
I've listened to this album before, can't say that I'm the most familiar with it though. It's good, it has some hits. Despite not flowing super well, it hits flows between a few songs at a time and then segues with skits. I like conscious rap, but I know it's not for everyone. I think "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" is a better album, so hopefully it's coming on the list.
I don't love 80s hip hop. This albums pretty cool though. The production was way ahead of its time 7/10 Favourite: Fight the Power Least Favourite: Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man
non è il mio genere però..
3+ Stars (9/15)
Pretty good album. Aggressive, oppressive, rowdy. But not any standout tracks personally. As an album tied together
Maybe their second best the first album is what I’d rate higher, but this ain’t at all bad.
I appreciate and respect the social commentary and its impact, but in terms of the music itself it’s just not really my thing. A 2.5, rounded up to 3.
Segundo disco (si no es que tercero) que toca de Public Enemy. Tiene un gran comienzo y se mantiene bien arriba. Lo recomiendo para amenizar una jornada laboral. Sin más para agregar, me despido hasta mañana.
I do enjoy politically charged music and I understood some of the cultural impact of Public Enemy prior to listening to this album but this was my first proper delve. The influence is apparent and many artists I enjoy use the same aggression and chaotic mixing as well as over the top sample layering that is so prevalent in this album and was easily my favourite part about it. The messages still hold up however I can't help but feel like Chuck D's vocals are a bit dated and sound all too much the same on majority of the tracks which is what will stop me from revisiting their music all that often.
Listen, I get it. This record was leaps and bound ahead of its time, but I'm not going to review this favourably because of such. Other genres are reviewed partially with respect to how well they hold up, so why does old (with a capital O) school Hip Hop get special treatment? The production is solid, the rhymes are clean but ultimately this album, be it culturally significant at the time doesn't cut the mustard anymore. It's fatiguing listening to a busy boom-bap beat over and over with different herbs and spices added each track. Best Track: Revolutionary Generation Worst Track: Reggie Jax... dude...
Everything I'll say is probably the same as others. Good album with some absolute classics. But the gimmick gets old. Controversially I enjoyed this more than it takes a nation. 7/10
Got a lot going on and a very formative hip-hop album. Unfortunately, we didn't really vibe with it that well.
Some bangers on here. Love the concept. Sadly it’s way too fluffy for my 1001 album speedrun
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.
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.
It was aight
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
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?
Pretty underwhelming for being one of the Most acclaimed hip hop records omof all time, I was expecting a bit more
"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
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
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
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
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
Remember Monkey... Always do the right thing
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
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.
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.
[7/10]
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!
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 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.
Great Interludes but mostly mid songs. Only Fight The Power remains the all-time classic
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.
I enjoyed this one more than the last one of theirs although it was a bit of a drag to get through.
Bursting with energy and urgency, but in terms of straight up listening enjoyment it's not my favorite 90s hip-hop.
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
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.
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.
I enjoyed this, I did feel the album was a bit too long though.
Hip hop. A few standouts but a lot of it blended together.
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.
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…”
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
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.
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!
Did not listen.
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.
Didn’t get through it all. I love 90s rap but some of this is just too noisy for me
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.
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.
Favorite Track: Fight the Power
Pretty solid album, and Public Enemy is hugely influential, they just aren’t my favorite sound of 90s rap
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]
It was fine.
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
Great album
Some powerful rhymes in there
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.
Pretty good, songs run together and can get a little to repetitive for me but otherwise very good
Wasn’t crazy about them musically but I got mad respect for their group politically just overall.
Fight the Power
Powerful but dated.
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
Good album but a little long. Music is nothing special but the lyrics are great and still resonate today.
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.
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
alright. all kind of sounded the same.
Didn’t get a chance to listen thoroughly but def a cool one.
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.
👎not in the mood for hiphop
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)
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.
hard to live up to a nation of millions but miles ahead of most other people