Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black

Very of its time - angry young men for a reason.

Well, within the first 70 records I listen from this list, this is my third Public Enemy record (and the last one). Another amazing record. Compared to It takes an nation and Fear of a Black Planet this album sounds more of the same, but still above par of other rap/hiphop from that time.

Another impossible, radical release from PE #1, Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black will probably never have the same cultural significance as It Takes a Million or Fear of a Black Planet, but it's absolutely on their level & may just be more perfected than those two prior classics. Chuck D never had any want of confidence, but this sounds like a group that knew exactly what they could do & did it grandly, savvily, elegantly. That's right, this is a gracious ride, & The Bomb Squad, being so good at what they produce, are masters of noise, craft, & majesty. +, Chuck learns to lighten up just a bit, a welcome maturation: 'The ass is connected to the brain stem / Ah so I sing a simple song, so you can see the sucker in 'em.' In short, that's 4/4 in '91.

There is a lot of noise here, but it's very entertaining noise. I think the sound still holds up in 2026, which shows how innovative Public Enemy was. The collaboration with Anthrax was a nice touch. I also like that there's is a powerful message presented, not the usual self-hype of the era. Liked Songs Added: Can't Truss It How To Kill A Radio Consultant By The Time I Get To Arizona

poopoo

The lyrics are good, and the delivery and beats are angry. I can appreciate it but i didn't enjoy it that much overall

Ugh…. Just no

Нууу..

It’s alright. Very deep.

it's just not totally my vibe. but alas, have to respect my close personal friend flavor flav

Waited too late in the evening and didn’t give this too deep a listen. I enjoy the old-school sound, nice flow..

Where this works it's a 5, but it has some gaps. Chuck D is killing it top to bottom while Flava Flav is Ringo Starr. Not as good as their other albums on the list but a strong message and the intensity of the delivery is important to hear.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back And Fear Of A Black Planet were much stronger than this one. Chuck D still so dialed in, Flav bringing the wacky sidekick energy. This wasn't a necessary inclusion, we get what Public Enemy can do.

Ani toto ma nebaví...

Better than Coldplay

I wasn’t as big of a fan of this one overall. Though I was able to recognize the significance of the work in the history of hip hop. While also not knowing until now that Flavor Flav’s iconic style of wearing a large clock on a chain. Which a younger version of myself made a Halloween costume of being a “pimp”. Hearing the source for Notorious B.I.G’s ten crack commandments counts 1-9 stood out to me immediately.

Back half was stronger, sick song intros and interludes between songs. Lots of creativity poured in. The beats kinda just kept grooving for the majority of each song without much variation within each one, except for in the lyrics. Some instrumentation got a bit annoying, I cant lie. The bars being dropped down were hard though.

Great album. Public Enemy were a great example of 90s hip-hop done right with attitude. With the additional surprise of the Anthrax collab. It’s an album produced by intelligent musicians that carries great lyricism, beats and musicality to back it up. No lull points for me.

not my thing

I'm thankful for this journey because it has led me to discover Public Enemy. As a Hip-Hop fan for decades, why did it take me this long to discover this legendary crew? Admittedly, this is an album that takes time to warm up, but the second half is one hell of a payoff. Favorite Track: "Bring Tha Noize".

Somehow sounds so much more dated and any PE albums released in the 80s. Good but not great.

Surely it’s clear by now that this is one of my fave genres but let me restate it for the record. I really really enjoyed this album. Of all the early 90s hip hop albums we’ve had thus far, I’d be inclined to say this one is my favourite. In addition to the bops, I found the overarching narrative to be cohesive and compelling. Loved it!

loved how spooky the opening was and very intrigued by the KKK guest appearance but overall thought it was just fine

Third and last album from Public Enemy from the list, and I'll say that they just went downhill since "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back". While this album still has the attitude and the great flows, it is not very exciting as its predecessors, specially beat-wise, which they went from loud and frenetic to more minimalist and bland. With that being said, as great as the rappers are, their performances aren't impeccable, as they become a bit monotone as the album progresses, meaning that the first songs are great and energetic whereas the last ones start to show the overplayed blueprints that make me wish for something different (not counting the Anthrax cover of "Bring the Noise" because it as it feels like a bonus track, even though it is nicely done). Not even the political messages are as strong and notable as in their previous releases. I mean, they are here, but they don't come across as bold or in-your-face (or at least that's the perception I have of the whole). Either way, the record still is enjoyable. As one-dimensional it gets, I still liked the emcee's characters, tone and rapping capabilities.

I was excited for this as I love this era and so much good came out of these groups. I found it didn’t connect with me though, like it was missing something. Maybe it didn’t feel “fun” enough. Not that every album needs to be fun, but I feel like this era of hip hop thrives when it is playful.

6 out of 7. I got this not too long after 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back'. Listening to them together, shows the genius of Public Enemy. They have created and are exploring a fictional universe, and it is awesome. Imagine an 80's or 90's Saturday morning cartoon. Public Enemy are the elite special agents of secret resistance that resides in some underground bunker, launching guerilla missions to fight and defeat the injustice of The System. We're talking spy planes taking off from out of secret volcano lairs with giant multi-screen displays kind of stuff. The origin story was in 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back', when the government imprisoned Chuck D for refusing to be drafted into their army. This resistance force recognized his value, broke him out of jail, and now has recruited them. And here we see their crazy Saturday morning exploits in full glory.

I understand that this album is very influential. It’s certainly ahead of its time. Some of the beats are really good but it’s not a genre of music I enjoy. Would I listen to it again. I’m afraid not

get in:)

Even though Flavor Flav became a punchline, these guys legitimately set the standard for sociopolitical rap.

I like the message, especially “Don’t Call Me Yo N,” but the music didn’t grab me like their other albums on the list.

Solid hip hop. Not my favorite Public Enemy album, but a good one. I’d go 3.5 if I could.

Necessity is often the mother of invention. Just before Public Enemy started work on this album, all of their hard drives full of samples and work in progress were stolen from the studio. As a result, this album has fewer samples and more original music, giving a funkier and punchier sound. Lyrically, it’s as angry as ever, and justifiably so, tackling things like the legacy of slavery, the effects of alcohol addiction on the black community and the dehumanising casual use of the N word. Not an easy listen, but at least there were no uses of the B or H words that I spotted.

Wow this makes #3 from Public Enemy for me. I thought two seemed like too much. Damn there's a lot of words on this record. I mean this has to be the record on the list with the most words, so far at least. That's impressive to some degree I guess. I still hate this kind of music though. Maybe not as bad as pretty much all of the hip hop that has come more recently. There's a groove to some of this and a little funk mixed in. But it's still bordering on intolerable although I did actually like Bring Tha Noize. 2/5

A strange inclusion considering the two classics that preceded it. Perhaps those are in the list too. Not too much to get excited about, would be a 1 star if not for By the Time I Get to Arizona, which may just be the finest hip hop track I've ever heard. Bumps to 2. And hey, Anthrax is good fun too.

This was a rap album I can get behind. Raw, good beats, visceral lyrics and a colab with Anthrax. What’s not to like?

Good

Some good beats with a nice flow! Fav song is ‘Bring Tha Noize’.

I understand the significance but rap from before ‘94 is just not for me. Reminds me of back up dancers in starter gear.

Excellent

More of this

It's clear why this was on the list. Into it, but not necessarily something I'm going to return to time and time again. She's a 3.

It’s hard to separate the importance of this music from my enjoyment of it

Pretty enjoyable even though it's not really our genre.

Wow

Not as good as I remember.

2/5

I actually think I liked the production here better than on Nation of Millions? It felt more aggressive and upfront, or something like that. On the other hand, the songs here aren't really quite as good, and the collaboration with Anthrax just made me want to listen to the original version of "Bring the Noise" instead.

Near perfect anger on wax.

On one hand, Apocalypse 91... finds Public Enemy somewhat reduced; the samples are no longer as bombastic. However, the lack of a full sound library means PE have to become more resourceful (and they mostly do). Chuck D and Flava Flav manage to stand out through lyricism and performance. We have to admit that the songs on Apocalypse 91..., while topical, aren't quite as strong, memorable, or anthemic as songs on previous releases. "By The Time I Get To Arizona" will forever transport me back to playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4

Feel lucky that I grew up at a time where protest music like these guys, RATM, Bad Religion, System of a Down were in the mainstream. The kids these days don’t have it as good, other than Kneecap, the best they get is Taylor Swift and the wheelchair kid from Degrassi

Yeeaaaaaa boooooiiiiiiiii 4/5

I always want to like Public Enemy more than I do but the consistently high energy/speed beats with little variation makes it hard to stay focused on it

I think I'm the only one in the world who thinks Flava Flav is better than Chuck D. I missed him whenever he wasn't saying dumb shit. Very weird album - super fun driving drums for the entire album and lots of like repetition of lyrics and samples from old Public Enemy songs. Feels kinda avant garde.

Shit

Been a bit since I've given these guys a listen, and this was a solid return with a mostly solid tracklist(tho Letter To The New York Post weighs it down). Favorite Tracks-Lost At Birth, Can't Truss It, I Don't Wanna Be Yo..., How To Kill A Radio Consultant, By The Time I Get To Arizona, Move!, 1 Million Bottlebags, Shut Em Down, and Bring Tha Noise.

I think Public Enemy are the better end of gansta rap being that they rap about injustice rather than bitches ans hoes. But i accidentally listened to the extended version of this album and at 1 hr 47 minytes, by the end i couldnt tell if i had begun to like it, or i'd just developed stockholm syndrome

Sure

Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Back (1991) REALLY loud start in the beginning that I didn't care for. The album does give what you would expect from 90s hip hop and rap: Lots of repetitive sound bits, and more shout rapping than singing. There are messages that align with what the black community experienced in the day, which seems to be a form of anger due to oppression. Honestly, I'm disappointed in the album. It's just not for me. I respect Public Enemy, and all they did, but I won't plan on listening to this album again. I kind of enjoyed Bring the Noize, but that's about it. Album Rank: 1.8 Favorite Song: Bring the Noize

Still not convinced to rap music.

Some good beats and clear lyrical message / story telling. Best part about this album is the colab with anthrax

I was a wee freshman when this album came out. It was crazy times in rap because Public Enemy was huge for a minute, and people loved this angry, sociopolitical music, but it quickly became overshadowed by the gangsters and hoes and weed and gin and juice rap that exploded in 92. I like both styles, but I think Public Enemy is more gripping and cerebral. It makes me really pay attention to the lyrics.

7.5/10

It's a perfectly fine early hip hop album. Definitely influenced loads of stuff that came after. Homeboy Adam was definitely more excited about this one than I was.

I still struggle with a lot of 80s hip-hop, as much of it feels quite dated to my ears now, but Public Enemy have always been one of the exceptions. This is now the third of their albums I’ve reviewed during this challenge, and I gave the previous two a very respectable 4/5, so I went into Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black with fairly high expectations. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the same heights for me. The beats are still strong and there’s plenty of energy throughout, but they become repetitive after a while and the album lacks some of the freshness and urgency I found in their earlier work. The lyrics also felt more dated than on the previous albums, and some of the themes and references don't land in quite the same way today. That said, it’s still an easy enough listen and there are moments where you’re reminded why Public Enemy were so influential and important. Even when the material isn’t at its strongest, there’s an intensity and confidence to their music that keeps it engaging. Overall, this is definitely the weakest of the three Public Enemy albums I’ve heard so far, but it’s still a perfectly enjoyable listen. Favourite track: “Bring the Noise” is an entertaining track and the clear standout for me Least favourite track: “Lost at Birth” isn’t the strongest opener and I found myself waiting for it to end Album artwork: Standard hip-hop album cover

This album seems like o exist on the shadow of its two predecessors but actually it is at a similar level. Really enjoyed this.

I wonder if people truly enjoyed listening to PE or they were just into the idea and the general message. A couple cool tracks, my favorite was lost at birth. This manic production style is difficult to listen to. Reminds me of the JPEG Mafia album scaring the hoes.

I’m not listening to this album but I’d like to retroactively change my score to supertramp’s crime of the century to a 4 because I’ve been listening to it on repeat the last few days but still think it has some missed opportunities. Thanks.

hard beats, some misses

Bastante político, disstracks y críticas raciales es algo que Public Enemy es conciso, hasta su nombre es simbólico. Un álbum de los 90s hiphopero que aún mantiene las épocas pasadas presentes en su ritmo y rimas, algo que no me termina de encantar. Sobretodo muy punchy, crítico, un rap para disfrutar y ser consciente de las situaciones.

No skits, no bullshit, just grievance upon grievance delivered in the tightest combination of flow, samples and live instruments

Powerful lyrics, stinging samples. Every record by this group comes through like a freight train. I can only imagine what their live concerts were like. My favorite tracks were “By The Time I Get To Arizona” and “A Letter To The New York Post.”

Heel dik!

A fun album but not something I'd ever listen to on my own.

Chuck D and Flavor Flav continue to be some of the most entertaining emcees ever on here. Lots of politically charged lyrics and great flows. I don’t think the beats are quite as good as their last two albums but they still are great. Favorites were Nighttrain, Can’t Truss It, I Don’t Wanna Be Called Yo Niga, By The Time I Get To Arizona, Bring Tha Noize.

Hver gang jeg sætter det her album tænker jeg, at det umuligt kan være så godt som It takes a nation of millions og Fear of a Black planet, og hver gang er jeg lige overrasket. Legendarisk run

Havde ikke forventet den her på listen, positivt overrasket over hvor vilde beatsene er. Et af beatsene lyder basically som et Anthrax nummer!!

The album absolutely fucks.

Lost at Birth - 4/5 Rebirth - no rating Nighttrain - 4/5 Can't Truss It - 5/5 I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga - 3/5 How to Kill a Radio Consultant - 3/5 By the Time I Get to Arizona - 5/5 Move! - 4/5 1 Million Bottlebags - 4/5 More News at 11 - 3/5 Shut Em Down - 5/5 A Letter to the New York Post - 3/5 Get the Fuck Outta Dodge - 4/5 Bring Tha Noize - 4/5 Average score: 3.9/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pretty solid album. so far i prefer Fear Of A Black Planet more than this. i didn't care for the Flavor Flav tracks nearly as much as Chuck D's so maybe that's why my rating isn't as high as i'd hoped

#993. Flavor Flav is fine in small doses, but 51 minutes is just too much, man. 2/5: meh

While a certain interest held me during my listen, this album suffers from one of the worst fates anything can suffer: forgettable.

Flava is great. Glad to see he's still such a rad dude these days now too. Good album.

Bring The Noize

07/02 Not bad. I like the mix of rock with hip hop

A classic of 90s hip hop. It's not one of my favourites and leans more on gimmick than social commentary, but it's a precursor to the albums and artists I love. I'd listen to it while working out.

⭐⭐⭐ Lite ojämnt album men ändå skön retro hiphop, det finns några sköna spår men utan riktigt höga toppar förutom By the time I get to Arizona som jag gillar skarpt. Dock inte några riktiga bottenspår heller men öppningsspåret Lost at birth är otroligt enerverande att lyssna på med en jobbig siren som loopar genom hela låten. Kan tänka mig att lyssna igen men förmodligen kanske jag väljer ett annat hiphop album men en 3a är det värt. Bäst är Can't truss it, I Don't wanna be called yo niga, By the time I get to Arizona

Dated but rated

It was fine. I liked one or two of their songs. But could never get into the albumn

I reallly liked it, but the whole album is a lot (I'll add to a playlist or two)

Double album. Can't Truss It was their biggest charting song. It is awesome. Bass in your face! It's probably my favorite Public Enemy song. By The Time I Get To Arizona is a jam. The Pete Rock Remix of Shut Em Down is the definitive version. That was deceptively quick. I guess short songs play a part in whether a long album seems long. Bring Tha Noize with Anthrax...maybe the first Numetal song? It's good though, if all Numetal was like this the world would be a better place and Limp Bizkit would never have existed.

Thank god I was alone listening to this one. The only thing that stood out was the over use of the N word. There is far better rap albums from that era.

There's some good energy there, but I don't really 'get it' bonus points for collab with Anthrax

The rapping is pretty solid, but the instrumentals feel pretty dated, which made it harder to enjoy the album overall.

I like it but not something I'd listen to again

☆ Not my choice

This album is the bookend of PE’s early career. Still great, but not at the level of Fear of a Black Planet and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. By the Time I get to Arizona is the best track. 3.5⭐️

cool early 90's hiphop but it didn't really spin the needle too much for me. one or two good songs in the bunch tho. Fear Of A Black Planet is a better album

It's a decent conscious rap album from the early 90s, so it's automatically pretty cool. This really doesn't push the needle that much, but the beat is clean, and the rapping is solid. Nowhere near the quality of Fear Of A Black Planet. The album name is very creative, though.

4/5

I'd forgotten about the Anthrax colab - awesome!

Overall: 7/10 Honestly there's some bangers on this one, Chuck is still killing it on the vocals and Flav is so much fun to listen to. I would honestly say this is my second favourite Public Enemy album. Fav Song: Nighttrain

Absolutely and undeniably influential. But aged like milk and Flavor Flav returned is black power revolutionary card in in pursuit of a hollywood paycheck. 3 stars on merit but I was counting down the minutes until this album was over.

Didn't love Fear of a Black Planet so didn't have high expectations for this, but wow. Hits really hard, and seems like a much more focused record while still retaining the same uncompromising attitude. It struggles to maintain the momentum as the album goes on but that means the back half is merely good rather than great

Goes hard, love the beats and Chuck D/Flavor Flav's lyrics/delivery. "When I Get To Arizona" is gonna be stuck in my head for a while, and the Anthrax cover that ends the album is a fun little oddity. 9/10.

8.5/10 Really good old school hip-hop album. Lots of bangers here.

Bring tj Boise last track w Anthrax was the only hit …super dated lyrics

Solid album- I enjoyed the lyrics and was actually impressed by Flavor Flav's energy he brings to the songs. A good representation of 90s hip hop with strong sound and social commentary. Overall 3.5/5

It’s pretty great. I think the beats are maybe weaker than the earlier albums. By the Time I get to Arizona is an all timer. One of the best songs ever

I'm just not really feeling it. Interesting concept for an album, but I just don't like old school hiphop I guess. 2/5

This is exactly the type of dated stuff I was talking about. This sounds so silly now

It was ok. It was apparently influential but I couldn’t fully appreciate how repetitive it could get at times

I didn't really care about the previous Public Enemy record that I had to listen. Needless to say I wasn't excited to get back to it. I am happy to say that my low expectations were shattered. This time the album was solid throughout. I felt the energy, the angst and the vibe. The main highlight next to the delivery was the production. We get a solid selection of beats and instrumentals that really fit the urban feel of the album. I may even revist it. It was a pretty good and consistent listen. My favorite tracks were "By The Time I Get To Arizona" and "Bring Tha Noize". The latter was a great way to end an album.

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Can't Truss It, By The Time I Get To Arizona, Shut Em Down I think this is Public Enemy's best work so far. I've heard three albums now: Fear of A Black Planet, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, and now this album. Flava Flav continues to tone down his antics (yeaaaa boyyyyy) and does a little more than just emcee work. Plenty of samples being used and plenty of the songs got turned into samples (ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE: Ten Crack Commandments!) Just as before, there's plenty of social critique, some subtle, and some right in your face. It also doesn't feel as loud as the other two albums, which is a plus. Less noise rap and more conscious rap.

Hyper- political barrage from one of the most important acts of the last 40 years. This isn’t their best effort.

Pretty solid. I just like this era

Day 309 Enjoyed this a lot, as I have with most of the early 90s rap albums I’ve had so far. By the time I get to Arizona is a proper banger, had it on repeat for ages Highlights I don’t wanna be called.. By the time I get to Arizona Shut em down

Pleasantly surprised! I gave Nation of Millions and Fear of a Black planet years ago and couldn’t get into it. I found the production all over the place and Flava Flav almost unlistenable. The beats are still noisy but it seems all seems to fit together much better and Flav is mostly sidelined to the hype man role. Easily my favourite PE album 4 stars

1, 2, 3, 4.2 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Time I get to Arizona, Shut em down and Bring the Noize are iconic songs. I was able to blast yo nI**a driving with car windows open, but I was driving down a gravel road, and no one was in sight within 25 kms

Nice

Meh

Just not enjoying hip hop from that time period.

Liked the vibes of this one even if every song seemed to doing the same by the end.

3 albums of theirs and still the Anthrax song is the best they can offer!

I don’t know why, but it just doesn’t quite have the same buzz and urgency as the preceding efforts. Bring tha Noize still a genre defining tune mind.

6/10 My third and final Public Enemy album in less than 180 albums. My takeaway? This album is better than It Takes A Nation of Millions... but worse than Fear Of A Black Planet. I appreciate the album's hyper-political bent, but the use of slurs, constant call outs (Flava Flav), and the fact that my favorite segments are when they incorporate (fake) newscasts decrease my enjoyment of the album.

I feel like if this was earlier in the list I probably would of enjoyed it but I feel like I listen to a lot better albums than this

It was good.

Pointed, engaging, and pretty funny at moments. I question whether this needed to be a double album; some song list streamlining would go a long way toward making this a perfect 90s hip hop record. The second half is notably stronger. Still plenty to enjoy overall. Top tracks: Move!, Shut Em Down, Bring Tha Noize

Pretty good PE album. A little one note compared to the other ones we’ve gotten but this one has “By the Time I Get to Arizona” and that song slaps

Old school rap not my style

A couple of classics but far from their best work.

I'm not going to give it a one, purely because it implies I understand the genre on a level I don't... but dear God this feels in this day and age like a form of populist bull that hasn't got much original or defining going for it.

Hip hop isn't my favorite but it's politically interesting and not too long

14 songs Not necessarily my type of music, but the album as a whole is a lot of fun actually. A lot of the times the songs just seamlessly blend into one another, which is something I really liked.

Having only really heard their hits, listening to this album was a lot of fun. It's hip hop of a time but it doesn't feel dated to me. Fits right in there with their contemporaries, the Beasties. Or Maybe the Beasties were chasing Public Enemy.

Having enjoyed this album since its release, my initial thoughts were a 3 but that was mainly due to not revisiting it as album for a while. As an album it flows really well, and it has some bangers throughout. I think PE struggled with never reaching the heights of their first two albums with Fear… being a little patchy in my opinion, but Apocalypse 91 is solid and for the most part overlooked. It’s not a 5 for me, but it is a solid 4. Quite odd that is in this list though, to me only the first two PE albums would be list worthy. Good to revisit it.

Not a big fan of these bad boys but they could throw down!

This is definitely my least favorite of the Public Enemy albums on here. I think mainly because where the other ones have an urgent importance, this one because it feels like it's kind of Trapped in the 91 Hip Hop era comes off a bit lighter even though Chuck D's delivery is still fierce. It felt like in the 80s there was a distinct separation between the dance hip hop, and the streetwise rap. One was intentionally joyous and the other was intentionally hard. But as rap moved into the 90s it seemed like the dance hip hop wanted to incorporate some of the harder rap flow into the dance beats to give it a meaner grit. C+C and Marky Mark were examples of that, but more over LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" really held the line between dance and street. Which is honestly the song I kept thinking of throughout most of the listen of this. It is notable that I don't think that the production is as aggressive as the '80s material but even Flavor Flav isn't as annoying in his nasal sarcastic tone. All I can really say is even though I really liked the album, I didn't find it that important as the other two, nor did it really have the same pull for me. 7.55 ★★★½

Not as good as the other Public Enemy albums in the book. Still good. 4 stars

I think the first half of this is great -- "Lost at Birth", "Can't Truss It", "I Don't Want To Be Called Yo N***", and "By The Time I Get to Arizona" are all really strong. The second half is not nearly as good, and the remake of "Bring The Noise" with Anthrax could've just been a B-side. Still, there's enough good material here to go 4 stars on it, and I think it's actually a little stronger than Fear of a Black Planet.

3.5

By the time you get to By The Time I Get To Arizona you finally get a cool classic track but other than that it’s pretty mid. Midpocalypse 91.

This isn’t for me but it’s a fun, upbeat listen with some really poignant lyrics and themes (that feel more relevant than ever in 2026, unfortunately). I did enjoy the unexpected Alexander Hamilton reference in A Letter to the New York Post.

Poor lyrics

Some good old school hip hop here.

In the early, early 90’s a white kid in a predominantly white school was obsessed with PE. This album didn’t really show me why. He had nothing to identify with this. However, its strong revolutionary and urban message to young Africas Americans is strong. Hip Hop and Rap has never been my thing but this was when it was done well

public enemy just isn’t my jam.

Way better than I thought. 4 stars

God bless Chuck D & Flavor Flav

Since starting this i have confirmed my belief that i dont like jazz or prog. I had a third genre on the list and that was rap. Well unlike the two above i have found i enjoy rap. I will admit i like to have the lyrics in front of me but i like the beats. First Public Enemy album for me and am looking forward to a few more.

3 albums of perpetual victimhood on this godforsaken list. Thankfully, this is the last one I need to listen to -- they finally ran out of keyboard presets to spit over!

Враги народа устроили апокалипсис моей кукухи

4 чисто за фит с Anthrax

Найс

неплохо, может вернусь еще к их творчеству, пока ставлю 4 (3.5)

Rått!

Bra, om än ett snäpp under deras tidigare på listan för mig.

Blir som vanligt tröttsamt i längden.

3.1 2x nothing stands out but still good

By today's standards, this is a pretty transgressive album. The number of n-bombs dropped here is hard to keep count of. It's for effect: Public Enemy are making an explicit commentary on the word's use (its reclamation was a hot topic of public conversation in the early 90's, spurred not least by the world of hip-hop). That's all part and parcel with the political commentary that Public Enemy have always been invested in. The effect is substantial; lyrics are largely thoughtful and cutting. They are at times militant. They're also catchy as all hell. The vocal work is great. The flows are not as diverse as listening through early Snoop or another 90's group (later waves like Wu Tang just benefitted from having more members and standing on the shoulders of these giants) but it's still excellent -- even moreso considering what 80's rap flows sounded like. This is a bridge between the truly old school of the first generation or two of MCs and something much more recognizable to today's rap audiences. The samples and hooks are great. There's a ton of blues and rock stuff underpinning these tracks and it keeps things moving. Public Enemy has a well-deserved reputation as an essential group in the world of hip-hop and this is no exception. Few groups put out an album this good, let alone a *fourth* album so good. Expressing anger at issues as diverse as the n-word and the failure of some American states to recognize Marth Luther King, Jr's birthday, it is as vital and politically charged as their reputation would suggest. Just excellent. 5/5

This is a tough album to rate properly. There are a lot of interesting political lyrics to dissect, which I'm sure would take several listens to fully understand. Track one, Lost At Birth, I find really difficult to sit through due to the repeated siren sound that never lets up. Then there's Flava Flav's voice. I know this wouldn't have been true in 1991, but all I can hear is annoying TV commercials when he opens his mouth. The whole production definitely sounds like pirate TV/radio... and that works in its favor. I could have definitely done without the Anthrax remix though. Ultimately, there's nothing here I enjoy as much as Fight The Power. I probably enjoyed it at a 2.5 level, but some great messaging and funky beats are making me want to round up rather than down.

Hiphop met Jazz invloeden daar word ik wel enorm blij van. De beats en sounds zorgen ervoor dat ik een soort flow kom. Muzikaal voelt het ook echt als een anti-establishment beweging. Voor de verandering ben ik eens echt gaan luisteren naar de tekst, aangezien jullie dat ook allemaal doen … By the time i get to Arizona vind ik tekstueel echt sterk, gaaf dat ze starten met een radio speech.

Wederom een hip hop album die ik na vaker luisteren steeds minder leuk vind. Het is wel beter dan die vorige jurassic 5, maar het voelt wel vaak een beetje rommelig. Ze hebben wel meer te zeggen en zeggen de muziek benadrukt de urgentie en dat geeft ze veel zeggenschap. De titel van het album vind ik heel goed. Ik vind het ook leuk hoe dat nummer die ik niet mag meezingen zo lekker swingt, maar dat je die alleen mag meezingen met een andere huidskleur.

Ik kon mij er moeilijk toe zetten. Heb het idee dat we een aardige flock van 90 hiphop hebben gehad en ben een beetje verzadigd. Het is een solide album. Het heeft een goede agressieve vibe die wel indruk maakt. Niet het meest baanbrekende album van Public Enemy. Het is wat geconcentreerder en komt meer tot de kern. Blijft toch soms het knullige van de old skool hiphop horen wat mij er een beetje uit haalt. Lost at Birth als opener is wel erg lekker maar word niet meer geëvenaard op het album. Het spijt me Arie, het lijkt alsof ik het er om doe maar Bring the noise is dan precies het gene wat ik dan wel weer herrie vind. (Het is ook nooit goed) Maar basic zielloze, domme trash metal van Anthhrax kan je niet vergelijken met black sabbath of meer in die richting zoals slayer oid. Al met al een een best aardig album met een ietwat negatieve review van mijn kant. Verkeerde moment op de verkeerde plek. Een 3.4, op een andere dag een 3.6 maakt toch verschil van een hele ster.

Ik merk dat ik automatisch deze plaat ga vergelijken met de hiphop plaat van afgelopen week van Jurassic 5, wat volgens mij een aantal jaar later uit kwam. Ik moet zeggen dat public enemy wat minder gepolijst vind, en dat is wat mij eigenlijk wel aanspreekt. Ze zijn wat brutaler en hebben meer die energie die bij Jurassic 5 ontbrak. Dat t album afsluit met bring tha noise vind ik ook erg vet,(ja Teun, ik vond t leuk) je denkt ineens oh jaa dat zijn dus deze gasten.

Pretty sure this was the third hip-hop album I ever bought after Run-D.M.C.'s "Raised in Hell" and the Beastie Boys' "License to Ill." The first one I bought on CD. The first one that talked about real issues and also presented a sonic landscape I'd never heard before. I have not heard this album in full in decades, so happy to revisit it again.

Always good lyrics. The beats didn’t always excite me. Started out really disliking the droning effect in the first song. Still among the great artists, I’m just comparing this album against their others on this list. 3.5 stars…

sredniaczek jak dlamnie

Wow, I didn't really know much about this album but it blew me away. Very powerful lyrics about meaningful themes at the time. Themes which are also still relevant today. Yeah it sounds somewhat dated musically, but the message stands out very strongly. 5/5

Oväntat bra, eftersom jag alltid stålsätter mig inför ett rep-album. Jag kan faktiskt inte förklara vad skillnaden är, detta är bara bättre än det mesta jag hört i rap-väg. Klar trea!

I love the Chuck D/Flava Flav combo.

Great album

Rap hip hop isn't on my play rotation in general. Several tracks here resonated, so I give this one a 3 star. Not mad about it. Bring Da Noize was saved as a fave. These guys gave me political commentary with just a small side of mysogeny (at least the denigration if women was minimal).

Deezer informs me that Public Enemy has a show with Guns N' Roses at Carter-Finley Stadium (home of NC State Wolfpack football) this summer. Interesting. Good beats, good lyrics, good commentary. Little bit of misogyny but not nearly as bad as some hip-hop albums I've been assigned. Bring Tha Noize was fun.

I reaaally expected to like this more then I did! I mean, its fine, completely passable actually- it's just does not live up to the absolute classic status I have heard it had. Songs like nighttrain overuse its premise to the point of repetitiveness half way through the song, A lot of these tunes feel dated to be in the 90s, and the album comes across as haphazard and tired to me. The Jazziness of Public Enemy still pervades but it is in a muted form compared to their previous works that really left me wanting more. I came out feeling very "eh"

I’m very much not the target audience for this but as the genre goes they are more tolerable than most. I like the more rock sound here but overall there isn’t much variation throughout and it all gets a bit strident and hectoring. Which is likely the point but it’s not something I would ever choose to listen to for an entire album

Great rebel hard rap album with a lot of political messages. Highlights: "Nighttrain" and "Move!"

Great album, highlight is Bring the noise for me

2,5

It gets points for being one of the first great hiphop albums, great lyricism and solid theming, so i’ll rate it (somewhat) fairly because i can see why hiphop fans would adore this, but its just not my genre so i don’t love it.

All things considered, it was quite decent. Not an expert on the subject, but it was mostly enjoyable, and it did not feel monotonous. Bonus point for "Bring tha noize" 7/10

I didn’t know much Public Enemy going in to this, apart from the singles, and really enjoyed it. I can hear how this must’ve ruled the airwaves in 91.

Not my thing.

Was only slightly familiar with Public Enemy before this. Badass album; I did not want it to end!

Great

Not their best and kinda long

Something is keeping me from really getting full-on into Public Enemy, and to be honest, I'm not sure what it is. I like their message and the lyrics. I like the beats and how they don't relent (maybe that's part of it? Maybe I need a little bit of dynamics?). I like Chuck D's flow, Flava Flav's a little less but I'm still okay with it. Maybe it's just too much, too big all of the time. Of course, what with their mission and the evergreen garbage condition of the United States, I really can't blame them for being so upfront and demanding attention.

It's decent '90s hip-hop, but unfortunately, it didn't really grab me

Public enemy Nr 1, yeaaaaah boiiiii Ik ken eigenlijk alleen hun bekendere album, It takes a nation of millions.. Dus ben hier wel benieuwd naar. Vind wel Public Enemy, de energie is daar. Maar ze zijn wel echt hard in gehaald door de tijd. Vooral de flows van Chuck D en Flavor Flav, de muziek is ergens nog wel modern te noemen omdat er al wel wat sampling plaats vind. Ook meen ik nog wel wat elektronische beats te herkennen. Maar ja, die flow van hun he... Ze maken heel veel goed met de energie en de, helaas nog steeds, relevante teksten. Ik bedoel, hoor je de briljante outro van Shut m down? Bril-jant echt geweldig. Daarnaast de woede van Public Enemy was altijd al overduidelijk, maar tijdens I dont wanna be called? Flavor Flav is echt in staat om iedereen wat aan te doen op dat nummer. En dat dan op de meest funky instrumental van het album. Is dit een album dat je moet luisteren voor je dood gaat? Ja absoluut. Is dit een album wat nu niet meer de impact heeft als die het toen had? Helaas ook. De muziek klinkt wel echt gedateerd en dan vooral de flows die Chuck D en Flavor Flav gebruiken. De instrumentals zijn vaak wel echt vet en soms zelfs funky, maar alles bij elkaar is dit echt een product van zn tijd. FAVO: Nighttrain, cant truss it, By the time I get to Arizona

Solid. Didn't like how some of the songs sounded, but can still appreciate the message. Bring Tha Noize is sick

Definitely didn't think I would enjoy this but I saw I rated another Public Enemy 4 stars, and this was pretty good not being a hip hop fan. Found myself revisiting some of these tracks later so that's a good sign.

3.5 but for this purpose 3

Good album. Toned down the migraine inducing sirens of their earlier work, adds some rock and more variety…

73/100. This album still carries a lot of what makes Public Enemy so compelling. The politically charged energy, aggressive delivery and confrontational style are all here, giving parts of the record that classic Public Enemy feeling. At the same time, the record feels a bit inconsistent. Alongside the strongest material are several tracks that simply do not reach the same level. Even with those weaker moments, there is still enough quality and personality here to remind you why Public Enemy were such an important force in hip hop.

Good beats and energy. To my uneducated ear, not the best hip hop album I've heard on this list but still decent.

buja jak na rap szczefolnie ostatnia piosenka? chyba yo byla ostatnia brzmiala troche jak metal generalnie spoko chicuaz sama bym se chyba tego nie wlaczyla

I saw Public Enemy open for Run-DMC and I became a huge fan. It was around the time It Takes a Nation of Millions came out. That is a certified classic from front to back. I listened to that every day and became a huge fan. I read everything I could find out about PE. I bought Yo Bum Rush the Show. I waited for Fear of a Black Planet as they talked of breaking up with Professor Griff stuff. I heard Welcome to the Terrordome. It was amazing. As time passed my fandom started to wane as more hip hop artists started coming out and I started branching out. By the time this was released I listened to it I was kind of indifferent. I was tired of Chuck preaching. The rhymes started to have that wack attack Mac rack rhyme scheme that he used on Terrordome. He was never the most clever lyricist but he started getting lazy. But this album had some Bangers. Can’t Truss It, Shut Em Down, By the Time I Get to Arizona. They all were amazing. But on this album this was the first album where they weren’t pushing the sonic envelope forward. They started sounding like other producers. But that kind of happens in hip hop. Also having a Harry Allen song on this album. It’s terrible. It’s still a great album in their catalog. Just not great. Another thing. I like Bring the Noise but having Anthrax on the song and adding to the album seemed out of place.

Estuvo bueno la verdad, me suena como si Ice Cube con Fuck The Police fuera un álbum. Buenas vibras en el sentido de soul no de alegría.

Awesome, though not quite as great as Nation Of Millions

such an easy 5 oh my god

Another classic

Fourth best PE album but still pretty good.

10/10 it’s got Bring Tha Noize with Anthrax. Nah but this album slaps, opening track Last at Birth with its main sample is so hype. Like with all Public enemy, Flava Flav is either the most annoying part, or the best hype man going. On this occasion having a song about hating the New York post (good) because they published a paper about beating his baby momma (bad) Production rocks, sample choices are great and the drums absolutely thump

4 stars just for the Bring the Noise track with Anthrax. Other than that”Shut em Down”, not much else for me

Hardcore räppiä eli ei ihan sitä mun suosikki räppiä, mutta hyvä ajan fiilis. Eli hyvää kuitenkin. Tää olikin eri Bring Tha Noize mitä luulin, se GH versio oli vissiin joku remix. Tää oli enemmän tykitystä. Parhaat: Shut Em Down, Nighttrain, Bring Tha Noize

Really good - can see the influence on a lot of later political rap (e.g., the interludes from preachers, news stations, etc.) Favorite songs are can’t truss it, letter to the NY post, an the anthrax song at the end. Got a bit repetitive in the middle

patchy, especially considering the highs they were achieving around this time, but does have it's moments

This is very very close to a 5 for me. I listened to this when it came out but did not feel strongly about it then like I do now. I do not know the reason for why I did not like it as much then. I was 13 when it came out and listened to it then but did not think it was as good as "Fear.." or "ITAN." I think that I was just wrong and was too into Ice Cube and "Death Certificate" (which is better and a 5 of 5). This is a great album. There are really no skips except "A letter to the New York Post." The production is not as incredible as their earlier albums but is still really well done. I am glad for this list to get a chance to revisit an album that I really overlooked at the time.

This was alright. Really early hop hop (80s and early 90s) kind of runs together with the drum machine beats and this was fine to listen to while I was working on stuff but didn’t stand out

Ultimately I didn't like this - I think it's due to Flavor Flav - I mean how many times does he have to repeat his name on a song! Sheesh.... Get rid of him and the album would get at least one star back.

Released just a year after Fear of a Black Planet, Apocalypse 91 continues the hot streak Public Enemy were on since their 1988 breakthrough It Takes A Nation of Millions... There's plenty more of the duo's signature confrontational lyrical style and proto-industrial beats, starting with the opener "Lost at Birth" with its massive whining melodic line that mimics a roadster or a plane flying overhead. Not everything on this album is as in your face as that opener though, as as "By the Time I Get to Arizona" has a languid blues backing complete with processed harmonica. The rapping has also become more diverse and experiments with different stylings besides the standard furious, rapid-fire flow they were known for on the previous 2. The skits are fairly spaced out as well and serve more as interludes and transitions between the tracks with wider stylistic gulfs. For an early 90s rap album that runs over 50 minutes, there's hardly anything here that feels out of place, though there also isn't much that sets this album apart from the previous 2. I guess you could consider it underrated among Public Enemy's classics in that sense. All this proves to me is that Flava Flav was the greatest rap musician of his generation with how well these beats are crafted and how ahead of the times Public Enemy were in their heyday. Key Tracks: Lost at Birth, By the Time I Get to Arizona, Bring the Noize

These guys were very solid. Not a huge number of highlights on this particular album, but right down the fairway. I'm sure they would love that analogy.

Not as enjoyable as their earlier albums, but Chuck D has an unmistakably smooth cadence and flow. While Flavor Flav is a nice change of pace at times, his stand alone songs are lacking.

One of the more listenable offerings from this genre but like most of these albums high on the mutha fuckers and nigga count. Really not my cup of tes

Holder seg overraskende godt.

Always thankful when classic hip hop bangers drop as my pick of the day. Public Enemy absolutely brings it on this album, and has a very important track in “By the Time I Get to Arizona”. A must listen in PE’s catalogue

2 rap albums in 2 day, my poor ears! That said while not to my taste I like Public Enemy significantly more than NWA. As least these lot have something to say more than just swearing.

It's good but I'm not a massive Public Enemy fan, says the white dude. I'm not much of a hardcore rap guy and would turn to something like A Tribe Called Quest during this time.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the other public enemy album on here but it’s ok

It's been nearly a year and a half since I listened to Fear of a Black Planet, and my feelings on Public Enemy's follow-up record, Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Back, are more or less the same, albeit with some noticeable differences. For one thing, the production is notably leaner, with a greater mixture of live instrumentation alongside the sampling. This was done out of necessity, as The Bomb Squad and other personnel rushed to recreate the music that was stolen from them. If anything, the backing instrumentation did surprisingly well in providing that necessary oomph to the backdrops, especially the hard-hitting percussion and blaring horns on tracks like "Can't Truss It" and "How to Kill a Radio Consultant". Of course, Terminator X still busts out on the turntables, while Chuck D and Flavor Flav continue to spit bars in addressing the prevailing issues with systemic racism in the United States. Probably the most striking of these songs are "Nighttrain" in calling out those within the black community who harm each other, "I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo N---" in addressing the pervasiveness of the derogatory word, "How to Kill a Radio Consultant" regarding the ownership and dissemination of black music on radio stations, and "By the Time I Get to Arizona" in highlighting how some people refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday. The fact that a lot of what they addressed then is still relevant today in this country is both poignant and depressing. Though that said, I did also appreciate when they reaffirmed their talent on the hard-hitting "Shut 'Em Down". Yet, it's also apparent in places where this album was rushed, again likely due to the stolen material. Not only are there two different introduction tracks toward the beginning when they didn't need to have them, but they also tacked on at the end Anthrax's rendition of "Bring The Noise" from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Now, as someone who does enjoy Anthrax, I dug the crossover thrash remix they did alongside Public Enemy, but it is vastly different from the preceding material on this record. I also have to acknowledge that some lyrics did not age well, mainly with "A Letter to the New York Post". Now, I get the general conceit of that song was to address how disenfranchised black lives can be through salacious, negatively spun stories that certain media outlets would partake in. The problem is with Flavor Flav's opening verse, which not only puts a lampshade on how he was arrested for assaulting his then-girlfriend Karen Ross and losing custody of his kids, but instead of owning up to that mistake, he doubles down, making a baseless claim about actor James Cagney beating up a gay guy. Not only is this the wrong way to address one's personal problems, but it also makes Flavor Flav's homophobia apparent on record, leaving me with a sour taste. Overall, I still consider Apocalypse 91 to be a solid golden-age hip hop record, despite some obvious shortcomings. There are a track or two I'd skip on repeat listens, but a lot of the songs on here ended up good and relevant.

I'm starting to feel like I need a macro to type "This is just not my jam."

Lost at Birth 3.5 Rebirth 3 Nighttrain 3.4 Can't Truss It 3.3 I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga 3.3 How to Kill a Radio Consultant 3 By the Time I Get to Arizona 3.8 Move! 3.4 1 Million Bottlebags 3.3 More News at 11 3 Shut 'Em Down 3.2 A Letter to the New York Post 3.4 Get the Fuck Outta Dodge 3.4 Bring Tha Noize 3.6 Score: 3.328571429

Old school, top notch rap!

Public Enemy goes hardcore!!! i like their other stuff pretty well but this is exactly what i'd been wanting from them! i think i literally never stopped grooving my first time listening. utterly phenomenal

Flavor Flav, the greatest hypeman.

Now this is great rap music! They’re actually talking about things I can relate to. The delivery of the words are done with great passion and with heaviness. The backing tracks are dense and interesting. I never totally got into their albums back in the day but listening to this now and having the comparison to other rap music that has come afterwards, it’s clear that these guys made some of the best rap albums. There really isn’t much out there that can touch this and I’m pretty stoked that I get to listen to a couple more albums by them for this project.

repniški repnige nanovo repniški repniguju, a pritom ne bi da ih se tako naziva (5. pjesma). eh

So much fun. I forget how much I like their music.

I never would have listened to this album on my own. I’m glad I did because I kind of enjoyed it!

Interesting. Not sure I’d listen again?

Favorite track: can't truss it other picks: shut em down, by the time I get to arizona

6/10

I really liked this one. Very high-energy and great record scratching. I better not listen to “I don’t wanna be called yo n***” because it’s very catchy but I don’t want to be singing it aloud

Noisy, 90’s genius.

Hmmm

Not bad but it just isn't my kind of music

Alright

Yessir. Been a minute since I'd listened to Public Enemy. Good damn stuff.

140. woa

After listening to a couple PE albums and a couple of their contemporaries, I think I prefer these guys over similar groups. High energy, a great mix of serious and snarky, really interesting guest spots…what’s not to like?

4 Pretty cool for the most part. Could have done with that one song where he's trying to defend his right to beat his wife and hate the gays

I thought about generously giving an extra star here, even though I don't think it's perfect. The other two albums from Public Enemy on this list are somewhat better, so it's kind of unfair to give this the same 5 star treatment. One thing about Public Enemy - production and beats are great and timeless. Never a boring song, even if listening to Chuck D does become grating as time goes on.

Quite samey but I enjoyed it

Pretty generic 90s rap to me

As far as hip-hop goes, I find Public Enemy the most accessible for someone who is not into it in anyway whatsoever. Chuck D has a commanding and engaging voice. However even with all the positives, this is just not my kind of music at all. I can only rate on my own experience of the music.

I get it, but find a whole album really hard work!! Glad it's here though

A good album. Not PE’s best but one of their most overtly political. A couple of classic tracks round it out.

I like Public Enemy’s energy as much as I am generally exhausted by it—I am, to paraphrase Fitzgerald, simultaneously enchanted and repelled.

This was really dated, and not in a fun way

Just like every other PE album - great energy, runs a little long, would probably be better without Flavor Flav. Overall it's fun to listen to, but not really my cup of tea

I like the serious lyrical themes, the energy, some of the sampling. The production really dates this album at times - not that that’s a bad thing, but it does affect how much I’m able to enjoy it. Still really glad I finally checked this out.

Drago mi je što završavam s njima bukvalno 10 dana nakon što sam vidjela da imam i treći album, nisu mi ništa posebno upečatljivi ni zanimljivi. Ovo mi je najdraži album zbog Bring Tha Noize.

Not their best, but still awesome.

Chuck D rules! Great album

Public Enemy is cool but their beats and samples are so noisy and active...It makes it so hard to hear what they're saying

I played this at work and when track #5 came on I had to turn the volume wayyy down.

Liked it more than expected, but not my typical style. Really strong messages and dynamic instrumentation/production. Favorite songs: Can’t Truss It, I Don’t Wanna Be Called Yo N***

The big difference on Public Enemy's fourth album is the beats. Their previous two albums were defined by their chaotic collage of samples, but this features more traditional, almost funky, beats. In some ways this works better, as the songs have more room to breathe and the energy is still cranked to the max. Outside of that change this is still Public Enemy doing their thing. The lyrics are as direct and detailed as always, tackling subjects no other group was. Chuck D's flow hasn't changed a bit, which is good but also makes the album drag a bit because the songs blur together a bit. And I think that's my main takeaway here: while this still hits hard, the group isn't trying much that they haven't tried before. "Night Train" and the rock-influenced "I Don't Wanna Be Called" are great, but none of this touches their best songs.

Great raps and lyrics like usual, but PE's sonic assault is just too much for me

This has never been a favorite genre of mine - the self-promotion, violence, misogyny, unnecessarily frequent vulgarity and overall lack of musicality makes it a hard reach. This album felt different. Maybe because it reminded me of the popular hip-hop and rap music of the late 80s (LLCJ, RDMC, IceT, etc). The lyrics here are less harsh and the political/social commentary is properly biting and thought provoking...more about where we are as a society than trying to get with some chick, violently gunning down a competitor, or claiming themselves the best. And there's a certain endearing lightness to Flavor Flav's contributions. There's a million better ways to express what I'm struggling to say. In short, I really liked this and will be back. 4/5

Well famn

For early rap, it’s better than most. That’s not really a high bar to clear, but still. Clever and energetic.

I can appreciate the innovation at the time. Nothing really connecting with me though

Not sure what it is, just never could enjoy these guys. Something to do with the track and artists volume level maybe. Also the main rapper sounds almost yelling like.

It is a good hip-hop album, very politically charged and with some iconic moments. However, I do still prefer their two other albums in here. 7/10 [DROP]

Definitely an album that is underrated.

Damn, I love early nineties hip hop.

Ohh that shits good

A relentless series of powerful messages, wrapped in clear anger, propulsive beats, and samples that match the severity of the message.

Oof so dull and monotonous. It’s even more boring than the last one of theirs I heard here. One star.

Classic public enemy album, solid no skips

I had forgotten how angry this one was.

it's alright.... just felt like i was stuck in jet set radio with no end. some of the songs were good but this was definitely not for me.

I liked it takes a Nation of Millions better. This one started strong and got meh as it went on.

This album reminded me that I don’t listen to nearly enough old school hip hop. Also had no clue this was where Flavor Flav came from. 3.5 but I’ll round up because why not?

Aktiivne, poistel palju energiat. Mõned lood on täitsa meeldivad, aga enamjaolt läheb see ühte patta, stiilivahelduvust väga pole. Kui ma kuulaksin sõnu, siis oleks vast etem kuulamine. 3.3/5

I suppose any album from Public Enemy is technically worth a spin, though this is an interesting third choice above and beyond the two albums i'm sure are in here already. Even here, these guys always sound a bit like a link. This is conscious rap with a "gangsta" feel. It is, as Flav notes early on, a bunch of very big beats. The tracks are like audio collages, sample heavy without being JUST sample. I am not a historian of the genre, but it feels like something new and old at the same time. I think it would be hard to not appreciate how this is being put together, though i definitely think there are a lot of folks who would find Chuck D's confrontational history lessons more dangerous than all the more "colorful" rap lyrics that the moral busybodies were constantly whining over in the 80s and 90s. High 3*, top track: Can't Truss It. Definitely getting a replay at some point

Dug it. Know their voiced but never listened to an album before.

I listened quite a while before realizing there was very little swearing and no references to bitches or hoes. Just good beats and pointed commentary on the lot of men on the mean streets. I added “I Don’t Wanna Be Called Yo Niga” to my Generator playlist.

What a vibe! Love Public enemy

This feels like a much more mature album than the previous. It feels quite controversial for the early 90s, well more conventional controversial compared to the first albums. This comes from the language and the sample use. I still find their sound quite corny, but I think it’s because this is just less fleshed out that many moodier rap albums of today.

This has a lot more variety than the other Public Enemy album we've had, and in my view feels much more accomplished. I enjoyed it as a record, and would probably listen again but it's not really my style of hip-hop. The metal track on the end is so random no idea why that's there.

Easily the weakest of the three Public Enemy albums on the list, but still pretty good.

Eh, only giving three because of the reminiscing I did about Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2.

Two Public Enemy albums in a row? Alright then. This one's probably the best of the three in the book. It might be the second one released in the 90s, but it's the one that sounds more '90s'. Great album.

classic for a reason

The least talked about PE album, but probably their best, imo. It always surprises me how much I love the tracks with Flavor Flav on lead. He’s known as the hype man of the band, but when he gets on the mic he’s not bad and spits the truth. 3.75, but I’m going to round up to 4

I've now had all 3 Public Enemy albums, and I can say that I've saved best until last. Maybe they've been growing on me more I listen to them 🤷

This is great hip-hop record with lots of musical diversity. The album explores African-American conflict coming from violence within the community, and the lyrical delivery and flow is fantastic. Every emcee expresses the issues while sporting the incredible instrumentals as well. The final track with Antharax was absolutely insane as well. Good Stuff.

Not for me, but I know some who have played this music in the past

This album slaps harder than Mike Tyson in his prime and serves social commentary like it's going out of style. It's not my usual jam, but I appreciate their fire. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Lost At Birth - Can't Truss It - By The Time I Get To Arizona - Bring Tha Noize

top 3 - Bring Tha Noize, Move!, By the Time I Get to Arizona. Made me wish I listened to a Public Enemy album sooner! Great stuff here.

Always going to be my favourite hip hop/rap band. Muscular and streamline, 4 Star

I didn't like my first public enemy album so let's see how I feel about this. Yeah I don't think this is my cup of tea but I can appreciate this. I enjoy it it's just not something I would add to my playlists at the moment. Who knows how my music tastes will develop. I'm rocking with this. Me when I shut em down. Favourite: Rebirth Least favourite: dunno

Another hip hop album to endure. I guess in the 1990s the lyrics meant something to many. For me there are big sections of repeated lyrics which just add to the boredom.

it was never going to be Fear Of A Black Planet

I’m not sure that this is PE’s finest work, but still good. It’s a slightly broader style on this album, shown in lead songs ‘Can’t Truss It’ and ‘Shut It Down’ being a bit different from the ‘Wall of Noise’ approach of previous albums. As with PE always though, they offer a great historical record of key concerns in black politics (eg continued resistance to MLK Day on ‘By the Time I Get to Arizona’ and black alcoholism on ‘One Million Bottlebags’). Overall though, I don’t think it’s quite as compelling as their previous efforts. A lot of the early album is self-referential, so it perhaps doesn’t have the same feeling of originality. While still well put together, I think I prefer the more manic sound of earlier efforts. Nonetheless, a good listen.

I must confess I was expecting this album to compare poorly to ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions…’ but I actually enjoyed it a lot. It’s another great, politically-charged Public Enemy album. Highlights included ‘Can’t Truss It’, ‘By the Time I Get to Arizona’ and ‘Shut Em Down’, plus several more, but while the second half was maybe a bit less consistent quality-wise, there wasn’t really a dud track on it. I was genuinely surprised by how well the Anthrax version of ‘Bring Tha Noize’ worked, a nice way to end the album! A pretty decent 4 stars. Yeah, boyeeeeee!

Why is it possible to be one of the albums you should hear before you die with 14 (almost - the Anthrax song is different) identical songs. Oh, of course, that is probably the reason - there aren't many albums out there, which were able to sell much with identical albums. So, congratulations, you really are marketing geniuses and the album worth being in this list.

This was really enjoyable

Even worse than the last album of theirs. The only good thing here was an Anthrax song but that doesn't save the album. Hell nah.