Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Esra bueno, medio repetitivo
Kinda shocked I've never listened to this one vs. "It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back" or "Fear of a Black Planet". Pleased to say it holds up equally well alongside those two all-time classics. 4.5 stars
Definitely enjoyed this one.
Not the best Public Enemy album however it is a Public Enemy album and therefore at least four stars.
very good lyrics, talks about real life situations involving racism, very distinct sound although it seemed to have gotten repetitive
One of the best albums in hip-hop, but maybe not PE’s best.
There’s maybe 2-3 tracks that I’d relegate to B-Sides for an otherwise brilliant record.
Brought tha Noize.
certified hood classic. 4.
It's aged to some extent, but you can feel and understand the power and the importance at the time that does stretch a bit into the present.
Very original and sincere
Great cadence, powerful lyrics
I did not know this album. I liked this album. A pleasant surprise. Musically it sounds more contemporary, richer, fuller and less dated than their earlier albums. Even Flavor Flav is generally less annoying.
Cool
Power personified. Great sick beats and string ideas and production quality.
Perhaps less showy than their first three albums but here PE really get into a groove with social commentary over sick beats. All the players bring their A game - Chuck D is a lyrical beast, Terminator X brings the beats and Flav is the perfect hype man. The fearlessness of the group to say what they damn well please (a surprisingly risky commercial strategy) gives them credibility and an opportunity to change lives and minds. And whilst you won’t necessarily agree with everything said, Chuck D demands you will listen. Couple of side notes - I shook Chuck D’s hand after his gig with Asian Dub Foundation and the man was brilliant with his fans, took the time and had no posse or security or pretensions. The man oozed class and gratitude. Additional side note - you can see how big an influence PE were on Puff Daddy! Evidenced not just by his god awful cover of Public Enemy Number One (hip hop covers being a rare thing - thank god) but by carbon copying the stylings of Flava F across Biggie’s records (and with considerably less style and class). Diddy loved that hype man style. Of course, when Big died and Puff took the lead, he imagined himself to be Chuck D with none of the talent on the mic.
Can't Truss it is good - however seems to be more looking back to how good the previous albums were. To be honest this is weaker than all 3 of their previous ones, however the fury of PE still comes through and taken by itself it's still a super powerful album.
Not their best
If one comes off of, perhaps, the first great three album run in hip-hop then chances are it's time for the steep decline in quality to commence. That's not what happens here. With Apocalypse '91, Public Enemy continue to refine their revolutionary political message and heart on sleeve mottos that propelled them towards legendary status and they remain a bulldozer of bombastic sonic innovation, regardless of what others may have thought at the time given other members' exploits. Although not as memorable as the first three albums, Apocalypse '91 stands on its own either way. Favorites: Lost at Birth, Nighttrain, Can't Truss It, I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Nigga, By the Time I Get to Arizona, 1 Million Bottlebags, Shut Em Down, Get the F... Outta Dodge, Bring Da Noize.
Classic album that I had forgotten how enjoyable it was, so nice to revisit :)
paar high energy/ hongerige tracks. Sterke productie Typische 90's hip hop
Awesome album and pretty intense production
Class like 👍
Solid album
I don't really listen to rap and as much as I can appreciate how cool this is I'm probably not going to listen to it any time soon. Great beats and attitude, just not for me.
Liked this more than I thought I would. Great chemistry and energy between chuck d and Flava flav. Production is actually pretty solid for it being the 90s. Lyricism is very black nationalist and anti establishment and I can kinda get behind that.
I'm not big on hip hop but this album was a jam.
Standard old school hip hop
Definitely slaps. A lot of really great songs on here. Public Enemy really throw thein agenda into your face and it makes for great music. Main complaint is that the flows by Flav are sometimes pretty bad and the others get a little stale while listening song after song. 7/10
Loving this. The backing tracks / beats alone are sick. The deluxe edition of the album on spotify has instrumental only versions of some songs and they stand up well on their own. Chuck Ds gritty delivery hits hard too. Bring Tha Noize is a great hip-hop / metal collaboration (trying really hard not to call it "rap rock") 4.0 (great).
Standard rap disclaimer: not a rap person. This was fun and really great beats. The issues discussed didn't feel dated and more than 30 years later it felt as relevant today as it was back then. The production didn't feel dated either and it has aged really well.
Well produced throughout, the occasionally aged sounds are offset by instances of forward-thinking production. Also politics
Gillar denna...
I think I’ve probably said what I had to say about hard core hip hop, so I’ll just observe that I hadn’t known before that Terminator X retired from music to run an ostrich farm in North Carolina.
Was probably wild in 91 when this came out
This is another of that cases where is pretty hard to rate. While this is classical and influenced almost everything, it's also a little bit repetitive. I need to give it 4 stars, even knowing that it should be 5.
The first four PE albums are all great (of course numbers 2 and 3 are super-classic). This one is number 4. It is a little too long perhaps - the first half is 5, the second half is 4 star.
4, boom BAP
Crazy samples
Another fine Public Enemy album. It does have a bit of monotony in the pacing and the music but still very compelling and listenable...maybe their most listenable album I've heard yet. Plus when Chuck D raps you know it's thought provoking stuff. 4 🌟 🌟
Listening to Public Enemy is disturbingly relevant to our current moment 30 years later.
There are some great individual tracks on here such as "Can't truss it" and "Shut Em Down" but overall I don't think it holds up as an album in the same way that "It Takes A Nation..." Or "Fear of a Black Planet" do.
Everything you'd want in a Public Enemy record. I didn't listen to this at the time, crazy to think it came out the same year as Nevermind. I knew the Anthrax track from back in the day but that's all. Some of the beats are a bit one-note, but the righteous indignation in the lyrics is palpable.
Just a rock solid early 90s rap album
first half goes CRAZY feels super long towards the end super influential to 90s rap and protest music
This was a great listen. I loved the mix of the hard drums along with the repeating samples in each song. The occasional rock guitars were also a nice surprise. Plus the hard vocals blend very well with the mix, and they were stating things that still hold value even to this day. Songs like “Bring Tha Noize” also showed that there can be a nice blend of hard rock and rap. Standout songs were “Bring Tha Noize”, “Nighttrain”, and “Move!”.
Kan det vara topp 5 hiphop plattor ever? Maybe? 4,5
Ja gillar!
Politically and socially charged lyrics describing a reality that needed and still needs to be understood.
it's fine
Classic Hip-Hop from 1991, hard core maybe but very listenable to this untrained (In hip-hop terms) ear. I liked this and can see it's place in this list. A good mix of Rapping, Mixing and background rock from live musicians. Apparently they had their master tapes they were working on for years stolen and this led to a mixed approach. To this ear it is a positive mix. Favourite tracks "Can't Truss It" "Nighttrain" "1 Million Bottlebags" and "Bring The Noize" Good Album rightfully on the list in my opinion.
classic
PE was never amongst my absolute favorite rap groups, but I consistently enjoy them. Chuck D has such a commanding presence and Flavor Flav brings so much personality. Beats are great. Lots of stuff that creeps onto running playlists for me here...
4 stars for the superb Bring Tha Noise
Public Enemy is pure, unadulterated hip hop. This is no shit, gangsta rap. These guys are using their art to bring awareness to the conditions of their community. It’s not quite my sound in particular with the beats being fairly basic, but it’s pure and I respect the craft.
fav songs: Nighttrain; Can't Truss It; How to Kill a Radio Consultant; By the Time I Get to Arizona; Shut 'Em Down; Bring tha Noize (featuring Anthrax).
Notes: I turned it up, they brought the noise. Really enjoyed this one. Does more than just hold up. Its gotten better.
I love everything by Public Enemy. There's just something about the sound.
Everything PE do is quality… this is no exception!
These guys are like a black Beastie Boys, which is to say more legit, talking about real issues, and straight up gangser. I'm not a rap fan overall, but they're the real deal.
Chuck D’s lyrics are insightful and hit at the root of social issues with surgical precision. His critiques of the effects of advertising and mass media on the black community still ring true over thirty years later. There is some filler on this album but overall, it’s accessible and instructive
Not nearly as outdated as I expected it to be based on my experience with other Public Enemy albums. This one's awesome and everybody's at the top of their game here. Severely underrated in Public Enemy's catalog.
I liked this a lot, especially the anti-arizona parts, and I’m uhhh better understanding now the roots of my middle/high school teachers in the midwest being so scandalized by rap, lmao. Also something interesting to me is that because I’m very bad at passively picking up on lyrics, I really had to focus in while this was playing. Like the album really demanded my attention in a way I’m not used to.
Absolutely here for it
Flava flave and bring the noize along with the original grunge hip hop. Iconic
Chuck D is great in his own right but the anthrax feature is worth four stars alone
Not a bad album, generally don't care for Public Enemy but this was good. 7/10.
YEEEEAAAHHH BOYYYYY!! This one took me back. This isn't my favorite PE album, but it's a really good listen.
ok
I love 80s/90s hip-hop, especially albums with something interesting to say (though it doesn't have to be political). For some reason, I've never been a big Public Enemy fan, though on paper I should be. Terminator X has some great, unique production that hits harder than almost anything from this era. Chuck D is eloquent and mostly enjoyable to listen to. But for some reason the combination just isn't pleasant for me. It's too monolithic or something... All I know is: I want to hear a turntablist album from Terminator with no vocals, and I want to hear Chuck rhyme to some chilled/jazzy golden age beats. Did either of these thing happen? If not, it's a crime to culture. Finally, I understand that Flava Flav's goofy high-pitched nonsense makes him the ideal hypeman to balance against Chuck D's seriousness. But I just find him really fucking irritating. I never want to hear another YEAHHH BOI ever again. Overall, this is probably their best album, despite the first three being more famous. There is no way in hell this list should include three Public Enemy albums. I'm giving 4* to this one, and will say mean things about the others when they come up.
A brawling, churning album with capital 'p' politics - and it's a great listen. Everything explodes out of the speakers - but highlights include the buzzsaw grind of 'By the Time I Get to Arizona' and the bludgeoning 'Bring The Noise' (possibly the best thing Anthrax ever did, incidentally).
I’m gonna be behind on all of this from now until 2022, most likely. But I listened to most of this and I really enjoyed what I heard. As much as I criticize this list, their hip hop picks have been pretty solid overall.
hiphoppone storico che ci piace tanto tanto
Shit slaps
Great album, fully engaging. Favorite track is Bring tha Noize
Maybe their best? Hard to say as I am incredibly biased towards Bring The Noise.
YO CHUCK-D, WHERE ARE YOU? Typical PE album, not their best but still a solid 4.0.
Iconic, but not my fav
Di si bio '91? Ma nema meni veće sreće nego kad mi uleti album žanra reperskog. Uglavnom, album je dosta dobar, čak je i Flava Flav okej i ne uništava solo pjesme (što bi samim time uništio rejt albuma). Shut 'Em Down, Can't Truss It i By the Time I Get to Arizona su najjače. Iako mi paše i ova obrada Bring the Noisea sa Anthraxom, svejedno bi mi bilo draže da je neka bonus pjesma, a ne da je na albumu, ali okej, može i ovak.
90’er hiphop, vigtigt, indflydelsesrigt, politisk, hænderne op
Bring it! Bonafide classic, still sounds fresh and relevant
Public Enemy and NWA transcended rap music from the OG's, after them it became diluted crap. What more must be said. The message may be uncomfortable but it was raw and honest.
Huh, I had not heard this before, but this might actually be better than It Takes a Nation and Fear of a Black Planet. Maybe those are more widely acclaimed because they have iconic album covers and this cover looks like a high school stage adaptation of Anansi Boys.
Old school hip hop, pretty much what you'd expect from that era. Good combination of political/cultural relevance for the time period without being too focused on the violence/money/bitches side of gangsta rap though that is still there. Great beats and backing tracks throughout, lots of energy.
I like this album a lot. I believe this was my first full listen. Not their high water mark, but a solid record.
Another one that hits hard! I’m reading they lost their demos prior to this, but the sound is more organic and better produced than on their previous albums. Upon completing this list, I’m discovering I don’t like synths as much as everyone does, I prefer samples and live instruments
Not my favorite Public Enemy album but still really good! I loved their sampling of their own songs from prior albums in some of the earlier tracks and I really enjoyed Nighttrain. Also it was a great surprise to have the Anthrax Bring the Noise at the end of the album which was used in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
Liked it quite a bit. Hope to hear more in the future.
The opening minutes of Apocalypse 91 filled me with dread and not because of harsh and scary content. No, the beats on the opening cut, Lost at Birth are reductive, the lyrics are a nothing burger, and the only thing that distinguished the track at all is some reasonably creative scratching that also incorporates spoken samples, bouncing from speaking to speaker. Fortunately, things improve. On Night Train, yes the beat is as basic as they come, but the dense web of well chosen samples elevates the track and gives it some urgency and swing, and more importantly, since this is rap, the poetry isn't just the usual mysoginistic, homophobic, dumbass gangster fantasies--it actually has some content and relevance and shows a functioning, restless intelligence. And thus, the pattern is set for Apocalypse 91. The beats are basic, the expert and creative use of samples consistently elevates the material, the scratching is hip, and Chuck D's raps, while rhythmically remedial, are at least lyrically sharp, which is enough. Taken all together, Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black is actually invigorating. A lot of this is down to the samples, but someone had to choose them and arrange them, and they do so beautifully. Also, the record sounds good, which again, has a lot to do with the samples, but the vocals, scratching, samples, and beats are all well balanced, which also takes skill and taste. Honestly, for this style of rap, it doesn't get much better than this, but I'm reluctant to give this a 5 or even a 4.5 because this something like Apocalypse 91 isn't even in the same universe as something like Electric Ladyland in terms of quality, imagination, etc., but then again, I really should be evaluating this against the genre it's in, not by some imaginary universal standard.
An amazing hip-hop album, great production and flows + a lyrical focus on social issues that are /still/ relevant today makes for a fun but engaging listen
Pues Public Enemy de nuevo, así que no hay mucho que decir. Traen con qué: un álbum sólido, enérgico, con mucho qué decir y con un final muy divertido (esa colaboración con Anthrax jaja, que sí está buena, por cierto). Me gustaron especialmente "Nighttrain", "By The Time I Get To Arizona" y "Shut Em Down" 9/10.
Still not my favorite rap but I heard plenty of references to rap classics, some social commentary, and there were way less yaa boiiiis in this album so in all, a big improvement
Better than the last public enemy album. More politically charged and less yeaaaaaa boiiiiiiiii’s
7/10. Interesting to hear from a rap group that was against reclaiming the N-word. I really don't need the blaring noises in alternating ears in "One Million Bottlebags". "Bring Tha Noize" is an oddly fun note to end on considering how intense the social/political critique got towards the middle, but I'm not going to complain.
It's pretty good, I just wouldn't listen to it often. Beats are great but end up a little too similar in many songs. 8
This album is front to back energy
A groundbreaking album. Public Enemy dropping solid raps as per usual, funny segues between songs, and a collaboration with Anthrax for the final track. This is the first time I've actually listened to a full PE album - good all the way through.
Another strong and politically vocal album by Public Enemy and the suberb production team The Bomb Squad. Favorite track is "By the Time I Get to Arizona". I thought that Anthrax metal remix of "Bring the Noise" was an interesting addition. I did feel this was weaker than the previous two albums, with less funk and enthusiasm and interaction with the other rappers, but at least it did fix the drawn out news samples that Fear of a Black Planet had.
The power behind these songs are incredible. The lyrics and political content are so blunt, and the production, while of its time, is certainly top notch. It may not compete with some of the best rap to this point in history, but there is no doubt that this album is significant for the genre.
Very good
This was a really good album.
So relevant in 2021. Ageless truth.
Great classic hip hop album!
Public Enemy were one of the first music acts that I finally listened to the lyrics seriously (kind of hard to ignore them in this genre). Chuck D made all other rappers look subpar :P and virtually all of his tracks are fantastic. "By The Time I Get To Arizona" is probably my favourite rap song of all-time (I'm old enough to remember it being banned on MTV. :) ) so that's the starting point for me. Other highlights include "Move" "...Radio Consultant" and "Shut 'Em Down" - the samples/beats are perfect. Flavor Flav is a fine sideman for Chuck D but I've never much liked Flav's featured tracks, so I tend to skip most of his lead cuts on any PE album (and a few on here are indeed immediate skips...) - his goofy takes and abrasive voice get old quickly and don't really carry a song for me. Having said that, the strong points on this album are great and the themes are still so timely that even though it's nowhere near perfect (lyrics are mostly great, but some that have not aged well....) it's one I come back to often. "these days you can't see who's in cahoots cuz now the KKK is wearing three piece suits..."
a classic for me
I enjoyed this album even more than their earlier one that I was given through this. Classic 90s Rap
Public enemy never misses on production from what I’ve heard and this album shows that, the producing is probably my favorite part of this. The flows are amazing and always full of energy this makes the album consistently energetic and interesting. The lyrical ability of public enemy is also great throughout the whole album. This is one of those albums you can’t get bored of and that’s what public enemy is good at. Also, by the time I get to Arizona has to be atleast a top 3 public enemy song that one is fucking amazing. 8.8/10
Retreading this album reminds me why they had such a huge effect on the industry. Lot of iconic styles.
Enjoyed this, I preferred the first half of the album but it's a strong album in this genre. 4*
Loved it, second half tailed off a bit though sadly. As close to a 5 without being one.
This is good. Never listened before, go for different albums of theirs.
I do think chuck D is one of the better rappers out there (in my very limitted knowledge of this genre). Despite Flavour Flav's being preeetty ridiculous , Chuck's Rhymes/raps are just bloody good. Funky beats on this album and content is super political and hard-hitting as with most of their material. By The Time I get to Arizona is an absolute tune.
Leuk!
Enjoyed this one. I can see the hype with why everyone respected PE and what they brought to the table in the early days of hip hop and rap.
This album slaps, obviously.
Solid all the way through, but I still liked fear of a black planet better. Great commentary all the way through
Very good tracks (Arizona, Nighttrain, Bring Tha Noize)... not a masterpiece, but still very strong after all these years...
Para afines al estilo. Buenas bases
flava flav never does anything I like a lot of the songs on here tho
3.5. Militant. Aggressive. A little long. But I liked it.
Bon album mais pas non plus un coup de coeur
Soberbio. Elegante. Justo y necesario.
Classic 90s hip-hop. I don't normally listen to this genre, so I'm glad to get more exposure. Bring Tha Noise brought be back to THPS 2 for sure... Highlights: -Nighttrain -By The Time I Get to Arizona -Bring Tha Noise
Is good
awesome 😎 flavvy flavvy
High energy, classic PE
Banger
really good hip hop, maybe a tad overly aggressive about certain issues
Very good.
Listening to this album makes me wonder what the hell happened to rap music.
Public Enemy is bad background music. Some of the sound design on this record was quite fresh. Flavor Flav is hilarious.
This album is fkn cool. If modern hip hop sounded like this I'd buy every new album coming out. 4/5.
Good album with some substance involving race represented in music.
Banger
A fun album but not something I'd ever listen to on my own.
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
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.
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
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.
I'd forgotten about the Anthrax colab - awesome!
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.
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
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.
Hyper- political barrage from one of the most important acts of the last 40 years. This isn’t their best effort.
Liked the vibes of this one even if every song seemed to doing the same by the end.
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.
A couple of classics but far from their best work.
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.
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
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.
Bra, om än ett snäpp under deras tidigare på listan för mig.
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.
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.
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…
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!
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
Great
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
3.5 but for this purpose 3
Good beats and energy. To my uneducated ear, not the best hip hop album I've heard on this list but still decent.
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.
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
patchy, especially considering the highs they were achieving around this time, but does have it's moments
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
1 - Lost at Birth (wonderfully ahead of its time is the landing-plane beat that opens this album. The aggressive phrasing and delivery really stress the urgency of Public Enemy's messaging here and despite how uneasy and irritatingly repetitive the beat is, it never wears out. Definitely the best opening to a Public Enemy album I've heard (I've only heard this one and It Takes a Nation's...) 4.5/5 2 - Rebirth (kind of odd to go from that air raid siren opener to a minimalist, minute long track. It follows a similar thematic palette but I feel like this album could benefit from a stronger opening one-two. Still a solid track regardless) 3.5/5 3 - Nighttrain (the chopped vocal sample on the beat makes it feel like the verses are being delivered on a live mic while they're standing in a moving crowd. The verses here are the most aggressive they've been on the album so far. I can't help but admire how ahead of their time these instrumentals are; really elevates this whole thing several notches) 4/5 4 - Can't Truss It (another hooting and hollering beat, this one is led by a repeated trumpet sample. By comparison, this song is tamer than the ones that preceded it, which figures since it's the best-known piece from this album and was selected as a single. Its main role here is the conventional rap song and it feels very of its time compared to the other songs) 3.5/5 5 - I Don't Wanna Be Called Your Niga (this one is anchored by a very Sly Stone-esque instrumental which lends a harder, funkier edge to this track. Definitely not the most accessible song on this album but it's probably the purest Public Enemy song in spirit for this half of the album. It has a nice switch-up in its last minute with the calmer boom bap beat, like it's outro-ing itself) 4/5 6 - How to Kill a Radio Consultant (judging from the title, this one is about the music business. The stuttering beat again stresses the immediacy of the message, and the screeching sound in the back is almost industrial(?) by the standards of the hip hop contemporary to this. Thoroughly impressed with this middle section so far) 4/5 7 - By the Time I Get to Arizona (this one has a languid, bluesy vibe with a processed harmonica backing. It's oddly Delta-influenced despite describing a trip to the American Southwest. The rapping on here is a lot more measured than the furious, rapid fire styling that's standard to Public Enemy. There's even a bizarre middle section where the instrumental turns into a suspended and reversed beat mixed with what sounds like screaming kids at a theme park. This has been my favourite song on this album so far; what an incredible, ageless piece!) 4.5/5 8 - Move! (this one sounds very 80s but with a strikingly modern twist. To my ears, this song pays tribute to the old school pioneers that first developed hip hop; after all, they walked so Public Enemy could turn rap composition and production on its head. There's a catchy little call and response with the shouted "Move!" refrain that makes up the hook. Overall a very fun(?) song for the otherwise deathly serious Public Enemy) 4/5 9 - 1 Million Bottlebags (the squeaky wheel beat contrasts sharply with the funkier samples on this one. It's honestly kind of jarring, and it's surprising that it took until this song for me to feel like that about these beats that are very obviously trying to get in your face. This one continues the momentum that's been building since the 5th song) 4/5 10 - More News at 11 (some of the rhymes here may be a little silly and a little dated, but this one is a quick palate cleanser given its relative brevity and lighter instrumentation. It's a nice break from the harsh sound, but not from the serious, righteous lyrics. This is one of several songs to end with a brief spoken interlude, an early form of skits if you will. At least they aren't individual tracks and actually have some level of cohesion) 3.5/5 11 - Shut 'Em Down (slower and more methodical than most songs here, this one was another well-known single in its time. The huge drum hits make the beat feel like it's stalking around an alley on the bad side of town. This one is also played straight which helps bolster its commercial potential, but that doesn't mean the lyrics about suspicion about those who make it out of the ghetto any less poignant. Probably my favourite of the better-known songs from this album) 4/5 12 - A Letter to the New York Post (Flav brings back the rapid fire rapping that was absent from the last couple of songs. It really makes this song into a breeze with its relaxed guitar (occasionally played in reverse.) This song is definitely about media bias, which was becoming an increasingly overbearing problem with the end of the Fairness Doctrine and the birth of 24 hours infotainment news) 3.5/5 13 - Get the F... Outta Dodge (the first vaguely industrial beat in a while appears on this song. The lyrics on this one are looser and cover a wider variety of topics, though it's all of the same social and political issues that have been so extensively covered by Public Enemy on this whole album) 3.5/5 14 - Bring the Noize (I was immediately shocked by the use of an actual metal riff as the instrumental anchor of this (very energetic) closer. This could have been an earlier feature on this album but it definitely brings up the energy for one final push to the end of the album. Listeners probably witness a live recording of the birth of the entire late 90s metal scene when they listen to this song. Things finally calm down in the last few seconds as a boom bap beat closes out this album for real; it almost feels like I was caught in a wind tunnel then came out of the other end to a completely calm outside) 4.5/5 OVERALL - 7.8/10
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.
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.
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
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.
I never would have listened to this album on my own. I’m glad I did because I kind of enjoyed it!
Favorite track: can't truss it other picks: shut em down, by the time I get to arizona
6/10
Hmmm
Not bad but it just isn't my kind of music
Alright
140. woa
Quite samey but I enjoyed it
I get it, but find a whole album really hard work!! Glad it's here though
I like Public Enemy’s energy as much as I am generally exhausted by it—I am, to paraphrase Fitzgerald, simultaneously enchanted and repelled.
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.
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
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
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
Classic public enemy album, solid no skips
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.
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
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.
Not for me, but I know some who have played this music in the past
it was never going to be Fear Of A Black Planet
This was really enjoyable
A classic rap album with energy and a message. I don't think this album aged well but it is undoubtedly an album that has pioneered a sound that would carry throughout the 90s
first real experience with Public Enemy and, like, hm. always thought i'd love them, and maybe Black Planet or Nation of Millions will click harder, but i'm not in love with this. it's a very angry record, which is fine, cool even, but there's a kind of haranguing quality to it when you combine the sentiment with its length that is a challenge, especially with my habit of listening to these multiple times to really wrap my head around them. Chuck D (wonderful voice, incredibly cool, genuinely really excited to hear more of him) has a real bitterness towards other Black people on this record that is certainly earned and complicated and really not my thing to dissect but it makes things a bit less righteous and more lecture-y. still, though, this is just a very cool block of sound. sampling's great, production is funky in a sort of loud, sweaty way, and when the lyrics are on point (which they mostly are) it's really easy to get caught up in the energy. also, just scrolling through their discography, and man, what an incredible set of album covers. just such a cool, cohesive, accurate-to-the-music set of visuals. anyway, that's not really relevant. i liked this! i think i seem negative because this has been a week of total heaters from the generator, and i expected this to be another one. oh well!
prefer wu-tang clan or other similar bands, overall decent but not my cup of tea specifically
I had this album back in the day, but didn't listen to it as much as other PE records. I remembered why while I took this in. For me it started really strong but declines as it goes on. "Letter to the NY Post" troubled me at the time and has aged very poorly, making the 4th "side" of the record unlistenable. It's too bad because the good stuff on here is REALLY good.
fun old school album. pretty wild for folks of our generation, knowing Flava Flav from his reality show, and not from Public Enemy. overall, Chuck D i think has the better skills than Flav, but it was still a fun listen. shout out to Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 for introducing me to Public Enemy as well.
I wish I were more aware of the cultural and political references made in this album so that I could better appreciate it. I do feel like this second Public Enemy album we’ve had is a better representation of the sound I’d expect from them. It’s also always nice to get that reminder that Flavor Flav is famous for something other than reality TV.
Alltså bra bara inte min grej. Shut Em Down är min favorit. Lite enformig att lyssna på i ett svep, jag tycker att mycket låter samma. Men det går ju inte att betona nog hur viktiga de har varit rent politiskt, lyfter orättvisor, rasism osv
Last of the three Public Enemy albums on the list. A good listen on a long drive. A bit more metal fusion than I expected but that's fine too. 3.5
3/5 simpáticos, not 4 me
A high 3 for me. The pace needed a slight change up near the end to push it that bit more. The Anthrax collaboration is one of my favourites.
Interestingly the tapes from today’s album were stolen forcing them to re-record with a simpler more robust sound. Some people like it - but I think it’s the main reason that the second and third LPs by Public Enemy are better. High 3
typowy album z gatunku czarnej muzyki na liscie jest typowy
Saving "It Takes a Nation..." for last, eh? I honestly don't know too much about this album in particular. This is a little rougher around the edges and more straightforward compared to the group's previous albums. Chuck D is still authoritative on the mic and there are still some poignant and memorable tracks here (Can't Truss It, By the Time I Get to Arizona, and the Bring Tha Noize collab with Anthrax). I guess the disks for each track were originally stolen, forcing the group to re-record under tighter circumstances (somewhat explaining the denser production). Still, this can't help but be overshadowed a bit by the group's previous two albums.
yum 3/5
As with a lot of the hip hop on this list, I enjoyed more than o expected to. Not the best of the genre, but very listenable.
Not my style, but I do enjoy their passion—and the rhythm. ★★★
2.5 rounded up to 3 - not my favorite PE album, prefer the earlier stuff more.
Hmm I wanted to like it more. Simpsons: Yes
Damn good. Maybe not as immediate as FOABP or ITANOMTHUB but still enjoyable and Chuck D sounds absolutely LOCKED IN HERE.
This album goes hard lol, I probably haven't understood a big number of the references, cool to listen to a Public Enemy album though and hear songs from Flavor Flav
pretty fun
Ok 3.4
mostly fun but some clunkers
Pretty good. Really like By the Time I Get to Arizona.
Not the best album for a white woman in a Subaru to listen to while driving into the South Side of Chicago 😅 appreciated the Alexander Hamilton reference
Not bad at all. Good stuff!
Two days, two early 1990s East Coast Rap albums Really hard to not be biased when we got Wu-Tang yesterday, but it’s really easy to compare the two and see the shortcomings it has. To start with the good: the themes of injustice, poverty, and media coverage are very well conveyed and it’s definitely a lot better organized than 36 Chambers. There’s a couple of good sounding songs in there, but I think the problem is the album gets a lot more repetitive when most of the vocals are done exactly the same. Some songs really get on your nerves after the third verse and it makes it hard to get through. It’s not BAD, and I can definitely see myself liking it significantly more on a different day, but I was definitely burnt out by the end.
This one is interesting. I do like the early 90's style of rap for the sheer energy it has that a lot of other music just doesn't quite hit in the same way. Although at some point I have to admit the siren-type beat is too much. Solid 3 star album, kind of interesting, kind of rough, might listen to it again.
Surprising. Gritty. Tough. But good messages other than bitches and 40 ounces. Black pride, MLK holiday strong. The liquor companies preying on the black community were DEFINITELY unexpected. Good not great.
No matter how many times I listen, this is not my thing. But for some reason, I liked it more than Wu-Tang and Kendrick. That doesn’t mean I’ll listen to it again, but I didn’t wish it was over the entire time. Overall, didn’t particularly enjoy it but didn’t really hate it either.
3.29
This ain't bad Some good beats and good lyrics. 3/5
Good
Just about everything by Public Enemy is important, but I liked the music on this album a bit less than their other work. It is still high-quality, hard-hitting hip-hop. Favorite track: "Nighttrain"
I find that a lot of rap in the early years hasn't aged the best and sounds dated rather quickly. Thankfully I didn't have that issue with today's album. It sounds fairly fresh and the things they rap about are still sadly relevant as it was back in 1991. The line about KKK now wearing three-piece suits knocked me back as how well its aged in today's messed up political climate. Chuck's vocals are demanding and he has a great flow. Flav serves well as the group's hypeman and even gets time to shine on 'I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo N***', one of the strongest tracks here. I was aware of 'By The Time I Get To Arizona' and 'Bring The Noize' due to my time with the Tony Hawk video games and they hold up from my childhood. Although the latter song is drilled into my brain at this point, it must be weird to see how a band like Anthrax collaborating with Public Enemy must have been when this released. There is a fair bit of filler on here that brings down my overall rating. Despite the bloat, I had a good time and I'm intrigued to hear more from these guys.
While I’ve found that I like Public Enemy quite a bit through this project, we’re on their third album. This is overkill. I find myself having to state this on so many albums these days. On merit alone, of course this album is good. It highlights racial injustice and the rap is thrilling for the time period. 3.5/5
Unhinged production
No private session used. I like the anger and energy of Public Enemy and when you listen to the lyrics you get why they are angry. Some of the songs have way too much ironic racism and the use of the n word for a white man to feel comfortable listening to.
Yeah, this one's not really doing anything for me. Old school style rapping never really has unless the band is named Beastie Boys. Just sounds dated in a way that I can't get into. It's fine, but not for me.
I never listed to rap / hip hop - not really my thing, but if I ever want to, - which I may now- I’ll go to this.
Not my regular genre but the album has some merit. It's lyrical & rhythmical, if i was a different person this could rate much higher
As relevant today as when it was written.
Enjoyed, but didn't feel the same impact I did from "it takes a nation," so if I were to listen again it wouldn't be this album
This album gets better as it goes on. There some good instrumentals. Still, a little early 90s hip hop goes a long way.
Good better than other from the same time that basically sounds the same.
Feeling myself angry and resentful this morning, Chuck Ds anger and resentment comes across authentic and cathartic. Flavor flav brings some outlandish comedic relief (even if that wasn’t the intention). I don’t typically go to Public Enemy for this era and style of hip hop, but may add to the rotation after refamiliarizing myself. You still get some of that corny 80s hip hop sound that makes it sound a bit outdated and ultimately the groups importance outrides its everyday listenability (for me).
3.5, some full on epic tracks mixed in with some that sound cheap and rushed 'cos the originals got stolen! ...what it could have been …
5.5/10
Of all the styles of rap, I seem to like these guys’ combination of aggressive lyrics and pumping bass and vibes better than others.
Quite good
Faktiskt helt ok, fortfarande. Det är ändå rätt daterat vid det här laget, men jag hade en rätt njutbar stund. Det kanske inte når särskilt höga höjder men ändå. Skönt gung. Men det känns ändå amatörmässigt idag, med den utvecklingen hiphopen haft.
Även om de två föregående albumen från PE är de ”stora” så föredrar jag ändå detta. Mer utvecklade beats och produktioner, även om rapen fortfarande bitvis är lite primitiv. Har heller aldrig förstått storheten med Bring Tha Nooze. Stark trea blir det ändå.
The rapping and lyrics were great but some beats sound like they were made by DJSigma
I mean yea it’s a good album but a lot of kkk references which kinda turned me off
Ich inna płyta, która mi się wyładowała tu była lepsza. Ta jest trochę monotonna i wtórna. Brakuje mi jakiegoś hitu, który osadziłby ją w pamięci. 6/10
Public Enemy is awesome. Good politically charged lyrics. Not their strongest album though.
Not too bad. I can sit through it. Rap's not my bag, but anything I can listen to and not just suffer the whole time is ok in my book.
Flava Flav is rapping and a-rockin!
A bit dated, but a decent enough listen
6/10 – Decent
This was great! There's a tempered anger here, at both an institution and those who inadvertently support it. Really catchy beats and interesting lyrics
A few songs I liked quite a bit but I found some others super annoying with overly loud repetitive noises, and overall just too much going on in each one. My brain couldn't figure out what to focus on.
Cool but not my cup of tea
Hip hop a hippity hop
Not for me
Before: Rap again, or hip-hop or whatever you call it. At least it's something I like a little. I used to listen to Public Enemy and a few similar artist back in the late 80s'/early 90's but eventually lost interest. I have the first track, "Lost At Birth" ranked 52 out of 84 tracks on my 1991 playlist. Maybe I'll find something else to add. | During: Four tracks in is "Can't Truss It", I'll add this to my '91 list, maybe at the 64 spot between "I Love You" by Spacemen 3 and "Smoke Signals" by The Magnetic Fields. I like it's but is a little too long. Now "By The Time I Get To Arizona", it's getting a little tiresome. I was toying with the idea of giving the album a 4 but I don't think that's going to happen. I'm ready to stop listening now. Help! I guess it's time to start skipping through. | After: I made it through, skipping through only a couple tracks, as I was preoccupied with other tasks. I do realize this is an important album but I found it tiresome after only a few minutes. I'll give it a three as it is mildly enjoyable to listen to but I would never choose to listen to the whole album unless it was for a specific purpose such as this. |
Good political album
Liked this more than I thought I would. Thought it would sound really dated, but it had some good beats and Chuck D is a much better rapper. Need to listen to more PE. 7/10
This is easily the best of the three Public Enemy albums I've had on this list so far (or maybe I'm just warming to them?). In any case, worth it for Anthrax and "Bring Tha Noize" alone. 3.0/5.0: Good
two classics with by the time i get to arizona and bring tha noize but the rest is pretty mediocre
One thing about Public Enemy it’s always interesting music
3.5
Rowdy
Not a terrible rap/hip-hop album. Not really my thing, but I could tolerate it and not hate myself. 3/5
They’re quite cross, aren’t they.
Classic 90s hip hop
Socially-conscious, anti-racist lyrics, which would probably be called woke today. Good stuff.
I’ve come to realize I like slower rap a lot more. It can be interesting to listen to rap like this that’s just a constant attack of words, but I prefer having space to breathe. Another album that I can appreciate it for what it’s doing more than I can personally enjoy it
I liked this, but I really just feel like it comes across a little dated now. Rap has come such a long way since this, and it just doesn't match what the genre is now. I think I could learn to like it more with relistens, but it just didn't click with me. Favorites: Nighttrail, More News at 11, Bring tha Noize (feat. Anthrax)
Not as good as the first album
Not as much fun as Fear of a Black Planet.
Decent instrumentation for the most part, but sometimes there were annoying sounds. The rap is a bit aggressive, but flows decently.