Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Really good songs. Really good beats. Definitely feels like the early 90's rap era. Worth another listen. Fav song is I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga
I'm not much of a hip-hop fan, but of all the hip-hop that I'm not really a fan of, I'm most a fan of this sort of hip-hop. It's OK.
Interesting
Not a whole lotta variety in terms of vibe n tempo but the vibe n tempo it hits are on the mark …. GOOD stuff …
2.7/5 Best Track: idk
Protest rap. Good production and authoritative delivery
Should have been 2.5. Some good stuff but not their best
Got off to a great start with lots of references to the amazing It Takes a Nation of Millions... but then it didn't deliver much beyond a reworking of their earlier stuff. I enjoyed it but it's not great the way A Nation of Millions is.
Yeah good, enjoyed this. When rap was about anger and dissatisfaction instead of Bentley's money and misogyny. Early 90s rap really was the spirit of punk reborn in the American inner cities.
Surprisingly enjoyed this, never listened to public enemy before, expected to dislike this.
The subject matter is still relevant today but man was every song the same. Wasn't much of a difference from track to track.it all became one. Nowhere near as tight and cohesive as Fear of a Black Planet. However the Anthrax and Public Enemy version of Bring tha Noise has bumped it up a star that was great.
Okay
Another very repetitive album. Not bad but I probably wouldnt choose to listen to it again
01) Lost At Birth - 7,0 02) Rebirth - 6,0 03) Nighttrain - 6,5 04) Can't Truss It - 6,5 05) I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga - 7,5 06) How to Kill a Radio Consultant - 6,5 07) By the Time I Get to Arizona - 6,5 08) Move! - 6,0 09) 1 Million Bottlebags - 5,5 10) More News at 11 - 5,5 11) Shut 'Em Down - 6,5 12) A Letter to the New York Post - 6,0 13) Get the Fuck Outta Dodge - 6,5 14) Bring the Noise - 7,0 TOTAL: 6,39 (64/100) I appreciate it for what it is, but it's really not for me. "I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Nigga" reminds me of "Tennessee" by Arrested Development so I guess it's my favorite track...
You know, after listening to Throbbing Gristle yesterday, all I wanted for today was something that I can actually call music. Fortunately, "Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black" by Public Enemy is actual music. That music happens to be pretty decent. It's not really my personal thing, but I still see the appeal. The rapping is good. It's got a nice flow to it. With that said, I definitely liked Chuck D's rapping a lot more than Flavor Flav's rapping. The writing is pretty solid. Public Enemy has this very direct and punchy approach with how it handles politics that I can really admire. The instrumentals are also good. The album does go on for quite a while, but there's just enough variety to warrant listening to the whole thing. Besides, the last song has Anthrax on it. That's just awesome. Overall, a solid rap album with a purpose. 3/5.
Yeah, okay...
I can admire this heavily from a production stand point and the subject matter of the songs is ahead of its time. For me most of these tracks just sounded the same
Old school and a lyrically rough listen at times, Chuck D is good and Flava Flav sure does have a big clock.
Great album - but not my thing.
Aged like milk. A few songs are memorable, but the rest doesn't stand out and when it does, it doesn't stand out in a great way. It's always interesting to get to listen to parts of music history I wouldn't have listened to on my own, though. 2.5ish?
Like a lot of 80s/90s albums it's a tad bloated, some of the themes have aged poorly - still a decent listen
Okay. Interessante wending ten opzichte van wat ik normaal luister. Afijn, heb me best wel vermaakt maar zal het niet snel nog een keer luisteren. 3.5/5 dus netjes naar boven afronden. Herstel. Weet je wat. Toch maar 3/5. Ik laat hiphop naar beneden afronden.
I like the social commentary but the music ain't quite my style. Songs started to feel repetitive. 2 stars + 1 for THPS nostalgia.
Pretty good, especially the lyricism.
Pretty standard hip hop. The political messaging feels authentic, but I always want at least a little levity when I listen to rap.
Some bangers
3.7 - Abrasive and in-your-face as ever. I see why this one is overshadowed by its predecessors, "It Takes a Nation..." and "Fear of a Black Planet." I like it better nonetheless. The beats sound more polished and dynamic especially on the thrash version of "Bring the Noize." Standouts: "A Letter to the New York Post", "1 Million Bottlebags."
Decent album but didn't hold me like It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back and Fear Of A Black Planet. That being said, Bring the Noize i one of my favourite songs ever. LOVE IT.
This is exactly how I imagine hip hop in the early 90s sounds. Not my actual cup of tea, but I don’t complain. I enjoyed listening to the whole album. My picks: Can’t Truss it & Move!
I love the heaviness P.E. brings to the party. I don't love the constant badgering. The audience for this is not going to listen to it anyway. I the end it comes off as complaining more than anything else. Some high-quality socially conscious takes are here though and sometimes those things make for an uncomfortable listen. I like Flavor Flave more than I should though. There's nothing I *don't* like sound-wise on this album. At the same time it's just more of the same. Not clear why it made tis list except for the Anthrax collab which is pretty groundbreaking.
Great tracks -> How To Kill A Radio Consultant By The Time I Get To Arizona Shut Em Down Get The F... Outta Dodge Underrated album! Flava Flav track awful.
Could see it was good, but not sure I actually enjoyed it.
Although the album is quite iconic, I feel it didn't age all that well. The production is fine and the lyrics are still very relevant. The album is just too long and doesn;t beat their earlier work. 6 out of 10
Was what I expected
Bring the noise is a favorite
For political hip hop, it doesn’t get much better than Public Enemy, and Chuck D is one of the best there is. That being said, I just wasn’t feeling this as much as I’d hoped. There are a couple standout tracks, “Nighttrain” and “By The Time I Get To Arizona” being my favorites, but the rest sort of blended together. Not bad by any means, just hoped for a little more.
This is very much an early 90s rap album. If you asked me to imagine an early 90s rap album, I would probably imagine something like this. I like the lead rapper but god that other guy is annoying.
I can say for certain as a 39yr old white dude driving my Yaris to work on a Monday morning, track 5 didn’t feel right. Didn’t stick the landing like Fear of a Black Planet did. 3 stars
This was better than I was expecting. Or more accurately, I enjoyed this this album much more than I was anticipating.
Better than I expected and always happy to see an Anthrax song.
Decent
I'm a fan of rap but not necessarily of this kind. I love the political messages. Chuck D. Has a unique voice. He could be rapping about sunshine and rainbows and still found angry.
7/10 - Decent tracks with good beats - Flava Flav is ridiculous Classic 90s hip hop album
I don't dive too deep into hip hop and rap. But I was excited to hear this album. And this album rips! The best song by far is Bring tha Noize with Anthrax. I wish the album was more in this style. Even though this was the only song I was truly familiar with (thanks THPS) it is just well crafted and I could honestly have that song in my daily rotation of music. As for the rest of the album, I appreciate hip hop with record scratches. I don't know why... I wish newer hip hop still had this. I associate the instrument with the genre. Akin to guitar with rock music. Chuck D sounds awesome. When he raps, his voice makes me listen. His flow is great. Flavor Flav... Kind of gimmicky - his look doesn't really help. And I can't get over his awful reality tv show - Flavor of Love. Unfortunately, I have the preconception of him that is hard to shake. But with all do respect, I don't everything that he contributes to the group. I will judge him on his vocals and delivery, which are just ok. Nothing special. At times, annoying and repetitive. I'm sure he can hype up a crowd though. I prefer Chuck D everytime over Flavor Flav 🕒. Probably wouldnt listen to the whole album again.. Didn't hate it. Will listen to Bring tha Noize in the future and I will enjoy every second.
The old school sound of hip hop. Never been a huge PE fan, but respect what they’ve done for the culture.
Ok
All the album was a really long radio song.
I'm not an expert on rap by any means, and I do prefer mine to be of the cheeky and insouciant or shockingly self-aware satiric variety, so this is just a bit too austere in its intentions for me. But I do respect artists with something to say, especially those using their music to advocate on behalf of the marginalized, disenfranchised, and oppressed. So even though this album isn't about Fighting the Power, it is about Bringing Tha Noize and I can get on board with that.
Мне не хватает контекста оценивать все культурное значение и отсылки и знания языка, чтобы оценивать тексты) Но один тречок себе добавила А вообще достаточно агрессивно, очень экспериментально, намешано, напутано куча всякого, одна большая суп солянка
Wel aardig, maar niet hoe ik hiphop op z'n best vind. Ik hoor volgens mij wel veel dingen waar andere artiesten later mee aan de slag zijn gegaan, dus invloed zal het zeker gehad hebben.
Public Enemy remains to me a group where I love the message in the lyrics, but just don't enjoy the delivery. There's a cadence to the way that Chuck D and Flavor Flav that doesn't appeal to me. It's a two line combo where there's added attack in their vocal delivery and it seems to be the same in every track. Sample beats don't flow well with the lyric delivery. Public Enemy is just not my kind of hip hop. One of the groups that I know are the kings of the genre and paved the way for much of the conscious rap I love, but just not my cup of tea.
Même si ça reste que je suis pas trop fan du vieux hip hop et de PE en général, c'est définitivement l'album j'ai le mieux aimé d'eux. Je l'ai trouvé un peu plus agressif, un peu plus mélodique. Un peu long par contre. 7/10
Toujours sympa. Pas leur meilleur du haut de mes vastes connaissances de leur discographie, mais toujours accrocheur, rageur et jamais chiant. "Can't truss it".
jai oublié de noter 😖😖😖
Can't Truss It still goes hard, track 5 also solid. Aggressive beats. Bring Tha Noize with Anthrax is fun.
Great sound, but I have a hard time hearing the lyrics over the beat sometimes.
Yeah this is good, they produce a sound that has the conviction of their content, the beats are a bit dated now but not so much that they feel hard to listen to, just solid stuff. 3.
Not as good as the previous PE album we had, but still decent. They're really good, political storytellers, but it has dated a fair bit (in the mixing and the style more so than in the lyrics, sadly). Fun range of styles and beats, but just doesn't grab you as aggressively as their other work. 3/5.
A lot more listenable than the other album of theirs we got.
Not bad, actually quite good. Flava flav is always entertaining. The anti booze track was cool and their commentary on the black community is always poignant. It’s just more of the same stuff though, not much musical evolution.
Public Enemy are still the GOAT hip hop artist. I've enjoyed all three of their albums on this list. This, the most recent (released 01/10/91), is my favourite. Still sharp, engaging, exciting and combative, but a *little* bit more subtle and less combative than it's predecessors. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Can't Truss It Date listened: 03/07/23
I like some of the songs but rap albums are super long which kinda ruins their quality as albums as there’s a good bit of filler 3/5
A solid PE album but nothing much compared to the legendary previous two, and only one standout track right at the end
I have to say it wasn't as bad as I originally thought: found it more enjoyable that some other albums I've listened to. Felt very much like classic hip-hop BUT there was a lot going on and a little overwhelming. Still not my favoured style, shame there is no MF DOOM on this list bc I'd be in heaven. Back to the point, it wasn't awful but I doubt I'd listen to it again.
I owned their previous album when I was a teen. Never heard this except for "By the Time I Get to Arizona" and "Bring tha Noize." I would have liked this more back then I think, but it's not bad. Chuck D is a good rapper. Flava Flav is good when he's the hype man or comic relief, but kinda sucks as a rapper, which thankfully he doesn't do a lot of here, just two tracks I think. Public Enemy was always good about spreading around the criticism, not only against the power they were fighting, but also rapping against people in their own community bringing them down (drug users/dealers, thieves and other criminals). Favorite track is probably "Bring tha Noize" since I'm a fan of that era of Anthrax, even though Scott Ian is not the best rapper.
Influential but not exactly my style.
It's good, but a bit much to listen to a whole hour of it. I prefer 'it takes a nation..'
not bad
I quite enjoyed this one. Fun, energetic, slightly chaotic hip-hop.
Ganske gode greier, men ikke 100%
Enjoyed listening to this more than expected. Didn't make it to the end of the album though
Enjoyed this one more than the album with hella horns, whistles, and sirens and that’s about all I can say about that right now
Good meaningful album, just not really my style.
Tony hawk vibes
Didn't enjoy this as much as It takes a nation.... but still solid. Bring the Noize is immense
Aggressive, powerful, lairy hip hop. Absolutely enjoyed it! Loved it? No, enjoyed it? Oh hell yes. But then, I like hip hop. It’s fun to hear the original hip hop masters and I hope to hear more like this. I’ve got “A Nation of Millions” and have probably listened to it maybe twice in ten years! Need to get back to it! This is great! Definitely won’t be for everyone though! Very polarising record I would expect! A three star album, but a BIG three stars!
Solid album. You can totally see the roots of hip hop.
Somehow I never warmed up to Public Enemy.. a shame but listening again still didn't change the fact
You could've grabbed any of the first few PE records for this list. Bring Tha Noize with Anthrax tho, a solid track that was also featured on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game, cementing the legacy of Public Enemy in skate culture, video game culture, and music history.
It is music with a lot of rhythm, but not for all occasions. I think I would listen to this album when I need a lot of energy or when I don't have to be very focused.
feels a bit black panther movement, but some of the clips criticizing black people are interesting generally not that interesting musically mainly a political statement
I know I mentioned that I like public enemy except for the vocals but this album was almost the opposite. I liked everything except for the beats which started out cool then got grating by the end of the song. Can’t truss it is the worst example of this while by the time I get to Arizona is the best example. Still good hip hop all around but starting to make me wonder if the issue I had with this was what I really had with the last one. Btw listened to this during a big fight with Chloe so that might’ve skewed my opinion idk.
might be more enjoyable if I listen to this album while looking at the lyrics. That's what I always think when listening to hiphop/rap. Read a bit about the background. Seems like the main theme is about American politics and media.
I enjoyed this quite a bit, I kind of wish I could go back to 12 year old me and try again, this time actually giving rap a red hot go.
Ah good they got one without professor griff lmao Over solid early 90s rap album and a very public enemy sound
very good, just a specific genre that i wasn’t 100% vibing w in the moment
I don't know what to say anymore. It wasn't bad. How's that?
I gave this album 3 or 4 pretty decent listen and I found it quite consistent and not much to complain about. But none of the songs stand out to me. The album is strong but the individual songs have blended in to one another for me. Without at least on standout track I have to give it 3 stars
90's Hip Hop in its purest form. Man, these dudes had something to say! Bonus for Bring tha Noize being featured on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.
You can always tell if you’re listening to Public Enemy, but sometimes I wonder if that’s a good thing. Still, I love Chuck D & I love the band’s politics, which are on full display here. And any band who can name a song Get The Fuck Outta Dodge deserves huge credit in my book. Not their best album, but worth the trouble, all the same.
Some funny shit. 3/5 hoppers
Awesome record! I saw this tour!!
YEEEEEEAH BOYYYYYYEEEEEE! 3.5 stars
I can definitely see how this is an important album to rap as a whole, and I did enjoy it, though I think the beats and sonic aspects are a bit outdated.
I preferred the first Public Enemy album that I found on this list.
Fav song was by the time I get to Arizona, cool fuzzed out riff and choir sample. I don’t wanna be your n*** had a sort of cool guitar sample. Some kind of cool production on this album but a lot of the songs sounded the same and it was kind of repetitive/forgettable. Probably won’t listen again
I enjoyed this album slightly more than It Takes a Nation but that's not saying much since I wasn't a fan of that album. I think the production on this album is a lot more enjoyable. The lyrical content is basically the same on both albums. The production on this was reminiscent of all of the fun boom bap that came out in that era however not much of that boom bap era has aged very well. Public Enemy are culturally significant for the time they were in but I don't understand the need to put more then one Public Enemy album in this list, or maybe i'm just mad that i've gotten Public Enemy albums two days in a row. My enjoyment: 6/10 Need to be on this list: 5/10
Some old school hip-hop that seems appropriate to be on this list and you can't deny the influence and importance of this release, but I can't say I blown away. It was good and I enjoyed most of it, it's just that I can't see myself listening to this regularly. ***1/2
30 years later and I still don’t understand Flavor Flav’s giant clock necklace. To be fair, I have never really looked into it. And he is a great hype man. I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the word Nigger. About how it is a horrible word and shouldn’t be said. About how it has been taken back by Black people and used as a representation of power. And about how that is all well and good but if you are going to put it in a song that millions of people listen to you shouldn’t be surprised or angry if that word gets said/sung/shouted by non-black people. I don’t know if any of the members of public enemy have expressed anger over this, maybe I am just thinking about Jay Z. It is quite the conundrum. The album was solid. I would’ve thought that It Takes a Nation… (Rebel Without a Pause) or even Fear of a Black Planet (911 is a Joke) would have been the PE album chosen, but as I have not investigated all of the albums that are on this list they very well may be on there, too!
Not as bombastic as their previous two, which is what I love of about PE. Plus, anytime Flav is rapping I'm tuning out. Still Chuck D's lyrics are (sadly) relevant, even if he's not as gifted of an MC as some of the guys who followed in his wake. Personally, I'd chop this album chop off the list.
3+
Strong statements about black people stigmatization.
Not my favourite of theirs but overall it's very solid
Not as gripping as "Fear of a Black Planet" but still a good album.
Voelt wel alsof het veel invloed heeft gehad, maar voor de rest niet heel super. Die track met Anthrax was wel een goeie
I actually enjoyed this (not being a great fan of hip-hop)! Harder and more varied than Gangstarr from the same era. Chuck D’s voice is deep and authoritative, the Bomb Squad are good on the production and turntables. The message is socially conscious and free from gun toting and too much unnecessary swearing.
I like that Tony Hawk song
legal
Great 1990s vibes.
Good stuff
Good for singalong with the kids.
90’s rap
I enjoyed this album and the themes Public Enemy tackles are so much better than a LOT of their contemporaries. In the end I've never been incredibly into their delivery.
Bring the Noise! with Anthrax. Nice. Great sounds throughout. 3/5
Really strong start but fell off a bit
Le style de musique préhistorique-rap confirme qu'il est l'un des ennemis publics du générateur.
Look, it's still good. But it ain't no Fear Of A Black Planet.
Some funky shit
Not my thing but good
Good
How many PE albums are on here? I think this is the third one for me. They’re all pretty good but it’s really hard to distinguish between them.
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Classic. I love the flow and delivery on this. Just smacks u in the ass. Aldo I thought Flav was just a hype man but he spits some bars too. Sick. Bring the noise with anthrax is so insane to me. Turned out great. It's like when run dmc dropped a track with Aerosmith but 100000% cooler.
Surprised how much I liked this. Will listen again and to other PubliC Enemy albums
Classic hip hop. Great beats. Great bars.
Favourite track(s): How To Kill A Radio Consultant; More News At 11 The only way in which I had previously been confronted with this kind of Hip-Hop was with music by the Beastie Boys. Did not ever sort the genre out after that. Not because I could not vibe with some of the beats and harsh words drilled into your ear - there are times when I could see myself listening to these tracks again. But the problems discussed are just a little too far detached from my own social sphere and experience. And, on repeat, I do find these beats a little exhausting. Still interesting what Flavor Flav got famous for. Apparently it was not Flavor of Love.
First half was really good, last half was mediocre and a bit much.
Несильно альбом запоминается, хотя он очень атмосферный. Семплы классные.
The few gems in this album are really great. The overall album feels both dated and ahead of its time. 5/10
It was alright - wouldn't listen to it again.
sounds like it'll be intense.
Solid album. A few filler tracks it feels. Bring Tha Noize, Shut em Down are fantastic. By The Time I Get to Arizona has a great vibe.
The bars were kinda hitting and the production was a lot better than I thought it would be. Don’t know if I’d listen to any songs individually though
These old hip hop albums were’t as focused on the songwriting, in terms of choruses and structure, the way the genre does today, but the lyricism is unparalleled, something seriously lacking in today’s mainstream hip hop. That is the album’s biggest selling point on top of interesting sample production throughout and a unique ending collaboration with Anthrax.
An album that sounds very crowded and at time a bit overwhelming due to so many rappers at the same time. Despite that, the album left me fairly neutral, nothing really positive or negative to point out
bom rap dos anos 90, 3/5
Riktigt feta breakbeats, men mixen lämnar mycket att önska. En trea tack vare visionen.
Not bad. Not my style of hip hop, however.
Decent album! Fine to listen to, probs don’t need to go too much deeper though.
I can see how this is a seminal album in the hip hop genre, but its not my favorite. There is a style of hip hop just after this in the later 90's that I like more. The beats are simpler and more jazz influenced and the rap has a little more rhythm. Shut em down was my favorite on the album. 3.5 / 5
When this album ended I immediately put on rage against the machine. Public enemy obviously was a huge influence on some of the bands I love now however I didn’t love this album. At one point I checked to see how many songs were left which is never good. Still lost at birth, I don’t wanna be called, and shut em down we’re great songs. Also bring tha noize is an all time classic and started a trend in hard music whether or not that was a good thing is probably up for debate. Sooooo 3/5 liked a lot of it but would rather listen to other albums that are similar.
Hressilegt stöff. Mig langar alltaf pínu til að hrista hnefann í áttina að yfirvöldum þegar ég hlusta á Public Enemy.
Lyssnade i Gif-Sur-Yvette
Good listen. Great production. Content is still relevant today.
Classic 90s political and social activism rap. Not one my favorite of the rap groups, but I'm definitely wanting to explore their discography and learn more about them.
De va helt cheeeling
Best Song: Can't Truss It. Chuck D's performance here is the best on the album. Worst Song: I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga. Why? Flavor Flav. Overall: I fucking hate Flavor Flav. I know it's not exactly a hot take, but his presence diminishes the value of everything he touches. I get that's he's supposed to be like a comedic counterpoint to Chuck D, but that would require him being funny.
Yet another that maybe I would 'get' if I listened to the lyrics
Love the energy. The N word is used quite liberally. Like Django Unchained, would it carry as much heft if it was left out? It's definitely a statement album.
Still holds up well... very focused and cohesive. Bring tha Noize is an interesting experiment, but seems to be the least successful here. Solid.
It wasn't long since I heard "Fear of a Black Planet". The mentioned album is driven by a rich multilayered array of samples. Released right after that, "Apocalypse 91" creates an immediate impression that Public Enemy used much less sampling here. It wasn't intentional probably, because they apparently lost a bunch of tapes that they've been working on for years. The stripped-down sound reveals Public Enemy in it's purer, angrier form. They still delivered complex and timeless political commentaries, most of the time looking inwards into the violence and other problems in America's black community. As a listen, it's not as exhausting as their previous, but personally, it's less enjoyable. Very '90s gangsta rap despite the social consciousness not usually incorporated in the subgenre. But again, it's Public Enemy and they put political awareness in the usual gangsta rap fad of their time.
I didn't like so much how I expected, but is OK.
Not much I can say here, as I'm really not well-versed in hip-hop music. However, I think this album is fantastic! There's a lot of really biting political lyrics on the songs, and I think it all works well together as a full album. Favorite song was probably Bring Tha Noize, because I really love the guitars behind the vocals, but as a whole this was a really good dip into the genre for me I think.
It's fine but doesn't hit as hard as "It Takes A Nation" or "Fear Of A Black Planet".
As I wrote in review of an N.W.A. album: A lot of anger and pain went into making this. Lived, real, and if neither, the art is greater for their ability to convey the imagined. In the case of this album I felt less shouted at, as it seems more conversational and theatrical, perhaps in part to the levity brought to the mix by Flavor Flav.
An ok album. Love Chuck D
Un sound troppo esasperato e violento.
like it
Bring the noise carries this album for me
the last song goes hard
Some good classic hip-hop! A cool album concept, though became a little repetitive sounding as the songs went on
Great old school hip hop album. Not my usual genre but it's was a good listen.
Höll på att stänga av vid första låten. Mad obnoxious. Sen blev det bättre
åter igen old school hip hop är the shissle
Zelfde vibe als vorige album, ook dikke prima dus
Not heard PE for ages. Loved the movie quotes. Decent.
Chuck D why did you Start hanging with flava flav? You didn’t need him
I don't super know how to break this one down. It's a decent political commentary about issues that still persist today. Then Flav comes in with some homophobic bars and makes light of beating his partner. At the time maybe it was a really heavy hitting album, however listening to it now. Hasn't aged well at all.
I think probably the best hip-hop I've had on this so far. Still not my genre of choice, but very listenable
The message: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The music: ⭐️⭐️ The social commentary is biting and on point, but the rapping and beats are hit and miss. There are a few three or four star songs, and less random yelling from Flava Flav (see my “Fear of a Black Planet” review), but this still falls short of its potential. But, damn, they pulled no punches, especially at the end of “Shut Em Down.”
They turned up the political and social commentary ("I Don't Wanna be Called Yo Nigga" is particularly interesting considering the pervasive use of the word in later hip hop). I actually like this better than It Takes A Nation.
Good classic rap album. Not their best but it’s hard to top one of the best rap albums ever. This album has some great songs and chuck d always brings great bars. I think the thing that keeps this album down is some of the lackluster beats and some of the songs aren’t as catchy. Still solid. 7.3/10
Good but old
Not as good as the debut but still vital and fascinating
I admit I’m probably not the intended audience, and I can see how it was important in context, but I don’t think I’ll want to listen to this one again
Eine Mischung aus vielem und auch ein bestimmt sehr solides und für die Zeit auch wichtiges Hip Hop-Projekt, aber es macht mir einfach nicht wirklich viel. Solche Alben sind eben textlich auch sehr aus der Zeit heraus. Positiv sehe ich die Produktion, die ziemlich frisch ist für über 30 Jahre alt. 6/10
Besser als die letzten paar auf der Liste, paar coole Beats aber halt auch echt schlecht gealtert irgendwie, da gibts schon geileren scheiss aus der Zeit 🤔
Viel Killer, viel Filler.
Solide aber hab mich textlich nicht drauf einlassen können. Der Anthrax Song hat mich richtig geflasht irgendwie auch wenn raprock oft cringe ist.
Kann zum Inhaltlichen wenig sagen, weil ichs gestern echt nicht mehr aufmerksam gehört habe. Man muss auf jeden Fall positiv hervorheben, dass dieses Album im gleichen Jahr wie Cypress Hill Self-Titled released wurde, aber dem Album einfach um Längen vorraus ist. Die Instrumentals abwechslungsreich und einfach gut zusammengebaut, sie rumpeln unaufhaltsam vor sich hin — wie ein Elefant in der Abstellkammer von einem Musikgeschäft.
Flavor FLAV!!! This album has a swag and level of menace that may be overlooked, but it really shouldn't be. Aside from the OG Hype Man spitting some great bars, this album has a lot to say on the state of the urban community at this point in time.
Powerful as ever.
Very political and cool album but no individual song standouts for me
2/10/21 Very politically charged. Less cohesive as an entire album. I appreciate it but don’t love the hip hop genre as a whole. The N word song really threw me for a loop at first! Favorite: Shut Em Down
It's a solid album, Public Enemy couldn't miss in these days, but definitely the weakest of their early albums.
Was good 90s hip hop, liked the anthrax track
3,5! Really good one, interesting dirty vibe, really interesting collab of the thrash metal and 90's hip hop in the last song with the Anthrax; good east coast shit
Average early 90s rap
As rap goes, this is a cut above. Not my thing, but I can see how it probably shook things up a bit at the time.
You can't can't pigeon hole this as hip hop. PE sound like nothing else that has gone before. It's pure noise with a ferocious rhythm holding it all together. And that's before you even pay attention to the militant lyrics that are decades ahead of their time. Thirty years old. Blimey.
Très bon By the time I get to Arizona Shut em down I don't wanna called Yo Nigga
I don't listen to a great deal of old school hip hop, it's basically NWA I listen to. This is fine though, I've head some Public Enemy before, and definitely Bring Da Noise, due to being a metal head. You could argue that song was the precursor of Nu Metal. I might give this another spin in the future.
Still bringing the energy on this.
RAP fundamental que chegou até no rock.
Quite a bit of funky and strong energy here, especially in the first handful of tracks. A bit frenetic and noisy for my personal taste, but some solid rhythms in the delivery of the lyrics kept my attention on some of the songs. Got a little repetitive sound-wise for me, though.
I enjoyed. Classic.
Not for me, but still some good music
UN CLASICO DE LA INFANCIA
Solid but no standouts
Pretty classic Public Enemy Noteworthy track: How To Kill A Radio Consultant (only becuase it samples Run DMC's Beats to the Rhyme)
Great album classic
This album was pretty intense - as expected. It's not bad though.
Pretty good. Very busy, but overall enjoyable.
Surprised Fear of a Black Planet wasn’t in the list instead of this album. But this is good none the less
*insert di si bio 91 joke here*
Fav Songs: - By The Time I Get To Arizona
Another notable album from a very influential band, paved the way for so much great music in the coming years such as RATM and more rock oriented hip-hop etc
Got the feeling from listening to this (then reading about it) that this is a good rather than a great Public Enemy album. The very 90s production is a bit relentless - makes it hard to pick any standouts after the first couple of listens. Also, some of Chuck D's verses seem to go on for about 3 minutes... which is impressive, but again, a lot to take in in one day.
It was pretty good but didn't grab me in the same way a lot of 90s hip hop does. Their Spotify description makes it sound as though the 80s albums are the real records to get into so I'll give them a go at some point. Also, that clock is far too big to be worn as a necklace. What is he thinking?!
90'er hop
Bring Tha Noize!
Our second from Public Enemy. Solid, but lacks the spark that made me love Fear of a Black Planet. I think the production overall was less interesting. I was also trying to listen while dealing with some work stuff and the combination made this a bit stressful; not a good energy match today. But there's certainly value here, and I love that the Anthrax version of Bring the Noise appears on this album. I suspect once we get their debut (which is also on the list), this one will seem like a fairly unnecessary inclusion. All due respect to PE, but do we need three albums from them, when there are less than 5 post-2010 hip hop albums on this list? Favorite tracks: I Don't Wanna Be Called..., Shut Em Down, Bring the Noise. Album art: Pretty cool. Again, the bold stencil font is part tough and part funny. The picture is really cool though, especially what appears to be a cyborg Flav. Busy in a good way, but not as enjoyable for me as Fear of a Black Planet. 3.5/5
influential
240921 16:45 3.5
Lepposa levy ja helppo kuunnella. Toni Haukasta tuttu klassikko kruunasi kokonaisuuden.
Hyvä ja tasanen kokonaisuus
It hasn't held up that great over the years.
Me eh…
6/10, there were some solid bars but it was often grating and I don’t think it has held up to time very well
PE albums are so long! But I did enjoy this one
Besser wird es in der hiphop Ecke nicht
Sure. Fine. Another album from Public Enemy. I don't think I've heard any of the songs before. It was okay. I probably should have given their previous album 3 stars too.
Embarrassed to say, but (mostly) new to me. The first half alone is a 5, but the 2nd half just brings it down with inconsistency. Deserves to be on the list.
- Unambitious rhyme schemes with some standouts (By the time I get to Arizona) - Interesting samples, nailing it occasionally (Can't Truss It) - Dated but stands up but is no Enter The Wu Tang - Strong variety of paces and beats
Old school hip-hop från några av de absolut största! Alltid välkomponerade beats, alltid politiska och flytande rapverser från Chuck D. Första spåret, Lost at Birth, tar dig med storm om du inte är beredd, med sin experimentella produktion och sampling. By The Time I Get To Arizona är en replik från Chuck D på hur Arizona röstade nej till att införa Martin Luther King's day som en helgdag, och har ett helt fantastiskt och unikt beat. Shut 'Em Down en höjdpunkt, har tydligen blivit mer av en hit efter Pete Rocks remix, men även originalversionen är bra. Bring The Noise är en klassisk Public Enemy-låt från 1987. En cover/samarbete gjordes av metalbandet Anthrax(!) och det är den versionen som avslutar detta album, som Bring Tha Noize. Föredrar originalversionen, men Anthraxversionen är en föregångare till många senare metal/hip-hop mashups. Chuck D:s andra vers är magisk. Sammantaget ett bra album, varje låt behandlar ett nytt viktigt sociopolitiskt ämne, mest om svartas kamp i USA. Flavor Flav är en hype-man som man själv önskar man hade med sig i vardagen. Låtarna som han själv rappar på blir inte lika bra, men det är också svårt att jämföras mot Chuck D. Bästa låt: By The Time I Get To Arizona
3/5 it was alright. They were the first band I ever saw. The album was not worthy as a four as nothing stood out to me.
A good solid hip-hop album. Very representative of the time and still very relevant today.
really fun to listen to, not their best album but still loved it.
It’s probably because I grew up in the era of Flavor Flav on VH1 but his voice annoys me so much! I still enjoyed this but it would have been so much better without him.
This shit goes hard as FUCK.
Clocks for necklaces was nearly as big as the jumpers for goalposts movement. People often mistook me for a gangbanger thanks to the claw shape I made when I waved at them. I was a pretty good crip so I was told.
Great 90s hip hop
In conclusione: dalla prima traccia pensavo sarebbe stata dura, invece poi sono entrato un po' nel sound ed è stato sorprendentemente piacevole. Ho apprezzato abbastanza i beat pure se super anni 90 ma ho apprezzato più di tutti i testi che finalmente parlano di questioni socio politiche come mi aspettavo piuttosto, che quanto ce l'hai più grosso di tutti (sì devo fare un'invettiva a notorious big a disco). In alcuni pezzi ho trovato idee interessanti, come il fatto che il governo usi l'alcool e la droga per soggiogare la popolazione povera o la critica al New York Post. Ho letto su Wikipedia di varie controversie tra cui un membro in particolare accanito con l'omofobia e l'antisemitismo e qualche uscita infelice col video di by the time I get to Arizona ma in ogni caso secondo me almeno sto rap/hip hop c'ha senso.
A solid rap album with some great lyrics, although lacking a solid hook on some songs. 7.8/10
good sound, lyrics were a bit crude.
"The future holds nothing but confrontation" Oh how right they were 😆 Powerful vocal delivery, great beat production. But nothing catchy, all I can tell is that these are some dudes who are either pissed off or have a lot of energy for their music. I Don't Wanna Be Called definitely would not go out of place on an NWA record. The instrumentals are good, but the flow of the lyrics always bring the music down. All of the songs sound so similar to one another. The only variation comes from their heavy carrying singles and rare beat switches and skits. I'd give this 3 stars.
I enjoyed the topics and the social/political commentary on it but wouldn't return to it for the music.
2nd time in two days? Give us a break. I'm just going to assume it was similar to the other one. Fine, I'll listen to a bit.... ... It's similar to the other one. Fun fact: Robert Plant's favourites from this are Rebirth and Lost at Birth.
Sorry to disappoint Mystic Meg's shite cousin Quaylo but this one's only getting a 3. To me it feels a bit tired and phoned in musically in comparison to the first three albums. But note to the mystic meff, Fear Of A Black Planet will join It Takes A Nation... on a 5 when it comes up.
pretty old and slightly grating, yet strangely timeless. Appreciate the political commentary and aggressiveness. flows are generally aiite
Samen met mijn broer op zijn 'stereo-set' veel gedraaid! Cool, maar inmiddels toch wat minder krachtig.
Lekkere 'flow' en 'energy', boyyyyyyyy!
This album is pretty sweet for what it is - but Fear of a Black Planet is better.
Ich sag mal wie‘s läuft: „It Takes A Nation ..“ bekommt 4, „Fear of A Black Planet“ 5, und die hier 3. Weil: hier wird das Erfolgsrezept der anderen beiden nochmal aufgewärmt - seht viel mehr auch nicht. Ok, Chuck D rappt jetzt smoother, aber der Bomb Squad Sound war auch schon dichter, und insgesamt wird sehr viel sich selbst zitiert. (Not so) Fun Fact: konnten sie kaum für; man hatte die Nutzungsrechte für fremde Samples deutlich komplizierter/teurer gemacht - gut, nimmt man halt die eigenen. Leider aber eben zulasten der fetten Fülle, die mein 15jähriges ich so geliebt hatte (und bis heute liebt), auch mehr als Anthrax-Kollabos. Naja, trotzdem: 3. Und Grüße gehen raus an Clawfinger!
Did not expect Anthrax
Better than I expected
Pretty solid, Bring the Noise is a great little time capsule to the beginning of rap/rock.
It’s no Fear Of A Black Planet, but still a great album by PE.
Hard hitting production and Chuck D's socially relevant writing is kind of compromised by FLAVA FLAVS direct references to his own personal wife beating and (almost extreme) homophobic undertakings outlined in A Letter to The New York Post. Seems like this is FLAVA FLAV'S only real contribution to the record which totally decimates any sincere attempts at addressing broader social issues. I thought Chuck D's delivery was 5/5 though, there are a couple of songs where you can really prominently here is breathing techniques which was interesting. I'm conflicted on my rating, FLAVA FLAV deserves a 1/5 but Chuck deserves a 5 so I'm landing on 3.
Yo
Chuck d is a legend. Good album but not there best. 3.5 stars
Conflicted with this one. One one hand, I love the sound of this era of hip hop. Always have, even the weird rap/rock Anthrax mashup at the end. Politically charged, lots of lyrics about race relations. On the other hand, some of the lyrics are terribly homophobic and anti-Semitic. Flavor Flav also sounds like a total asshole (convicted of beating his partner, and then complains about the New York Post writing about the story).
This might actually be my favorite Public Enemy album? It's still super overwhelming and some of the lyrics haven't aged super well but I can dig it.
+
Strong message, not a fan of the style
I thought I’d need to be in the mood but I enjoyed it anyway
It's a Flava Flav heavy album, which makes it lesser Public Enemy for me. Best track: By the Time I Get to Arizona
Interesting
Valoro el aporte, pero no me gustó tanto. un 3 que en realidad es un 2 1/2
Some real solid tracks.
Pretty decent album. I Iike the rap/rock. I like the lyrics. I have no doubt this was an important and influential album back in the day. Outside of maybe "Bring Tha Noize" I'm probably not going to listen to any of it again though. Its a 2 for me.
Never gotten into Public Enemy. I freely recognise they are “important”, but that’s not enough for me to want to listen. And Flava Flav is terrible.
I get that Public Enemy is wildly influential, and that I'm probably not the target audience, but it just doesn't land for me. It feels dated.
Very of its time - angry young men for a reason.
poopoo
Нууу..
It’s alright. Very deep.
it's just not totally my vibe. but alas, have to respect my close personal friend flavor flav
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.
not my thing
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.
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
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.
Good
I understand the significance but rap from before ‘94 is just not for me. Reminds me of back up dancers in starter gear.
2/5
Still not convinced to rap music.
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
#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.
Bring The Noize
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.
Bring tj Boise last track w Anthrax was the only hit …super dated lyrics
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
Just not enjoying hip hop from that time period.
3 albums of theirs and still the Anthrax song is the best they can offer!
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.
Old school rap not my style
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.
Poor lyrics
public enemy just isn’t my jam.
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!
Blir som vanligt tröttsamt i längden.
sredniaczek jak dlamnie
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.