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Fri Aug 20 2021
5
Packed to the rafters lyrically and musically. Intimidating, angry and militant, but also funky as all hell with its insane twisting of samples into new shapes and hard as nails wall of sound production that bores into your skull like a pneumatic drill. 58 minutes of pure adrenaline that always leaves you needing to catch your breath at the end. Then there’s all the rappers, beat makers and artists who have built careers off the back of ripping this album off, Dr. Dre being one of the most obvious examples. ‘It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back’ is still the sound of an exploding rap supernova whose impact still reverberates 30 plus years later.
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Sat Aug 21 2021
1
“It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” by Public Enemy (1988)
This is another recording that must be listened to in context. From a distance of over thirty years it sounds trite, boastful, and limp. But in its day it was revolutionary.
The emphasis on the album is not the music (which is mostly out of a can), but the poetry, which is powerful, and powerfully delivered by Chuck D. (rah-rah comic foil Flavor Flav, not so much). Chuck D.’s diction and elocution are good enough so that his poetry can be heard rather than read. That is a huge plus. Only by hearing can we grasp the anger and the prophetic dynamism.
This album is political poetry. The message here is the potent assertion of blackness. And the beats, rhymes, samples, and topics are well selected to serve that end. Whatever one may think of the notion of the ‘blackness’ they are asserting, there is no denying that it has coherence and power.
And how is it ‘political’? The German political philosopher Carl Schmitt, in defining the conceptual essence of the ‘political’ said:
“[T]he specific political distinction … is that between friend and enemy. [and further], The enemy is solely the public enemy” (The Concept of the Political, 1927, 2007 ET, pp. 26, 28, emphasis added).
Then, in favorably noting the famous 1853 dictum of Carl von Clausewitz, Schmitt elucidates:
“‘War is nothing but a continuation of political intercourse with a mixture of other means.’ To be precise, war, for Clausewitz, is not merely one of many instruments, but the ultima ratio of the friend-enemy grouping.” (Ibid, p. 34, n. 14).
Schmitt became a Nazi in 1933, and was very influential in the actualization of the Nazis’ political aims. We all know how the Nazis treated their enemies.
The political poetry of this album is radical and revolutionary in that the poet takes up Schmitt’s political conception, and then, with stunningly innovative boldness, defines himself as the enemy—and a very public enemy at that. It’s a marvelous moment of clarity.
Public Enemy is a cultural extension of the black nationalist political philosophy of Louis Farrakhan and Malcolm X, not the nonviolent activist liberalism of Martin Luther King, Jr.
If you keep all this in mind as you listen to the album, you will be well tuned in to their artistic purpose, unsettling as it might be.
1/5
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Sat Jan 02 2021
5
The beats on this thing are so freaking good. The Bomb Squad was on FIRE on this one. Way ahead of its time. Chuck D is so charasmatic on the mic, one of the best to ever do it. Flava Flav is a top tier hype man, he never feels like he takes away from the tracks, lots of charisma on Cold Lampin’. So cinematic, it flows together so freaking well, lot of incredible social and political commentary
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Mon Apr 19 2021
5
What an album! Just overflowing with ideas. It's playful, political, and makes really inventive and extensive use of samples. Another bridge record that feels like it's connecting 80s rap to its future directions. Flava Flav's interjections are the perfect counterbalance to Chuck D's hard-hitting lyrics and I feel like makes them even stronger.
Favourite track: "Night of the Living Baseheads" among many!
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Mon Apr 19 2021
5
Really surprised how much I loved this. Like Nick said, there's a kinetic energy and playfulness between the members, but they're able to keep up their politically-fuelled lyrics. It's soulful, the beats are so full and realized, definitely going to be a repeat listen. Fav Tracks: Rebel Without a Pause and Don't Believe the Hype. Rating 4.5/5
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Sun Jul 18 2021
5
Excellent early rap album. Chuck Ds lyrics and rap style is among the best. The beats are hard and not overly funky like other late 80s early 90s. This album is far more influential than most other rap albums. Not my favorite rap album but it gets a bump for the legacy. 9.0/10
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Wed Jul 13 2022
5
The first PE album certainly felt like something fresh and different when it came out, but this second record is where PE really flexed into the iconic outfit that they became. faster, harsher sounding, more political than anyone had been before, this is the Public Enemy that really blew the doors off.
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Tue Oct 04 2022
5
I had a very difficult journey getting into hip hop last year, since I had rejected pop rap for the majority of my life. When this generator gave me Raising Hell, it was the first step in grabbing my interest. In the coming months, I tried a few other classic records, but I still struggled immensely. 3 months after Raising Hell, I went on a solo backpacking trip for a few days in the Ozarks, downloading a couple dozen albums for me to play out loud throughout the days, and the two hip hop candidates were this and Paul Boutique's, and I absolutely loved them both.
This was the more difficult one. As cheesy as the intro is by today's standards, it actually gave me goosebumps because I had no idea what to expect. What followed blew my mind. Chuck D was a powerful rapper. It wasn't about an impressive singing style (as in R&B), or a poetic rhyme and flow (as in Kanye or Outkast), or even the goofiness and fun (of old school hip hop or the Beastie Boys). This was powerful, abrasive, and in your face. Flavor Flav proved to me that a hype man wasn't just a gimmick, and his light and fun voice served as a light and engaging dynamic to Chuck D, motivating audience engagement. In just under an hour, we get 12 full-length tracks and 4 short supplementary tracks that fit really well and keep the momentum going. I played the album twice during the trip, then at least a dozen more times in the past year on drives and other hikes. To this day it's still downloaded on my phone, and I don't plan on removing it anytime soon.
To me, this is their best album, among the best samples I've ever heard in a hip hop album. It's incredibly memorable, with quotes and techniques repeated frequently throughout the album. I love the sampling and record scratching to make each track unique and full of substance. They incorporate funk, rock, and jazz samples to make it accessible and diverse. But really, the samples can be so cold and spontaneous it holds a lot of similarities with industrial music. It's busy and loud but the repetition helps us digest what's going on, taking our time to relax and listen to the lyrics but also just appreciating the music in itself. The production is thanks to the famous Bomb Squad, who put so much effort into making such a genuine sounding record. Despite Fear of a Black Planet feeling more polished and complicated with the samples, I still prefer the personality here.
By today standards, there are arguments to be made against its position, such as the overused repetition that makes some songs feel dragged on, or the sometimes primitive or dated raps in certain tracks. I could see the issues, but to me it's still a complete listen with no skips. And on top of it, it gets extra points for being highly influential to both American culture and the genre, kicking off gangster and political hip hop of the late 80s and early 90s.
Favorites: Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Terminator X to the Edge, Caught Can We Get A Witness, She Watch Channel Zero, Black Steel, Rebel Without a Pause
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Mon Oct 17 2022
5
Not exactly an easy album to listen to but a very important one. The production really hits you, it's overwhelming in places. Revolutionary in every sense of the word, I can't really think of any other group like PE. This is probably my favourite of theirs, and my favourite 80s hip hop album, even though there are a couple of Flava Flav duds on it. It's pretty nonsensical listening to him rant about trash TV on 'She Watch Channel Zero' considering he ended up running his own reality TV show in the 00s! Chuck D is as great as ever though, Particularly on Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos and the second side of the album.
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Thu Oct 07 2021
4
The rappers press on dramatically and paroxysmally in a patchwork of rap noises, casual bandisms, scratch improvisations (Terminator X, aka Norman Rogers, the scratch wizard) and electronic disturbances. It's a classic, an overwhelming and sophisticated sampler of revolutionary music. (7/10)
Favourite Tracks: Terminator X to the Edge of Panic
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Mon Nov 15 2021
4
This is one of the most important hip-hop albums of all time. "Bring the Noice" continues to be an anthem for standing up for the greater good. Chuck D's vocals grab your attention with his aggressiveness, but hold your attention with the message he's providing. This isn't a personal favorite of mine, but it is an absolute pleasure to listen to.
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Wed Nov 17 2021
4
I have a distinct memory of seeing PE t shirts for sale at the old Toowoomba Target. They kind of broke through as fashion before I could get a handle on their music. Again another album where I've only really listened to the hits. I recommend everyone watching the doco 'Welcome To The Terrordome'
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Tue Jan 11 2022
4
I have to admit I wasn't in the mood to listen to this during an already stressful and hectic Monday work morning, but surprisingly it fits very well with the chaos of the morning. Separate from my listening circumstances, I found myself drawn in by these tracks. Really cool layering of rhythms and harmonies from the drum loops on up through the vocal mix. Heard some nice influences, samples, etc., from R&B and funk, including some great guitar and bass lines.
I definitely want to give a few re-listens along with the lyrics in front of me. I heard some good strong commentary in there and want to dive deeper.
Strong, strong album.
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Wed Feb 09 2022
4
Don't Believe the Hype, indeed! Just foundational, a true template for so much to come (for better or worse). Chuck D-Flavor Flav maybe the Lennon-McCartney (or Simon-Garfunkel) of hip-hop. The grit and energy and edge are true and strong after all these years, even if the beats and tech are dated. Fear of a Black Planet even better.
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Thu Mar 10 2022
4
So damn good. The beats, the socially conscious lyrics, the talent. They hype man with a giant clock necklace. Great hip hop album all around
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Thu Mar 24 2022
4
The second half of the 80's marked a turn for hip hop. Though Run DMC was the first touchstone group for hardcore hip hop, it would be groups like N.W.A. and Public Enemy that would get especially aggressive in their delivery, effectively popularizing the subgenre.
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is an undeniable radical energy, with MC Chuck D giving hard-hitting lyrics with a tough-as-nails delivery, alongside hypeman Flavor Flav who elevates the music. While rapping is certainly good on here, it occasionally comes across as a dated and even a bit corny. Rapping has evolved a lot since 1988 and I'll be hones tin saying I'm not a huge fan of Flav's presence.
The real shining star is the timeless production. Hank Shocklee, who would go on to be a member of The Bomb Squad producing Ice Cube's solo effort AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (also a great record). We also have the legendary Rick Rubin credited as an executive producer, though to what extent he's involved in the album, I don't know. Either way, the sampling and beats on this album are superb.
Overall great album. Holds up well and it's almost all bangers.
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Tue Apr 26 2022
4
Yeeeaaaahh, boooooyeee!
Props to Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and Terminator X for being the bleeding edge of hiphop just as it was truly breaking wide... but this didn't age all that well. The beats are basic, the rhymes are primitive, and the lyrics are more hype than substance. It feels undeveloped... rudimentary.
But, at the end of the day, that's okay because this was the golden age of hiphop. The genre was still finding its feet as a mainstream art form. Every track was an experiment and every album a thesis statement. That ethos is prominently on display here which means that some tracks slap while others flop.
Ultimately, it's an enjoyable bit of history that's more than worthy of a listen before you die.
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Sat May 14 2022
4
I want to start by saying I absolutely love this album, and I respect it for what it represents in the evolution of hip hop. With that said, the a lot of the samples and lyrics really hold up and are amazing still- on the other hand the pacing of the album is somewhat choppy and the lyrics can be pretty corny/dated sometimes as well. Def worth being on this list, but it’s not my #1 choice for old school hip hop. So close to a 5, but alas
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Fri May 28 2021
3
While it was a really good album some songs seemed repetitive or samples sounded weirdly placed. Not a favorite but still really excellent.
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Tue Dec 06 2022
3
Ok beats and noises. Excellent deep voiced authoritative rapping from Chuck D. Some iconic raps. Political, racial and angry, but none of the ugly sweary aggressive nonsense that proliferates gangster rap.
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Wed Jun 30 2021
1
Obnoxious, infantile, idiotic drivel. All attitude over suubstance.
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Thu Apr 14 2022
1
Terrible. Why make a whole album when you do the same annoying things every song.
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Thu Mar 18 2021
5
Dope as hell.
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Wed Feb 10 2021
5
New form of poetry. Chuck D is a rap god
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Sat Jan 30 2021
5
More than likely the best rap album ever made.
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Sat Jan 23 2021
5
Mad sampling. High speed hip hop.
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Fri Feb 05 2021
5
This album is still great. It's wild that this was once considered dangerous music. White people... smh
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Sun May 02 2021
5
Raw. The only down beat is Flava talking about all different kinds of flava.
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Tue Mar 16 2021
5
But what if I do, do, do believe the hype?? This record slams. And I say that as someone who was an Anthrax fan first. Surprised at how well this holds up and how good this list’s track record has been so far with hip hop. (Three for three?) I could listen to Flavor Flav rap about food and stinky breath for hours.
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Sat Jan 30 2021
5
So much great sampling from a much different time in the music industry. This album marks one of the many peaks of hip hop.
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Thu Feb 25 2021
5
Another one I listened to recently, before it came up here. This is a classic. It reminds me of high school, and is just such an important album. I was listening to it in preparation for sharing it with the kids. It still holds up.
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Thu Mar 11 2021
5
Mucha energía en este álbum, muy poderoso, mucha denuncia y, bueno, creo que desmenuzarlo letra por letra, verso por verso sería un trabajo muy extenso. Todos los beats tienen su encanto, su punch y hasta los interludes suenan muy chidos, por ejemplo "Security of the First World", chingona. Las canciones que más me gustaron "Don't Believe the Hype", "Louder Than A Bomb", "Rebel Without A Pause" y "Prophets of Rage".
Y pus ya: "Freedom is a road seldom travelled by the multitude". 10/10
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Fri Jan 15 2021
5
Super fun
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Thu Mar 11 2021
5
Esto es una obra de arte. un totem. tecnología africana del futuro. arte postmoderno. deleuze y guattari en rimas jamás caducadas. este pedo reordena tus neuronas.
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Thu Feb 11 2021
5
Amazing how much better rap and hip hop was back then. Today's artists should have a listen to this
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Mon Jul 19 2021
5
Not all perfect but some is a game changing 10
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Thu Mar 11 2021
5
Una muy grata sorpresa (?). Aunque sí identificaba a Public Enemy como uno de los representantes del hip hop más importantes, nunca los había escuchado y este álbum me gustó bastante. Tiene un muy buen ritmo y letras muy directas, cada canción se sostiene por su cuenta pero ya en conjunto arman un gran trabajo. En especial me sorprendió “She Watch Channel Zero?!” porque no vi venir la mezcla más rock (?), pero todo ok.
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Tue Mar 23 2021
5
Such a good group. Chuck D is one of my fave MCs. And Terminator X is such a good dj. The beats and political charges lyrics come together so we'll and makes for a good listen.
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Mon Jul 19 2021
5
Top old school hip hop
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Fri May 07 2021
5
This is one of the best albums of all time.
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Thu May 13 2021
5
classic rap/hip hop in the 80s/90s.
Yeah boyyyyyyy, a classic for flav.
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Mon Jun 21 2021
5
Bonafide, stone cold, 5 star classic!
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Tue Aug 03 2021
5
Fantastic.
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Wed Aug 04 2021
5
Classic album with so many great songs.
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Wed Aug 04 2021
5
Classic. Great songs. Great beats. I would definitely listen to again.
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Thu Aug 26 2021
5
yeeaaaaaahhh boyyyyyy!!! this was great. Angry rap with a message. Great album
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Mon Sep 13 2021
5
-"bring the noise" needs no review it is THE public enemy song. It is amazing how much Chuck D is complimented by Flavor Flav. Obviously he doesn't offer much lyrically but it just isn't PE without some flavor.
-"don't believe the hype" is still fucking topical today "don't believe the hype, it's a sequel. As an equal, can I get this through to you. My 98's boomin' with a trunk of funk. All the jealous punks can't stop the dunk. Comin' from the school of hard knocks. Some perpetrate, they drink Clorox. Attack the black, 'cause I know they lack exact." My GAWD Chuck D 🥵🥵🥵
-"cold lampin with flavor" is my favorite beat in the album with my least favorite lyrics. Flavor should just remain the hype man.
-"terminator x to the edge of panic" God damn does terminator go in on this track show casing exactly why P.E. shaped the east coast hip-hop sound. Long Island was never the same after him. -
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Fri Sep 24 2021
5
At the time it took a few plays to make sense but once it hit me it hit hard. Still wonderful.
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Mon Sep 27 2021
5
This was my first ever hip hop / rap album and still perhaps my favoeite. like most albums of this genres i wish it were 10 minutes shorter, but its got great tunes. It does sound a bit samey throughout but it still manages to keep me interested to the. 4.75 ⭐️
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Tue Sep 28 2021
5
Still just as hype as the first time I heard it. Amazing beats and amazing raps. Definitely a classic.
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Thu Oct 07 2021
5
Seminal album for an genre…. This is politically charged hip hop at its absolute best!
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Tue Oct 19 2021
5
Forgot how incredible this album was, and how good it still is! Lyrics are fantastic. Beats are perfection.
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Tue Oct 26 2021
5
¿Qué queréis que os diga? Qué grandes y en muchos aspectos qué olvidados. Me encanta cómo suenan, cómo rapean, alucinante lo que consigo pillar de las letras. Imprescindible es poco. Cinco estrellas totales.
Bring the noise, Don't believe the hype, Terminator X to the edge of panic, Show 'em whatcha got, She watch channel zero, Rebel without a pause, Prophets of rage y para terminar Party for your right to fight.
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Tue Nov 09 2021
5
Do believe the hype
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Thu Nov 18 2021
5
It has to be 5 stars, if it’s not 5 million. Such an album.
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Sat Nov 20 2021
5
I definitely needed some angry political music after the domestic terrorist Kyle Rittenhouse was found "not guilty" today. A must listen for any hip hop fan.
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Sat Dec 18 2021
5
A classic of the genre. It's simultaneously fun to listen to and thought provoking. I could see some people not enjoying the old school sound, but I love it.
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Mon Dec 20 2021
5
Solid album with plenty of bangers
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Wed Dec 29 2021
5
This album is a Revolution!
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Fri Jan 28 2022
5
Though I prefer "Fear of a Black Planet," as I feel that is where they perfected what they established here, this is the breakthrough. This album holds up amazingly well over time, even when you compare it to other albums that came later in its wake. Chuck D's voice is absolutely commanding, and I even appreciate Flavor Flav for his levity and the contrast of style he provides, but it's the beats that completely floor me. I love the fast paced, noise-filled collage. Skillfully controlled chaos. It's high art.
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Wed Feb 02 2022
5
Really liked this one, and liked it even more after going to the Wikipedia link. (Having the Wikipedia link was a great idea... I'm enjoying learning about the albums as well as listening to them, and even for the ones I don't like as much, it's interesting to have the context around them.) I haven't listened to much hip-hop or rap in general, but I'm glad this generator is introducing me to artists and albums that I probably wouldn't have looked up on my own. Would go back and listen to this one again, and possibly pull up the lyrics to read along as they rap.
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Sun Feb 06 2022
5
Powerful
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Mon Feb 07 2022
5
already have! :)
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Tue Mar 15 2022
5
Excellent music Chuck D and Terminator X put together constantly fighting against Flavor Flav. They win, but God damn is it a battle.
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Fri Apr 01 2022
5
Yeahhhh boyyyyyy
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Fri Apr 01 2022
5
One of the most important albums of the 20th century.
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Tue Apr 12 2022
5
Should be mandatory listening in schools.
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Tue Apr 19 2022
5
I love boomboxes!
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Sun May 01 2022
5
Public Enemy is always great. Awesome & legendary album.
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Tue May 10 2022
5
The bside is especially fantastic but overall great
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Tue May 10 2022
5
Avais-je mal écouté Fear of a Black Planet? Celui-ci me paraît vraiment meilleur, il y a une plus grande diversité et ça rentre vraiment au poste. Un aboutissement du rap des années 80.
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Thu May 12 2022
5
The best - perhaps the only rap album without a second of filler. No skits, and even Flavor Flav is kept on a tight leash. The samples are brilliant and the beats unforgiving. A high water mark.
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Sat May 21 2022
5
*do believe the hype
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Thu Jun 30 2022
5
So incredible
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Mon Jul 04 2022
5
A stone-cold classic album. Outstanding!
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Tue Jul 05 2022
5
Hi class hip hop from my man Terminator X, Chuck D and Flava Flay. The combination of crazy sounds slick beats and the unflinching lyrics make this an absolute classic.
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Thu Jul 21 2022
5
Fuck YES
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Wed Aug 03 2022
5
still does
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Wed Aug 03 2022
5
Солидно!
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Fri Aug 26 2022
5
Amazing. Loved a lot of songs, they cover many social issues. She Watch Channel Zero?! was so different, like nothing I've ever heard before
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Fri Sep 09 2022
5
Bring The Noise is great. This rap album is incredible. Chuck D's voice is just so damn powerful. Prophets Of Rage is a great song.
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Sun Sep 11 2022
5
Bring the Noise is great, obviously.
So this is the first old school rap album I listened to front to back. And it's great. The Bomb Squad production is so sample-dense - the "Wall of Noise" opinion is definitely earned. What should be chaotic really flows and creates a steady groove. Always liked Chuck D, but Flav's contributions make a lot of sense when listened to as part of the whole.
Standout tracks (besides the big guns): Terminator X to the Edge of Panic, Louder than a Bomb, Caught Can We Get a Witness?, Party for Your Right to Fight
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Tue Sep 13 2022
5
Loved it, the beat is really cool and I also want to take some time to listen to it more closely so I can focus on the lyrics.
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Tue Sep 20 2022
5
love it !
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Thu Sep 29 2022
5
Wow, that was awesome. Terminator X was in his bag the entire album. Every single beat was just incredible. Favorite track: She Watch Channel Zero?!
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Sat Oct 08 2022
5
Too Black
Too Strong
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Thu Oct 27 2022
5
Just incredible - sound, beats, production, lyrics. So many of their best tracks on this (and, by definition, some of the best of rap all-time). Samples from Isaac Hayes to Slayer, fantastic noise - never beaten
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Mon Oct 31 2022
5
Nice choice. I love the anger
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Fri Nov 04 2022
5
Classic album. Amazing production and Chuck D's vocals flow with a smooth yet commanding tone. 5/5
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Fri Dec 02 2022
5
BASS!
The album that woke me to rap both in terms of music and lyrics - it was the natural progression of rebellious r&b rock and roll.
And as much as I love Chuck D - the best rapper/lyricist in history don't even question it - it's the beats and music that make this album essential - e.g. "Don't Believe the Hype" is as funky as possible with the James Brown samples - it's an immediate groove.
Flavor Flav is less annoying on this album than he'd be soon afterwards - he's a great foil for Chuck when his adlibs are interspersed amidst a song but I still maintain he doesn't carry a song on his own. Having said that, it does almost provide a perfect break in the relentless album (e.g. "Cold Lampin'" brings a silly levity between "Don't Believe the Hype" and "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic").
Impossible to pick a favourite track or two off this since it's almost a non-stop aural assault, but "Bring the Noise" is among the all-time GET THE HELL *UP* opening tracks in music history. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" might be my favourite with Isaac Hayes' music propelling the mid-tempo fury of Chuck D's rap. Or no, it might be "Louder Than A Bomb" ...
Eh words words words - greatest rap album of all-time and one of my favourites of any genre.
10/10 5 stars
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Wed Dec 07 2022
5
Another one of those "eye opening" albums for a white kid in Northern Ontario. Definitely changed my world view on a number of things. Been a fan of PE ever since.
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Wed Dec 07 2022
5
An undeniably brilliant album filled with justifiable anger and frustration tempered with a hopefulness rooted in confidence and righteousness. Released less than a month and a half before "Straight Outta Compton" (which that should give everyone a clear picture of how things were going for Black Americans back in '88), its message is far more relevant than one would have hoped after 30+ years.
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Mon Dec 12 2022
5
Good music and lyrics.
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Wed Dec 14 2022
5
Ура наконец то хороший альбом
Я довольна
Поднял настроение
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Fri Dec 16 2022
5
Monumental in every respect. A true landmark of not only hip-hop but music in general. Indeed, the black CNN at the time!
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Tue Jan 03 2023
5
Classic 80s rap, the music isn’t the greatest by 2023 standards but it’s all about the lyrics
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Sat Jan 14 2023
5
Never listened to Public Enemy much, was probably a year or two too young for it to hit, but this is awesome. Pure sampling genius with lyrics on fire.
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Sat Jan 14 2023
5
Another excellent Public Enemy record. It's aggressive and the lyrics are well written. Give it a listen.
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Mon Jan 23 2023
5
Classic, one of the best hip-hop albums of all time, still so influential, and unfortunately still so relevant.
I also listened to this the same day I started watching Chuck's series "Fight The Power" about the history of hip-hop, including the background, development of the four elements, and (in episode 2) the golden age of which this is a major part.
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Wed Feb 01 2023
5
A classic, and still just as timely.
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