It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Strong messages and rhymes, the immediacy of the delivery and the tight interaction of the vocalists add up. Personal highlights are Black Steel and Don't Believe The Hype.

8/10

Just truly not for me. As far as gangsta rap goes in this project, this was probably the least enjoyable.

Fine. Some grating songs, often not my taste, very much needs situated in context. But fine and deserving to be on the list.

1988 was the beginning of the end of hardcore hip hop fandom for me..Eric B & Rakim and BDP were my faves, but we also had Stetsasonic, Ultramagnetic MCs, Jungle Brothers, Big Daddy Kane, and more. This was the golden age of hip hop. PE were recognized as unique and important right away for the stance and attitude, but the beats are what set them apart and made them as influential as they are.

This was really cutting edge for the late 80s and definitely had lasting power. But even so, early hip-hop is a little hard to listen to these days for long.

Edit later

Yeah, no. Not for me. Maybe I didn’t give it enough of a chance but having just listened to Kid A by Radiohead my tolerance for stuff I don’t like is at rock bottom.

4/10 I like some of the beats and Chuck D is interesting to an extent, but the happy Flava does my head in. A bit disappointing

Consider yourselves warned! Love public Enemy, but wasn't tuned into this when it released. I found it by way of the remake of Bring the Noise by Anthrax, believe it or not. Came back and loved what I hear, still far too much on-point. Even better listening today, as the meaning is deeper and has the weight of years behind it.

Strong beats and rhymes throughout but they abused that whistle a bit

I still find Flavor Flav amusing. It’s a powerful set of songs.

Punchy and reckless with a thin layer of musicality that rounds it off into an addictive lure of life changing proportions

Top

Have watched quite a few documentaries that focus on the period of the late 80s when Public Enemy came on the scene. It's an exercise in virtuosic scratching, hard funk samples (not always desperately audible under the high in the mix from Chuck and Flava) and supposedly music concrete and free jazz (freestyle I imagine?). Nevertheless I found the album an arduous listen with some annoying repeated high pitch noises in loops which added to the confrontational political mood of shaking everything up. Significant in musical history but awful to have to listen to for nearly an hour.......

Love public enemy but low key so many of these beats are obnoxious ass hell. Yeaaah boi

I’m into this, I just love the cadence and flow of old school hip hop. I can acknowledge how cheesy it is at times but I love it. The drums always sound so sick. Also wasn’t aware that the star of Flavor of Love was in Public Enemy.

well, it's 1988, what do you expect now in 2026... but for a hip-hop head it's an essential record - which I am, and therefore it's an automatic 5.

okay LOVEE "don't believe the hype" obsessed with whatever is wrong w Flavor Flav. Wish I knew what "cold lamping meant" but i fucks with it. i'm having a religious experience with this album bass for your FACE whispering "louder than a bomb" is an iconic delivery "she watch channel zero?!" is the first one i disagree with. it slaps but you're complaining about your girl watching her soaps? let her watch her soaps! what a strong ending w party for your right to fight

Not for me

3.6/5 og rap not as good as fear but step towards it

added most of this to my movement playlist

meh

Public Enemy is a bit frustrating. Some tracks really work for me, but then others that are similar, just grate on me. High 2 low 3

Hard pressed to think of many better 80s rap albums - lyrical content and backing track. Just lovely

Not my bag

Out of the three Public Enemy albums I've heard thisis easily the most ahead of its time. It's got the incessant, bolshy rapping but there's a sense of fun and plenty of pep in the production, which goes surprisingly hard at points. It all comes together as a very vibey, head banging package without any weak spots.

This Public Enemy album was surprisingly my least favourite of the 3 we've had but still pulls in a low 4

Really intense production. So many sounds layered together but the rapping cuts through well.

Genial. Me encantó

Masterpiece! I have two records that I are in contention for my favorite album of all time and this is one of them. It really depends on my mood as to which of those two I like best; then again, i'm always in the mood for this one.

Yeah boooooyeeeeeee

Flavor Flav is all over this album. Not a compliment.

Mangler revidering

rebel! ok...

Raw. Angry. Vicious. This is old school rap at its peak.

Jogs along happily enough

Always have time for another public enemy album, has the classic hip hop feel but is smart and interesting enough to not sound dated. I like how they incorporate guitars in their beats, recognised a good few lines in their stolen by other rappers I like. Not an immediate classic but good stuff.

Three Public Enemy albums is a bit much. Are they also Public Image? I get them confused. Quite good fun.

Take note SAULT, this is how you convey this type of messaging. With some anger and purpose. Heard this before and I reckon it's the best public enemy album. Bring the noise, don't believe the hype, black steel in the hour of chaos and rebel without a pause all really good 4

Man, the more I listen to this, the more I am convinced this crew were genius. The samples, the beats, Chuck’s flow, it’s all so perfectly in the pocket, even Flavor’s annoying insertions are spot on. 5 Boolean: True

Not quite as good as I'd remembered, but pretty good nonetheless.

One of the most important Hip Hop albums ever made

Really enjoyed this. Great golden age of hip hop production and rhymes. Funny to consume Flavor Flav as a serious artist but he and Chuck D made a great pair.

Powerful aggressive social commentary mixed with killer beats and Flavor Flave. Yeah boyyyyy.

Everything I said about the last Public Enemy album I rated applies here. The beats are noisy and chaotic, the rapping is confrontational, the content is radically political. I loved those aspects of that album, and I love them here too. That being said, I think this album is a little more consistent on a song-by-song basis than Fear of a Black Planet. Regardless, it's impossible to listen to this album without getting hyped up. There's so much going on on every single track that it feels like you can't catch every aspect of it on a single listen, especially when it comes to the ridiculous amount of samples going into every beat. It feels very of its time, but simultaneously it's hard to believe that this is a product of the 80s with how forward thinking it feels. Absolutely necessary listening for any hip hop fan.

Bonus points for having one of the best album names of all time. Sadly the music does not live up to it, for me.

THE political activist rap of the 80's and 90's. Chuck D's conscious lyrics, Flava Flav's hype, Terminator X's insane chops and samples fill out one of the landmark hip-hop albums of all-time.

Still completely original and unbelievably gifted

Great hip-hop and lyricists

1061 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."

Прикольный был рэп, но устарел

In more recent years, Flavor Flav’s persona has set himself apart from the history and impact Public Enemy has had in the hip hop world. He will always and forever be one of the greatest DJs and hype men to grace the wax, but the beats alone can’t take all the credit here. Chuck D’s lyricism is equally powerful here. The content is explosive, powerful, direct, and nearly every song has staying power. It’s an incredible album that stands the test of time and is a prime example of hip hop at an all time high.

Just like Bangers and Mash I couldn't get enough of it! Great album

shit’s mad cool even when you’re not in the mood for old head new york rap flows

Rap is not my thing

Prince of Bel-Air vibes from this, made me want to go play basketball. Made me even more pissed of at the government. Overall great rhythm and mood. (3,8/5)

5.8

Ehh

I respect it. This album had an incredible amount of influence on the Hip Hop scene of the 90s. Chuck D - awesome. Flavor Flav - kinda gets annoying tbh. Loved the sampling lyrics but some of record scratches and repetitive beats gets tiring. High of the album - I got a letter from the government the other day I opened and read it, it said they were suckers They wanted me for their army or whatever Picture me givin' a damn, I said "Never" Here is a land that never gave me a damn About a brother like me and myself because they never did I wasn't wit'it, but just that very minute It occured to me, the suckers had authority.

Yeah boiii!

Refreshing hiphop-album. Favourites: Don't Believe The Hype, Bring The Noise and Louder Than a Bomb

There's a fair amount here that can be distracting; it can be jarring and discordant at times, but when they lock in, it's just some solid raps.

Og hiphoppia. On ollut varmaan aivan omaa luokkaansa ja täysin uutta tuolloin, mut ei uppoa muhun kyllä juurikaan. Samalta vuosikymmeneltä löytyy niin paljon parempaa musiikkia.

My dad went to a Public Enemy concert in the 90s. So this is dad music for me.

fire

1988 political rap, Chuck d and Flavor flay Don't believe the hype Rebel without a pause

Mediocre

Love the sound of these guys, and it still sounds pretty hard hitting and fresh now. Political lyrics, no nonsense attitude, although they say ‘yeahhhh boiii’ and ‘terminator X!!’ in every song which is a bit repetitive.

👌

Tällä albumilla mainitaan Chuck, Flava ja Terminator X melko monta kertaa 😅 3/5

impactful, but i don't really care too much for it

Already the first "song" shows me that this record will be a two out of five at max. Some more songs in and I already fell asleep. Every track sounds the same; very repetitive.

Ta bueno, buenos beats, la letra tiene pinta de tener sentido y eso, no le di mucha bola. Igualmente no distinguí una canción que digas pa.

Mind Terrorist

Such a banger of a record

By far the best PE and it's not even close. It's hilarious to listen to this for the first time in a long time and realize that I still use many of flavor flav's throwaway lines in my regular daily speech. We can do this, like Brutus, because we already knew this!

I have to admit I still prefer "Fear of a Black Planet", simply because I heard the former before this album, which made "Fear" my touchstone for what Public Enemy did to rap/hip-hop. But it's hard to deny the power and innovation and audacity of "It Takes a Nation of Million to Hold Us Back", even now nearly 40 years later, and if anything this album has even *more* layers of noise and samples and sound, an impressive feat. Much like "Fear of a Black Planet", there are very few duds--or even lulls--in this hour of Chuck D and Flava Flav's tag-team duels of social commentary and whatever it is that Flav does. My favorites are mainly from the first side--the original (pre-Anthrax) version of "Bring the noise", the eternal "Don't believe the hype", "Louder than a bomb", and the classic "Caught, can we get a witness?" But side two has several great tracks too: the Anthrax-anticipating "She watch channel zero?", "Black steel in the hour of chaos" (which I feel like we got in some different form on some other album in this collection...), "Rebel without a pause", and the always-unsettling anthem "Party for your right to fight". Hard to imagine improving on this, I'll admit.

Brilliant album. I listened to it on my commute every day for a year or so, so not a week goes by that I don't say one of the following: 1) I'm a REbel so I reBEL, 2) Hostile? I got a right to be hostile, my people been persecuted! or my personal fave 3) she watch, she watch, she watch channel zero. Truly one of the greatest American albums of all time.

♥️

production is what i like the most and flavor flav reminds me of westside gunn, however i feel the chuck d raps feel dated. production inspired el-p.

Was this recorded in 1988 or August 2026? Just about they preach is relevant now: self-empowerment for the oppressed, how much white supremacy running things sucks, and the exploitation of big music labels. It's tense; it's in your face; it's a haymaker to your jaw. And besides the lyrical push, this was three of the finest at their peaks. Chuck D as an MC laying it down, Flav as the hype-man firing up the crowd, and Terminator X creating the Wall of Noise. Just an absolute classic album full stop. Great album cover, too.

5/10 - I wouldn't say it is hip hop at its finest, it's alright but too long,

No idea if it’s any good because I don’t like rap.

Believe the hype. Vital.

Not my style, sorry to Public Enemy, but I couldn't get through more than one song.

I understand it's important, and I tried to listen to it with context in mind... but it was also borderline unbearable.

This completes my Public Enemy journey on this site, so soon at album #213. And it's one I'm fairly familiar with, as I've owned it for some time. The interesting thing about PE for me is that I both think they're one of the more important names in hip-hop, and at the same token, I've never fallen in love with any of their albums. Mind you, all the ones I have heard are really good, they just don't quite hit' fantastic'. There's just something in the combination of Bomb Squad beats or Flava Flav hype-manning that prevents them from hitting next level for me. Such is the case here. Important at the time for its social commentary. Great songs like "Bring The Noise", "Night of the Living Baseheads" and "Rebel Without A Pause". Great album overall. But still a 4 for me.

its good hiphop, just its autumn and im gonna save it for next summer, and yes i know TECHNICALLY its not autumn yet, but idc really it is for me

COmo não é minha praia, escuto por interesse histórico e curiosidade. Achei divertido, mas não me ganhou pra ouvir de novo.

Great beats, great rapping, good hype from Flavor Flav. It's a bit dated, but mostly hold up.

Another good record from Public Enemy. I continue to enjoy Chuck D's voice and find it listenable. But it's not my cup of tea in general, and after a few tracks my interest is lost.

I'm not a fan of this genre but I can appreciate that others are.

"Your general subject, love, is minimal It's sex for profit" 10/10 Absolute Music... Still 4/5

I loved this album when I was young, listening to it in full now it frustrates me, the production shits all over fundamentally good beats and funky samples with the in your face sirens and whistles after more than a dozen tracks it’s exhausting. I get that there whole ethos was being confrontational about issues affecting the black population and maybe the production choices reflect that but I feel it would be a much better album if it had focussed more on being tuneful than abrasive. Still good though 3.4

Decent old school hip hop. First few tracks are strong and it fades slightly towards the end. Love how they throw in slayer riffs though a and it definitely pinoneered a new cross over that later became a major sound of the late 90s and early 2000s

The OG. It starts here and it will never stop. The FUndamentals.

rateo esto teniendo en cuenta que es hip hop de los ochenta para lo cual me parece una locura el nivel, muchas cosas de 30 años después se les quedan atrás. noto un muy buen balance entre el instrumental orgánico y los mashups tradicionales, es violento pero lo justo y bastante catchy. 7,5/10

Well you knew that was going to happen

Heard many times before; 4; Really inventive, hard hitting, and inventive music paired with clever lyrics. The vocal delivery and music complement each other so well. I can't say for sure, but can't imagine that any other album uses as many samples as this album does. Feels like no single idea is ever reused. Favorite Track: Don't Believe the Hype

I liked this album. I love hearing the original sample (Where the song I know comes from). "Show ’Em Whatcha Got" (which in and of itself is a sample of "Darkest Night" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band in 1974) & Jay-Z's "Show Me What You Got"

Not bad for working, but not my style.

definitivamente pioneros Me sorprendio para bien el ultimo track. Creo que es claramente un album que cimento un genero entero. Muchos detalles que otros replicaron. NO tanto en flows, pero si en produccion. NO le voy a poner en un 3 porque no lo voy a poner al nivel de otros, creo que se merece las 4 estrellas por ser claramente un album influyente, no tanto por lo que podria reescucharlo o disfrute escuchandolo. Es un genero que realmente me cimento en mis gustos musicales y ver como arranco es siempre un evento en si.

Absolute classic hip hop.

Qsy, para ser hip hop que no es mi favorito ni mucho menos, estuvo bien.

Itäinen maku-flaawin räppi ei oikein kolahtanut. Yeaaboiii vähän odottelin levyn loppumista.

Public Enema Number One, siltähän se kuulosti. Yeah boy and whatnot. Aivan jees, mutta ei itselle kolahda sen enempää.

Don't believe the hype, this album is mid and too long. The title goes hard though. I was in the middle of listening to "Run the Jewels" when I switched to this album which only highlighted the difference in quality.

Good message, bad music.

A good one that I use to listen when young

Rap/Hip hop is a SUPER blind spot for me and I've always aspired to fix that. I have no business reviewing or rating this. Gonna need to do a deep dive later.

TL;DR: Hard hitting, revolutionary and influential hip hop that retains a sense of fun. BEFORE: I'm familiar with this and love Public Enemy's music, but generally in smaller doses. I know this is hugely influential, although I've struggled to get through full albums with the production being so busy. I'm fortified with caffeine so let's see how we go. AFTER: I definitely found this an easier listen than previously. Chuck D has characterised the production as a Wall of Noise, and I think that's accurate. It's intricate but heavy, sometimes overwhelming - the heavy breaks, wide range of samples, scratching and those weird whistles that everyone co-opted in the early 90s. HIGHLIGHTS: Structuring this like a gig, with the live intro, members' solo turns etc. really works well. The singles are immense. My favourite tracks on here are Louder Than A Bomb, Caught, Can We Get A Witness?, She Watch Channel Zero?!, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos (I'm a big fan of Tricky's cover). I was surprised to hear a familiar beat on Security of the First World - apparently Lenny Kravitz sampled it for Justify My Love without permission. LOWLIGHTS: Nothing that stands out. Some of the faster tracks can be a little same-y over an album this long, but there is enough variety to break things up. VERDICT: It's a genuine classic, a huge influence on the hip hop that came in its wake in terms of the production, lyricism and attitude, and I'm glad I gave it another chance. An easy 5 stars.

Favorite songs: Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Show 'Em Whatcha Got (Interlude), Party for Your Right to Fight

she watch on my channel till i zero

Yeahhhh boyyyyy he sure says that a lot but hell if this wasn't an awesome album. Loved it.

There really was nothing like this in 1989. Hip hop was just starting to take on the form that would be refined and perfected in the decade ahead, but Public Enemy essentially took 5 steps ahead of everyone when this came out. With a high-concept premise and some truly groundbreaking production, no one was expecting hip hop to have its huge innovator album so early in its history. Most of the beats are quite harsh by today's standards, with its whirring, near-industrial machine whirs and mechanical beats, which makes the listener feel every second of their 4 to 5 minute run times. The rapping itself is mostly rooted in the same era, as the production is truly what puts this album ahead of its. Don't let the endless refrain of "yeaaaaaah boooooiiiiiiii" trick into thinking Flava Flav was anything but the greatest musician in the rap scene at the time. In true Public Enemy fashion, there are some radical, violent political propositions being made here, if the title didn't make it obvious enough. Even the interludes tell some kind of narrative as they detail social dynamics, race relations, and media manipulation within the 1 to 2 minute runtimes they're given. While those interludes might have influenced tons of skits in rap albums to come (some more embarrassing than others) there isn't a single one of those tracks that feels out of place on this album. Every track, beat and noise seemingly has a purpose; it's rare to find an album so meticulously calculated and refined, and it was even rarer to find one like that in 80s rap. Most of this still holds up, so I well and truly recommend this one if you ever want to hear where the album that bridged the old and new schools. My final assessment is a resounding Yeaaaaah Boooooooiiiiiiii!! Key Tracks: Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Terminator X on the Edge of Panic, She Watch Channel Zero?!

Cool

'Produced with maximalist terror by The Bomb Squad, an album that transformed rap from a party-starter genre into an uncompromising, journalistic, and sonically dense political weapon.' What's not to love about that. Bring back political rage into the mainstream. We live in such sated times. The production on this album is not only outstanding, but just have been revolutionary at the time. The cut, paste and sample style here is what became the norm for years to come.

You could merge a lot of these songs and you wouldnt notice the difference. It's the message, not the music, or the vocal why it's applauded by many.

First time listening to them. Super fire. Lots of sick beats, amazing flow and musicality from these guys. Guitar riff on she watch channel zero is so nyastyyy. Full of bangers!

Fatigue

One of the most influential hip hop albums of all time, the beats feel so ahead of its time. I love all of the dissonance and distortion throughout the album (the Slayer sample is amazing), and the rapping is great. If I had one complaint, I do feel like this album is just a tad too long, and that one or two songs could have been cut. Still a great album overall though. Low 5!!!

80s/90s hip hop with lots of social commentary. I wasn't really enjoying the beats on this one very much. It sounds a bit plain and dated to me, but I can see why people might like the vibe.

Masters

Really good album, public enemy is one of my favorite 80s rap groups I really love their very jagged sort of beat style and the interplay between flav and chuck d. Also I lowkey miss rappers having djs that make the beats and them being a duo its always neat hearing the dj mindset in old hip hop beats Favorites are bring the noise, can we get a witness (which is totally correct btw sampled songs shouldn’t be copyrighted), and cold lampen with flavor

Extremely well cut and energetic album that serves as a precursor to conscious hip hop. It's full of topics that are still relevant in today's America. Chuck D positions himself as a knowledgeable MC alongside a hype Flavor Flav as they both navigate strong and eye opening topics on some of the sickest Terminator X beats. It's a party and it's real life wrapped into a strongly thematic album. I have to give it it's flowers and hand it a 5/5. It's probably closer to a 9/10.

Not a fan of this one at all, there's a few tracks I could get into but just not for me

What a great album. Such a powerful message but also so danceable. This is a political clyb album!

Day 7 Dare I say the best hip-hop album of the 80s Fav tracks: Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Don't Believe the Hype, Night of the Living Baseheads, Rebel Without a Pause, Prophets of Rage

Their best album IMO. It all just hits. It’s like they found the secret formula. I love this.

Overall Rating - 3.14/5 (6.29/10). Solid album, even if it's not my style.

Heard Before? Yes, but not in a very long time. Notes: - Flava Flav remains, oddly enough, intermittently charming. - i have no problem with irritating noises, but even for me there are too many letting-air-out-of-a-balloon samples. - as for the rest of the beats: unparalleled. - Terminator X is the perfect turntablist. he's got skill, but his focus is always musical. - the live tidbits deflate the album's momentum. - that leaves the untouchable Chuck D. i don't know that there has ever been another MC who raps with such vivid authority. whatever he says, i believe it. Verdict: Hiphop has gone in many interesting directions since this album, but rarely with this kind of prophetic urgency. It's an oddly prescient album for something so of-the-moment and concerned with the past. Powerful. Listen Again? Yes, but not for a while.

Need more of this energy in 2026

no

Another banger from The Public Enemy number 1. Absolutely class.

Good

Revolutionary perhaps, but not easy to listen to.

First listen Saved 1/16 Top track: Louder Than A Bomb

Powerful and aggressive but hard for me to find the line where I think an album falls too much into a narrow genre Highlights: "Caught, Can We Get a Witness?", "Show 'Em Whatcha Got", "Party for Your Right to Fight"

I listened to this back in the day, I don’t remember every song but some of the songs (the singles) are very familiar. I really like Chuck D’s rapping (powerful oratory in rich baritone without shouting, strongly articulating the rhythm), I like the rhythm tracks (punchy horn riffs, squealing samples approaching the edge between tonality and atonality, snappy lively drum patterns, other samples and scratches but not too much), I like Flavor Flav’s hype-work (the sing-song uniquely winning). I remember seeing them live. I find this absolutely classic, defining of an era, a solid package of political hip hop. I roughly never put on the album for an attentive listen, not even road music, but if I was putting together a classic hip hop list I’d want to include one of these tracks. I respect the style and achievement a lot (maybe more than I ‘like’ the album as a whole, I think the length of album is not quite supported by range of styles. So I like this more than Fear of a Black Planet, but won’t go overboard with ratings - I’ll call it Very Good, 8/10.

I find 90s hip hop to be endearing in ways. It’s fun but I don’t love it. The YA BOIS on every track grow stale pretty fast and knocks a full point off.

High 3. I liked fear of a black planet more, but this still rules

Not my thing

Chuck D's rapping just isn't that good. And Flavor . . . I'm not sure what he brings to the table. I'll round up for the message and the influential-ness.

This came out 3 years before Nevermind and, in comparison, feels so very dated. I just don't like this one from PE...

Terminator X To The Edge of Panic is maybe my favorite song of theirs.

There's some filler toward the end, but this is pretty good.

4/5 - Flavor Flav is annoying as fuck, and the sound is really dated, but it's hard to deny the impact. This was a more enjoyable listen than I was expecting.

Heard like a million times, still not able to hold them tunes back bother

Good album! Very fond of rap if it’s done right. Which it often is

Facilmente um dos álbuns de hiphop mais revolucionários da história do gênero, senão da história da música, por que não? É impressionante como a melhor música de it takes a nation of millions to hold us back é sempre a próxima. É impossível, pra mim, acreditar que existe alguém que desgoste desse álbum. A verdade é que eu me apaixonei na primeira frase da faixa de introdução "the revolution will not be televised", uma referência a uma música que eu amo demais. Toda a rebeldia e a vontade de revolução que o álbum carrega é muito real e dá pra sentir em cada nota. Tudo aqui é extremamente original e cheio de vida. Além disso, é muito clara a inspiração que Racionais MC tiveram em Public Enemy, sendo Sobrevivendo no Inferno também um álbum impecável.

Boyeeeeeee

This is one that I never understood the political spectrum this album fires across, but the way each song is laid out, I can't help but want to learn more. The beats are a perfect vehicle to deliver those lyrics, as powerful and angry as they might be at points. I have to listen again, as this was my first time listening through, even as much as I like hip-hop. This album is one you have to immerse yourself in their environment to really feel it. I will take my time and do just that.

Too much repeating of words and annoying sounds.

I don't understand how an album can feel both good and interminable, but that's this. It took me over a week to get through it all because I just got fatigued. On a track to track basis, there's a lot to like, but as an album to be listened to front to back, it's just too much. It's a high 2/5 because it was a struggle.

Historically significant, and musically quite entertaining. I just have some issues with Flavor Flav's style clashing with the hard rocking production and the otherwise serious blast of lyrics. But yeah, this seems half-way between old school and gangsta.

Who didn’t want to wear a two foot clock around your neck. It reminds me of middle school.

Classic rap album. Heard before

turn it up, bring the noise

no ty!

"yea boiii"

I am slightly familiar with Public Enemy having 8 songs already liked by them on Spotify - with 4 from this album - "Don't Believe The Hype", "She Watch Channel Zero?!", "Security of the First World" and "Prophets of Rage". I actually saw some of these songs performed live when Chuck D was part of the supergroup called Prophets of Rage - along with some of the guys from Rage Against the Machine and B-Real of Cypress Hill. This was in 2106 as part of their "Make America Rage Again Tour". Twas a great show. So I'm excited to find some more songs by going through this whole album. I definitely noticed the influence/sampling of James Brown stuff on some of these songs. I think I generally like the songs where Chuck D is the lead singer/rapper more than the ones there Flavor Flav is the lead. For example, the song "Cold Lampin' with Flavor" is the worst song on this - like how many times does he have to mention his own name?? I also have realized I just don't like the rap songs (in general, from any artist) where they brag about their rap/beat abilities. So, a song like "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic" just doesn't do it for me. It just seems like pointless filler to me. Show us, don't tell us. Ok - I ended up liking 6 more songs on this - "Bring the Noise", "Caught, Can we Get a Witness", "Night of the Living Baseheads", "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos", "Rebel Without a Pause", and "Party for Your Right to Fight" This is a new high for me for # of songs liked on a rap/hip hop album! Liked songs on Spotify: 10/16 Rating: 3/5

I like it, but I can't handle the screechy background sounds.

Tåler tiden mye bedre enn jeg forventa. En del av rappinga er litt goofy, men allikevel: Veldig fett album!

Et helt album med Flavor Flav blir litt mye

Føler igjen jeg burde like det bedre enn jeg gjør. Fete, sinte tekster og god rapping, men gammal hiphop har ikke helt holdt seg musikalsk. Ukul lyd. Men bra budskap og slik.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince's "He's the DJ I'm the Rapper" came out in 1988. So did Fat Boys' "Coming Back Hard Again." Rob Base was on the charts with "It Takes Two." Thank goodness there were alternatives to this "happy rap." Ice-T's "Power" album and the near perfect "Follow the Leader" by Eric B and Rakim was released this year as well. "It Takes a Nation..." is my fav from the class of '88 with it's agressive activist lyrics. Not afraid to be political, it's brash and straight forward. It's just as relevant today as it was then (sadly, perhaps more so). 4 stars.

Knew this and liked it already. It was good to listen a bit more carefully this time.

Exceptional, revolutionary, unrelenting.

PE #1!

Started strong then tailed off a bit

I strongly appreciate what this album did for hip-hop and the community behind it. For that I could never say it's bad. However, if I purely have to go off of the music, this sadly isn't my kind of hip-hop. I don't think it's bad at all, but I just don't resonate with the feeling they're trying to give off. Again, incredible album for what it did for the scene, but not something I enjoy listening too all that much.

Driving up to the hood in my old timer bmw. About to play some tennis and golf with my fellow crackers. Listening to Public enemy, because I know I am the number 1 public enemy. Pigs about to get me for pirating the first season of friends.

Good album bit compared to other hip hop not sure it is as good

Impressive

Hit and miss

yeeeeeeeeeeeah booooooi here we go again

Liked this more than the later album. A bit less samey

Awesome album, for 1988 this set the standards for rappers well into the next 20 years. Big mix of shotgun and gangsta rap set to foot tapping head nodding beats from an era where people were dancing to the beats. Great stuff

Excellent record, sounds like a completely different genre to all rap before it and to be honest after it as well other than like rap rock and rap metal maybe

I have not liked a lot of the Hip-Hop albums I have gotten so far from the generator, but I surprisingly really enjoyed this. I think I just prefer 80's over 90's Hip Hop. Great flow with politically charged lyrics. Sadly still relevant today. Flavor Flav could be a bit cheesy at times, but it kept it fun. Favorite Track - Bring the Noise Least Favorite Track - Show 'Em Whatcha Got ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

when the beat sounds like a dying mice 😍

So many of these pre-90s hip hop albums are historically important but just sound really dated

I can hear the influence that reverberated after this release! ---but still nearly 40 year later it sounds innovative and modern (unless you already know it's from the 1980s) Light 8.

What a classic NY sound. I love East Coast hip hop the most, but this album was not addressed to me. I had a hard time relating. If I did I bet the score would be higher

No revolution like hip-hop, I felt like listening to the basics of sampling

Not for me

Decent album - enjoyed it - not really my thing a bit embarrassing at my age but decent album

Not the fan of this era of rap beats with the heavy record scratching, but the raps are great and its fun listening to the members play off of each other. It also feels like there is always a point being made, largely about empowerment, which is sick even though its hard to follow with the record scratching. Appreciate it, but not my thing

This started as a 4, length dropped it to a 3.

The music is a bit annoying in certain ways. High pitched noises, one of the vocalists rubs me wrong, and the sheer amount of repetition within the tracks. But there's some good here. The social messaging is important. The underlying beats are generally quite fun and energetic. I had some fun, picking where the samples were taken from, and some of the base beats are a fun time. But unfortunately, I keep getting pulled out of it by over stimulation and high pitched noises.

Hey I liked this one! I don’t know why I liked it more than others, but I was engaged and it was fun! Highlights: Terminator X to the edge of panic (fav) She watch channel Zero? Party for your right to fight

Can't lie I couldn't hear some of the songs over the drone of the motorcycle engine in My Summer Car but this was really good regardless

Quite an insight, very powerful, uplifting and brave.

Likes: Propulsive beats; stand out lyrics; interplay between Flavor Flav and Chuck D; samples that sound fresh and distinct from their sources Dislikes: 80’s hip hop isn’t my favorite sonic aesthetic; Overall, a good jam that’s just not for me

I had a lot of fun with this one

It all sounds the same, not my thing

It's classic, genre changing rap

I'm not looking forward to the project ending in around 3 months time, but I am looking forward to the day I never get given pure garbage like this to listen to. I get that gangster hip hop has its place in the world but it's not for me at all. This is filth.

Way better than I expected

Ok so I’ve never listened to public enemy before (maybe I’ve heard them but I wouldn’t have known it was them) and so on the intro track I was like wait have they been British this whole time. Certainly I would know they were British. That doesn’t seem right… anyway fun stuff love 90s rap

What a huge sound, what in your face lyrics. The epitome of Public Enemy.

it was kinda fun to listen to while i work but i didn't love it

Can’t stomach anything that comes out of Flavor’s mouth. The rest is good.

Countdown to Armageddon - 3.5/5 Bring the Noise - 4.5/5 Don't Believe the Hype - 4.5/5 Cold Lampin With Flavor - 4/5 Terminator X to the Edge of Panic - 4/5 Mind Terrorist - 3.5/5 Louder Than a Bomb - 4/5 Caught, Can We Get a Witness? - 4/5 Show Em Whatcha Got - 4/5 She Watch Channel Zero?! - 4.5/5 Night of the Living Baseheads - 4/5 Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos - 4.5/5 Security of the First World - 3.5/5 Rebel Without a Pause - 4.5/5 Prophets of Rage - 4.5/5 Party for Your Right to Fight - 4/5 YEAAAHHH BOOOOOYIIIEEEE!!!!!!! This album straddles the line between being a breakthrough for hip-hop and also sounding very old-school. The latter part means that this sounds a bit dated today, sounding more basic compared to today. But that doesn't mean this was at the cutting edge of the genre, and a lot of the songs on here are experimenting with what this kind of rap should sound like. A lot of the non-single tracks suffer from feeling like filler, but these guys certainly brought the hype. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, She Watch Channel Zero?!, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Rebel Without a Pause, Prophets of Rage

Thought it was pretty good, if a little cringey at times. Thought some songs were mega tho, like 'She Watch Channel Zero?'

la misma canción la misma canción la misma canción la misma canción la misma canción la misma canción la misma canción la misma canción la misma canción

Besides the amazing production - flavor flav’s contributions are always welcomed

Hard to remember this was where Flavor Flav came up.

muito foda

Very enjoyable. 3.5

Not something I'd usually listen to, but did enjoy it. Also liked the instrumental/remix versions on disc 2. (Much better than the Beach Boys for sure.)

88’s hood classic

buen álbum

Idk it was fine ig. Fav track: Louder than a bomb

бате понравилось, тася очень сознательна, мне впринципе зашло

Believe the hype

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

Quite impressive. The lyricism on here is great, a thorough expression of anger and resistance born out of the social climate they found themselves in. The beats themselves are really catchy and use some great samples. Once or twice i would have wished for a little shake-up within a track, but nonetheless the songs themselves are still banging. Chuck D‘s rapping is so on point, i think he might be one if my favorite rappers on a technical level. Happy to finally have listened to this! My favorite tracks for now are Don‘t Believe The Hype and especially Rebel Without A Pause.

Nothing about this really blew my face off. It’s 90s rap, slightly different vein, just good enough. Don’t hate, dont love. A perfect three. I will say, some of the samples in there are wild. I know them, I like them, I won’t skip them whenever they come on.

Much better than the last Public Enemy album. Good production, especially the drums. Still not worthy of having two albums on this list when Mobb Deep or J Dilla are snubbed

Absolute banger from front to back. The samples and beats hit hard, the lyrical content is sharp, and the energy of the album is nonstop start to finish. One of the best pieces of art dissecting the america we live in that seems to be truer every single day.

This is an interesting one, a little dated was my first impression, but as the album went I thought more of it as a good representation of a time period, and the beats were growing on me. Specifically Louder Than A Bomb, Night of the Living Baseheads, Caught - Can We Get A Witness?, and Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos

I didn't previously know Flava Flav was in Public Enemy but boy did it become obvious partway through lol. His "yeahhhh boyyyyyy"s eventually started grating on me but I'm glad he was having fun. It was also weird hearing Bring the Noise without Anthrax doing its thing on top of it but I'm glad I know what the original sounds like now. All in all it was a fun listen but I was fine with it being over eventually.

Not the best album but a fun era of hip hop nonetheless. Some bops and a lot of filler songs.

Groovy beats, though somewhat of a consistency between tracks that invites a little dullness

Is there a Grammy award for editing? If not, the new category should be named after Public Enemy, and their remarkable Bomb Squad Production team. The seamless intercutting of musical samples, Terminator X’s turntable work, Flava Flav’s interjections, excerpts from famous speeches and Chuck D’s declamatory statements while maintaining a level of musicality stood out in this listening session. A saw mill meets the CNN bottom screen scroller tumbles into a basement dance. Public Enemy can bewilder at this A.D.D. pace. The strongest parts of the album started halfway through with “Louder Than a Bomb.” It kept rolling with the James Brown-Bar Kays sample mix of “Caught, Can I Get a Witness”, then the wicked use of Slayer for “She Watch Channel Zero.” The remarkable run continued with “Night of the Living Baseheads.” The material explodes orally and aurally in a manner that few artists have ever managed. The cacophony never gets overwhelming to me as each strand of the music leaps out in distinctive fashion. The first part of the record did not quite reach the level. A few too many asides from Flava Flav and Professor Griffing weakened the musical narrative. A little too self-referential as well, even though I usually enjoy Flava’s commentary. This album barrels along like few others. (Maybe The Stooges first two ones). The group never stops their relentless assault, which makes me stand in admiring attention.

Not my favourite genre however this is a great album!

Yeeeaaahhhh Booooyyyyy. Spelling may vary. I know I do this to find new music, but when an album like this comes up, it's a nice break. Hard charging beats and lyrics. PE was awesome. One of my favorite hip hop albums.

littt

Can't help but lol at the review sayin this is "unsettling". Just look how f* the world is rn, just look at America more violent than it has ever been shit like this comes as reaction and not unprovoked violence. You don't have to verse on german rhetoric to realize that (and even that is one hell of comparison). Not sayin I agree with Chuck D, but I'll be damned if I don't respect one's right to defend his autonomy, especially when his kind is actively being targeted Public Enemy are straightforward, unbreakable, beat bumps hard with powerful lyrics and an actual meaningful message. Just how I like it

A cultural landmark that influenced many, while meaning to still sound fresh and immediate to this day. The power and assuredness of Chuck D paired with the energy and decisive Terminator X makes for a superb listen every time I put it on. 4.5 stars.

6/10 Very good rap all the way through

I'm shocked at how good this album is. It's production and rapping style is dated for sure, but feels fresh and timeless as their own unique style. The sampling is amazing, Flavor Flav's contributions are on point to contrast Chuck D's militant seriousness. This is the first time I can remember where the skits are as valuable as the songs, they serve as transitions to each of the album's movements, but I wish they were longer, each one is so memorable and could fit well with a regular track. Sometimes the hype is real.

iets te oldschool. yeah booyy

8 / 10

Great album, tad long but really enough the different sounds on this album

7.5/10 - so influential it had to be on the list.

Really great album and great messaging. There are a few beats on here that sound a little too squawky. 8/10

Still fresh, still essential.

The absolute prototype for what a rap album should be.

Doing the generator I have come to appreciate rap more than my starting point which was hating it and I have heard quite a few hip/hop rap albums on here but this really shows rap at its purest form, rhythmic poetry and I am blown away by how much I like it.

Nahhhhhhh boiiiiiii

The creativity and energy in this album is great and to be respected. I just couldn't get into it. I can see how this album dropped my an H bomb back when it was released, but sounds fairly crusty by today.

This is some good boom bap, and clearly has had a lot of influence on genre from that point onwards, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't showing its age. Thematically its very good, but a lot of the beats sound kinda same-y. You can't deny the influence of this album, but it lacks that polish that could really put it over the top. 8.5/10

Headache-inducing clatter of noise and some righteous yelling. It totally rules. Must-listen #371.

We are on a roll. Great production, felt like a live album in a good way, just a great time to be had. Just as strong lyrically as fear of a black planet. I love how often they fade Flava Flav out when he's just refusing to stop rapping.

Bombastic, relevant and lyrically important.

Quite boring unfortunately

Great old school hip hop. Good listen but also didn't blow me away.

Absolute banger of an album. There's something about paired down beats and samples that scratch a musical itch. Maybe it's the way it lets the lyrics flow over the top without hiding them behind anything over produced. Maybe it's the message.

I could not finish this album. It’s not that bad musically, the energy is actually kind of fun, but I am so uninterested in this kind of hip hop. The problem is that all the songs sound so similar to each other, that this album just became a boring slog to listen to.

i can imagine this playing in my wired headphones while walking down downtown new york’s streets

The bbc is responsible for bringing a lot of shit stuff to the radio and this is right up there at the top of that list right now. I have decided I am not a fan of public enemy period. Worst track- almost all Of them! Best track ‘bring the noise instrumental’ 0.5/10

Public Enemy - It Takes... Very in your face. Less 'musical' than Fear of a Black Planet, and for that reason, not as engaging and far more repetitive. Still some great tracks here though. Best Track - Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos Worst Track - COLD Lampin with Flavor 7/10

So, when Flava Flav said he wasnt ever going to sell out, that wasn't like a forever promise, eh?

oh shit, there were two public enemy albums? wtf bros. Will have to edit this review ffs

I'm not a hip hop head. The closest I got to being in touch with hip hop/rap was a window of time in high school over 12 years ago. That said, this album surely falls squarely in the camp of "old school" I'd have to guess. Maybe I will Google that. Maybe I won't! I enjoyed the song that talks a lot about flavors through out the day. Lunch and dinner and such. I also enjoyed the scratching and the use of samples. And actually oh wow this album really picks up in the second half. The samples become more complex and interesting. Thank you!

I think I may be a bit harsh, but some.of the samples are annoying. I found the political discourse engaging, and it hasn't aged to badly

As the saying goes, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks". And so, on Public Enemy's latest album, Chuck D and Flavor Flav spend a solid hour complaining about the heavy fate of blacks. Unlike their next album, things become less monotonous toward the middle of the second side; the samples are more interestingly chosen, and at one point, even fragments of Slayer's "Angel of Death" are heard. Overall, this album can be used if you want to get drunk, and on different levels: - Easy: drink while you hear "BASS"; - Medium: drink while you hear "TERMINATOR X"; - Hard: drink while you hear "YEAH, BOYEEE!"; - Unreal: drink while that nasty sample plays, sounding like either a mouse or a whistling kettle. "Our main goal was to make an album that would stand the test of time," Chuck D said. Dude, you failed.

This is the second time round for this album on my multiple projects. Listening to it yet again I came to realize something: Chuck D rides a wave of carefully constructed, aggressively annoying chaos and in your face provocation like a baritone ballast. From the iconic high pitched wail that the Bomb Squad crafted from a James Brown horn sample to Flavor Flav’s incessant additions and “yeah boi!”s interjected everywhere, every track has a cacophonous maximalism that could simply be “noise,” were it not for the organization of the Bomb Squad’s beats and Chuck D’s precisely delivered flow. The crests and tides of sound continually assault the listener, but Chuck’s balance keeps the listener from going under, and the Bomb Squad keeps just enough of the hooks present from their samples to give the listener something to hold onto. I think it’s pretty amazing. Almost 40 years later. 5 Boolean: True

Manages to be funky AND pissed off, which is a pretty sharp balance. Clearly there's no RATM without PE.

Another Public Enemy album? Yeaa boyeeee! Interesting album to get on the 4th of July, especially the 250th anniversary.

ja ganz gut aber nh

Album #135, Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the most explosive, ferocious, political and powerful hip-hop albums ever made. What else can you really say? It’s an iconic record, with themes that are still painfully relevant today. I think this is one of the hardest hip-hop albums ever recorded. The production on this thing is absolutely insane. The Bomb Squad, aptly named, bring such weight to it. With those hugely compressed, slamming drums, it almost sounds like a heavy metal album at times. It’s so aggressive and in your face, but it’s also very well produced. Everything is perfectly balanced. The vocals sit exactly where they should, every sample has its place, and despite how dense it is, nothing feels muddy. Then you’ve got two fantastic vocalists. Chuck D has one of the greatest voices in hip-hop, full stop. His delivery is commanding and the lyrics are powerful. One thing that really stands out listening back to this album is how well it’s aged lyrically. Unlike a lot of hip-hop from around this era, and especially what came afterwards, it doesn’t lean heavily into misogyny. The anger is directed where it should be (And it is an angry, angry album). It’s aimed at injustice rather than women and that’s one of the reasons the album still feels so relevant. Then you’ve got Flavor Flav, probably the greatest hype man in hip-hop. Does he sound a bit ridiculous at times? Sure. Is hearing someone constantly shouting “Flavor Flav!” a little bit silly? Absolutely. But he’s also one of the few sources of humour and relief on an otherwise relentlessly intense record, and I think that balance really works. At 57 minutes, it is long, just like seemingly every hip-hop album ever made. It can be an exhausting listen simply because the intensity never really lets up. But it can also be a fun listen because it’s so heavily sample-based. You end up playing “guess the sample” the whole way through, which is something I always enjoy with this era of hip-hop. Paul’s Boutique is another album that gives me that same feeling. This album also contains what I think may be the greatest hip-hop song ever recorded: Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos. It’s where Chuck D really shows off his storytelling ability. The beat is actually one of the more restrained ones on the album, but his delivery is so intense that it feels every bit as powerful as everything surrounding it. I also love the little Terminator X interludes that give you a chance to breathe before you’re thrown back into the chaos. In my opinion, this is the greatest hip-hop album of the 1980s.

Not feeling this one *as* strongly as Apocalypse '91, but still a very strong debut album. Not hard to see why Public Enemy has 3 listings here. 8.5/10.

8.5/10

really good stuff. i had no idea all these names i recognized were in one big group at one point, feels like learning about a cultural pillar that influenced a ton of stuff since i kept recognizing traits of other works in this one

Красотки на капоте прыгающего лоурайдера. Абсолютно весь альбом пропитан нарочитым требованием к поклонению и признанию их превосходства. Впервые почувствовал разницу между рэпом поздних 90-х, который я слушал довольно долго и много с вариантами старше. На удивление разница большая, хотя вполне эта особенность присуща исключительно конкретному исполнителю. Это чрезмерная повторяемость и нулевая изменчивость в читке. Новые исполнители стараются не задерживать один темп и флоу на весь трек, здесь же наоборот музыка и исполнение направлены на "кач" и вводят тебя в транс. Лично мне это показалось скучноватым. Что понравилось чрезмерно это звуки. Настолько живого звука конкретно в рэпе я не слышал ни разу. Как ни странно альбом мне не сильно понравился для внимательного прослушивания или ,например включить часть композиций на вечеринке будет достаточно уместно ,чтобы это сделать, но ожидаемый эффект разобьётся о реальность - композиции очень долгие и монотонные что может подойти только для фоновой музыки. Оценка альбома 5/10.

힙합 시끄러

This album is great. Public Enemy doesn’t ever seem to disappoint.

I mean, it’s PRETTY good but a lot of this is an exercise in “how long can you tolerate this very high pitched sample that plays throughout the WHOLE SONG”

One thing I've learned from this project is that I like Public Enemy.

Public Enemy was my gateway into hip hop as a young teenager that came from a rock/metal background. I think The Bomb Squad's efforts on all these crazy sampling mixes (back when it was legal to sample whatever you want, ohhhhhhh if only those copyright laxed laws were around today we could all be making Avalanches type wonders) while Chuck D was spitting hot fire into the mic with equally bombastic fervor. Along with Fear of a Black Planet, It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back is one of the most important hip hop albums of the Golden Age of Hip Hop as it made white people really like songs regarding black liberation, culture, and some cringe Nation of Islam stuff "that was the style at the time". While I think it deserves a remaster for it to sound nicer in digital distributions, it's still a hard hitting album that acts as a good gateway into the genre, avoiding some of the pitfalls that affected other 80s hip hop in the Golden Age that sound too corny.

Most 80s rap doesn't hold up, this is in the minority. This bangs

I think I prefer Fear the Black Planet to this one, but I can't deny this is an instrumental early hip hop/rap album that sets the stage for what's to come. I'd never been the biggest fan of 80s rap, but you can see how 90s rap builds off of what is laid out here

One of the best rap albums of the 80s. The music, beats and lyrics are top notch. Yeah booooooy! 8/10 Top song Don't believe the hype

some of the sound fx were a bit repetitive it kinda pmo but overall a vibe some of them went hard

I haven't listened to this in a long time. It's almost a five but not quite.

Kind of blurred into one after a while. I didn't hate it but not really my thing

not for me

Better than Coldplay

Public Enemy er kult, men de er også en one trick pony. Beaten går hardt & monotont mens Chuck D rapper over med sin karakteristiske, lite varierte flow. Noen tracks stikker seg ut. På denne skiva er det Bring the Noise og She Watch Channel Zero (å rappe over riffet til Angel of Death er utrolig based). Tror det er flere irriterende momenter her enn på Black Planet? Elementer som den jævla Cypress Hill pipinga på Rebel Without a Pause kunne jeg klart meg uten.

Golden age of hiphop ass. Albumet låter mye mer modent enn andre plater fra samme tid. Syns ofte tidlig hiphop kan bli litt medley-aktig med sin samplebruk, men her låter det mye mer naturlig og som en integrert del av lydbildet. Flowen til Chuck D sitter og Flavor Flav er såklart tidenes hypeman

Still urgent and relevant.

A: Minns int så mycket. Ikonisk hip-hop? Lowkey irriterande som bakgrundsmusik men respekterar genren för mycket för att säga det. Borde läsa orden och läsa in mig i det sammanhang som musiken vuxit fram i. 2/5 D: Stor respekt för det de gör och meddelandet de för, men kanske det lite mina öron stör. Uppskattar gärna från en hälsosam distans. Skulle kunna spela det ifall jag vill imponera på lägenhet 6. 2/5

Yeah this one’s a fuckin’ ripper. A real treat.

Great vibes but everything sounds the same even on my second listen.

641/1001 2026.06.22 OH NO! NO MORE HIP HOP, PLEASE. PLEEEASE... 😓 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑

Inte min stil på hiphop

Another classic hip hop banger that is an essential listen for anyone. Probably my favorite of Public Enemy’s album

Just cannot listen to this! Squealing sax or whatever it is just does my head in!

This is well executed, but it’s not for me.

Public Enemy were on the fringes of my consciousness growing up but it was their crossover with Anthrax I was most familiar with. "Bring the Noise" made it's way into a few pivotal pieces of media (most particularly need for speed underground). This is an absolute banger of a record. Chuck D is pure power, his vocal delivery is crisp and passionate. Terminator X work on the decks triggers happy memories of turntable led rock and metal that made up a huge chunk of my formative years. Flava Fav is hype "Yeah, boyeee!" and the production by the Bomb Squad is sublime. Several songs will make it into my rotation [Bring the Noise][Terminator X at the Edge of Panic][Night of the Living Baseheads][Rebel without a Pause][ and the seemingly proto-nu-metal [She Watch Channel Zero?!] which without a doubt was my favourite. On the negative side some samples are oppressive and can affect the overall flow of a listen. However taking into account the subject matter - that may be intentional. The social commentary as relevant today as the time of writing. My second hip hop album I've deliberately listened to (After Wu Tang Clan be but). I think I peaked too soon! ****

It's good. It's what I want hip hop to sound like. I do not, however, want to listen to hip hop. This is probably as good as it gets

I'm not remotely qualified to write any coherent critique of a Public Enemy record. However, I can say that Chuck D is a top ten MC and lyricist, Flav is the ultimate hype man, and Terminator X is a great DJ of his era. This one is full of great tracks with thoughtful commentary on the world through Chuck and crew‘s eyes. A classic of the genre that sounds like nothing else, then or now

The early hip hop stuff on this list continues to be consistently great.

This list has really got me back into classic hip hop in a big way

tiene cosas safables

01) Countdown to Armageddon - 1,0 02) Bring the Noise - 6,0 03) Don't Believe The Hype - 6,0 04) Cold Lampin' with Flavor - 5,5 05) Terminator X to the Edge of Panic - 5,5 06) Mind Terrorist - 5,5 07) Louder Than a Bomb - 5,5 08) Caught, Can We Get a Witness? - 6,0 09) Show 'Em Whatcha Got - 5,5 10) She Watch Channel Zero!? - 6,0 11) Night of the Living Baseheads - 5,5 12) Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos - 6,0 13) Security of the First World - 6,0 14) Rebel Without a Pause - 6,0 15) Prophets of Rage - 5,5 16) Party for Your Right to Fight - 5,5 TOTAL: 5,44 (54/100) Current ranking: 831/948