It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

Yeah, I can still rap along Bring the Noise. From the Anthrax Version. Or, at least until "cause the beats and the lines are so dope". Indeed they are. Plus I've learned that Tricky's Black Steel is a cover. Nice. Muuuusically, this album overstays its welcome, but it has to be a really strong 4.

Very entertaining. Today's rap could learn a thing or two

Yo

Caveat: I'm reviewing this as a listener who's been familiar with this album for a long time, but I don't consider myself a big fan of hip-hop. PE announced a sea change to hip-hop with their first three albums: "Yo Bum Rush The Show", "Fear of A Black Planet", and this album. They absolutely dominated in the day, bringing social awareness and politics to hip-hop. Respect, even if I don't consider myself a fan.

Yiiiirhh boiiiii det' fed rap!

Chuck D has an amazingly powerful voice, and commands not only the room, but the ears of those that hear his booming delivery. Everyone already knows that, though, so I'd also like to praise Terminator X's DJing for being a perfect time capsule while still being immediately fresh. It's not only sick as Hell, but really charming that Public Enemy has their own catchphrases to fall back on in every beat, every chorus, and just overall fill out the tracks. Even Flavor Flav as a hype man feels less goofy here than other projects by the group, even if his track doesn't align with the tone of the rest of the album. The whole album just has a chokehold on everything it speaks on, and while some of it comes off as dated (She Watch Channel Zero?! has a fantastic beat, but the framing device feels off-putting), it's an album with purpose, with sole intent, and it'll either destroy you if it finds you in its path, or get you to join in on the destruction. Also, just a little thing for the 1001 Generator, but that 2nd top review is laughably bad. Like, Jesus.

Favourite Song: Cold Lampin' With Flavor

Hardcore

Public Enemy has an energy like no other hip hop group. Rap with the energy of punk band. It Takes A Nation of Millions… is one of the most important records of all time. It’s importance probably outshines the actual music which highs are ultra high but it’s a bit long as usual 7.9/19

There are a few songs in the beginning that rely on high pitched samples, which always kept me away from the rest of the album. But yea it’s good, obsession with whistles aside, great rhymes, unparalleled beat making.

Okay let's go Public Enemy!! This still sounds so fresh! 😁😁😁

as mind-expanding and exhausting as i remembered! huge sense of deliberacy to the tracklist here, a double LP with less then an hour of music total is a signal that just a little bit of extra space was needed to make room for everything they thought was Vital. disc 2 i think is the most packed with "i cant believe theyre basing the song around This Sound" moments for me, but the record is famous 4 that shit 4 a reason. considering this project is basically selecting my Morning Music its hard to imagine it getting much more startling to my half-awake brain then this, at least in the hip hop realm!

Wonderful samples and grooves. A bit too repetitive at times, but it feels like a classic.

This is a well-regarded album in the world of hip-hop, and for good reason. Chuck D's politically charged lyrics and commanding vocals in this record still bite after so many years. The overall message and theme within this album are legendary. There's a reason, after over 30 years, this is still one of the most influential hip-hop albums ever made. Best - Bring The Noise, Don't Believe The Hype, Show 'Em What You Got, Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos, and Rebel Without A Pause Worse - Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic and Caught, Can We Get A Witness? YEAHH BOII 3.50-3.75/5

Public Enemy is an interesting group. More political than N.W.A. but with plenty of the same themes. I think it hits in a different way for me.

Fun album I listened to for the /mu/ list already. I like this. 3.5/5

first Tony Hawk song that came up in this list (Bring the Noise). This record is incredible hip-hop. A standout among an era of hip-hop I generally really like.

super bombastic "fun" album - fun in quotation marks because i understand the political nature of the album and the message is not a fun message, but fun to listen to. the rapping is pretty great, although i think chuck d is way better than flavor flav. the beats are great and raw in that late 80s way. in terms of all the rap from this era i've listened to, ultimately, it's not my favorite but i would still say it's pretty consistently good.

Hard to rate. Important influential and has a powerful presence that demands attention. Authoritative and distinctive (yes reminds me both of "the revolution will not be televised" and the 90s band 'disposable heroes sir hiphoprisy') ... Important for a list so 4-5 but listening ability 3-4. Averaging all out to a reluctant 4.

A lot of the beats sound the same but still great.

held together by spit and string at this point, but still got some absolute bangers in there

Funky, high energy, but probably wouldn't play the songs again in my usual rotation

Un buen disco de rap

Enjoyed this.

Not usually my thing but enjoyed it. Catchy, good flow, knew more of it than I expected.

Fun beats with old school DJing, sampling and scratching. Chuck D flows over the beats with powerful political lyrics. Flava Flav bounces in and out with ad libs and lyrics. The whole thing maintains a really fun atmosphere even through the serious messages. A real hip hop classic.

Yeah boiiiiiii origin story

Vette beats, prima raps, wel veel van hetzelfde

The Spotify description for Public Enemy notes that Flavor Flav is supposed to be comic relief for Chuck D’s gravity which….I think makes a lot of sense. There’s a lot going on lyrically that gets lost in the sound design, between the turn table effects and the name drops. It’s not a bad album but I think Public Enemy is a little easier to digest in single form.

Banger when it came out. Still a banger today. Flava flav was annoying then. He’s still annoying today.

I like it more than last time! The beats feel slightly less cartoony, although I'm sure that was a me problem to begin with! Probably the fact Public Enemy's music was watered down by so many and reduced to stereotypical boombox music shows how influential they were.. and how the mainstream tried to suppress their message..? I need to look into this! Again, maybe I'm also acclimatising to their sound myself. Defo down for partying for my right to fight, I did have a bop on this album. Plus the delivery of the title line was roll-credits worthy for sure

Rap that I can actually hear a story and it doesn't sound like others.

A turning point for rap music. Up until then rap was generally this goofy, fun thing. But then in 1988 Public Enemy and N.W.A. attacked the airwaves, bringing a harder edge and political commentary to the fore. It's hard to imagine now but back then this was revolutionary and hit like a ton of bricks.

They sure began with a bang. This album is filled with revendicative rage and passion. Chuck D's lyrics are stealing the show for that reason because they are thoughtful, provocative and revolutionary. As with a lot of old school hip hop albums, I tend to find the music a bit samey in the long run, but those beats are great so who cares.

YEEEEEAAAAAAAAH BOIIIIIIIIIIIII

1988, political and conscious hip-hop was breaking through the scene and Public Enemy makes it explode with this angry and badass album. And it was only the beginning, because to me, Fear Of A Black Planet and Apocalypse 91 are even better.

A classic in hip-hop. More focused and better beats than some of their other albums, the music hits you like a punch in the face, while ou're dizzy from the amount of samples that fly around your heads like tweeting birds. Best Tracks: Don't Believe the Hype; Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos; Rebel Without a Pause

Loved the beats here. So fucking creative. And obviously the revolutionary hymnal vibe is excellent. I so dig PE

Can see how this is so influential. A great listen and socially/politically charged lyrics. Simpsons: Yes

Enjoyed the vibes of this. Not amazing but it scrapes a 4.

Just enjoyable stuff

4/5 - some bangers but their sound has never really been for me

incredible energy and all of the members have great chemistry in their different styles. but it the amount of energy got a bit draining in the end. also really enjoyed learning about some of the historical context.

Pretty sad when we start this list years before the Apple Music 100 (which will probably be referenced a lot now since it’s completion, fyi it’s better than this list) yet they get to this album first. Either way, here it is. Excited to dive in. Another shout out to Apple Music, these albums now have their ranking in the album notes of these ones, this is #34. I'm not sure if this is my favorite Public Enemy album but it might be. Bring the Noise is a song that is always stuck in my head, of course it's the version from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 which is Anthrax and PE and spelled Noize, but they are the same song, one just has guitar riffs and drums behind it. Funny enough, we recently had a taste of this with Ice-T in meshing hip hop and rock/metal. Headbanging for a bit before letting out a "yeahhhhh boyyy, freeze how low can you go? etc". I listened to this album a few years ago along with some others when I was diving into early hip hop which I hadn't heard a lot of, but everything I did I really liked. Really glad to get this again to let some of these songs sink in. Obviously I kept the above song, but also Don't Believe the Hype, Night of the Living Baseheads, and Party for Your Right to Fight.

Hell yes, our third from Public Enemy but it's the big one, their magnum opus according to most. I love it, as usual you get some fantastic sampling at the root of these songs, and the rapping is excellent. The initial run of 4-5 songs is so, so great. The back end wasn't quite as bombastic to me, but it's still a fantastic ride all the way through. I was expecting this could've been a 5 star on first listen, but it's not there for me yet. Maybe with time though, I know this one is pretty timeless. Very glad to have heard this, finally. Favorite tracks: Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Cold Lampin', Terminator X, Mind Terrorist, Show 'em Whatcha Got, Security of the First World, Rebel Without a Pause. Album art: Iconic, classic, everything. Chuck D and Flava Flav behind bars, they both look not just cool but cold. Logo and font, all the periphery is bold and powerful. I forget sometimes that Public Enemy was basically just two dudes (plus some producers here and there). 4.5/5

The standout tracks are "Bring the Noise", "Don't Believe the Hype", "Cold Lamping with Flavor", "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos", and "Prophets of Rage". There's some filler tracks that don't quiet work, and 36 years later, that reedy hysteria sample ("Eeeeeee") is a bit overused as a leitmotiv throughout the album). But this is clearly a classic. 4.3 stars rounded down.

Fierce stuff, arguably the best hip hop album of its era and still one of the greatest of the genre. Assertive, energetic and full of righteous anger, but still great fun to listen to. Fave Songs: Rebel Without a Pause, Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Night of the Living Baseheads, Can We Get a Witness?, Prophets of Rage, Louder Than a Bomb

Oh yeah this was foundational, the music against which I measure all subsequent hip hop I cross paths with. Ridenhour's refusal to accept our construction of black America seems ever more insightful. We're along for the ride.

I enjoyed this album a lot. The combo rap of Chuck D and Flava Flav was a great mix of heavy and light, the humor went a long way to keep this fun. There are hooks and things to connect with, the beats and bed were interesting and rollicking. I completely ignored this when it was released in 1988. I probably wouldn't have liked it so much back then, but I'm glad I dove in now.

I guess I discovered the flavor of rap I dig. I was really grooving to this.

Most of the songs are bops but that high pitched constant in many of them is so off putting it's all I can hear. If they never used that sound I would listen to the whole album again but I'll stick to replaying just a few. Other than that, nearly perfect. 8/10

For the most part I think 80s rap has aged far worse than anything the 90s produced, even though they were so close in time to each other. That being said, I think this album clearly stands out from its peers as it showed how far sonically the genre can be pushed and how it can be an outlook for political and counterculture messaging like rock was in decades prior. While the flows can feel a little corny and outdated at times, I do think there was some interesting production going on here and the beats laid down by DJ Terminator X went pretty hard at points. The track list was loud, frenetic, and full of righteous energy from Chuck D and Flava Flav. This album was definitely its strongest when it was the most political. Fav Songs Louder Than Bombs Show Em What Ya Got Night Of The Living Baseheads Rebel Without A Pause

Yeah, bass! This is exactly how I want my hip hop to sound. Aggressive and heavy like a soap on a rope cause the beats and the rhymes are so dope. The only thing preventing me from giving 5 stars, is the album’s length. 1 hour of rapping is still too much in one sitting. Check out the collaboration with Anthrax as well, which hits really hard

Rebel Without a Pause is an all-time great. Public Enemy's sound is so distinct and also feels very rooted to a place and time. Really enjoyed listening to this

Finally some good hip hop without the gangster attitude. But it’s still rap…

Shit hits the fan... Ei katia kuin pieru saharaan.. Its on your face...

Would give it 4.5 if I could

Flava Flav

Not really my thing but pretty powerful stuff.

Chuck D: The prison industrial complex oppresses Black people Flava Flav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvtQYsckLxk This one grew on me a lot as I listened to it. I grew up hearing a lot of 80s hip hop because of my stepdad, but I've always had a hard time taking it seriously. By modern standards, some of the beats on here sound a little goofy and Flava Flav is meant to be comedic relief at times. However, listening to the lyrics, it's clear that these guys had a lot to say. Chuck D's pen game carries most of this project for me, but some of the beats were also genuinely impressive (especially "She Watch Channel Zero?!"). This gave me a new appreciation for early hip hop and I look forward to hearing more from this era.

Urgent, aggressive, revolutionary. Surprised at how much Flavor Flav is involved in the full album. Always saw him as just a hype man, but he is on there more than I remembered.

Powerful lyricism and beats that go hard. Some of these samples are insane (sounds like Slayer on She Watch Channel Zero?!). Some songs sound a bit dated, but compared to it's contemporaries you can tell why it was revolutionary. Solid record. 4/5.

Pretty entertaining

This is easily in the top 50 albums on the list. A stone cold classic, referenced numerous times by all kinds of rap and non-rap artists. By far my fave connection is the Weezer song El Scorcho which borrows the "I'm the epitome of public enemy" line. I find the thought of skinny young nerdy Cuomo listening to Public Enemy and thinking he's a public enemy very funny. Which just goes to show how universally beloved, respected and influential It Takes a Nation of Millions... is. As a metalhead, I've always had a soft spot for She Watch Channel Zero, but pretty much every song is a winner. Party for Your Right to Fight is one of the best song names ever and almost eclipses the Beastie Boys track. Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Louder than a Bomb, Rebel Without a Pause, Prophets of Rage... Damn what a tracklist.

Classic rap album

This one would likely be a 5 star, if I had been exposed to the whole album earlier in life. Still cool to listen to it now and see it's influence in hindsight.

Proof you can have a self-serious album cover without it looking like a shitty Ren Faire ad, SIMON & GARFUNKEL.

i remember trying to listen to this on very low volume in my room. could i write poetry to this? y

More like a 4.5 for me. Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Terminator X to the Edge of Panic, She Watch Channel Zero?!, Rebel Without a Pause, and Prophets of Rage are all time great rap songs period.

I like old school rap and hip-hop and this one brings me back

This was fun, definitely enjoyable, living room record energy.

It's obviously dated, but it still weirdly holds up. Chaotic and full of great beats. Chuck D sounds cool as hell. Surprisingly I could see myself throwing this on occasionally.

This one was much more engaging than I was expecting. Chuck D is incredible and it's odd to hear Flavor Flav sound aware of his surroundings. Great samples and beats. Classic album.

3.7 - enjoyed this, did beastie boys parody them or just sound the same? Album was a little too long imo

What a great album. Black Steel in an Hour of Chaos is probably my favorite. But also Louder than a Bomb, Prophets of Rage, and Rebel without a Pause are bangers. 4.5 stars.

Des samples, des samples, toujours plus de samples !! Ça afflue dans tous les sens, on baigne littéralement dans la source du hip-hop, au milieu d'une richesse de sons assez dingue ! Le flow, plus puissant et musical que celui du (trop) répétitif Licensed to Ill des Beastie Boys, y est certainement pour beaucoup dans ma préférence !

It's not a good album for work, but it is a good album. Lots of themes, and nice to hear the original flows where rap was started. Some really cool beats as well.

I forgot to rate this when I listened to it a couple of weeks ago, but it's fucking fantastic. The end.

It's a classic, even if the genre will apparently never be my cup of tea.

Solid early hip hop album. Just on the 4 side of 3.5 for me.

This was totally fun. As the great individual who turned me on to this site said, “I think I’m actually a huge fan of 1980s-90s hip hop. Me, too, my friend. Me, too.

This is the 4th rap album that I've been recommended in 2 weeks, and the second Public Enemy one. I'm not a huge fan of rap music, but I like the beats from 80s rap. While I probably wouldn't listen to this album again, I can't rate it low because I can admit that I did enjoy listening it through it. 4/5

likte det

Love this album but still not sure why it sounds like a kettle is going off for the whole record

When rap was finally beginning to form its own name, and groups like N.W.A were growing in popularity, N.W.A shot to the spotlight of the gangster rap movement that was less than satisfied with the current state of the world. I sometimes find it hard to speak about rap albums. Mostly because the content of the lyrics is what really matters, and I just don’t have enough time to sit down and digest those lyrics. With Public Enemy, you don’t necessarily have to read the lyrics to feel the energy. Imagine being strapped to a chair in someone’s dingy and dark basement and then being kicked and thrown around. That feels like the approach that these two took for the delivery. And even if, more often than not, Flav acts more as a hype man for Chuck, the charisma shared between the two is cool to hear. This album is politically driven and focused in its intent. Which is to make it clear how shit things are sometimes. I think where my issue lies in a lot of rap music from this time period is the production. Most producers were not creating as tight and punchy beats as you would hear in the 90’s and 2000’s. The drums are quieter, and the melodic aspects take more of a forefront. It’s not my favorite. This album benefits from having a really unique and varied selection of samples. Lots of funk and rock bits that intertwine with each other. There is almost always something going on. Even if I prefer what the genre would become rather than what it was at this point, this album has power, and showed people what rap could represent, and I wholeheartedly respect that. Rating: 7/10

Believe the hype

It's a classic for a reason.

Some fresh and lively beats and cool, politicised rhymes

Been waiting for this one and definitely worth the wait. Not overhyped- this is a genre defining classic. They took sampling to another level besides being amazing lyricists.

Classic. Don’t make rap like they used to.

Excelente, poderoso y contundente. Encima con una canción del Tony Hawk.

Bring the noise! Was featured in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and for that only I give one extra star

This is the sound I think of when someone brings up GTA: San Andreas. Great production, very musically engaging. The subject matters don’t personally appeal to me, but there is no denying that this album accomplishes it’s set goals.

Revolutionary record that was very much ahead of its time. Passionate and emphatic music and lyrics. This record is a milestone for hip hop.

WTF. I didn’t realize Flav was more than a VH1 character. This shits slaps though. Heavy metal and jazz samples under rhymes against the government? Count me in.

This one hit me Louder Than a Bomb. But Don’t Believe the Hype from me, listen to it yourself. Do it soon, though, because the Countdown to Armageddon has begun?

It’s really wild to hear the journey Hip Hop has gone on, from this to the Kendrick Lamar album we heard previously. So different, but still connected. I love the Yin and Yang of Chuck D and Flavor Flav. Chuck gets you thinking and Flav gets you smiling. The layers of sound in the production is really inventive. I can see why these guys were so influential on hip hop. Yeah Boiiiiieeeee! 4.2

The array of samples and how well they're layered on this record is pretty amazing. It runs the gamut from funky to industrial. Chuck D and Flav are both compelling emcees and have a cool dynamic. This record really held my attention

Classic

8/10 super solid rap album Public Enemy has some really great stuff

The old school beats here are amazing and the album flows nicely. I would pick this up again.

Son increíbles y recuerdo más estos temas de lo que pensaba. 4/5.

Public Enemy displayed a new way of mixing hip hop that was very potent. One of the most densely sampled albums ever made. Hip hop with a punk vibe. I saw them live in 1992, not long after the L.A. riots, and their show was was exciting, with the Black Panther military clad dancers and the massive crosshairs, teasing the potential of explosive social violence, which was fun for a young college student, but is certainly eye-rolling once looked back on through the eyes of a middle aged person. This album , and NWA's "Straight Out of Compton" released the same year fueled the rise of black nationalism and gangster hip hop that the genre would get stuck in for next few years in which artists tried to out anger one another, to quote be more "real" than the next group. Public Enemy also at this time had a ridiculous view of sampling that they extolled as part of their Black Nationalist views that paraphrased went something like, well it was laid down by a black person, therefore its not wrong for me, as a black person, to use it to make myself money. U.S. Law in 1991 would reinforce the legal view that it is not fair to use someone's else work without clearance and compensation. Black polemics aside, this album does groove. Tracks like "She Watch Channel Zero?" rocks, while the single "Bring the Noise" and "Rebel Without a Pause" are aurally top 100 hip hop tracks of all time. Chuck D's rhymes are composed and articulated clearly, which for this aging listener is very much appreciated. And Flavor Flav might be the most entertaining hype man of hip hop. It is definitely an album everyone should hear at least once.

The most Yeaaaah Booooiiiis per minute of any album so far.

Full of lively, angry energy. It did start to feel repetitive, but a solid album overall and an important piece of early hip hop history.

So much going on, but it never feels like too much. Highlights: (So many)… Don’t Believe the Hype, Caught, Can We Get a Witness, She Watch Channel Zero?!, Party For Your Right to Fight.

Classic

Full of righteous anger and astute observations on the state of the world and racial injustice. It also rocks hard! Probably one of the best and most influential hip hop albums, but not an easy listen in places.

This is a really strong hip hop album, a masterpiece of its kind, and that was important for the history of the genre. I own this record for years and that's an album I come back to from time to time. The flow is flawless, the beats are strong. But these beats are also slightly repetitive, that keep it from being perfect.

Essential ground breaking hip hop. 2nd by PE. It still sounds fresh. Yeah boyyyyyy.

Peak 80s hip-hop. Beats and the attitude is all you need.

After struggling through "Apocalypse 91" and responding more warmly to "Fear of a Black Planet", I arrive at my third Public Enemy album to review: their timeless breakthrough, "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back." Knowing the reputation of this one, I've given it more time and listens than the other two, gradually enjoying it more and more each time. Framed in the 2020's, where America seems to be on the verge of succumbing to the MAGA virus, the ferocious, righteous anger of Chuck D and co. feels more vital than ever. "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" is nothing short of incendiary. After a slightly head-scratching false start in a recording from the Def Jam tour (which, infuriatingly, fades out) we kick straight into "Bring the Noise." I've made the decision that Chuck D's opening verse (you know the one) is possibly the greatest intro to a hip-hop record committed to tape. This first track, and then the classic "Don't Believe the Hype", are two fantastic, high-energy cuts to open with and form the highlight of the album for me. My other most riotous picks are "Caught, Can We Get A Witness", "Night of the Living Baseheads" and lead single "Rebel without a Pause", while "Security of the First World" brings some strong messaging with a compelling, narrative-driven portrait of a prison-break. Other members of the group have their own moments to shine, too: "Cold Lampin' With Flavor" is a feature for the relentless, about-to-have-a-hernia hype-man Flavor Flav, which surprisingly doesn't outstay its welcome. And "Terminator-X to the Edge of Panic" is a great showcase for the member who "only speaks with his hands": DJ Terminator X. The production, masterminded by Hank Shocklee of the Bomb Squad, is just as iconic as any other aspect of the record, inseparable from the songs themselves. Every grinding groan, high pitched wail, boiling kettle, is perfectly woven in and out of the up-front drums and funk guitar to create a fearsome, formidable barrage of sound which takes some getting used to. Other live elements are mixed in throughout the album, after the group were influenced by the energy of Earth, Wind and Fire. In contrast to Public Enemy's later albums, which I felt often collapsed under their own sonic weight, "It Takes a Nation of Millions…" strikes the perfect balance of clarity and chaos. The most disposable parts of the album are its two interludes, "Mind Terrorist" and "Security of the First World", the latter simply a drum loop and the former an irritating sample run. Later, "She Watch Channel Zero?!" feels a little more dated in its commentary, with a particularly irritating chorus… and "Party for Your Right to Fight" isn't quite the nuclear closer I'd have hoped for. But all in all, I fully believe the hype. Aspiring to the blueprint of Run-DMC's "Raising Hell" as a hip-hop landmark, in my view this record more than exceeds it.

Good gor what it is

Et album der tager et fast greb om dine boller, masserer lige på grænsen mellem fornøjelse og smerte og holder din opmærksomhed fast rettet på sig

So good!

Classic album with political lyrics/messages that are still relevant. Chuck D shows his knowledge of politically charged music history with how he helped craft this album. There's a reason this album is so influential to so many rappers, especially those that came through in the 90's.

Fun

first listen i don't like the beat style as much but it's good

Full of famous samples

This album from Public Enemy was great! I don't listen to rap or hip-hop a lot, but this was very interesting. I like the political messages in their music, and I can see similarities to Rage Against The Machine. I highly recommend this album to rap fans! Favorite Song(s): "She Watch Channel Zero?!", "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos", "Bring The Noise",

Inesperado, en directo tiene pinton_8,5

Nice

I liked it. The words matter.

Enjoyed listening to this as I walked around Edgewood on MLK Jr Day. Quite nice! I have this on cassette I think. Maybe a CD too. Aged a lot better than Snoop Dogg but a better album to start with too.

Yeahhhh Boiiii!

Hip hop von bester Qualität! Mir gefällt der aggressive schnelle Rhythmus. Aber nicht zum endlos hören.

Duplicate

The good protest stuff. Flava flav keeps from gettong to serious. Terminator x occasionally makes it dound like kettles boiling

This was a fun one. The old school hip hop style is good. Some of the sounds and samples for a little repetitive, but I really liked this.

Flavor Flav is hilarious and it's hard to take him seriously. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected.

Fresh Prince flair...yeah boyeee...bumpin'

great album

Love it

Own

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is a groundbreaking masterpiece that marked a creative leap forward for Public Enemy and the entire hip-hop genre. The album's self-empowerment and Black power messages, combined with Chuck D's rapid-fire delivery and Flavor Flav's hype-man antics, redefine hip-hop both lyrically and musically. The innovative production, featuring faster beats and layers of samples, cements this album as a cultural force that challenged norms and pushed the boundaries of the genre. Public Enemy's impact is undeniable, making this album a timeless and influential classic. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 4 STAND OUT TRACK - She Watch Channel Zero?!

Dated, but an absolute classic for how it moved the genre of rap and hip hop music.

What you think when you think old rap-great 90s sound 4/5

Quality isn't consistent throughout, but there is no denying it's classic status

favourite song: she watch channel zero!? im a sucker for 80s hip hop it turns out, really enjoyed this album.

This one does a pretty good job of being very direct in its social message, while also being fairly accessible and interesting. Musically it's strong, there's some really nice moments like the beginning of "Louder Than A Bomb" which is fairly subdued, or the newscaster overlaid at the beginning of "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos", or the jazzy start to "Show 'Em Whatcha Got". And then "Rebel Without A Pause" is pretty iconic near the end. Flavor Flav is kind of a ridiculous hype man, but I found myself enjoying him more as it went on. Also Chuck D likes to wear a Pirates hat because he's a big Clemente fan, so I can get on board with that. Favorite song: Show 'Em Whatcha Got Other: Bring The Noise, Don't Believe The Hype, Louder Than A Bomb, Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos, Rebel Without A Pause 12/30/23

You ever wonder what a punk rock album made by hip hop artists would sound like? Well here you are. Fun fact Kurt Cobain called this one of his 50 favorite albums of all time. Chuck D and Flava Flav are fully throat telling you what they’re about and what they think of the world at large. Brilliant.

Yeah, Boy-eeee! Maybe seems somewhat diluted after all this time, but no doubting the originality, influence, etc.

Actually loved it. Pretty sure there’s a sample from sabotage by Beastie in this album

Always thought Flava Flav was a joke artist, pleasantly surprised he has cared to back himself up. The album seems to predate a lot of the hiphop I’d listen to from the 90’s but carries the same energy! 3.9

This was so good! I heard how it influenced so much of the music I love. Full disclosure I never pay attention to the content of the lyrics, just the feel of the music.

I believe it was Cinderella who said, "Don't Know What You Got, Till It's Gone." BRING THE NOISE is an all-timer song, but without Anthrax it feels toothless. The whole record falls into the same hole as other early hip-hop records. It is well made, but since the genre was still a toddler when this record came out it had growing pains. For a test I listened to the Public Enemy albums NOTHER IS QUICK IN THE DESERT, from 2017, and MUSE SICK-N-HOUR MESS AGE, from 1994, and there is enough growth in hip-hop to make is more engaging to my ears. Also, Flavor Flav has always sort of irritated me.

Bring The Noise, Don't Believe The Hype, Rebel Without a Pause are all classic tracks that even a casual rap or hip-hop is going to know and appreciate, but this record has more to offer on some of the so-called lesser cuts: She Watch Channel Zero?!, Louder Than A Bomb, Night Of The Living Baseheads, and Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos which are absolute bangers. And yet, since the whole thing comes in at about an hour in length for 16 tracks I think the impact of the work suffers. It can be hard to hear that cutting things out can make more of an impact. I think it's the case here, so I'd cut Countdown To Armageddon, Mind Terrorist, Show 'Em Whatcha Got, Security of the First World entirely. I'm on the fence about, Cold Lampin' With Flavor — if I didn't cut it I'd at least move it to the back half of the album. For me this is an important, but ultimately flawed record, despite liking it a lot and recognizing its greatness.

Timeless. It's worth reading a bit about The Bomb Squad's production work on this record because some of their innovations are now so ubiquitous (the density of sampling, in particular) that it's hard to imagine their invention. It's like explaining to fish that water had to be invented. It's a gem even without the context. Certainly the rapping style is different from contemporary (I write this in late 2023) trends, but it doesn't feel old -- just distinct from today's trends. Exceptional. Entirely deserving of the reputation of Public Enemy.

Love these essay reviews that can be summed up as "I don't like the educated angry black man" yall bootlickers for real. Classic hip hop album thats definitely a product of its time. Normally 3 star but bump it up one to counter these bigots, yall know you can tell this to not do hip hop right?

Absolutely gripping from the very start. I know they were influential across a whole load of genres, and I also know that the Manics cited them, along with The Clash and GnR, as their biggest influence. I really get it, not so much in the music, but in the righteous anger of the lyrics. Musically, I enjoyed it, despite not being my normal cup of tea. It probably relied a little heavily on effects like scratching, foghorn etc, but that's probably only a cliché because Public Enemy made it so! A really enjoyable affair, all told. London, England, consider yourselves...WARNED!

Don't find it as direct as its more bold successor, but a great, incredibly energetic listen. Chuck D is commanding as a frontman and the album has aged remarkably both lyrically and sonically. A argument could be made that the album is a little too long, but when the sound is this stark and memorable, maybe it doesn't matter if it sounds similiar.

Didn’t realize how much of it was a live album. An undeniable capsule of American history

I don’t profess to either like or understand (the former normally a consequence of the latter in most walks of life) hip hop but I can respect the cultural impact and importance of this record. But I do like the concepts adopted. Two sides of exactly 30 minutes to avoid dead air on a pirate C60 cassette copy? Very anti-Napster decades in advance. I know the singles and I feel the confidence and focussed assertiveness. But there is naivety too. Starting the album with an RP English accent with a live recording from the inventors of colonialism? I don’t think it’s irony. Maybe it’s reflective of their needing to go to a developed and multicultural place where black isn’t feared (as it remains to be in the US.) if so, then after Brixton and Toxteth the UK likely was a fragile choice for such a statement. As said, beyond Flash Gordon I have little insight into the samples used. I find the music repetitive and the lyrics drift in and out of consciousness. But i know the singles and understand the appeal. Though not to me.

I think '80s rap is the best rap. It's tuneful with an edge. Angry, but not hateful. While there are a few F-Bombs here and there, it isn't the profanity-laden tripe that we see these days. Thank god.

It is amazing to me how well this album holds up for being hip-hop from 1988, but it shows how ahead of their time they were. My only gripe with the album is that it feels like a compilation. I think it is too long and doesn't feel like the albums fit together well. However, that is also not surprising for the time it was released. Overall, it's still a really great album and such great songs. "Prophets of Rage" is still so powerful and better than most hip-hop today...and also as good as anything from the "golden age of hip-hop."

real good bars and production but feels a bit on the long side

Alright this album kicks ass to hell and back and is hugely influential but holy shit why does that squealing noise on Don't believe the hype, like oh my god it's awful please make it fucking stop, like I can't stress enough how terrible this sound is Jesus Christ

Listened Before? Yes Album Art: 5 / 5 (I like everything about this cover. Iconic shot of Chuck D and Flavor Flav behind bars with the Public Enemy logo in a rasta color scheme) Opens on a live-sounding hype track intro, then turns over to Bring The Noise. Originally heard this song in Tony Hawk as the Anthrax remix (which is arguably better). Even still, the original is pretty dope, even if less "in your face." Bring The Noise is followed by the second single off of this album: Don't Believe the Hype. Instant classic beat with a solid drum sample and awesome instrumental layering. Chuck D just flows effortlessly through the entire track. Cold Lampin' With Flavor keeps things running with a squealing beat that might annoy some. I personally really enjoyed it and how Chuck D's flow contrasts with Flavor Flav's grainy interjections. Same can be said for Terminator X -- standout with a beat that sounds like a bomb screaming on approach and some sick mixing work on the boards (a lost art). This fell into the background while working, but I enjoyed it start to finish. I would assume there is cultural significance to this album that I am missing because I wasn't there at the time. Even today, this has a lot of appeal and stands up well. I'd say this is a high 4 / 5. Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlist: - Don't Believe the Hype (Skate Mix) - Cold Lampin' With Flavor (Skate Mix) - Terminator X To The Edge of Panic (Skate Mix)

Flavor Flav has to be the best hype man of all time. Funny cuz I first knew about him on VH1 on those talking heads shows about the 90s and shit. Dude seems nuts but hypes me tf up. Chuck D has such a distinctive voice as well. Really solid stuff I think this might be the first Public Enemy album I've listened to in full. This album reminds me of the sample Beastie Boys album which I really liked. Going with a 3.5 but I'll round up since I was boucning around cleaning my house to it.

A classic for a reason

I can't tell if I genuinely like this album more than the other hip-hop selections so far, or if I wan just lucky to have discovered it when I was younger. Either way, I think it's a really solid one.

this album has such relentless pace and energy, with a few quieter interludes, and saves two of the best songs for the last few tracks. the middle of the album dragged for me a bit in terms of the repetition in the production but that's typical of this era, and the lyrics are a treatise and need the time. these songs have been sampled so widely that even though i haven't listened to this album through before, it felt familiar. i love the interplay between chuck d's intensity and flavor flav's hype. great album, glad to have heard it at last.

It was great

Accidentally listened to five bonus tracks/versions off the deluxe version because they're all good. I could do with fewer Flavor Flav shouts/ad-libs on a lot of the songs though.

Really like the heaviness of this. Chuck D's voice has power, and FlavorFlav is really entertaining, especially "Cold Lampin'." Love the socially conscious lyrics throughout. Great disc!

My dad loves public enemy, it’s the classic rap, I liked the album a lot

Really enjoyed it. Sometimes when you listen to an old hip hop album like this you can find things to like about it and sort of appreciate it from afar with the recognition that it sounds dated. This album certainly is indicative of the period but does not feel dated or corny to me at all. In fact I would have to say the flows and lyricism is at times much more modern sounding than NWA. Cool to hear the hip hop tapestry in here, you for source material for MF Doom to Black Eyes Peas. Legit very good album I will be coming back to and pretty easy to see how this was in a sense the beginning of modern hip hop

Powerful hiphop with tones of rock and not taking themselves too serious

High energy and fun

Surprisingly good

Strong

Yeaaaaa boiiiiiii! It holds up pretty well after all these years for the most part. the "yeah boi" does get a little tedious about half way through the album, but overall it's still fantastic. Lyrically wonderful and some great beats throughout. I'm kind of on the fence between 4 and 5. Either would be fair, I think. ... "YEA BOIIIIII" ... Yeah, four stars it is.

The rhymes hit hard over old school hip hop beats. Yea boii

Always a fan. I had tickets to see them live in Boston in the late 1980s but the show had to be canceled due to a problem with the venue. (If I recall correctly, the afternoon of the show they announced that a sewer line had collapsed and the venue had no working bathrooms so the show couldn't happen.) These guys were smart, hard working, and talented. The material still holds up today.

Oldschool at its best

Classic hip-hop. A little early for my taste but solid album all around.

Its fun to dive into old school hiphop and this is the best era of it. Gonna listen to this one once or twice more

Enjoyed this album more than Beast Boys Ill Comm, better distored vocals, loved the samples and more afrocentric

Nice rap album. You can feel the I fluency it had to other rapper to this day. Nice raw beats and you can feel the political rage in the lyrics.

Some good tracks (don't believe the hype was a favorite). More flava flav than I expected. Kind of exhausting to listen to the whole thing.

The first album that I was familiar with prior to starting this. Definitely one of the most impactful early hip-hop albums and overall it holds up pretty well. I find Flavor Flav to be mostly annoying which holds Public Enemy back in my opinion. Song going on my "1001 Songs" Playlist: Don't Believe the Hype Other Songs Going On My "1001 Albums Savelist" Playlist: Bring the Noise, Night of the Living Baseheads, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos

4. I was suprised at how much iliked it

My longest yeah boy ever

Deze plaat ooit als rockliefhebber ontdekt via de versie van Bring The Noise met Anthrax. Jong Filipje was helemaal nog niet klaar voor deze plaat in zijn geheel. Rap en hiphop moesten nog wat meer in mijn smaak doorsijpelen. Nu hiphop wel een permanente plek heeft gekregen in mijn muzieksmaak is dit niet direct het soort hiphop dat ik zelf frequent aanwend. Nu ze toch opstaat, is dit het dominante gevoel: supercool, maar waarschijnlijk nog cooler in zijn tijdsgeest. Wel weer een plaat waarvan de invloed moeilijk van de muziek te onderscheiden is. Een zwart statement. Zonder deze plaat zou hiphop er gewoon niet hetzelfde uitgezien hebben. Stel u voor, geen Kanye. Hiphop naar een nieuw niveau verheven. Ik ken jammer genoeg niet genoeg van de rap history om de hele invloed ervan te kunnen vatten. Hadden de zwarte, sociale en politieke boodschappen rechtstreeks op mijn leven van toepassing geweest, had ik de lyrics ongetwijfeld als anthems in mijn hart gesloten, maar ik ben slechts een simpele geprivilegieerde white cis-male. Mijn leven heeft meer raakvlakken met pakweg Pretty Fly For A White Guy. Al breekt dat voor mij niks af van mijn appreciatie voor de muziek zelf. Ik ben op zich minder te vinden voor het net iets te frequente gescratch, de typische eighties productie en de 'live recording' tussenstukken. Wel spek naar mijn bek zijn het constant frisse ritme van het rappen, en de meest funky schijven vol James Brown beats en bakken plezier. Chuck D rapt gewoon fantastisch en vol overgave. Schijven als 'Caught, Can we Get A Witness?' 'Night of the Living Baseheads' en 'Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos' gaan hier een paar playlists opwaarderen. Die baslijn in combinatie met het pianosampletje op dat laatstgenoemde nummer zijn toch wel een persoonlijk hoogtepunt. Een dikke 4, om voor gelijkaardige grote hiphopgrootheden uit de jaren 80/90 zoals N.W.A., Beastie Boys of A Tribe Called Quest ruimte te laten voor de 5.

Hard af uneasy listening. Excellent!

sonic assault, this shit goes hard soooo many samples

Bangers, slappers and slap-bangers.

YES, finally hip hop

Hip hop classic and recognizable tracks. Influential for sure in style and lyrics as this was released in the 80s.

Really liked this album note worthy Bring the noise, Don't believe the hype, Night of the living baseheads

Not much of a hip-hop fan but I enjoyed this

Great album. Chuck D. is a force.

Yeeeeeaa boiii. Classic

ayo chuck... teikäläinen voi alottaa ....ei meikä osaa räppäillä... meikä vaa kimiä ääninen... saatana voisi muut olla hiljaa... kattilan pihinäesque albumi 80luvun hippi hoppia MITÄH??? hippi..........prkl.....prkl..... ei sellasia.... bring the noise

Simple and straight forward delivery of complex thoughts on complex social issues. Chuck D plus Flav is a classic recipe for cold medina. This album is the root of much of the hip hop to follow.

Pretty cool. Normaal hou ik niet van hiphop en ik moest er ook wel in komen. De beats zijn heel simpel met erg aparte geluiden maar ze zijn heel relaxet om op de achtergrond aan te hebben.

Believe the hype!

"It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" by Public Enemy is a revolutionary album that redefined hip-hop's political and artistic potential. Released in 1988, it's a sonic manifesto that fuses Chuck D's powerful lyrics with Bomb Squad's innovative production. Tracks like "Bring the Noise" and "Don't Believe the Hype" showcase the band's unapologetic social commentary and aggressive delivery. The album's production is a dense collage of samples and beats that create an urgent and chaotic atmosphere. "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" remains an influential and vital piece of hip-hop history, a testament to Public Enemy's unparalleled impact on the genre's evolution.

It’s absolutely fantastic, although I prefer Fear of a Black Planet which is a bit more glossy and better produced. The passion and energy of this one though is immense.

8/10

Loved listening to this for the first time. Yeeeaahhhh Boyyyy! I didn't realize Flav had so much rapping to himself, I thought he was a hype man before listening to this. Samples were great and funky. Some of the lyrics are just lyrics for lyrics sake and don't hold much, but some are really excellent.

As a white boy from canada that doesn't get US black culture... can i just say this album is fucking awesome. Lyrically it still hits, Chuck D's flow is simple and sounds great, Flavour (sic) Flav is amazing, Terminator X's beats are fucking great.

This is such a crazy album for 1988. Fuck yeah.

I actually like this one a lot. Easily the best of the group that we got. Probably the most interesting thing here to me is the chaotic and noisy beats as well as the inclusion of guitars like on she watch channel zero. The noise plus the political bombardment of the rapping surely made a huge statement at the time. First album of theirs I believe truly deserves to be on this list.

BL: Public Enemy to me are one of the most iconic and provocative rap groups of all time. While I don’t know many cuts off of this album and “fear of a black planet” has always been more in my rotation I cannot wait to hear this one AL: got everything you could want from a public enemy record. Socially conscious lyrics, excellent chopping, sampling and production, and a general apocalyptic and political feel that never stops being provocative FT: “don’t believe the hype”, “she watch channel zero?!”, “black steel in the hour of chaos” 4/5

Highlights: Don't Believe The Hype, Night Of The Living Baseheads

Dobry niegangsta rap

Classic 80s / drive into the 90s style. Flav giving hype and pull, Chuck D spilling the tough thoughts from the early morning and late night journal entries, and Squad with great production.0 I personally have to be in a particular “Head space” To sit and listen to Public Enemy, as the lyrics always outweigh the rhythm/beat/music. Nevertheless, they never disappoint, and I feel this album (known as one of their bests with many classics) was a great collaboration of the group; we are looking at just Chuck and Flav on the cover, but it’s whole Bomb Sqaud effort that is heard and felt with the entirety of the album “ black steel in the hour of chaos “ in hindsight, rings even better Good vibe

I may have been buzzed off an overpriced flight of beers on an empty stomach, but It Takes a Nation was a great album to stomp around Berkeley to. “Countdown to Armageddon” sets the expectations high, and there are a number of head boppin’ numbers to work with over the next 57 minutes. “Don’t Believe the Hype” almost sounds like Homer Simpson on a turntable, but it establishes the group’s lyrical prowess in their sophomore album. I half-wondered if Michael Dukakis would have tried to use “Louder Than A Bomb” in a campaign ad to make up for his tank blunder, then I realized that was a silly thought. Of course he would have. After a satisfying first half, “Show Em Whatcha Got” throws a sax-infused curveball, but I’m not mad about it. From a storytelling perspective, “Night of the Living Baseheads” and “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” are the pinnacle of the record, and the piano of the latter perfectly ties in a heart-thumping chase and a race against time. I appreciate the variety of intros throughout the record, and while the album is longer than it needs to be, Public Enemy does bring the noise here. It’s classic late 80s hip hop, and its influence can be heard throughout the early 90s. Maybe they’re right. Who gives a fuck about a goddamn Grammy?

Chuck D: "The FBI is tapping my phone because of my anti-establishment views." Flavor Flav: "YEAHHH BOYYYYYYYY" My biggest critique of this album is that I don't know what Flav brings to the table. Half of the time he is on a track, the tone feels discordant with the rest of the record. He's got a fucking food verse on Cold Lampin' With Flavor while Chuck D is holding court over the legality of sampling. Flavor Flav's antics aside, I enjoyed the album. Chuck D is really that guy. I'm only giving it 4 stars because stylistically I didn't completely fuck with it. An aside, in 2016 Chuck D and members of Rage Against the Machine formed a band called Prophets of Rage in response to Trump winning the election. Y'all should check out their version of the song Prophets of Rage, the last track on this album. I prefer it to the original.

Very classic, love this old school stuff, though my knowledge of rap/hip-hop is extremely limited. "Party for your Right to Fight" was parodied by Beastie Boys? Or vice-versa? I've definitely heard some of these songs in passing.

Great Album with a lot of nice moments Beats lyrics etc...

I love the sampling and DJ-ing on this

Better than average hip-hop/rap. No glorifying gang violence, drugs, sexism, etc. Flavor Flav is kind of annoying with his yeahhhh boyyyy and cold medina (whatever than means).

4/5! Yeah Boy! Some classics! Don’t Believe the Hype, Bring the Noise, Terminator X to the Edge of Panic and Rebel without a Pause The rest of the songs, I dont know quite as well, but they have that Public Enemy sound!

Bring The Noise, Don’t Believe the Hype, Louder Than A Bomb, Show Em Whatcha Got, She Watch Channel Zero, Night of The Living Baseheads, Black Steel, Rebel Without A Pause (best song) and Prophets of Rage. Too many samples and Flavor Flav talks too much. Needs more of just rapping. 9/10

Felt like a beastie boys album sometimes, with violence, with emergency - a record with a lot of sirens, a lot of repetitiv sounds, alarms.

If you took hip hop and reduce it for a couple of hours this album would be the result.

First time I've heard flavah flav mentioned with frito lays. Awesome. I love that they had the cure for Covid back in 1988 "some drink the Clorox"... They reference themselves almost as much as Jason Derulo... but it works. Love this album.

Rap and Funk meshed together so well. Though i would probably prefer about 75% less Flavor Flav on it, i understand that he is a great contrast to Chuck D's heart attack serious delivery and style. Very good.

I've been meaning to listen to this. This being very early hip-hop/rap it's very simple in it's production and the flows they use. While it is simple the content of what they are saying is much more important and holds more weight. Flava Flave is a really good hype man. He's got a good chemestry with Chuck D. This definetly has a hippity hop trpe flow. Kida like that Hannable Burres clip on T-payn's podcast. It's not bad, but I feel like these guys would make much better music if they had come up even 5 or 6 years later than they did. This is still very good and a extreemly important and influential album/group. There are so many lines and samples/sections from a lot of the songs on this album that get used/referenced in songs not even 10 years after this album came out. It's crazy how influential this group was to hip hop A low 4/5

Very good, no dull moments and catchy

Great politically charged rap, beats bang

politically charged lyrics along with flavour flav’s signature nuttiness. samples a plenty. very high energy throughout. an unapologetic celebration of blackness. stone cold quality.

What a trio, Chuck D bringing the wisdom, Flavor Flav bringing the energy and DJ Terminator X bringing the amazing beats. Excellent fun here, the DJ work on Night of the Living Baseheads was so great. 4 stars

I was introduced to Public Enemy by another white kid at church youth group who exclusively listened to them. It was 1991 and the hardest thing I’d ever heard was Mc Hammer so uhhh that was an eye opening experience.

This was actually really good

Damn solid album, need to listen to more Public Enemy. Crazy samples too.

I really liked this, it was a cool & unique album. Best track: Terminator X to the Edge of Panic

Classic album. Dope beats, great verses, even a few dips in rock and metal! I love their music, but this record felt a bit too long. 8,5 out of 10

In a time where disenfranchised black kids were turning to gangs for a sense of pride, identity and camaraderie, albums like 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back\" provided an alternative sense of belonging to a nation. The group's image was relatable from the perspective of gang culture, but the message and methods being advocated were far more constructive, empowering and positive. The icing on the cake? It also made a bunch of tight-assed old white people uneasy. This album is remarkable on its own for its hip-hop and rap caliber. The fact that it takes aim (and succeeds) at making a positive difference in the world, puts it over the top in my book.

I thought this was really great actually. Some songs aren't as strong but overall this was fantastic old school hip hop. I will say though that I think the album is a bit too long. 7/10.

Yeah, boyeeeee!

I liked this album and its shtinkin words and grooves YEAAAA BOIIIIII

Chhyyeeaa boooiii

Each track is undeniably great, I just found it a bit of a struggle to get through. 3.5/5

Hard to deny the power and energy that Public Enemy put out. The lyricism is similarly impressive, often incendiary while being catchy and exciting. I took this album in chunks, and my major drawback is that an nearly an hour I can see the boom-bap production and lack of vocal dynamics getting a little wearisome for me. Track for track its a classic, but as a cohesive listening experience I don't know that it's for me. Maybe a strong three and a half, but could grow with more listens. Fave track: Bring the Noise

The beats were great, the lyrics were incredibly powerful and is overall a great album. Not much to dislike here.

Groundbreaking. Chuck D’s rapping and the top notch production keep this album relevant over 30 years later. Even Flava Flav’s hype man antics add a layer to this that somehow holds up well. If they set out to create the hip hop equivalent to What’s Going On, they came pretty close. I’d call it a 4.5 and round down because although I really enjoyed and appreciated this, I don’t know how often I’d come back to it.

Klassiker des Conscious Raps

Absolutely adored this.

Awesome samples

Great look a the culture in the 80s and 90s with a perspective that I never had.

A lot of great tracks in this one. Not every one is a masterpiece, but damn when it goes hard, it goes hard.

It's good. Really very good. Looking back it's amazing what an influence it had, and how sampled it was. Took me on a tour back through Tricky's albums too as I remembered Black Steel was actually a cover on Maxinquaye.

This is relentless. It doesn't pause for a breath from start to finish. I bloody love it. I tried to listen whilst working. This didn't work. I had to save it whilst out on a walk. My pace picked up and I was walking with a purpose. This probably wasn't the stated aim of Chuck and pals whilst making the record. Hip Hop Hikers is a thing. (And yes, I accept that this album wasn't made for me, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying, if not quite feeling the message and the importance to the black community. Especially so in 2023.)

Enemmän oon kuunnellut Fear of a Black Planet:ia, mutta tämä lienee se tunnetuin platta. Diggailen suuresti! 4/5

Haastavampi kuunneltava kuin länsirannan räbä, koska puuttuu se letkeys lähes kokonaan. Aika jatkuvaa paahtoa. Toisaalta teksteissä on ajatusta ja tarkoitusta selvästi enemmän. Ei siis kauhean usein tule kuunneltua, mutta tämä kestää tarkastelua niin hyvin, että sanotaan 3.5/5, joka pyöristyy 4/5.

Anarkistiset beatit ja hyvä flow! 4/5

Public enemy kicks ass. Didn’t know flavo flavor came from this group

Listened Before? N This brings me back to the late 80s in a big way. Amazing, intelligent rap. Perfect. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Bring The Noise

I always struggled with some of the politics, especially the antisemitism that developed (we know who!) but this is still a vital piece of work.

Brilliant.

Brilliant!

Solid

cool

Interessante. Hip-hop raiz, outra sonoridade, muito diferente do que é produzido hoje em dia. Dá pra perceber com muito mais clareza as referencias do soul e do funk, os metais, percussões e guitarras.

the fact that a rap album from the 80s has aged as well as it has is proof that this album is great. also, "she watch channel zero?!" is very funny now knowing that flavor flav went on to get his own reality tv show but it's still a good song.

Des samples hyper accrocheurs, une énergie dingue, l'envie de tout brûler après coup. On sent l'influence que ce disque a pu avoir, le travail de dingue, l'approbation privation du passé pour en faire autre chose d'unique. Assez épatant.

Better than expected

rocks men flava flav e lite störande

this album goes real hard thumbs up

Makes me feel nostalgia for an era of hip hop I wasn’t even around for. Lots of energy, lots of ‘yeaaa boiiiiii’s from flava flav which is exactly what I needed. 3.7/5

классический для того времени рэп с социальным подтекстом и скитами для атмосферы, вышли они со straight outta compton с разницей в одну неделю, альбом паблик энеми вышел раньше. у чак ди и флейвор флава какая-то своя магия, даже сейчас не очень распространены группы из двух человек (привет мигос 🙊🤐) но тем не менее это действительно увлекательное путешествие для меня по истории хип-хопа, я нахожу в этом какую-то романтику, что 35 лет назад, люди называли свою группу public enemy, записывали альбом с названием it takes a nation of millions to hold us back. и звучали на ней так, как ты себе все и представляешь по названию и обложке, проще говоря - все это и есть концептуальность

I really like this album. Honestly i’m unsure what to say about it but I just thought it was good fun and actually impressive.

Leipe beats waarin nog gescratched wordt, en goede flow. Aan het einde wel klaar mee omdat de beats toch wel lastig luisteren, vandaar geen 5 sterren

Good stuff. As rap goes, this is a cut above. I'm told Kanye West is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread, but I Don't Believe The Hype.

I've heard of Public Enemy, but never delved into their stuff before, so I am looking forward to today's listen. I do enjoy some 80's hip hop. Chuck D's rhymes are smooth and powerful, and Flavor Flav makes a great hype man. Terminator X is a great DJ, mixing samples and beats flawlessly. I enjoyed this album quite a bit. Especially because, unlike other 80's hip hop records, this one didn't have skits every 2-3 songs. It didn't have any skits at all, just music. I like that, beause I always found the skits took away from the album flow. Overall, I really enjoyed this album, and will probably listen again. Favourite songs: Bring the Noise, She Watch Channel Zero?! (interesting note: this song samples Slayer's song Angel of Death), Don't Believe the Hype, Prophets of Rage, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Night of the Living Baseheads, "Caught, Can We Get a Witness? ", Louder than a Bomb Least favourite songs: Terminator X to the Edge of Panic (there is a looped squeal throughout this song that just grinded on me the wrong way) 4/5

Legends forever just yeah legends.

The energy on this is crazy! Such a sense of urgency and swag project. I just wanna dance tbh 😎

HL: “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”, “Rebel Without a Pause”, “Don’t Believe the Hype” After “Don’t Believe The Hype”, I started to wonder if I could listen to an hour of Public Enemy without getting exhausted. And by some miracle, I did not. The experience improved when I switched to headphones, as all the competing overdubs and samples didn’t sound great on my Bluetooth speaker. Special appreciation to the metal sample in “Channel Zero?!” (It’s Slayer, according to Wiki)

Not the best, but not bad

Solid early hip hop album. Mix sounds cleaner than Fear of a Black Planet

Think every single hip hop fan should be required to listen to this

Take a drink every time you hear “yeahhhh boiiiiii!!” Just make sure you update your will first.

Awesome and angry. Flavor Flav is like salt though, essential in small amounts but when he overdoes it everything goes to shit.

Brutal and brilliant. You can feel the rage and the anger, but artfully packaged with catchy rhythms

Better hooks than Fear of a Black Planet. Dig the energy.

Sometimes I listen to PE and imagine how much better they could have been if it had been just Chuck D without Flavor Flav. Yeah, boy. Also how much better it could have been without the live call & response stuff. Even with these, it's a still a classic.

definitely a landmark album, just not my style. I'd have to go through it from the lyrical perspective to give it a better rating than 7.5/10

good rap stuff

YEEEEEEAAHHHH BOOOOIIIIII

Great rhythm and powerful message.

i was too busy bobbing my head to the beat to take notes. but seriously, this album's lyrics speak truth to many important issues in society. I'm generally a sucker for angry political commentary backed up by bass and this was not exception. I had never heard this album before today but this was clearly the source of many hip-hop templates, samples, and ideas that can still be found within today's music. There is no higher praise in my mind.

Favorite song: Louder Than A Bomb

Classic, genre-defining album.

Great, aggressive sample and beats. I can't really relate to any of the lyrics though. I guess that's on me.

Killer record.

Once again back is the incredible.

This is classic!

This album was my gateway to hip hop. I heard the version of Bring the Noise that PE did with Anthrax and found this album. The great soundscapes and songs led me further into the genre.

I completely ignored this album when it came out. I was fairly clueless when it came to the shifts in music happening, and the fact that it's 2022 and I am listening to it now shows not a lot has changed, I can still be fairly clueless when it comes to music. But listening to it, this album resonates over time...hasn't lost it's power but still, just too many Ya boyyyyeee's on several tracks... but nothing is perfect.

Yeah

020126 12:07 4

I'm no rap fan but I can appreciate the cool beats & grooves as well as the cultural significance of the album. Actually, it was quite an enjoyable listen at times.

So much more interesting than the shite that’s popular these days

Отлично звучащий рэп, но за краткий срок не довелось разобраться с текстовым содержанием, потому острожная четырехконечная 🌟

Banging great beats rhyme and poetry

This is excellent but why do they ruin so many of the songs with an annoying high pitched sample that constantly repeats? Bizarre production choice, otherwise everything else is great. Powerful lyrics, great samples, very influential.

Super good and relevant