Reviews (page 7 of 12)
A tale of two halves for this album. I didn't connect with the first 30 kins at all, some of the least interesting and under-mixed hip hop I've heard. Dramatically increases in quality after the midpoint, but still misses the mark for me in spots. Solid individual songs, very uneven album. Top tracks: She Watches Channel Zero?!, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Rebel Without a Pause
this album was actually pretty mid in my opinion. Bring The Noise is forever GOATED from being in tony hawks pro skater, but the rest of the album doesn't hold up to that really fun track. a lot of the rhymes get repeated from song to song, and a few of the beats where folks are screeching on them aren't the most fun to listen to. not sure how much i would come back to this album as a whole, but definitely would cherry pick around on it
I've discovered that I like Public Enemy, but this album got old pretty fast. It might have been my mood, but it felt really repetitive and long. I would say a 3.5 album.
5/10… hip-hop / rap / *1988
quite good, not rly my taste but still groovy. im not 1 2 lisn 2 lyrics, but from what i understood, i do agree w em.
Early Public Enemy is still tuff music even though it was before they went global. Chuck D is dominant on the mic in every song and his authoritative tone demands immediate respect. Flavor Flav keeps things light and adds some grounding power to PE’s music. Bring the Noise is a great track but the collaborative version with Anthrax is much better. Not PE’s best album but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Good ass 80s hip-hop.
Not bad by any means, but definitely not my favorite classic hip-hop record. I really don't find it reaches anywhere near the highs of Wu-Tang or Cypress Hill. Also I find flava flav kind of annoying to be honest.
Good
pretty fun
This may be my preferred album of theirs. Good samples and catchy hooks.
Ts is good, but it ain't peak
6/10 I'm not sure if I just missed it or not, but it felt like the hyper-political lyricism Public Enemy is known for was largely missing from the first half of the album, only to be taken up in a big way in the second half. I found much of the first half to be quite trite, a lot of "Flava!" call outs, and lacking meaning; the second half talks about systemic racism and powerlessness experienced by the Black community. Not quite sure what is up with this dichotomy (was I not paying attention???), but needless to say, I enjoyed the political half far better. The music is typical late 80s hip hop, but the production is a definite standout. Overall good but not great album.
I can appreciate many things about this record. But feel like I can't appreciate the most important thing- the lyrical content. I'm just not in the right mood for that today. The production is really killer, maybe a bit single sounding, but considering it's 35 years old, I appreciate it a lot. The flows sound fire as well. Most of this is great. But I don't know what else can I say now. Sorry about it. Ill come back to it at some point. It's a part of this game, days like this... It'll be a 3 today. It will make me sad at some point I know. Tough day
Me imagino que es icónico
Took me a little bit to embrace because I was resisting its of the timeness sound for some reason, but once Louder Than a Bomb dropped I was in. Not enough “?!” in song titles
Halfway between good and bad
Okay.
I had high hopes for this album and it kinda disappointed me. 3
Liked this a lot more than I thought I would. 3.5
I liked, didn't love
Альбом расцвета рэпа старой школы. Опять же, как мне кажется,у них есть куда более сильные альбомы
Too long but has some great moments
3,0 Highlights: Don't Believe The Hype, Cold Lampin' With Flavor
Does it maybe take a nation of millions to make an album that's not the same ad-libs, the same drum loops, and what ultimately feels like the same track over and over again?
I’m not the target audience for hip-hop, but this is an exciting listen and a good ‘80’s rap album. I enjoyed it but wouldn’t necessarily return to it.
M.M?
It was good. I wasn’t disgusted at all
The weakest of their three albums on here. Chuck D was great, so was the Bomb Squad per usual. They were great. But why is Flavor Flav even a part of this group. He does nothing but detract from the album. He sounds like an idiot every time he speaks. If I never hear "yeah, boyeee" again it'll be too soon.
still. not my favorite style of music, but this was much better than several others in this genre. lyrics had depth & meaning. pleasantly surprised
Angry. Beats into the emotion. It gets to me.
Believe the hype. Igual, escuchar más de 5 temas seguidos me queman un poco la gorra
Hippity hop
me gusto bastante, algunos beats son muy pesados en cuanto a la cantidad de sonidos repetidos. Particularmente me gusta el rap, asi que lo volvería a escuchar.
Начуваний про них) Послухаємо) Ну таке)
While "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" is frequently cited for its lyrical depth and social importance, my own appreciation of an album is often driven more by its sonic impact than its message. Take 'Don't Believe the Hype' as an example; I recognise the significant reputation this track holds, but the musical arrangement ultimately feels somewhat underwhelming. It is by no means a poor composition, but it fails to resonate with me on a level that would encourage repeat listens. Much of the record follows a similar pattern. It's a solid effort, but no more than that. Three stars. Side Silver 1 "Countdown to Armageddon" (Intro) (3/5) 2 "Bring the Noise" (4/5) 3 "Don't Believe the Hype" (3/5) 4 "Cold Lampin' with Flavor" (2/5) 5 "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic" (2/5) 6 "Mind Terrorist" (Interlude) (2/5) 7 "Louder Than a Bomb" (3/5) 8 "Caught, Can We Get a Witness?" (4/5) Side Black 9 "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" (Interlude) (3/5) 10 "She Watch Channel Zero?!" (4/5) 11 "Night of the Living Baseheads" (2/5) 12 "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (3/5) 13 "Security of the First World" (Interlude) (3/5) 14 "Rebel Without a Pause" (4/5) 15 "Prophets of Rage" (3/5) 16 "Party for Your Right to Fight" (3/5) Total - 48 Average - 3.00 318/1001 172/318 albums reviewed were new to me.
Good album. She watches channel zero was by far my favorite. I’m not a huge fan of 80s rap beats but they’re were some really good ones in there. I like the political messaging inbetween songs.
Je moest er bij geweest zijn
Politically charged fast paced Rap Classic. Chuck D has one of the coolest voices in Rap as far as I am concerned.
2 stars, 2 long. The hits hit, hit or miss for the rest. Three stars tho? Huh?
Not my favorite type of beats but I can see it’s major influence on the genre - produced in ‘88 alongside Rick Rubin and Shocklee. Truly a pivotal record created with intent from its themes and lyrics to production techniques
Any trope of 80’s hip hop can be heard in this album. Entertaining but repetitive. Recognition is due for its lyrical themes rather than its sound.
Yeah booooi
Good.
I appreciate the impact and the message but have never been a fan of the messenger. Flavor Flave just annoys me.
Sounds like an alarm clock going off through most of the songs, I guess that’s how you bring the noize?
Solid album
Not my usual genre to listen to so I’m excited to see what this is like !! So far it’s really great I love the early rap/hip hop sound. They have some sick beats. I love the lyrics too I like how they’re protesting against the backlash rap got at the time.
“yeah boi haha” y “public enemy” cómo mil veces repartidas en 1 hora
Сара 2 Марко 5
The reviews on this record split almost perfectly between 1s and 5s, which tells you something important — this is music so uncompromising and specific in its vision that it either fully claims you or leaves you at the door. Landing in the middle with a genuine 3 is actually a more nuanced response than either extreme, and it feels like the honest one. The Bomb Squad’s production is unlike anything else in hip-hop history — dense layers of samples, sirens, and scratching stacked so tightly the whole thing sounds like controlled chaos. The disorienting quality is the point. Chuck D isn’t making background music or party records. He’s making arguments, dense and urgent and delivered with a rhetorical force that’s closer to oratory than rap in any traditional sense. The sonic discomfort is the message made physical, and understanding that makes it easier to respect even when it makes the listening experience genuinely unnerving. The honest data point is personal history. Straight Outta Compton — same year, same cultural moment — embedded itself in adolescence in a way this record simply didn’t. NWA’s visceral street-level anger connected where Public Enemy’s more intellectual and political urgency didn’t quite reach. That gap isn’t a judgment about which record is objectively more important. It’s just honest information about where the personal connection actually lives. A strong three that sits close to the four border — fully respectful of the ambition, the politics, and the historical weight, without pretending to a personal connection that isn’t there.
A good album, I don't like a lot of rap but I do enjoy the way Public Enemy raps.
Dober
I think if you hear one you hear them all. classic sample-heavy public enemy.
No es mi tipo de música para nada pero encanto, muy buen disco.
Classic, but I don’t *think* it’s aged the best ever? Loads to rave about, but I don’t think I’ll be coming back
Es bueno
Accessible
soft shock was my fav politically relevant
Absolute classic, super important, but there are musically more interesting versions of all the great songs on here. The old school production just does not offer the kind of variety of sounds and vibes that keep me interested for a whole album.
Lead man has great presence. Another decent entry to the 1001
Synth whistles frying my brain and I'm here for it. This one also has the tracks a mere casual like me recognizes.
Dense!
meh
Yeahhhh boyyyy BASS HOW LOW CAN YOU GO DEATH ROW? WHAT A BROTHER KNOW Also, Slayer sample, hell yeah ANGELLLLLL OF DEATHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hoewel ik zelf niet naar OG hiphop zou luisteren is dit wil een legendarisch album en wordt dit album beschouwd als een meesterwerk
🕙
Veel potentie maar verouderde geluiseffecten en samples
YEaaaaasaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh BooooooooooIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Alright album, a little long for my liking. Some of the later beats were a bit irritating, but overall it was alright.
hard with just a hint of jazz
I recognize the greatness, but it's not for me
This was good stuff.
oder der VfL-Jesus reicht auch
The rap I wasn't supposed to listen to as a kid, wasn't all that bad.
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? Completely unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? Flavor flavor seems like a cool guy but I don’t really know much about Public Enemy Favorite song(s)? Night of the Living Baseheads, Rebel Without a Pause Overall Thoughts: Parts of this were really fun, other parts of it really dragged on, some parts of it were way too fast and I was running out of breath just listening. But not a bad way to spend an hour at work.
Loved the one sampling Slayer, how is that not as big as the Anthrax one 3.5 rounded down
Number: 80 Date: 03/23/2026 Artist: Public Enemy Album: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Year: 1988 Genre: Conscious Hip Hop Rating: 3 Notes: Before: The is my second Public Enemy album. It looks like they have three on this list which is 2 too many, imo. They should definately have one album here but I don't think any artist should have more than one unless they are very different from each other and/or masterpieces. I don't see that with Public Enemy's work. They have some great songs but most of their music that I like has pretty much the same sound. During: 3 Countdown To Armageddon 5 Bring The Noise 4 Don't Believe The Hype 4 Cold Lampin With Flavor 3 Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic 3 Mind Terrorist 3 Louder Than A Bomb 3 Caught, Can We Get A Witness? 3 Show 'Em Whatcha Got 4 She Watch Channel Zero?! 4 Night Of The Living Baseheads 3 Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos 3 Security Of The First World 4 Rebel Without A Pause 3 Prophets Of Rage 3 Party For Your Right To Fight ----------------------------------------------------- 3.50 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After: 4 my personal rating 2 suitability for this list 4 impact ----------------------------------------------- 3.3 composite rating
Standouts Bring the Noise Don't Believe the Hype Party for Your Right to Fight
Second Public Enemy album during this project and another album where I got to enjoy playing spot the sample. I particularly enjoyed Fame by Bowie, the Flash Gordon theme and Son of Shaft turning up. And the intro being from a BBC DJ was a surprise. And sampling Slayer! I keep saying it, but sampling is such an impressive skill to me - creating a completely new thing from disparate scraps of other songs and it sounding like it always should have been like that. I really appreciate the topics and Chuck D's style of rapping too. As a whole, I think I liked it a tiny bit less than Fear Of A Black Planet, but it's still very much worth: 3/5
Respect but didn’t care for
drum and sample loops. got it. Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: nah 3.1
Not my cup of tea as a 39 yo white woman, but I can hear that they were ahead of their time.
Not my fav style/era of hip hop but I respect it and appreciate it. A banger or two on here, not a bad album whatsoever!
A little dated but the energy is great.
funky fresh for suresies. not rlly my style of rap. it kind of gives me joey valence & brae vibes but like older school. the og
I enjoyed this for the most part. It got a bit repetitive, but I was expecting that. I was only familiar with a couple of the songs. Chuck D has a great voice, however, Flavor Flav is annoying.
It was an interesting time. Rap went hardcore and political Has lost much of its impact
some high peaks but id take enter the wu tang anyday over it
I can see why it was impactful. Recognized a few samples.
I'm not a rap fan at all, but this early stuff isn't actually too bad. It has a nice beat to it and I can understand what they are saying, so that's nice.
TIL I don’t like Flavor Flav.
Great record
Me encantaron las baterías creo que siempre Creo que en otra epoca hubiese disfrutado mas, me mayo que sea tan largo, bo estaba en el mood, pero esta bueo los samples y eso tambien.
7/10
Solid.
I liked it more than expected. Songs were different from each other w/diff music and patter.
I liked the political messaging
Solid Public Enemy. Exactly what you expect. Upbeat. Kept my attention.
This album sounds like an upgraded version of Run-D.M.C., with very similar production style of early sampling. Just more politcal urgency mixed into the lyrics and Chuck D's authoritave vocal delivery. Beats wise, it's what I expected for an 80's Hip-Hop album with that very distinct whirring sound in some songs. I liked the track "Prophets Of Rage". Great beat composition and vocals lead by Chuck D with Flavour Flav adding nice backing/interjections. I can see why this album is influentinal for its revolutionary production and politcal commentary. However, it isn't something I'd listen to again entirely. Solid album otherwise.
So old school. Definitely an album from a time, looking at roots for sure. Not exactly my thing, but I was head bumping through all of it. Rebel Without a Pause. Solid 3/5.
I really enjoyed the production in this record. Favourite Track(s): Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic, Rebel Without A Pause Least Favourite Track(s): Cold Lampin' With Flavour
I love hip-hop mainly 90s but still some of the 80s stuff, but honestly, they need to cut the high-pitched whirring sound effect, it was really distracting and stole the focus from the vocals and other beats and just didn’t go in my opinion. When it wasn’t playing the music sounded so much cleaner and I could get into it a bit more. This was present in my standout song ‘Louder than a bomb’ it didn’t contain that sound effect. I’m a bit disappointed tbh I expected something better from Public Enemy but maybe it’s just not for me. I can appreciate the lyrics and that they helped paved the way for 90s hip-hop, but just wasn't too keen on this album.
Pretty good
Classic late 80s rap.
høydepunkt: Don't Believe The Hype, Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic, Caught Can We Get A Witness?, She Watch Channel Zero?!
Beats and flows are fine. Too long.
I'm not overly familiar with rap, it's never quite been my thing. I get why this album is important but it definitely feels dated.
Countdown to Armageddon 2/5 Bring the Noise 3/5 Don't Believe the Hype 4/5 Cold Lampin' With Flavor 2/5 Terminator X To The Edge of Panic 4/5 Mind Terrorist 2/5 Louder Than a Bomb 4/5 Caught, Can We Get A Witness 3/5 Show'Em Whatcha Got 2/5 She Watch Channel Zero?! 4/5 Night of the Living Baseheads 4/5 Black Steel In the Hour of Chaos 4/5 Security of the First World 2/5 Rebel Without a Pause 5/5 Prophets of Rage 3/5 Party for You Right To Fight 3/5 Overall Album 3.19
I could see the reason this was so shocking and refreshing at the time but now it kind of feels lost. But I think being one of the first mainstream artists of a genre that is inevitable. I found it quite repetitive as an album but it had some great sample choices, lyrics and sounds.
Enjoyed this, but I found it became a bit repetitive towards the end. Maybe that's the point but it didn't really make for an effective album for me. I probably wouldn't listen again.
very bold and distinctive
The rap verses being exchanged between Chuck and Flavor make this a unique album. Some great samples too. The flash one used in Terminator X was amazing. Will definitely be back to this one
Good
ci sta, nel suo genere è sicuramente un ottimo album
Just a loud and fun album
It's ok
Best Track - "Don't Believe The Hype"
pretty good
Not bad.
Decently enjoyable without being too self-interested
Public Enemy is undeniably cool, but I just don't enjoy their deep cuts that much. Too much record scratching and Flava Flav's off tempo interjections start to get old after a while.
Primo album hip hop che mi ha passato, tutto ok
Man for 1988 this is insane, intro track is so nutty. Songs can def be shorter but it was a different time and this album was revolutionary in many ways so mad respect
Album #38: It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy Genre (W): East coast hip hop, political rap, sampledelia, boom bap Singles: Rebel Without a Pause, Bring the Noise, Don’t Believe the Hype, Night of the Living Baseheads, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: Well, even though I may not like hip hop’s lyrics, I love the wordplay in the lyrics, especially those from Chuck D. The members’ flows are pretty awesome, and Terminator X’s scratches are killer. I love when scratches are used in an insane way, like that! The Bomb Squad’s production is awesome too! Favorite songs: Bring the Noise, Cold Lampin’ with Flavor, Louder Than a Bomb, Caught, Can We Get a Witness?, Night of the Living Baseheads, Rebel Without a Pause*,
Classis old school hip hop. I had heard of Public Enemy for so long, great to finally get to listen to them. The rock one is rlly unique! Fav song is ‘Don’t Believe The Hype’.
Still good, that sax though -
Lyrisch größtenteils sehr stark, Beats sind halt ein Zeichen ihrer Zeit. Vieles für meinen Geschmack etwas zu sehr outdated mit einigen Ausnahmen aber. Alles zusammen eine solide und starke 2,5, sprich 3
Классные биты, наверно, крутые тексты. Ощущается, как что-то настоящее.
Yeeeeeaaaah Boiiiii... Don't believe the hype, literally. This album is good, but not as people go on about. Chuck D is amazing but Flava is super annoying to me.
they said my longest yeah boi ever
Fun and frustrated. Tons of energy. Cool beats. Good duo
"DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE."
Fun album and I love that old hip hop style but this is a bit mid
Yeahhhhhh, boyyyyyeeeeee
Not a big hip hop fan but really enjoyed this and had me bouncing
I wanted to love this, cool effects and the production is not half bad and the political messages hit hard but the rapping delivery is so bad. I really find old school hip hop hard to stomache. I mean it’s not strictly bad it’s just not good enough and sometimes it gets pretty cringe. Three stars for notability and overall package but old school rappers are not my cup of tea.
A tour de force of boom bap beats, hardcore sampling, DJ scratching, full blast raps from the machine gun mouth of Chuck D, and hey booiiiii hype. They've absorbed and remediated a political textbook in Black rage and radicalism. Sonically innovative when it came out, it now feels extremely dated, samey and overlong, albeit very exciting in small doses.
Album is great, its beats, rhyme and lyrical content hold well. It has awesome tracks like bring the noise, louder than a bomb and night of the living baseheads. I’d 100% listen to it again, a timeless experience
YEAAAAAH BOYYYYIIIII! A lot of attitude in this album.
I can appreciate its a classic hip hop album. Every song does start soundng the same after a while like I liked the slayer sample an all
Never really given Pyblic Enemy a proper listen. Only the odd thing here and there Bet it was massive at the time. Attitude for days. Didnt expect Flash fucking Gordon. Decent. I wouldnt eat your poached on toast to it but for different reasons. They might get swiped.
I'm not big into hip hop, but I do appreciate the artistry. I like the beats in general, but many they reaaaalllly overused whatever that squeal is early in the album. It's so incredibly distracting and detracting from some otherwise really cool instrumentals. It also takes away from being able to hear the message. And every time is goes away the beat improves significantly. These tracks have a message and relevant commentary on the world that is well thought out and well performed and I respect that. The beats are funky and arranged well. Unlike most albums, the middle is actually the best part imo. I really enjoyed this album for a good run of 7 or 8 tracks in the middle. In the end, it's alright for someone of my tastes, I can't quite get all the way into it, but it's well made and I can get why people like it. Get rid of that squeal entirely and the album goes up a few points. 2.8/5
Not quite my cup of tea in terms of older rap.
Meh. I was just left with the feeling from the concert excerpts that I would have preferred to hear a full live album. As it is, it’s ok.
Lyrically and energy wise rock solid, musically I was over it by the end
We zijn nu op 85% van het boek en het begint in herhaling te vallen. Deze gasten hebben we al gehad. Deze muziekstijl hebben we al gehad. Alles wat in eerste instantie niet meer dan een drietje was, maar toch terugkomt, begint nu danig te vervelen. Het wordt steeds verleidelijker om oude recensies te kopiëren voor gevallen als dit.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is arguably the pinnacle of Hip Hop in the 80s, both musically and influentially. The album sparked a surge of explicit and confrontational Hardcore Hip-Hop that would go on to define the decade after. From that time though, Hip Hop as a genre has evolved so much over the years. I don't think it's a reach to say that Nation of Millions showcases the flaws of 80s hip hop that have been long extinguished. For the period this came out in, it was revolutionary. The cultural impact it had in America was astounding, no doubt inspiring many of the most famous rappers from the 90s and beyond. Due in equal parts to their limitations in technology and the primitiveness of the genre, the album definitely sounds of its time. That's not always a bad thing, and if you're nostalgic for the 80s I'm sure you'd love this record. But with how expansive and boundary-pushing the genre is today, it can be underwhelming by comparison. Chuck D has some amazing bars throughout this record, his booming voice is so commanding and a great tone for this kind of rap. Flavor Flav on the other hand... has not aged well to say the least. He's definitely the reacher in this relationship, it's hard to take songs about serious topics seriously when he's going YEAAAAHH BOOIIIIIIII every few seconds. Yes, I know, iconic, it's memorable in the same way Urkel is memorable, which I don't think is what you want for your politically-charged Hardcore Hip Hop record. Nation of Millions is still definitely a good record, super catchy and iconic hooks and fun samplework, great rapping from Chuck D, and a very unique nostalgic vibe. I think it's just one step too far-removed from Hip Hop I can start to fully appreciate.
This didn't grab me like their other album did
I know this is considered groundbreaking and revolutionary, particularly for its confrontational social commentary directed at the white establishment, and I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I didn’t, at least not musically. Too many tracks are dominated by an abrasive, high-pitched sound that, to me, resembles a boiling kettle and makes for an unpleasant listen. More broadly, I often struggle with late ’80s rap, which can feel like an awkward transitional phase; the shift from old-school to the more refined ’90s sound is underway, but the growing pains are hard to ignore. Overall, the messages here weren’t lost on me, but musically, it didn’t land. I’ll definitely return to this at a later date in the hope of enjoying it more, though.
I don’t know if this is my jam.
lo quiero revisitar con más tiempo
i want a juice box and a skateboard. i like this vibe however do not know what is being said.
War ok
Very good
Respect it slightly more than I love it, but still good!
Some good bits but I kind of zoned out
Noisy
Yeah BOOOOOIIIIII
This is the album released before 'Fear of a Black Planet' which I really liked. This album had more bangers but I like FoaBP. I think 'It takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back' is like 'License to Ill' and 'Fear of a Black Planet' like 'Paul's Boutique" and all those albums match up to around the same time. They even have "Party for your Right to Fight" as a nod to the Beastie Boys.
This is really cool to listen to and I like the way that it sets up the hip hop sample culture to follow, one year before Three Feet High and Rising
C’était bon. Classique du vieux rap. L’album est un peu long et répétitif.
chyba juz nie dla mnie
better!
Lyrics are great but the music/mix feel amateurish.
I didn’t listen to these guys when they first came out. What a shame. Didn’t understand or relate to it at all. Now it just sounds so good. My unbending mindset strikes again.
Послушал, но не слишком впечатлился.
It's a shame that I'm someone who usually doesn't focus on lyrics while listening to music (partly because 99 % of what I listen is not in my native language), as it seems from other reviews that they are the most important component of this album. Not that it's not musically good too. I should listen to more Hip Hop as I know next to nothing about it beyond the 6 or 7 albums I got so far in this list. Maybe for a future re-listen (and I take note that this is one of the albums that I must listen to again) I should search up the lyrics and read them while listening to really appreciate this, as It Takes A Nation To Hold Us Back seems to be widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential albums in music, particularly in the Hip Hop genre. 3.5/5, with a chance to bump up the rating in the future.
Good but not for me
The revolution will not be televised. Is there any line more iconic to the modern protest movement? An album were the message definitely outperforms the music, but still some good tracks. Favorite was Terminator X to the edge of panic
Ganz nett, aber nicht unbedingt mein Fall
3.5
This would have got a 4 if it had the Anthrax collab version of bring the noise as a bonus track.
I thought this was Public Image so was relieved when it was in fact Flava Flav’s outlet. I just don’t love the genre but I do think this merits a spot I just don’t particularly enjoy it.
To me, a lot of the songs blur together, with very similar beats. I feel like rap probably needs the lyrics to really land, and without understanding them, it doesn’t fully click.
Flavor Flav is all that comes to mind when I hear "Public Enemy". He sure says it A LOT. This album isn't bad, but I kept waiting for "Fight the Power" which is not on this record. This sound is a perfect artifact of this era's rap. All I can think of is the scene in Jarhead. I'm sure 40 years ago this album was groundbreaking and revolutionary. I like this album fine, but I don't think it's going in the rotation. A lot of samples they use in this record have been bitten by EVERYONE now. Childish Gambino, Wreckx-n-effect, Jay-z. Hell, even the loudspeaker tone in "Show 'em Whatcha Got" sounds like Zach De La Rocha. Same thing I've noted for a lot of these records, they are defining sound of the time. If I was a youth in 1988, I would have worn this tape out.
Monumental album for rap and hip hop. Don’t believe the hype!
I feel bad for saying it but like.. not it. Revolutionary but sounding old as hell now
Hadn't heard this one. Still very good.
Intense beats, really got that early hip hop feel, kinda cool truly. Rapping about important stuff, art as a form expression shining through. Not my typical music so 6.7/10
Yeeeeaaahhh boiiiii!!!!
Some popular hits, but it kind of ran together for me.
What does flava flav do even? I’m not complaining but really?
Yeah, boyeeeeeee! Who doesn't remember/recognize Flava Flav! Brought me back to the days I thought I could Break Dance. Not a bad listen, I didn't skip any songs or feel the need to.
Between 3 and 4 on this, but probably won’t come back to it, so rounded down.
I don’t know what’s more forceful, the message or the presentation. A sample smorgasbord itself, I recognized so many future samples here.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is an album that hits harder in its intent and influence than it does as an easy listening experience. It is dense, confrontational, and deliberately overwhelming, built to sound like a broadcast from the middle of a cultural emergency. The Bomb Squad’s production is chaotic by design, with layers of sirens, samples, and jagged beats all competing for space. It is powerful, but it can also be exhausting, especially when taken in one full sitting. Chuck D’s voice is commanding and authoritative, cutting through the noise like a public address system, while Flavor Flav provides a strange but effective counterbalance. Tracks like “Bring the Noise” and “Don’t Believe the Hype” still land with force, carrying a sense of urgency that feels rooted in its time but not entirely locked to it. At its best, the album feels revolutionary, like it is actively pushing hip hop into new territory rather than just reacting to what came before. Where it falls slightly short for me is in consistency. The album’s relentlessness can flatten individual moments, and some tracks feel more like extensions of the message than fully formed songs. Its importance is unquestionable, and its impact on hip hop and culture is massive, but as an album experience it can feel more admired than loved.
Classic rap, sound wise. Haven't heard or read the lyrics to make sure of what it is actually about. However this type of music can can tiring and this album is long. Songs like Terminator X that brake the mold are the ones that stand out the most.
Nippels
First time listening to anything like this. While some of the more explicitly political songs were less enjoyable the album as a whole was solid. I enjoyed the flow despite the length and the samples chosen gave the songs a unique twist.
Accidentally listened to the deluxe edition and it was too long
Honey, turn on Rebel Without a Pause, I haven't been irritable for a while....obviously the message is really cool but I struggled to jam with a lot of the music. YEAAAA BOIIIII
Some bangers but feels very of the time it was made
It was OK but nothing special. Did I really need to listen to this? Is it really one of the Top 100 albums ever (according to Apple Music)?
I’m no fan of hip-hop, but as hip-hop goes this is better than most of the rest.
Ahead of its time. High-energy, but its high-energy the whole time. There’s not a lot of dynamics in their actual delivery or flows. The beats are also both the most interesting and sometimes most annoying parts of this album. Some great sampling and DJ work weighed down by repetition.
Good old 80s hip hop
3.5. I like what they are doing. Just have to do it in small doses
I really like rap you can understand. I recognized Flavor Flav and didn't realize he was from Public Enemy. This might be the first time I have ever heard Public Enemy. Some of the sounds are getting pretty annoying.
Their second album. Hip Hop. In your face, militant and loud. Some thoughtful, funny, silly and poetic lyrics. Chuck D sounds particularly good. I think overall I liked Apocalypse 91 better but Yeeeeaah Boiiiiii ...
Fun anger! ★★★
Album review 008 It Takes a Nation of Millions… by Public Enemy (1988) Rating 3/5 I get why people love this album and can see how relevant it was back when it was first released. Almost 40 years on and Chuck D’s delivery remains as powerful as ever but It takes a Nation… is an album that just doesn’t do it for me.
Have definitely heard of Public Enemy, Flavor Flav, and their music before, but wouldn’t consider myself a fan.
Make America rage again
Angry, tough, poetic
Not a fan of hip hop but the lyrics of this album are great.
Another hip-hop album I can really appreciate. Kudos for The lyrics are quite alright (of well at least it's not full of the cliché pussies and bitches). Musically, a bit of a one-trick pony. I think this was quite an important band and album back in the day,
3.5, the boom-bap style was not my favorite, but the album grew on me while listening. Catchy hooks and bouncy feel, I can see why this album was so popular when it came out. Flava Flav "yeeaaah". Standouts: Don't Believe the Hype, Terminator X to the Edge of Panic, Louder than a Bomb, Mind Terrorist, Rebel Without a Pause, Show 'Em Whatcha Got.
hard with just a hint of jazz
Pretty good album, good flow to it all. First few songs are great.
Righteous!
De piepgeluiden waren 40 jaar geleden misschien cool, maar nu toch eerder vervelend. Desalniettemin zaten er wel wat platen tussen
You have to like flow of the rappers in order to enjoy hip-hop & rap. There's always been gimmicks in rap when it comes to rap. Flava Flav has a such a gimmick with "Yeeeaahh Boy" & I'm ok with it. Cuz dude knows how to spit. The rest of their flows are old skool & I dig it. Their choice of samples are quite unique, I liked the Bugs Bunny sample on one track. Though old school & goes long on some songs. I give it a 3.
pretty good
I like this hip-hop album, it is full of nostalgic bits 3/5
Party for your right to fight!
Lowkey incendiary.
cool.
"This had more production range than I was expecting. I liked the samples and even the one song without words at all. However, the topics they cover are intriguing and thoughtful. I liked the album. I could have used fewer ""Yeah, Boii"" inserts but eh I know it's Flavor Flav's thing. "
Not great, but good.
great lyrics
I certainly don't deny that this is one of the most culturally significant pieces of art to ever grace hip-hop, and it really did define what hip-hop was and was to be at the time. But, being groundbreaking in a genre often leads to it showing its age - and boy does this thing show its age. Chuck D really does carry Public Enemy - every moment I enjoyed on here featured him. The other cunt seemingly just keeps screaming "YEAAA BOIIII" and it got really annoying. That being said, this thing is backloaded as fuck. The last few tracks really make this album. Good listen, but not as good as people rave on about honestly.
I liked it better than the other public enemy album we got but I really don't gel with this era of hip hop production wise. I also think flava flav sounds like he has a TBI.
Full of energy albeit a bit dated. This was probably groundbreaking on release, the production and lyricism here definitely paved the way for the next three decades of artists that came after it. Which isn't to say that the production and lyrics are only good for their time, it still holds up today. There is some great sampling and at times the album is very catchy, but other times it gets a bit repetitive and I feel the album is longer than it needs to be. Shoutout Louis Farrakhan Highlights: Terminator X to the Edge of Panic, She Watch Channel Zero?!
3.5 Probably one of the most important recordings in East Coast Hip Hop - but my rating scale is a 4.0 is an album I want to return to and just don't see me returning to this album. I did enjoy the album, Flavor Flav is extremely repetitive (maybe this is intentional) with the 'yeah boy' and 'cold medina' stuff but Chuck D is excellent.
Powerful
Getting in to rap! Some great sounds but breaks the 1 hour rule on albums.
Political and sonic sophistication meet in perfect collision. The Bomb Squad conjures a chaos so intricate it becomes order, a mosaic that shouldn’t work but swings with purpose. Chuck D transmits like a prophet behind the mic, calling out the FBI, COINTELPRO, and the media decades before “surveillance state” or “fake news” became household terms. It's the sound of rebellion mixed, mastered, and made immortal.
Decent
A monumental album with meaning that holds up well. Musically, a bit less interesting than I was expecting listening from front to back.
I know this one! I get the strong message behind for sure and returning to it now in these 2025 times makes it even more relevant.
Tgoh, I am not that much of a fan.
Probably needs more listens to fully appreciate - but enjoyed a lot. Knew the singles which are killer but needs more time. 3.5
Nice balanced vibe of funk, beats and rap. Such a classic sound as well
Far more enjoyable to listen to than the other hip-hop related albums that have passed me by so far.
It's hip-hop, it's not my genre. It's not horrible to listen to so it gets a neutral score; 2,5/5
I don’t know if this isn’t quite as good as Fear of a Black Planet or if I just like Fear more because I’m more familiar with it but this album doesn’t connect with me to the degree that Fear does. I appreciate what they accomplished with this record but I don’t personally enjoy it.
Las bases del hip hop ochentero me ponen un poco nervioso
07/10/25 #14 Favourite Tracks: bring the noise; party for your right to fight Rate: 5/10
Can't help it, but the hip hop sounds here are dated. The breaks, the scratching...just doesn't sound as good to me as it did when I was growing up. And in some places, it's just downright annoying. Really do like Chuck D's voice. Wouldn't see myself returning to listen to it again but I respect P.E. a lot.
6/10 I have all this anger now. 10-06-2025
Personally I like my hip hop a little more jazz influenced instead of just over drums and record scratches, but there’s no denying their influence or their cultural impact
I assumed this was going to be gangster rap from the name. Turned out to be rather rad 80s hip hop. Pretty fun album. 👍 Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos, Rebel Without A Pause
Classic
I still prefer Chuck D's raps to Flavor Flav's.
Im not gonna try score this /10. I hate to say it but as a piece of music this album does not hold up. It means a lot more as a political statement than an album. Overall it's aight
I totally get how influential this was and I enjoy some of th music and the samples. But, very much like the Beastie Boys, it’s all a bit strident. Which is likely the point but it does not make for an enjoyable listening experience
There a number of good songs and iconic lines here (ya, boi) but not something I’d listen to regularly. Appreciate it for its place in history but that’s about it. 3/5
Respect for Chuck D. Solid album with a couple solid bangers on it
This was a good album. Flavor Flav was quite dominant on many of the tracks.
I didn’t hate this! Pretty good!
Had me groovin' a bit
I have a lot of respect for Public Enemy; they had a lot to say and said it in cool and innovative ways. However, in a similar light to my views on Bob Dylan review, I feel like things have come a long way since Public Enemy’s time. Even by the mid-to-late 90s, groups were coming out with records that have aged better, using more diverse and creative sounds (e.g. OutKast and A Tribe Called Quest). Can’t help but feel that Public Enemy’s sound is closer to the Run DMC ‘disc jockey and MC’ setup, than to the more rounded genre that hip hope became throughout the decade.
Yeeeeeeahhhhhhh boiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Fun little bit of history.
I am usually not a huge fan of rap, but honestly, I did enjoy this album. I like the flow and mostly the melodies and the atmosphere this album brings. Cant believe this is a live album. They were tight
Like Chuck D, don’t like Flava Flav that much.
If Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince were good.
Ekki alveg eins töff og mér fannst það. Góð beat samt. Svakalega langir textar hjá þeim vinum. Bring the noise er classic.
Meh
3/5 - it was just alright, didn't leave a significant impact on me. It was just okay. Really liked the messaging behind the album though. I think it's awkward because rap has evolved so much since 1988 that old school hip hop despite being so important for the legacy can feel really underwhelming when comparing it to modern day hip hop. I think I have modern day bias issues! Sorry. Okay album 👏!
Iconic … but felt too long and too repetitive
Not my usual genre but I knew a couple of the tracks on here and in general I enjoyed listening to it but probably won’t return to it.
For its influence and importance this album should get automatically five stars, but I have found it too dated, very much of its time from the late 80s, and while I appreciate their talent, there are other rap albums I've enjoyed more on this challenge. Sorry, but only 3 stars.
On the second listen I started to enjoy some of the second half of this album. Standout track: night of the living baseheads.
I understand why this is classic, but ultimately not my thing
Generally speaking, this hard core rap is not my thing. But there's no denying, it's not slow, it's not boring and it's pretty banging at times.
Certainly deserves its place on the list. Chuck D's vocal is iconic. The album and beats are super dated though. It's certainly of it's time and it's just not my thing. I'm not a big hip-hop or rap fan outside of a handful I grew up on so this album is doubly lost on me. 3/5.
Solid beats. The vocals are so-so. Overall it's decent.
Forgot How annoying some of those Beats can be
Kom med enorma lovord! Inte min genre egentligen men jag uppskattade detta, så gott betyg där!
I like the beats, could really see how the album was really influential to rap later on. What is holding it back for me is the lyrics, the one song with Flavor Flav listing out different flavors is corny as hell lol and the She watch channel zero being so lecturey to some woman enjoying soap operas as cheap entertainment while the guy complains about not being able to watch the game is pretty hypocritical i think. Think the more political tracks are better. Liked the Black steel track telling the story of the narator escaping for example. Overall like the beats and can appreciate its influence but not something i would return to too often
They consistently get into a good flow/groove, break it with some discordant noises or shouting, and then get right back into the flow. It can be cool, but almost every song had parts that I found so grating and off-putting that I didn't completely like any of the songs except for "Show 'Em Whatcha Got", which isn't even a fully fledged song. I appreciate the beats and the edge of this album. I wish it were more musical. I also find Flavor Flav very cringe. It's still an interesting listen. 3/5
Ya boyeeeeee
I enjoyed listening to this, but can't remember a ton of the music or hooks even though it's only been a day.
I was always curious about the appeal of Flava Flav. I *kinda* get it now.
so much power, some real bangers too. just don’t see myself spinning this whole thing again.
I am a big fan of hip hop and I am constantly trying to immerse myself into the roots of the genre. This album from Public Enemy has good beats and I never felt bored but they lyrics felt outdated. I would have liked it more if I could understand the context in which it was written. So this made it into an average listening experience.
Good beats and fun to listen to!
Enjoyable but not quite as polished and refined as their 3rd album
Similar to the other Public Enemy album. Good but not my thing.
Lyrics are great, not personally a fan of the high saxophoneish screeches featured on many tracks.
Think I would’ve been more into it when I was younger. Good old skool rap
- Plezant, na een tijdje wat eentoniger - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM
I have always struggled with hip hop and rap music. It is not a genre that has ever grabbed me. I’m still trying and will continue to use this project as an opportunity to expand my horizons. In this spirit, and considering that many consider this to be among the most seminal albums of the “golden age” of hip hop, I decided to give the album several listens. In the end, I appreciated the anger behind the insights into the plights of black people at the time. The BS “War on Drugs” prevalent at the time continued the oppression of black people. Same zebra, different stripes. The frustration was expressed affectively. The raps of Chuck D and Flavor Flav play off each other in fun and interesting ways. I enjoyed the incorporation of funk guitar and pop music into the resampling. The music had me grooving along, albeit still wishing for original instrumentation, a bias I acknowledge that I need to get over to appreciate this genre. I’m still not there yet with respect to even being able to pretend that I understand what makes a great hip hop album, but I appreciate what Public Enemy was trying to do here and can appreciate why this album is considered to be so influential to the genre. My personal work to overcome my biases remains ongoing.
yeah boyyyyyy
I don't like old hip hop. The beats are just way too minimalistic and repetitive, and the vocals barely interact with the instrumentals. They're just kind there, and I don't like that. The second half is a little better in that regard. They're still repetitive but a bit more energetic, so it's something. They mostly focus on writing, which is fine, but it’s not a part of music I personally care all that much about. This is a fine album, but I don’t think I’ll remember any of the songs here. Just not my thing.
This was a great listen top to bottom. Fun to contrast with yesterdays Run-DMC and how much had evolved in 4 years.
Wow, my first rap album, it’s taken 30-something albums to get here, but I got it. To me, this album wasn’t very interesting to listen to. I mean, it was certainly well produced, and you can tell the guys put their all into it, it just wasn’t really my thing, and I can’t really fault the group for that, since rap isn’t really my style. But, I am willing to say that the second half of the album was better than the first, and there were some songs I did genuinely enjoy like Black Steel in The Hour of Chaos. I don’t really have too much to say on this one since I’m not hugely insightful in rap or it’s terminology, so I’m just gonna keep on moving, maybe I’ll get another rap album I like better.
At first, I thought the incessant sirens, blaring, and squealing in the background was really grating. But by about halfway through, it started to cohere into something pretty intense, and I could imagine it being blasted out in public, and the effect that’d have. Not an easy listen, but I stayed open to it and walked away appreciating it much more than I thought i would.
Fine. Liked the other rap I got earlier in the week better.
71/100 first venture into real classic hip hop roots, it sounded exactly how i thought it would surprisingly but was still pretty good and enjoyable, pretty influential too so that's a bonus, love their attitude on this album
Decent rap
Iconic but not sure it’s timeless. Production sounds a bit dated.
Very good
This album is like skipping school with a couple of friends and roaming the streets doing whatever you want. Others are looking at you, wondering why you’re not at school. You’re walking with youthful confidence, displaying a rebellious vibe that scares people into leaving you be.
3/5
I can't think of anything witty to say today. I liked this album.
Nice beats and flow. Interesting use of sampling
3.5 Stars