Featured Artist #18: Public Enemy

br3ad_man · 07-11-2005, 05:13 AM

While many rappers these days will speak about issues relating to things that are seemingly irrelevant, Public Enemy remain as one of the most definitive and controversial hip-hop groups of all time. With Chuck D's powerful and deep vocals, their extremely cool cut and paste samples and Flavor Flav's comedy running throughout and Terminator X's famed unconditional silence, their sound is one that has been copied many times but rarely been matched in greatness. Flavor Flav's image, while intended to be comic, is one that is a big part of many popular rappers today. Their sound comprises of heavy beats and soul and funk influences. Using many different samples, the group managed to make old and familar sounds fresh and new to their audience.

Public Enemy were:

Chuck D - Vocals
Flavor Flav - Vocals, Humour
Terminator X - Turntables
Professor Griff - Production

Public Enemy's early stages began when Chuck D formed a group with two friends who shared with him a love of politics and hip-hop. After recording a tape of "Public Enemy No. 1", the now legendary producer Rick Rubin managed to get ahold of it. At this time, Chuck was appearing on a friend's radio show under the name 'Chuckie D'. Upon hearing the tape, Rubin went in search of Chuck, wanting to sign him to his label. Soon after, the group recorded their first album, "Yo! Bum Rush The Show". The album was an incredible debut and while it went virtually ignored by a mainstream audience, it was very much admired by hip-hop fans around the globe. And while "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" was really that good, it looked like nothing next to it's sequel, "It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back". "Nation of Millions" remains to this day, possibly the best hip-hop album ever recorded. The album not only put Public Enemy on the map, it put hip-hop on the map for a mainstream audience, despite the earlier release of the best selling "Licensed To Ill" by the Beastie Boys.

With Chuck D's revolutionary lyrics, Flavor Flav's comedy (the album would be half of what it is without it) and it's groundbreaking general sound, Public Enemy were now impossible to ignore. They acheived mainstream success with "Nation of Millions" and their music was well known worldwide. The follow up, "Fear Of A Black Planet", while it could not be as groudbreaking as it's predecessor was equally great and remains as another of the best hip-hop albums ever recorded. With a whopping 20 tracks, there was plenty of variety to keep most happy. "Fear of a Black Planet" is also their most musical to date. Following "Fear of a Black Planet", they abandoned the musicality of it for more agression. "Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Back" was another Public Enemy masterpiece. The rerecording of classic track "Bring The Noise" saw Public Enemy collaborating with one of the "big four" of thrash metal, Anthrax. While the other three would have been too serious to collaborate with a rap group, Anthrax took themselves lightly enough to involve themselves in such a collaboration. Many groups, most notably Rage Against The Machine and Korn learned a lot from not only this collaboration, but from Chuck D and the crew in other areas of their work.

It was after "Apocalypse" that Public Enemy started to slide. Flavor Flav was continually in trouble with the law and the group released "Greatest Misses", a compilation record that lived up to it's title. The group have released four albums since "Apocalypse", none of them matching the former glory of their first four records. The group have not released anything new since 2002, but in 2005, they released a live DVD called "It Takes A Nation". While it is unlikely that Public Enemy will ever release anything that comes close to the glory of their first four albums, they remain as a vital part of rap music, rock music and popular culture.

br3ad_man · 07-11-2005, 05:13 AM

Discography

[URL=http://www.musicianforums.com/sputnik/album.php?albumid=1410]Yo! Bum Rush The Show (click for a review)[/url]

Track Highlights

You're Gonna Get Yours
Sophistocated Bitch
Public Enemy No. 1

[URL=http://www.musicianforums.com/sputnik/album.php?albumid=1381]It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (click for review)[/url]

Track Highlights

Bring The Noise
Don't Believe The Hype
Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos

[URL=http://www.musicianforums.com/sputnik/album.php?albumid=1446]Fear of a Black Planet (click for review)[/url]

Track Highlights

911 Is A Joke
Welcome To The Terrordome
Fight The Power

Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Back

Track Highlights

Bring Tha Noise
Can't Truss It
Shut 'Em Down

Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age

Track Highlights

While Lotta Love Goin On In The Middle of Hell
Hitler Day
I Stand Accused

He Got Game

Track Highlights

Resurrection
He Got Game
Is Your God A Dog

There's A Poison Goin' On

Track Highlights

Dark Side Of The Wall: 2000
Do You Wanna Go Our Way???
World Tour Sessions

Revolverlution

Track Highlights

Revolverlution
Son Of A Bush
Get Your Shit Together

Bartender · 07-11-2005, 05:28 AM

Good work. Public Enemy are a great group, though I still need to get Nation of Millions...

There was something on (British) television a relatively short while ago, a mini-series about Politics in Music, and one of the 20 minute episodes was about Chuck D. It was good to watch. PEs music might not be up to the standard of their holy trinity of the late 80s/early 90s, but he still seems to be doing an incredible amount of work towards improving the lot of inner city youths.

EDIT: Weren't PE the first million-selling group to put a new album up for free download?

br3ad_man · 07-11-2005, 05:34 AM

I'm not sure if they were the first, but "There's A Poison Goin' On" was up for download.

Distorted Vision · 07-11-2005, 06:51 AM

Good FA, PE are a phenomenal group. The main thing I love about them is the ferocity of Chuck D's rap, I've never really heard any other vocalist match that level of outrage, and it really pushes every song to the limit.

I need to get my hands on FoaBP though.

Bartender · 07-11-2005, 08:41 AM

I got it recently in HMV's current sale for £4.99, so maybe you can pick it up there too.

pixiesfanyo · 07-11-2005, 08:46 AM

they hate jews.

G_Mac07 · 07-11-2005, 09:16 AM

Good job br3ad, and you kept it at a good length as well. I haven't heard any of the stuff from their latest album, so I'll give it a look over the next couple of days.

~~Ledmetalicbeatle~~ · 07-11-2005, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixiesfanyo

they hate jews.

Actually it was just Professor Griff and they kicked him out for it. I'm not sure if they let him back in or not.

sketchyjoe · 07-11-2005, 06:15 PM

PE are great. Chuck's got an awesome voice and great lyrics and I just can't help but smile every time Flavor Flav shouts "YEEEAAAHHHH BOOOYYY!"

Robert Crumb · 07-11-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Actually it was just Professor Griff and they kicked him out for it. I'm not sure if they let him back in or not.

Don't think they did.

Chuck D's on the public speaking circuit. Saw him when he came to my uni. Was kind of neat.

Kurtz · 07-11-2005, 06:27 PM

Great work. Probably my favorite rap group. Fear of a Black Planet is my favorite of theirs.

rockinbass17 · 07-11-2005, 06:34 PM

Does anyone have any songs by them? I've heard all good things and desperatly want to hear something

br3ad_man · 07-12-2005, 12:49 AM

You could just buy an album, they're cheap as on Amazon and there's stacks of them on ebay.

~~Ledmetalicbeatle~~ · 07-12-2005, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by br3ad_man

You could just buy an album, they're cheap as on Amazon and there's stacks of them on ebay.

I got Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black for $2 on amazon.

Iai · 07-12-2005, 03:57 PM

I'm a PE fanboy, but honestly, I really don't think that much of Apocalypse '91.

~~Ledmetalicbeatle~~ · 07-12-2005, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iai

I'm a PE fanboy, but honestly, I really don't think that much of Apocalypse '91.

It has it's moments

br3ad_man · 07-12-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ledmetalicbeatle

I got Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black for $2 on amazon.

I got it for $1.75

plus $5.50 shipping

Robert Crumb · 07-13-2005, 01:39 AM

I like Apocalypse. That said, I can't remember the last time I put it on.

~~josh3xq~~ · 07-14-2005, 02:31 PM

On the subject of rap:

http://www.petitiononline.com/RappinG/petition.html

SIGN THIS and make all your friends do the same!

Please Please Please

07-11-2005, 08:46 AM	#7
pixiesfanyo huffing & puffing Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: idyllwild, ca Posts: 17,775	they hate jews.
	Digging: Do Make Say Think - Other Truths

07-12-2005, 03:57 PM	#16
Iai Chairman Meow Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 16,125	I'm a PE fanboy, but honestly, I really don't think that much of Apocalypse '91.
	Digging: Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland

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07-11-2005, 05:13 AM	#1
br3ad_man out of touch Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 14,634	Featured Artist #18: Public Enemy While many rappers these days will speak about issues relating to things that are seemingly irrelevant, Public Enemy remain as one of the most definitive and controversial hip-hop groups of all time. With Chuck D's powerful and deep vocals, their extremely cool cut and paste samples and Flavor Flav's comedy running throughout and Terminator X's famed unconditional silence, their sound is one that has been copied many times but rarely been matched in greatness. Flavor Flav's image, while intended to be comic, is one that is a big part of many popular rappers today. Their sound comprises of heavy beats and soul and funk influences. Using many different samples, the group managed to make old and familar sounds fresh and new to their audience. Public Enemy were: Chuck D - Vocals Flavor Flav - Vocals, Humour Terminator X - Turntables Professor Griff - Production Public Enemy's early stages began when Chuck D formed a group with two friends who shared with him a love of politics and hip-hop. After recording a tape of "Public Enemy No. 1", the now legendary producer Rick Rubin managed to get ahold of it. At this time, Chuck was appearing on a friend's radio show under the name 'Chuckie D'. Upon hearing the tape, Rubin went in search of Chuck, wanting to sign him to his label. Soon after, the group recorded their first album, "Yo! Bum Rush The Show". The album was an incredible debut and while it went virtually ignored by a mainstream audience, it was very much admired by hip-hop fans around the globe. And while "Yo! Bum Rush The Show" was really that good, it looked like nothing next to it's sequel, "It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back". "Nation of Millions" remains to this day, possibly the best hip-hop album ever recorded. The album not only put Public Enemy on the map, it put hip-hop on the map for a mainstream audience, despite the earlier release of the best selling "Licensed To Ill" by the Beastie Boys. With Chuck D's revolutionary lyrics, Flavor Flav's comedy (the album would be half of what it is without it) and it's groundbreaking general sound, Public Enemy were now impossible to ignore. They acheived mainstream success with "Nation of Millions" and their music was well known worldwide. The follow up, "Fear Of A Black Planet", while it could not be as groudbreaking as it's predecessor was equally great and remains as another of the best hip-hop albums ever recorded. With a whopping 20 tracks, there was plenty of variety to keep most happy. "Fear of a Black Planet" is also their most musical to date. Following "Fear of a Black Planet", they abandoned the musicality of it for more agression. "Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Back" was another Public Enemy masterpiece. The rerecording of classic track "Bring The Noise" saw Public Enemy collaborating with one of the "big four" of thrash metal, Anthrax. While the other three would have been too serious to collaborate with a rap group, Anthrax took themselves lightly enough to involve themselves in such a collaboration. Many groups, most notably Rage Against The Machine and Korn learned a lot from not only this collaboration, but from Chuck D and the crew in other areas of their work. It was after "Apocalypse" that Public Enemy started to slide. Flavor Flav was continually in trouble with the law and the group released "Greatest Misses", a compilation record that lived up to it's title. The group have released four albums since "Apocalypse", none of them matching the former glory of their first four records. The group have not released anything new since 2002, but in 2005, they released a live DVD called "It Takes A Nation". While it is unlikely that Public Enemy will ever release anything that comes close to the glory of their first four albums, they remain as a vital part of rap music, rock music and popular culture.

07-11-2005, 05:28 AM	#3
Bartender morrissey approved Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lamuella Posts: 25,762	Good work. Public Enemy are a great group, though I still need to get Nation of Millions... There was something on (British) television a relatively short while ago, a mini-series about Politics in Music, and one of the 20 minute episodes was about Chuck D. It was good to watch. PEs music might not be up to the standard of their holy trinity of the late 80s/early 90s, but he still seems to be doing an incredible amount of work towards improving the lot of inner city youths. EDIT: Weren't PE the first million-selling group to put a new album up for free download?

07-11-2005, 05:34 AM	#4
br3ad_man out of touch Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 14,634	I'm not sure if they were the first, but "There's A Poison Goin' On" was up for download.

07-11-2005, 06:51 AM	#5
Distorted Vision Synchestra Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bristol Posts: 4,853	Good FA, PE are a phenomenal group. The main thing I love about them is the ferocity of Chuck D's rap, I've never really heard any other vocalist match that level of outrage, and it really pushes every song to the limit. I need to get my hands on FoaBP though.

07-11-2005, 08:41 AM	#6
Bartender morrissey approved Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lamuella Posts: 25,762	I got it recently in HMV's current sale for £4.99, so maybe you can pick it up there too.

07-11-2005, 09:16 AM	#8
G_Mac07 Victory or Valhalla Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt Isa, Australia Posts: 7,097	Good job br3ad, and you kept it at a good length as well. I haven't heard any of the stuff from their latest album, so I'll give it a look over the next couple of days.

07-11-2005, 06:15 PM	#10
sketchyjoe GREAT GOOGA-MOOGA! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Desolation Row, London Posts: 16,337	PE are great. Chuck's got an awesome voice and great lyrics and I just can't help but smile every time Flavor Flav shouts "YEEEAAAHHHH BOOOYYY!"

07-11-2005, 06:27 PM	#12
Kurtz like i'm in a hurr-ay Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 8,765	Great work. Probably my favorite rap group. Fear of a Black Planet is my favorite of theirs.

07-11-2005, 06:34 PM	#13
rockinbass17 I'm Goin' Home Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tralfamadore Posts: 1,003	Does anyone have any songs by them? I've heard all good things and desperatly want to hear something

07-12-2005, 12:49 AM	#14
br3ad_man out of touch Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 14,634	You could just buy an album, they're cheap as on Amazon and there's stacks of them on ebay.

07-13-2005, 01:39 AM	#19
Robert Crumb yeah baby shine that lamp Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: shine that lamp on this sad, sad man Posts: 4,429	I like Apocalypse. That said, I can't remember the last time I put it on.

07-14-2005, 02:31 PM	#20
~~josh3xq~~ Banned Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: AWESOMELAND Posts: 27	On the subject of rap: http://www.petitiononline.com/RappinG/petition.html SIGN THIS and make all your friends do the same! Please Please Please