Review Summary: Masterpiece.
Critical Responses:
Allmusic: 5/5
Robert Christagu: A
Entertainment Weekly: A-
NME: 10/10
Q: 5/5
Rolling Stone: 5/5
#302 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums of all time, being the 17th highest hip hop album.
Public Enemy is one of the best hip hop groups of all time, because they have Chuck D, who is one of the most intelligent minds in politics. Why is he one of the most intelligent minds in politics you ask? It's because, he rallies against racism, ignorance, and media hypocrisy, and is an activist. The underlying theme of this album, is racism, and the white communities thoughts on things. Based on that, they have a lot that they can talk about. Now for the track by track review.
1. Contract On the World Love Jam: Just an intro. An interesting intro at that, which has samples of old love songs.
2. Brothers Gonna Work It Out: Classic song. This song has been sampled in, "Street Fighter" by Ice Cube, "That's My Bitch" by Jay-Z and Kanye West, and other songs. 5/5
3. 911 Is a Joke: A humorous song, that has Flavor Flav talking about the lack of response to calls to 9-1-1, in a black neighborhood, but specifically references the poor response by paramedic crews and not the police, which is a common misconception regarding the track. Classic. 5/5
4. Incident At 66.6 FM: An interlude, that has interview clips.
5. Welcome to the Terrordome: This song, is a legendary, and classic song. This song has been sampled in, "Jackin For Beats" by Ice Cube, "Wicked" by Ice Cube, "Hip Hop Vs Rap" by KRS-One, "Intro (Internal Affairs)" by Pharoahe Monch, and other songs. 5/5
6. Meet the G That Killed Me: An interlude, that has interview clips.
7. Pollywannacraka: A track, about what you think it would be about based on the title. This song samples, "South Bronx" by Boogie Down Productions, and plenty of other songs. 5/5
8. Anti-****** Machine: Again, about what you think it would be. This song has been sampled in, "Drop the Bomb" by Brand Nubian, and other songs. 5/5
9. Burn Hollywood Burn: This song features Ice Cube, and Big Daddy Kane. I'd rank the verses, Chuck D, then Ice Cube, then Big Daddy Kane. This song is about how they don't like hollywood. 5/5
10. Power to the People: Classic song. 5/5
11. Who Stole the Soul: Classic song. 5/5
12. Fear of a Black Planet: Classic song. 5/5
13. Revolutionary Generation: Classic song. This song samples, "Peter Piper" by Run-D.M.C, and other songs. 5/5
14. Can't Do Nuttin For Ya Man: This song is primarily by Flavor Flav. Classic song. 5/5
15. Reggie Jax: An interlude, with interlude clips.
16. Leave This Off Your ***in Charts: Classic song. This song samples, "Self Destruction" by the Stop the Violence Movement, "It's Nasty (Genius of Love)" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "Just Rhymin With Biz" by Biz Markie, and other songs. 5/5
17. B Side Wins Again: Classic song. This song samples, "Tougher Than Leather" by Run-D.M.C, and other songs. This song has been sampled in, "Ain't No Future In Your Frontin" by MC Breed, "Nuthin But a G Thang" by Dr Dre, "Rock the Spot" by Blackalicious, 5/5
18. War At 33 and a half: Classic song, that is a shorter song. 5/5
19. Final Count of the Collision Between Us and the Damned: An interlude with interview clips.
20. Fight the Power: A legendary song. This song samples, "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force, and other songs. This song has been sampled in songs such as, "Give the People" by EPMD, "What Can I Do" by Ice Cube, and other songs.
Overall, I give it a perfect rating.
3 Best Songs:
1. Fight the Power
2. Welcome to the Terrordome
3. Burn Hollywood Burn
3 Weakest Songs:
1. Can't Do Nuttin For Ya Man
2. 911 Is a Joke
3. Who Stole the Soul?
