Review Summary: Public Enemy is one of the greatest, and most influential groups of all time, and this album is one of the reasons why.
Loud, political, funny, Public Enemy is all of those things, and they do each of those things perfectly on this album. Public Enemy has three members, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and Terminator X. Chuck D is the loud and politically salient side, he has a militant message, and has a take no prisoners persona, Flavor Flav is the funny side Public Enemy uses for comedic relief, and Terminator X is the producer of the group. There really isn't anything Chuck D isn't afraid to say, and he proves it with this album. This album is so good, that it's ranked #48 on Rolling Stone magazines 500 greatest albums list, not the greatest hip-hop albums, but one of the greatest albums, regardless of the genre, it's the highest ranked hip-hop album on the list, which proves, that it's one of the best, and most important hip-hop albums of all time. There really isn't just one word that can describe Public Enemy, just about any word that describes anti-government, would fit next to Public Enemy's name. What Public Enemy did is raise the consciousness level to unbelievable heights. Now for the track by track review.
1. Countdown To Armageddon: Intro.
2. Bring The Noise: One of the best songs on the album, that features alot of samples, including a sample of a speech by Malcolm X. This song has been sampled plenty of times on songs such as, I'm Not Going Out Like That by Run-D.M.C, Radio Station by Run-D.M.C, The Hunted Child by Ice-T, Egg Man by the Beastie Boys, What's It All About by Run-D.M.C, Booming System by LL Cool J, Peep Game by 2Pac, I Ain't New To This by Ice-T, I'm Back by Eminem, New York by AZ, Everything I Am by Kanye West, and plenty of other songs. 5/5
3. Don't Believe The Hype: A brilliant track that features a sample of Fugitive by Whodini, and alot of other samples. This song has been sampled in, If It Ain't Ruff by N.W.A, Don't Trust Em by Ice Cube, Zearocks by Leaders Of The New School, Claimin I'm A Criminal by Brand Nubian, Blow Dat by Royce Da 5'9, and plenty of other songs. 5/5
4. Cold Lampin With Flavor: A funny song where Flavor Flav kicks some rhymes. This song features a sample of a clip of Mr Magic disapproving of Public Enemy No. 1, and also has samples of Here We Go by Run-D.M.C, and Fight For Your Right To Party by the Beastie Boys, and alot of other samples. 5/5
5. Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic: A brilliant track that features samples Bring The Noise by Public Enemy, and Rebel Without A Pause by Public Enemy and other samples. 5/5
6. Mind Terrorist: Interlude.
7. Louder Than A Bomb: A brilliant track that features samples of songs such as AJ Scratch by Kurtis Blow, Here We Go by Run-D.M.C, One For The Treble by Davy DMX, and Fight For Your Right To Party by the Beastie Boys, and other songs. 5/5
8. Caught, Can We Get A Witness?: Another brilliant track that features samples of Terminator X Speaks With His Hands by Public Enemy, and other songs. This song has been sampled in Boodah Break by Redman, and plenty of other songs 5/5
9. Shake Your Rump: Interlude.
10. She Watch Channel Zero?!: A funny, and brilliant song, where Chuck D and Flavor Flav talk about their disapproval of television programs. 5/5
11. Night Of The Living Baseheads: Chuck D talks about how he is anti-drugs. This song contains samples of songs such as Bring The Noise by Public Enemy, Christmas Rapping by Kurtis Blow, Here We Go by Run-D.M.C, Sucker M.C.'s by Run-D.M.C, and My Mike Sounds Nice by Salt N Pepa and more samples too. This song has been sampled in Here's The Proof by Gang Starr, and plenty of other songs. 5/5
12. Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos: A song where Chuck D and Flavor Flav try to escape from prison, in a brilliant way. the best song on the album. This song features a sample of Bring The Noise by Public Enemy, and other samples. 5/5
13. Security Of The First World: Interlude.
14. Rebel Without A Pause: A brilliant song that has been sampled numerous times on tracks such as Radio by Eazy-E, Mister Cee's Master Plan by Big Daddy Kane, I'm Not Going Out Like That by Run-D.M.C, and Radio Suckers by Ice-T, Jackin For Beats by Ice Cube, Pin The Tail On The Donkey by Naughty By Nature, Mic Contract by Ice-T, Harmonize by Nice And Smooth, Holler If Ya Hear Me by 2Pac, Long Island Wildin by De La Soul, Panther Power by 2Pac, and plenty of other songs. 5/5
15. Prophets Of Rage: A brilliant song, that features samples of Bring The Noise by Public Enemy, and Miuzi Weighs A Ton by Public Enemy, and samples of other songs too. 5/5
16. Party For Your Right To Fight: The album finishes with this brilliant song, that features a sample of Fight For Your Right To Party by the Beastie Boys. 5/5
3 Best Songs:
1. Bring the Noise
2. Black Steel In the Hour of Chaos
3. Night of the Living Baseheads
3 Weakest Songs:
1. Cold Lampin With Flavor
2. Party For Your Right to Fight
3. She Watch Channel Zero?!
