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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
86 of 90 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
With It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988), Public Enemy single-handedly shattered the limits and expanded the possibilities for hip-hop as an artist and cultural force. To that point, It Takes a Nation was the most inventive, powerful rap record ever. It's blend of diverse samples, infectious beats, and intelligent lyrics (delivered with irrepresible cogence by the band's frontman and lead rapper Chuck D) was unlike anything that preceded it. As tempting as it is to praise Public Enemy for their fiercly intelligent vision, the compelling delivery is what makes it all worthwhile. While secondary rapper Flavor Flav doesn't have Chuck D's powerful baritone or undeniable intelligence, his raps humorously compliment the groups militant ideals. Public Enemy's deft production team, aptly titled The Bomb Squad (which includes Chuck D, DJ Terminator X, and numerous studio technicians), manages to extract samples from eccletic sources, including John Coltrane, Van Halen, and speeches by Martin Luther King jr., and Malcom X. If this album had a flaw, it was that the themes were only loosely held together. All discuss African-American oppression, occasionally attacking it so ambiguously that the album sometimes feels a little unfocused. This isn't really a problem because the music is what ultimately holds this brilliant work together.
In 1990, after two years of controversy and uncertainty, Public Enemy returned with Fear of a Black Planet; the most coherent, focused rap album to date. On Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy amazingly build on the near perfection of It Takes a Nation, elevating the music to an even higher artistic level. Fear of a Black Planet begins with an instrumental track, "Contract on the World Love Jam", that quietly describes the band's precarious situation from the previous year. Then, the album explodes into an intense, funky song that manipulates a Prince sample so creatively you probably won't recognize it. The lyrics and title assure everyone that, "Brothers Gonna Work It Out". That song sets the tone for the entire album and from that point Public Enemy takes hold and never relaxes their grip.
Fear of a Black Planet is a remarkably complex record; each song seems to change gears and move in a different direction. It's unpredictable, yet it always sounds like Public Enemy knows exactly where they're going. On, "Incident at 66.6 FM", The Bomb Squad samples a call-in radio interview with Chuck D. The comments by the interviewer and numerous callers introduce the next track, "Welcome to the Terror Dome". Chuck D effectively shoots down his critics against a menacing soundscape that includes a refined siren sample, with a muted vocal harmony in the background. On, "Fear of a Black Planet", he addresses the baseless fear of interracial marriage. He displays an uncharacteristic sense of humor, as some of the vocals are manipulated to sound munchkin-like (yet still sound in character with the song). On, "B Side Wins Again", he berates mainstream radio for refusing to play anything unusual or controversial. Chuck's voice is treated with a reverberation effect, creating a fuzzy echo after the initial vocal sound.
Though Chuck D is clearly the primary creative force behind Public Enemy, Flavor Flav has a number of strong moments. On, "911 is a Joke", he berates emergency response crews for incompentence. On, "Can't do Nuttin' For Ya Man", he tells a seemingly hopeless case to solve his own problems. Flavor Flav delivers his clever rhymes with his trademark humorous flamboyance. He and Chuck D collaborate on the final song, the best rap anthem ever recorded and Public Enemy's statement of purpose, "Fight the Power". "Fight the Power" is the perfect conclusion for an adventurous record that, despite it's many musical directions, is always focused.
Many have condemned Public Enemy for promoting bigotry. In some sense this is not without basis, as some lyrics on Fear of a Black Planet appear, at least superficially, to be prejudicial. On, "Welcome to the Terror Dome", Chuck responds to a Rabbi who critized the group with words like, "Told the Rab, get off the rag" and, "they got me like Jesus". Even though he later stated that he doesn't harbor hostility for all Jews, this isn't apparent while listening to the album. "Meet the G That Killed Me", contains blatantly homophobic lyrics such as, "Man to man, don't know if they can, from what I know, that parts don't fit". While you may not agree with these and other viewpoints (which I sometimes don't), they are irrelevant to Public Enemy's artistic achievement. The entire presentation is what makes their music artistically viable.
After Black Planet, Public Enemy released Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black (1991). It's a strong effort with several outstanding tracks, but a bit uneven and not a progression from their previous work. In 1994, they released Muse Sick-N-Hour Message; a listless, redundant disappointment. Since then, the group has shown flashes of innovation, but is mostly just treading water (as evidence of this, Chuck D is now known more for his support of music on the internet rather any artistic contribution). With It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy took rap to an artistic and cultural level that had not been reached before and hasn't been reached since.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Nah. But Fear of a Black Planet is Public Enemy's most focused, commercially successful, and controversial album. In fact - trim off some of the fat here and you've got one of the best rap records ever.
The album kicks off with my personal favourite PE track, Brothers Gonna Work It Out, a high-octane track with loud bells and screaming guitar licks; musically dense as a track off It Takes a Nation, yet, a little more polished. Another Bomb Squad production masterpiece and Chuck does his thing once again. This song loudly screams, "PE IS BACK". While the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to Brothers Gonna Work It Out, that's similar to saying Nas never lived up to Illmatic, because this is a top-notch album. Welcome to the Terrordome and the title-track, Fear of a Black Planet are both classic PE tracks, and War at 33 1/3 sounds about as urgent as a timebomb. Flava Flav gets ample chances to shine on a couple of tracks as well; mocking the police on 911 is a Joke, and just cold lampin' on Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man.
And what would this album be - (or what would PE be, for that matter) - without the finishing blow on this album, Fight the Power; perhaps the quintessential PE track. Highly, highly recommended, but It Takes a Nation of Millions is better.
The album kicks off with my personal favourite PE track, Brothers Gonna Work It Out, a high-octane track with loud bells and screaming guitar licks; musically dense as a track off It Takes a Nation, yet, a little more polished. Another Bomb Squad production masterpiece and Chuck does his thing once again. This song loudly screams, "PE IS BACK". While the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to Brothers Gonna Work It Out, that's similar to saying Nas never lived up to Illmatic, because this is a top-notch album. Welcome to the Terrordome and the title-track, Fear of a Black Planet are both classic PE tracks, and War at 33 1/3 sounds about as urgent as a timebomb. Flava Flav gets ample chances to shine on a couple of tracks as well; mocking the police on 911 is a Joke, and just cold lampin' on Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man.
And what would this album be - (or what would PE be, for that matter) - without the finishing blow on this album, Fight the Power; perhaps the quintessential PE track. Highly, highly recommended, but It Takes a Nation of Millions is better.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Back before there was East Coast and West Coast, Public Enemy were THE important artists in rap and this was their best CD. "Welcome to the Terrordome" is a classic in any genre, and "911 Is a Joke" is another gem. The whole CD holds together as one programmed piece of eloquent socio-politics and sonic art. One CD that every rock (let alone rap or hip-hop) fan should own.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Public Enemy - Fear of A Black Planet
If you like Public Enemy this is a must have. Each cut resounds better than the last. Chuck D and the boys always have a message on every song.
Published 5 months ago by BigK
My # 1 Rap Album ALLTIME
Chuck D the philosopher. Terminator X invented the Chronic beat and mixed it with hardcore funk. Still the hardest and most original sound. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Read to Think
Some of the best Rap, PERIOD (4.5/5)
Public Enemy, what else can you say about these guys? One of the most well known rap artists than proved who artistic the genre can be, Public Enemy still stands out on it's own... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Private Quentin Tarantino Fan
Beyond Race
Although Public Enemy spoke to black-oppression, the passion and delivery of their message awoke the rage in far more than African-Americans. Read more
Published 20 months ago by DigDug
Such truth in the lyrics
Especially 911 Is A Joke. I grew up in Los Angeles, and remember very clearly how when people from South Central would call 911, it would literally take hours for the paramedics... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Turtles all the Way Down™
They beep out the cuss words.
Funny that there's an advisory label on the cover but they beep out the cuss words on Fight the Power. Wish I knew this before I bought the CD.
Published 21 months ago by Jim
Sad reminder of when rap was real
Still one of the high water marks of old-school (ie: integrity-possessed) hip hop, both lyrically and sonically.
Published on April 26, 2010 by IRate
Bumrush the Show!
After listening to this album multiple times in a row I have come to the conclusion that the knowledge inside of it is as deep if not deeper than a graduate level course at a... Read more
Published on April 9, 2010 by A. merrill
Best Public Enemy ALBUM
i Have heard all the albums and this is that i like the most, very complete and full of power!!!!
Published on January 30, 2010 by David
Wow, it's been almost 20 years?
Little preface here - I'm a 32 year old white guy. I've been a rap fan since before the coming of Dr. Read more
Published on November 9, 2009 by B. Parker
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