Customer Reviews

Rebirth of a Nation

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's obvious upon hearing this disc and last year's "New Whirl Odor" that PE are on a creative roll. They continue to be the only rap group out there who are willing to tackle issues that other rappers wouldn't dare touch. They deal with self image problems and our society's unhealthy obsession with plastic surgery on "Plastic Nation" and blast the White House's response to Hurricane Katrina on "Hell No (We Ain't Alright)". In an age where most rappers are content to put out singles and albums with no more content than to brag about their millions and bling, Public Enemy's focus on social issues is refreshing. I found the song "Can't Hold Us Back" to be particularly inspiring. Over what sounds like a sample of the guitar part from Curtis Mayfield's "Little Child Runnin' Wild", Chuck D, Paris, Dead Prez, and Kam really lay it down. The song culminates with a sample of the black power "I Am Somebody" chant, which I found to be effective as well as very inspiring. The fact that PE continue to challenge their audience by releasing albums like this only confirms their status as a major force in the world of rap. They will always have my support.

Public Enemy and their collaborators continue to inspire and amaze, and contribute to an international movement of consciousness raising. I've been discovering (r)evolutionary rap artists around the world and, time and again, they cite PE as a sort of guiding North star. Public Enemy, Dead Prez and others who bring the real noise have been performing and networking at global hip-hop conferences in places like Caracas and Havana. They've inspired the "Dope Poet Society" in Canada, "K'Naan" from Somalia, and countless groups from Latin America. I don't know much Spanish, but groups like "Zona Marginal" of Colombia (who have received death threats from the paramilitaries for their lyrics), "Actitud Maria Marta" from Argentina, and "Boca Floja" from Mexico have moved me to pick up a Spanish/English dictionary.
Let each one teach one, and pass along Public Enemy's latest to those who have been hypnotized by the rap that gets played on the empire's airwaves. Let's also support the rap artists in other parts of the world who share the vision of justice that Public Enemy reignites with each disc.
http://www.hiphoprevolucion.org

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet renounce controversy are people who want crops without ploughing the ground."
-Frederick Douglass, 1817-1895

Although it may seem difficult for the greatest hip-hop group of all time to capture the power of their early releases, Rebirth Of A Nation does that and more with the assistance of some great guest artists. Hard Rhymin is definitely a highlight for me, but Can't Hold Us Back, Rise, Hell No, Raw Sh*t are certainly strong tracks as well. The beats are definitely different, but work well. This is definitely a REBIRTH for PE and a welcomed one!

Paris producing PE? The result is obvious: a masterpiece.
Paris, KAM, and MC Ren sharing a track with Mista Chuck? The result is more than obvious: an extraordinaire track.
Paris writing Chuck's lyrics? A perfect matching.
Every song in this record is on point.
Paris is a great producer, providing PE tight thumping beats.

Go buy this album right now and support conscious rap music.

First off I have been listening to Paris since "Devil Made Me Do It" and Public Enemy since "Yo Bum Rush The Show". - I remember clearly thinking awhile back man just imagine if Paris & P.E. teamed up for a whole album. - Rewind about 4 years I hear a track with P.E. featuring Paris on the Revolvolution album. Now here it is 2006 finally my vision actually came together. I have to say I do wish this happened back in the 90's or at least before mainstream rap got narrowed to booty, bling & smoke / drinkin.. - But better now than never. On to the album. I am giving this 5 stars mainly because it flows pretty smoothly song to song. - Chuck d throwback flows is a nice revisit without sounding corny. Paris flows are especially furious and not dated, put it this way if he was into battle rap dude would be scary. Flav is flav as usual and his track is one of my favorite's cause it catches him having fun which is a good balance to the overall serious tone to the record. All the guest appearences from Mc Ren to Concious Daughters fit as perfect as possible. One appearence to note is Griff's verse dude really put his work in on that track and it does'nt come off forced. Sonically and trackwise everything is tight and definately bumps in the car. My overall comment is definately give it a serious listen cause this is not Dem Franchize Fools,Nelly,Fiddy or Diddy. Besides this will outlast all that other nonsense based on its content. Just stop making excuses and buy a copy or two.

Please ignore those who bash the album because they dislike conscious music with a meaning to it. Paris wrote basically all the lyrics and did a damn good job. Chuck-D, Proffessor Griff, Flava Flav, S1W's etc all unite once again with Paris and his Guerrilla Funk artists to bring this AMAZING album! This is the beginning of Guerrilla Funk's expansion and represents what is to come. The beats, lyrics, production, and message on this album are excellent. Paris deserves just as much credit for this as PE and you all should check out Paris and his classic albums. www.Guerrillafunk.com ...this album features Paris, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Conscious Daughters, MC Ren Sista Souljah, and Kam. Guerrilla Funk is the future of conscious rap! Also check out these albums: Paris-Sonic Jihad, Dead Prez- Let's Get Free, Paris Presents- Hard Truth Soldiers Vol. 1, and T-K.A.S.H.- Turf War Syndrome.

THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM! One of PE's BEST!

Artist: Public Enemy
Album: Rebirth of a Nation
Label: Guerrilla Funk

Rebirth of a Nation is Public Enemy's 11th studio album. It is also the first album where frontman Chuck D delegated most of the writing & all of the production duties. Bay Area-based rapper Paris serves as chief lyricist and producer for this project, and it's released on his own Guerrilla Funk label. With his own history as a politically minded rapper, Paris is a sympathetic facilitator for the hard-edged social commentary that Public Enemy is known for. Rebirth follows barely six months after the band's New Whirl Odor release late last year. But Rebirth is decidedly not a bunch of leftover session cuts. Paris manages to bring out the best in Chuck, Flavor Flav and Professor Griff on the LP's 16 tracks. Rebirth's rhythm tracks take cues from Public Enemy's early releases, updated with the decidedly funk-driven soundscapes that Paris is known for. Samples are mostly eschewed for live instruments, adding to the LP's organic feel.

The title track, a play on words from the D.W. Griffith movie, finds Chuck announcing Public Enemy's return to a hip-hop world that has gotten more grim since they first came on the scene: "We come rough with the rhythm and rhymes that pack 'em in/ Bust with the rhythm that shine back once again/ Still ride with releases reaching each/ Still strive to revive and keep the peace.." "Plastic Nation" indicts plastic surgery obsession: "Was all part of the plan to keep her lookin' right/ Figured she could be Janet if she took the knife/ It's not a sin to be thin, she tryin' hard to fit in/ Knowin' soon she'll be a citizen of the plastic nation." "Hell No We Ain't Alright" laments the Hurricane Katrina tragedy: "Shelter? Food? Wasssup, where's the water? No answers from disaster, them masses be hurtin'/ So who... they call, Halliburton? Son of a Bush, how you gonna trust that cat?"

Paris himself takes the spotlight on a handful of tracks, including "Hannibal Lecture": "Same racism profiling each of us all/ Same outsiders where we live enforcing the law/ Gats clappin' on the streets, gunplayin' with heat/ Same prisons full of brothers herded in like sheep." Other guests making their voices known on the LP include N.W.A. alumnus M.C. Ren and former Ice Cube protégé Kam. Flavor Flav's solo talents are highlighted on the whimsical "They Call Me Flavor": "Good morning heartaches and tell me what's new/ Got nothin' else to do but drink brew/ Tryin' to feel the flow, gettin' so low/ Standin' here drinkin' a quart of Old Gold." Flav keeps it professional here, managing to avoid plugging his many reality show stints.

Public Enemy's Bomb Squad produced California rapper Ice Cube's first LP back in 1990. Sixteen years later, Public Enemy finds reinvention in another west-coast colleague and a solid showcase for a veteran hip-hop band.

First off, nothing against Vipers opinions but I have to say PE's albums arent aimed at the mainstream type that listen to Juvenile. What would if it sound like if you walked into a club bumpin rap with politics??? No...its about bling, herb, big ass spinning rims and ho's, its real issues and thats not for everyone I guess. For those that love PE I think you'll dig this. I give it 3 stars simply because the production isnt what it could be but still its listenable. New Whirl Odor suffered the same thing yet still awesome also. Chuck D seems to have been saving some anger up the last few years and I'm glad someone in rap is still pissed and willing to say it out loud! I only wish this type of music was mainstream, maybe people would stop and think about things that matter.

I heard that Terminator X wasnt with Public Enemy anymore and that made me hesitate to listen to this record. Im glad I did because this is probably the best most influential rap album ive ever listened to, and it will take a strong one to pass this one by. This album is great, with guests Paris and MC Ren. You have to listen to it.

Sorry to the "Juvenile lover", but this is so far outta that league its on another planet. That "juvenile" stuff is as it implies for children. This album is like water for the thirsty. With all of hip hop today wandering so aimless and base. It is a rare and wondrous occurance when hip hop artists actually try to make something meaningful instead of the bling oriented misogynistic junk we are bombarded with daily by BET and MTV. Hats off to Chuck and Paris. Let the haters, hate and flee in the face of truth. No courage in hip hop save Chuck D and Paris.