[bread man]

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.

Discography
Yo! Bum Rush The Show


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

It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back


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

Fear of a Black Planet


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

[thelitguy]

Public Enemy is somewhat interesting to me. They were really a breakout artist that helped push hip-hop to where it is today, but I'm not sure if they are remembered for the right reasons. Their political overtones seem to be overshadowed by Flavor Flav, especially during their beginnings. I think Flavor was the only reason they became so popular, considering the luck most politically-minded artists (not to mention rap groups) have.

Either way, great band. Interesting choice for the Artist Feature. I has quite informed.

[Role Modlin]

Yep, they, along with Anthrax, created the best example of rap-metal that's ever existed.

[Nathanael]

There hasn't been a new artist feature in awhile... is it because no one's called it?

I'll do one on _somebody__ soon

[bread man]

That would be great!

Although it's customary not to tells us until you post it

[Nathanael]

Originally Posted by bread man

That would be great!

Although it's customary not to tells us until you post it

whoops, edited

[bread man]

haha, nice work. I look forward to reading it.