Rev Run recently spoke to Pitchfork, reflecting on hearing Public Enemy for the first time. According to him, the group’s music was so enthralling to him and the Beastie Boys on tour, they’d race to listen to it after performing. He even shares that the late Jam Master Jay found Chuck D to be godlike.
“I was going on tour with the Beastie Boys, and Chuck D and Hank Shocklee came to meet us at JFK Airport,” he began. “Chuck said, ‘Y’all gotta hear this,’ and they gave Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen a cassette tape of a new record they had just made.” He continued, “This song was so captivating and addictive that Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys would rush to the dressing room after the show and listen to it on my JVC boombox.” “It wasn’t just a statement about political and social issues,” he adds. “It was a statement about how no motherf*ckers could make hip-hop this incredible.”
Rev Run Recalls Jam Master Jay Calling Chuck D “God”
Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels and Jam Master Jay of the hip-hop group “Run DMC” pose for a studio portrait session in 1985 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Rev Run also went on to describe how his late group mate reacted upon hearing them for the first time. “When Jam Master Jay first heard Chuck on ‘Public Enemy #1,’ he said to Rick and Russell: ‘God has come down from heaven to rock the mic.’ This was God putting his foot in every MC’s a**. It was voice, delivery, rhyme, style.”
The artist continued, citing how Chuck D managed to simultaneously tap into multiple things on the Public Enemy record. “What’s beautiful is that Chuck said he created the cadence off of Rakim, the God MC,” he says. “Sonically, it was the most powerful, ear-catching, aggressive, complete production of a Hip Hop record. It was mature and youthful. It was who we were before we started making records.”
On this date in 1988, Public Enemy released their second LP It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back following up their debut album, which was released just a little over a year earlier.
The album, which was released by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin’s Def Jam Recordings, was recorded primarily in the legendary Chung King Studios, while other sessions included Greene St. and Sabella Studios in NYC. Production was done exclusively by Hank Shocklee and The Bomb Squad. By August of 1999, the album went platinum and ranks among the top 500 albums of all time, according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Public Enemy, which includes frontman Chuck D., Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff and the S1Ws, were pioneers of the revolutionary rap sound, making songs like “Rebel Without A Pause”, “Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos”, and “Rebel Without A Pause” prototype tracks for the conscious movement in Hip Hop.
Salute to Chuck D., Flav, Professor Griff, and the rest of the crew for bringing Hip Hop fans this classic that will forever hold a place in the illustrious history of this culture.
Check out the video below that was in heavy rotation during the album’s apex. It even features a special guest appearance from MC Lyte as an investigative reporter. Check it out!
It’s been thirty-fiveyears sincethe second studio album from Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back, hit shelves. Its legacy and influence on rap music are simply immeasurable. The album was a battle cry that revolutionized hip-hop and endures as an iconic landmark in the annals of music history.
With its multi-layered production and socio-political messaging, the album galvanized Public Enemy’s status as one of the most iconic and confrontational rap groups ever. Countless acts have tried to ape the ferocity of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, but few have been able to fully rise to the occasion. Spawning several iconic singles, the album remains the gold standard for protest rap, even three and a half decades after its release.
The beating heart of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is its fierce, politically-charged lyrics. Throughout its runtime, Chuck D raps with a militant cadence as he addresses issues of racial inequality, social injustices, and systematic oppression. His words are more than lyrics on an album sleeve. They are rallying cries for marginalized communities.
Chuck D’s fierce rhetoric is perfectly counterbalanced by hype man, Flavor Flav’s madcap ad-libs, and surreal lyricism. The most prominent example of Flav’s unique lyrical gymnastics is on full display on the track “Cold Lampin’ With Flavor.” Flav’s rhymes tumble out of him like a torrent of staccato fits of word association on the track.
To address the elephant in the room: Some of Public Enemy’s lyrical allusions have been challenged by critics as potentially containing antisemitic underpinnings. This became even more prevalent with the controversy surrounding comments by collaborator Professor Griff, who parted ways with Public Enemy. However, the album’s lyrical content still holds a strong underlying message of social change.
Despite what some might see as the group’s misdirected anger, the album’s lyrics remain universal in their broad stance on speaking truth to power. The album is sadly still relevant, three and a half decades after its release. From drug abuse plaguing poor communities to predatory capitalism, the album takes aim at myriad issues that affect most people in the country, even now.
Sonically speaking, It Takes a NationA Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is built to push musical boundaries. It blends intricate beats from the production team, The Bomb Squad with dynamic chop and screwed turntable work from Terminator X. From the opening blast of “Bring The Noise” to the raucous energy of “Rebel Without A Pause,” the album’s sonic tapestry is consistently proactive.
It Takes A Nation… reveals more sonic nuance over the course of its 16 tracks with each repeat listen. The album’s ability to warrant frequent revisits stems from its use of dense and eclectic sampling. The use of works comes from a diverse range of sources like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Slayer, and Malcolm X. And each sample is intricately woven together, creating a wholly original sound. It’s a perfect pot of musical gumbo that never goes stale.
The musical impact of It Takes a Nation… remains a high watermark in hip-hop production and sampling. However. the issue of sampling would continue to be a controversial talking point regarding copyright violations. However, the album argues rap artists are in the right for myriad reasons.
In the song “Caught, Can We Get a Witness?” Public Enemy directly addresses this topic. Chuck raps, “…I’m giving it a new name, what you hear is mine” on the track, stating his position. The album ultimately posits the notion that previous beats and musical accompaniments are part of the zeitgeist. So, this should allow them to be reused to construct new musical compositions. It’s an argument still raging out in court cases and lawsuits to this day.
The impact It Takes a Nation…made on music is nigh immeasurable. Countless acts from all genres of music have cited the albumas an influence. Bikini Kill singer and activist, Kathleen Hanna cited the album as a “go-to” while touring. Rap acts such as Beastie Boys and Game have sampled the album. Even Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain cited It Takes a Nation… as one of his 50 favorite albums in his published personal journals.
In terms of broad appeal, the album spawned six singles and reached number 42 on Billboard’s Top LPs list. It also landed number 1 on their Top Black Albums chart and reached Platinum status. It also appears on Rolling Stone‘s list of The 5000 Greatest Albums Of All Time, holding the number 27 position as of 2012. Music publication NME called It Takes a Nation… “the greatest hip-hop album ever” at the time of its release. That claim still holds true for many fans and critics thirty-five years later.
Public Enemy, the influential American hip-hop group, has seen several members come and go. They all contributed to the group’s evolution and impact on the music scene. This article delves into the ensemble that made up this iconic band.
The Core Of Public Enemy: Founding Members
Chuck D, Flavor Flav and Terminator X, members of the hip hop group Public Enemy, photographed on May 1, 1987. (Photo by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)
The founding members are at the heart of Public Enemy: Chuck D and Flavor Flav. These two have been the only consistent members of the band since its formation in 1985. Both icons have maintained the group’s distinct sound and message despite the many lineup changes over the years.
Chuck D, born Carlton Ridenhour, is Public Enemy’s primary lyricist and lead vocalist. Known for his powerful voice and politically charged lyrics, Chuck D played a crucial role in establishing Public Enemy’s strong social and political stance. His partner in rhyme, Flavor Flav, born William Drayton, added a unique flavor to the group. As a rapper, hype man, and comic foil to Chuck D’s intensity, Flavor Flav provided a dynamic balance to the group’s sound and stage presence.
Key Contributors: Professor Griff & Terminator X
Professor Griff, born Richard Griffin, served as the group’s Minister of Information. He joined Public Enemy at its inception but left in 1989. He rejoined in 1998, only to part ways again some years later1. His input in the group’s thematic content was pivotal, especially in their critique of American society. Additionally, Terminator X, born Norman Rogers, was Public Enemy’s original DJ. His turntable skills were an essential component of the group’s sound. However, he was replaced by DJ Lord in 1998 after deciding to step back from the group1.
Modern Lineup: DJ Lord & Sammy Sam
Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, and members of the hip hop group Public Enemy, photographed in September 1988. (Photo by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)
DJ Lord, real name Lord Aswod, has been with the legendary group since 1998, stepping in for Terminator X. His turntable acumen has helped to maintain the group’s signature sound and high-energy performances. Sammy Sam is a recent addition to the group. Though not as well-known as the founding members, he plays an essential role in the current lineup.
Public Enemy Radio
Public Enemy on 9/03/92 in Chicago, Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage)
In a surprising twist, it was announced in 2020 that Flavor Flav was fired from the group. This was later revealed as a publicity stunt for April Fools’ Day. Regardless, the group has also been touring and recording music under Public Enemy Radio. This lineup includes Chuck D, Jahi, DJ Lord, and the S1Ws.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Public Enemy’s lineup has seen numerous changes over the years. Despite these shifts, the group has managed to retain its distinctive sound and powerful message, thanks to the contributions of each member. As we look back on the band’s history, it’s clear that each member of Public Enemy has left a unique mark on this iconic hip-hop group.
Rappers being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is more common than people realize. It covers several genres and serves as a place of recognition and validation. Inductees are not eligible until their first album is 25 years old. They do not have to be active musically at the time of their nomination. Like the GRAMMYs, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame means a lot to many artists. For rap specifically, being inducted means recognition, but the recognition is not from their core audience. There’s also a certain satisfaction to being recognized by that audience as it shows the impact of the music has reached them. We’ve gathered some inductees we already know are well deserving of praise for their musical impact but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame agreed with us on them too.
Missy Elliott is the latest to join the rappers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is the first female rapper nominated and the first to be inducted. Missy Elliott is an innovator in the rap world. And that’s not just in the lane of women in rap – it’s in the lane of rap, period. Additionally, Missy’s eccentric style, flows, and music videos have been celebrated for decades. She’s viewed as an inspiration to anyone going against the norms in their musical lane – or life. Missy is a legacy artist that still appears in the occasional feature with modern artists. She embraces many of them, keeping her in touch with multiple generations. Missy being inducted is a validation of something her listeners have known for years – she’s a legend at her craft.
Eminem – 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 13: Recording artists Eminem performs onstage at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for MTV)
Eminem is a rapper that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. To some, this came as no surprise. Eminem’s place as a white rapper in the rap game is no longer a hot topic. He has spoken about it in his music in multiple ways. People respect him because he never tried to be something he wasn’t. However, his showcases of being himself were criticized – and praised – throughout his entire career. Many people have cited Em as their inspiration. However, they often end up emulating him, which draws criticism and comparison. Em is an artist that is well aware of everything people say about him and has responded to them through his music. This keeps him quite active in the modern rap world with his own music.
Jay-Z – 2021
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 25: Jay-Z attends 2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on January 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
Jay-Z joined the list of rappers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. They inducted him the first year they nominated him. This is a testament to his legacy as an artist and, of course, as a mogul. Jay has been active in the rap game for decades and has done nothing but ascend his entire career. His “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man” quote is still used by go-getters, rise-and-grinders, and more today. He has inspired multiple generations in the rap world, with many artists still citing him as inspiration. Jay is another artist active in the modern-day rap game. He’ll pop up occasionally on a feature, with his most recent one being a four-minute verse on “God Did” from DJ Khaled’s latest album.
The Notorious B.I.G – 2020
Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
The Notorious B.I.G. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Naturally, people hailed him as a legend for decades before then. Biggie is on the Mount Rushmore of hip-hop icons, and no, we’re not debating who is up there with him in this piece. Biggie’s influence in the rap world is still popular today. Some people are even trying to keep his spirit alive in too literal of a way. Still, his legendary status is not debated by many. Because of this, his induction did not come as a surprise to most supporters. But, the “delay” is only because Biggie’s debut album Ready to Die had to turn 25. Biggie’s legacy has continued to live on long after his tragic passing, as he has been cited as an inspiration for rappers of all generations.
Tupac – 2017
NEW YORK – JULY 23: Rapper Tupac Shakur performs onstage at Club Amazon on July 23, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Tupac is a legendary rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Like our previous entry, many people have him on their Mount Rushmore of hip-hop legends. His induction also did not come as a surprise due to his impact on listeners from his time and long after. Clips of Tupac from videos of all kinds are still posted across socials today. One of today’s most prominent artists, Kendrick Lamar, has cited him as an inspiration multiple times. Tupac’s voice can be heard on the closing track, “Mortal Man,” from Kendrick’s critically acclaimed album To Pimp A Butterfly. Kendrick has shared that the original title of this album was going to be Tu Pimp A Caterpillar which would have made the acronym for it “TuPAC.” This is also one of several examples of how his legacy has branched generations through the art of music.
N.W.A – 2016
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Rappers MC Ren, DJ Yella, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre of the rap group NWA pose for a portrait in 1991 in New York, New York. DJ Yella is giving the middle-finger. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
N.W.A is a group of rappers that were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. The group was the home of now-legendary artists Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E. The classic cover art for the group’s debut album Straight Outta Compton is still being replicated today. N.W.A.’s music covered several topics, with the most poignant one still being relevant. They talked about Black oppression through an aggressive and non-sugar-coated delivery. For lack of a better word, this also caused many people to fear them. People were proud to protest their music, and there is footage of people destroying physical copies of it in the streets. This further capitalized on the point they were trying to make in their music. Music that tells of people’s experiences in a country they are told loves them will forever be relevant.
Public Enemy – 2013
NEW YORK – 1988: (Clockwise from bottom left) Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, Terminator X, S1W and Chuck D of the rap group Public Enemy pose for a portrait in a studio. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Public Enemy is a group of rappers inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 2013. They are another group whose message was politically charged. Chuck D delivered most of the message-centric content in the group, while Flavor Flav helped make their music a little more accessible. His animated verses, ad-libs, hooks, and overall personality did this. PE was a group with many rock elements and collaborations in their music. They remained active long after their most popular era. One of the most recent things listeners may remember was their April Fool’s Day prank in 2020, where they said they had kicked Flavor Flav out of the group. They did this stunt to also commentate on the power of disinformation. They followed this by resigning to Def Jam and releasing their album What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – 2007
Portrait of Grandmaster Flash (seated in center) and the Furious Five, New York, December 1980. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were the first group of rappers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were inducted in 2007. For many listeners nowadays, these are one of the groups their parents excite and consider “real hip-hop.” This is true from a technical sense as they are one of the true genre pioneers. They brought it to mainstream audiences and did it in a way that made that audience love it. Without groups like theirs, we would not have been able to expand the genre of rap/hip-hop to the point of having multiple subgenres like it does today. Groups like these laid the groundwork for the importance of flow, delivery, cadence, and all the other core elements of what rapping truly is. It’s only fitting they were the first inductees since they helped build the genre.
Who are some of your favorite rapper inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Let us know in the comments section.
April 10, 1990 was the release date of a cornerstone in hip hop music: Public Enemy’sFear of a Black Planet. Still known as one of the most empowering albums of its time, the album was written during a pivotal era both in America and music: the Golden Age of Hip Hop.
Preceding the time where samples required clearance and approval to be used in sample-based music, the album is layered heavily with elements providing space and depth to levels of complexity previously unheard. Fear of a Black Planet‘s production team, The Bomb Squad, worked tirelessly to bring their signature sound to the album. As Rolling Stone’s Christopher Weingarten said in an interview late last year with leading Public Enemy MC Chuck D, it was one of the…
“most sonically adventurous and politically stirring records of all time.”
Examples of some of the known samples, these from the 20th track on the album “Fight The Power”. Bomb Squad producer Hank Shocklee claimed in an interview this year there are still many more samples he’s never spoken of.
Within the first week of release, the album sold more than a million copies, coming in at number 10 on Billboard’s Top Pop Albums chart. Commenting on several racially and politically engaging topics was the goal of the album, and the track that said it best was “Fight The Power.” The deep rhymes and intense verbage used by Chuck in revolutionary poetry made the track not only what the group became known for, but also their critically acclaimed anthem.
Used by director Spike Lee for his film Do The Right Thing, who also filmed this music video, this track alone could be used to describe this legendary album. Fear of a Black Planet was later listed as Rolling Stone’s 300th greatest record of all time.
Amazon Music is paying tribute to Queen Latifah with a short film called Generational Queens. The film will honor Latifah for her 1993 women’s empowerment anthem, “U.N.I.T.Y.,” which turns 30 this year. Amazon Music honors rapper/actress Queen Latifah with a short film titled Generational Queens. The film will highlight Latifah’s 1993 hit, “U.N.I.T.Y.,” which turns […]
In 1959, William Jonathan Drayton, better known to the world as Flavor Flav, was born in the world in NYC. Flav is the former hypeman of the iconic Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame Hip-Hop group Public Enemy.
Growing up on Freeport, Long Island is where A young Flavor developed his love for music, teaching himself to play the piano, drums, and guitar on his own. In Long Island, a young adult, Flav met Chuck Ridenhour, who later became known as Chuck D, the frontman of Public Enemy. The two linked at Adelphi University on the Island, where the two attended college and learned about each other’s love for Hip Hop.
As one of the founding members of PE, Flav was there in 1984 when the song “Public Enemy #1” was recorded, the first known track by the group. In 1986, the crew signed with Rick Rubin on Def Jam. However, Rubin did not initially want to sign Flav because he didn’t understand his role in the group.
Ever since PE’s debut album Yo! Bum Rush The Show, Flav was the hype jester to the ultra-serious, politically charged group, including Chuck D, Terminator X, and a security force known as the S1Ws. Songs such as “Fight The Power,” “911 Is A Joke”, and “I Can’t Do Nothin’ For Ya Man” featured the comedic darts of Flav, which brought a balance to PE.
Drugs and domestic issues hindered Flav for a short while during his career. However, he bounced back into the public eye as a reality show pioneer, with shows like Surreal Life and The Flavor Of Love breaking ground in reality TV. Earlier this year, Chuck D announced that Flavor Flav was indefinitely fired from the group for his response to PE publicly endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Presidential race.
Big ups to Flav on his born day and TheSource.com wishes the Flavor Man many more!
Trugoy, one of the founding members of the hip-hop trio De La Soul died at 54 on Feb. 12 after a five-year bout with congestive heart failure. Tributes from Pharrell, Chuck D, and more have poured in. RIP To The Dove David Jude Jolicoeur, known to the hip-hop world as Trugoy the Dove of the […]
Public Enemy hypeman Flavor Flav joined DJ Akademiks on his Off The Record podcast and spoke about his years long crack addiction along with other subjects that he mentioned in his upcoming book, Flavor Flav: The Icon The Memoir.
Flav said, “There was a time that I was spending $2,400 to $2,600 a day for six years straight. You do the math. And that’s how much I spent on drugs.”
