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Public Enemy

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Long Island, New York, United States (1982 – present)

Public Enemy, also known as P.E., is a seminal Golden Age era Hip-Hop group known for their densely layered production and politically charged lyrics demonstrating their interest in the concerns of the African American community.

PE formed in Long Island, New York, in 1982 around a WBAU radio show as Spectrum City. After one less-than-successful single, they regroup and signed to the still developing Def Jam record label after Rick Rubin heard Chuck D freestyling on a demo. Their debut, ‘Yo! Bum Rush The Show’, was released in 1987 to mild critical acclaim, although the Hip-Hop climate changed dramatically due to sampling during the time of release. As a response, they went on to release the revolutionary ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’ in 1988, which performed better in the charts than their previous release, and included the hit single ‘Don’t Believe the Hype’.

Slightly less militant than their previous releases Public Enemy’s, ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’ was officially recognised as being the most successful and influential of the Public Enemy recordings when, in 2004, it became one of 50 recordings, chosen that year by the Library of Congress, to be added to the National Recording Registry. Sales-wise it was the most successful of any of their albums to date. It included the powerful and controversial singles ‘911 is a Joke’ (which criticized emergency response units for taking longer to arrive at emergencies in the black community than those in the white community), and ‘Fight the Power’, which is considered by many to be the group’s premier self-describing anthem.

Tagged as:

hip-hop, rap, hip hop, political, old school
See more…

1	Fight the Power full track	1,322
2	Bring the Noise	1,185
3	Don't Believe the Hype full track	737
4	Rebel Without a Pause full track	736
5	He Got Game	560
6	Welcome to the Terrordome full track	537
7	911 Is a Joke	496
8	Countdown to Armageddon	424
9	Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos full track	401
10	Night of the Living Baseheads full track	389
11	Harder Than You Think full track	388
12	Louder Than a Bomb	372
13	Terminator X to the Edge of Panic	362
14	Prophets of Rage	358
15	Mind Terrorist	348

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jussi-m wrote:
Friday afternoon

malloun4eG, same here. The first 4 albums are great and the others are good but not necessary.

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BBacid wrote:
Thursday evening

Every, really, every album of this gods are awfully good, most intelligent rap there Iz in this world!

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RenanSalaberga wrote:
Thursday afternoon

Public Enemy is one of the a few names I respect in this genre [2]

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Pankii wrote:
last week

Public Enemy is one of the a few names I respect in this genre.. Yup .. That's true.. I love Harder Than You Think :)

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malloun4eG wrote:
last week

i like only firt 4 their albums,I don't know just cant understand other albums

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Fleischklops wrote:
last month

Join this group if you got what it takes to be the longest serving member with your musical knowledge. Rules on the overview! Join and try at least once or twice!

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vincentlillis wrote:
last month

@Megadieftw - You obviously need to listen to more music in this 'genre'. WHAT GOOD IS A BOMB?!... dunn dun na na na naaaaaa

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Ilinil wrote:
last month

Лучшие

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Megadieftw wrote:
last month

Public Enemy is one of the a few names I respect in this genre [2] i dont hate rap and hip hop, i just only respect like 2 bands as mentioned below.

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Megadieftw wrote:
last month

run-dmc and public enemy \m/ best mofo's in hip hop \m/

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Kronn- wrote:
last month

Шикарны.

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MozzaC wrote:
last month

Recorded their set at Bonnaroo. Click through for download: http://sydneylive.tumblr.com/post/124734851/public-enemy-bonnaroo-manchester-12-06-2009

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jot_ wrote:
last month

SHUT EM DOWN SHUT EM SHUT EM DOWN

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FourEarths wrote:
last month

actually I hate rap & hiphop etc. Public Enemy is one of the a few names I respect in this genre [2]

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Yardie_lolo wrote:
last month

ROW ROW

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yarikh1 wrote:
last month

fight the power!

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charlielewis wrote:
last month

listen to Apocalypse '91. sooo good.

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dimmuborgirrr wrote:
last month

listen to bring that beat back, awnsome song!!

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Maidenrugby wrote:
last month

kick ASS!

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chikamen wrote:
last month

actually I hate rap & hiphop etc. Public Enemy is one of the a few names I respect in this genre

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See all 515 shouts

Videos

Events

Jul 24 Fuji Rock Festival '09 Naeba, Yuzawa, Japan
38 shouts | 221 attendees
Aug 30 Virgin Mobile FreeFest Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Baltimore, United States
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