Hip Hop Legendary Public Enemy Journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
According to the Rock and Roll (2013) site Public Enemy (PE) brought an explosion of sonic invention, rhyming virtuosity and social awareness to hip-hop in the 1980s and 1990s. The group’s high points – 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and 1990’s Fear of a Black Planet, stand among the greatest politically charged albums of all time.
Public Enemy original group members
· Chuck D. (Carlton Ridenhour)
· Flavor Flav (William Drayton)
· Terminator X (Norman Lee Rogers)
· Professor Griff (Richard Griffin)
Public Enemy group meet; while attending college 1986 at Adelphi University on Long Island, New York City. Chuck D was studying graphic design student and working at the college’s radio station, WBAU. Chuck D would spend sleepless nights discussing politic, philosophy and hip-hop. Eventually, Chuck D found himself rapping over one of his friend Ridenhour track that Shocklee created called “Public Enemy No.1.” Afterward Chuck D began appearing regularly on the college local radio show, calling himself Chuckie D.
Rick Rubin, of Def Jam Records, heard “Public Enemy No. 1” and contacted Ridenhour. Shocklee became a producer; Stephney worked as a marketer and DJ Norman Rogers on turntables. They then added Richard Griffin also known as Professor Griff to work with the backup dancers who were called the Security of the First World (S1W) and William Drayton to rap along with Ridenhour. Public Enemy album in the mid 1980’s reached Number 42 on the pop chart and Number One on the R&B chart. The album, singles “Don’t Believe the Hype” and “Bring the Noise,” was a hip-hop masterpiece and went on to sell more than a million copies. In 1989, the Public Enemy recorded “Fight the Power,” which was the theme song for Spike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing. The following year, Public Enemy returned with Fear of a Black Planet. The album became the group’s first to reach the Top 10. Songs such as “Burn Hollywood Burn” and “911 Is a Joke” examined white racism, while “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” urged African-Americans to unite.
Public Enemy’s next album, 1991’s Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Black reached Number Four on the charts and included the hits “Can’t Truss It” and “Shut Em Down.” Another track, "I Don't Wanna be Called Yo Nigga,” is about how the urban culture uses the word Nigga outside of it's usual derogatory Chuck D. said that upon the initial request of Anthrax, he "didn't take them wholehearted seriously,” but after the collaboration was done, "it made too much sense.”
The collaboration between the two bands bridged the gap between heavy metal and hip-hop and brought hip-hop to a much wider audience. In 1992, Public Enemy and Anthrax hit the road for a joint tour, closing each show with a joint performance of “Bring the Noise.” Public Enemy also opened for U2’s Zoo TV tour. Then, in 1994, a motorcycle accident shattered Terminator X’s left leg, and in 1998 he decided to retire from the group. Eventually, Public Enemy added DJ Lord as their full-time DJ. Public Enemy has continued to record and tour up to the present. In 2005, the band released New World Order, and in 2007 the group issued How You Sell Soul to Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? That album included the single “Harder Than You Think.” In 2009, Public Enemy’s song “Fight the Power” was ranked Number One on VH-1’s The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs. The group returned with the album Beats and Places in 2011 while in 2012 Public Enemy issued two albums, Most of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear on No Stamp and The Evil Empire of Everything. The group has also been a major influence on artists and bands in almost all genres of rock and roll, from Nirvana's Kurt Cobain to Björk, from Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails to Ben Harper. Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys told Rolling Stone in 2004. “I put them on a level with Bob Marley and a handful of other artists – the rare artist who can make great music and also deliver a message.”
References:
"Public Enemy Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum | RockHall.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2013.
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Public Enemy original group members
· Chuck D. (Carlton Ridenhour)
· Flavor Flav (William Drayton)
· Terminator X (Norman Lee Rogers)
· Professor Griff (Richard Griffin)
Public Enemy group meet; while attending college 1986 at Adelphi University on Long Island, New York City. Chuck D was studying graphic design student and working at the college’s radio station, WBAU. Chuck D would spend sleepless nights discussing politic, philosophy and hip-hop. Eventually, Chuck D found himself rapping over one of his friend Ridenhour track that Shocklee created called “Public Enemy No.1.” Afterward Chuck D began appearing regularly on the college local radio show, calling himself Chuckie D.
Rick Rubin, of Def Jam Records, heard “Public Enemy No. 1” and contacted Ridenhour. Shocklee became a producer; Stephney worked as a marketer and DJ Norman Rogers on turntables. They then added Richard Griffin also known as Professor Griff to work with the backup dancers who were called the Security of the First World (S1W) and William Drayton to rap along with Ridenhour. Public Enemy album in the mid 1980’s reached Number 42 on the pop chart and Number One on the R&B chart. The album, singles “Don’t Believe the Hype” and “Bring the Noise,” was a hip-hop masterpiece and went on to sell more than a million copies. In 1989, the Public Enemy recorded “Fight the Power,” which was the theme song for Spike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing. The following year, Public Enemy returned with Fear of a Black Planet. The album became the group’s first to reach the Top 10. Songs such as “Burn Hollywood Burn” and “911 Is a Joke” examined white racism, while “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” urged African-Americans to unite.
Public Enemy’s next album, 1991’s Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Black reached Number Four on the charts and included the hits “Can’t Truss It” and “Shut Em Down.” Another track, "I Don't Wanna be Called Yo Nigga,” is about how the urban culture uses the word Nigga outside of it's usual derogatory Chuck D. said that upon the initial request of Anthrax, he "didn't take them wholehearted seriously,” but after the collaboration was done, "it made too much sense.”
The collaboration between the two bands bridged the gap between heavy metal and hip-hop and brought hip-hop to a much wider audience. In 1992, Public Enemy and Anthrax hit the road for a joint tour, closing each show with a joint performance of “Bring the Noise.” Public Enemy also opened for U2’s Zoo TV tour. Then, in 1994, a motorcycle accident shattered Terminator X’s left leg, and in 1998 he decided to retire from the group. Eventually, Public Enemy added DJ Lord as their full-time DJ. Public Enemy has continued to record and tour up to the present. In 2005, the band released New World Order, and in 2007 the group issued How You Sell Soul to Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? That album included the single “Harder Than You Think.” In 2009, Public Enemy’s song “Fight the Power” was ranked Number One on VH-1’s The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs. The group returned with the album Beats and Places in 2011 while in 2012 Public Enemy issued two albums, Most of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear on No Stamp and The Evil Empire of Everything. The group has also been a major influence on artists and bands in almost all genres of rock and roll, from Nirvana's Kurt Cobain to Björk, from Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails to Ben Harper. Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys told Rolling Stone in 2004. “I put them on a level with Bob Marley and a handful of other artists – the rare artist who can make great music and also deliver a message.”
References:
"Public Enemy Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum | RockHall.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. 
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