On April 14th 1988 one of the most important albums (not just Hip Hop) of all time was released. Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back should be time capsuled as a snapshot of the times in the late 80s. In 1988 Public Enemy seemed to be at a proverbial crossroad. Despite the critical acclaim of the music critics their debut album YO Bum Rush the Show had sold only 300,000 copies. Though not a paltry sum the group was on mega label Def Jam. It was in this atmosphere that they started work on the sophomore album. Chuck D leader of the group has stated “our mission was to kill the “Cold Getting Dumb” stuff and to address some situations” The album was a collection of hard edge beats and rhymes that not only entertained but made the listener think. The album was executive produced by Def Jam founder Rick Rubin with the beats done by a Hank Shocklee led group which would soon become known around the world as the Bomb Squad. People like to refer to the late 80s to early 90s as the Golden Age of Hip Hop. I whole heartily co-sign to this sentiment. This author has already documented what he believes are the 2 greatest years in Hip Hop ever (1988-1989). This album was released during a period of astounding diversity. Hip Hop today is dominated by music that some may say sounds the same or that doesn’t really say anything. One could imagine if a Public Enemy would be signed today. For now let’s get to the music.
The first single from the album Rebel Without A Pause when released sounded like nothing ever heard before. The sample of the trumpet that is looped continuously gave a futuristic sound. Some of the lyrics included:
“From a rebel its final on black vinyl Soul, rock and roll comin' like a rhino Tables turn - suckers burn to learn They can't dis-able the power of my label Def Jam”
From the imaginative album cover to the eclectic mix of singles that were released from that album. Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, Night of the Living Baseheads and the final single from that album Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos This album was ahead of its time. Who can forget Chuck D walking through the prison in the video of Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos? After this album the group continued to make great music and albums with the most recent being 2012s The Evil Empire of Everything. In 2013 Public Enemy still tours and are among the inductees of the 2013 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the Barbershop the Oldhead is listening to It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
I am Chuck Da Original Oldhead
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