Public Enemy

Public Enemy

Public Enemy are a US rap group from Nassau County, New York, active since 1985. The group forms around Chuck D and Flavor Flav, with a line-up that also includes Professor Griff, Terminator X, DJ Lord, Keith Boxley, Davy DMX, Brian Hardgroove, Power Born, T Bone Motta and Khari Wynn.

Style and themes

The group is associated with conscious hip hop, east coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop and political hip hop. Its music is known for explicit political content, particularly around American racism and the American media.

Albums and recognition

Public Enemy’s debut album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, appears in 1987. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back follows in 1988 and becomes the first hip hop album to top The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll. The next three studio albums, Fear of a Black Planet (1990), Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black (1991) and Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994), are also well received.

The group later releases many more studio albums, including the soundtrack to the film He Got Game and the collaborative album Rebirth of a Nation with Paris. Their first four albums are certified gold or platinum. In 1998, critic Robert Hilburn describes this run as the most acclaimed body of work by a hip hop act, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls the group one of the most influential and radical acts of its time.

Line-up changes and later activity

Public Enemy goes through many line-up changes, with Chuck D and Flavor Flav remaining the constant members. Professor Griff leaves in 1989, returns in 1998 and later parts ways again. DJ Lord joins in 1998 as the replacement for original DJ Terminator X.

In 2020, the group records and tours under the name Public Enemy Radio, with a line-up of Chuck D, Jahi, DJ Lord and the S1Ws. That same year, Loud Is Not Enough appears under that name, alongside What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? under the Public Enemy name.

Awards and honours

Public Enemy is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and receives the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 62nd Grammy Awards.