About Public Enemy
BASS! When it comes to Hip Hop Public Enemy are Number 1. The unmistakable style of Flavor Flav and the lyrical genius of Chuck D spearhead the band. Combing funk beats with intelligent political rap, Public Enemy has pushed forward the frontiers of Hip Hop and become one of the greatest artists of all time.
Public Enemy first began to fight the power in the mid-eighties after Carlton Ridenhour, better known as Chuck D, and William Drayton, AKA Flavor Flav met at Adelphi College on Long Island in New York. Teaming up with DJ Terminator X, recruiting Hank and Keith Shocklee as part of the Bomb Squad for the production work and nominating Professor Griff as their minister of information the scene was set for them to explode.
Confident, cool and armed with relentless talent, Public Enemy’s music tapped into the frustration of American black youth exciting the people on the streets and beyond. Their tracks spoke of police brutality, political oppression, corruption and revolution. Their arrival ushered in what is now known as the Golden Age Of Hip Hop.
Tapping into a generation of alienation with songs aimed to radicalise, PE became global superstars. Their devastating album It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988) has sold over 1.3 million copies in the US alone hurtling it into Platinum status. Fear Of A Black Planet (1990) sold over a million copies in the first week of its release. Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Back hit fourth place in the US Billboard 200. To date they have released thirteen supreme smash hit studio albums.
It came as no surprise that in 2013 Public Enemy were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, they have been nominated three times for best Hip Hop album at the American Music Awards and have received five Grammy nominations.
Fast forward to today and Public Enemy continue to be as exciting and relevant as ever. Their single Harder Than You Think (2007) shot to fourth place in the UK Singles chart reflecting their popularity amongst their legions of fans which continues to grow as new generations continue to discover the voice of their frustrations.
Don’t Believe the Hype and see the crew for yourself. Gigantic has tickets on sale right now.
The mighty PE will be playing at Indigo at the O2, London Thursday 16th so be there.
Public Enemy tickets are on sale now so bring the noise!
