In 1990, Public Enemy released 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.
Chuck D. – routinely rated as one of the greatest rappers of all time – pushed the art of the MC forward with his inimitable, rapid-fire baritone, as he connected the culture of hip-hop with Black Nationalism and the ideas of Malcolm X. His counterpart, Flavor Flav, brought humor (in the case of “911 Is a Joke,” pointed humor) and a madcap energy to the songs. Along the way, they brought a new level of conceptual sophistication to the hip-hop album and a new level of intensity and power to live hip-hop, inspiring fans from Jay-Z to Rage Against the Machine. Read more about Public Enemy here.
