Public Enemy
Public Enemy in concert in 2006
Background information
Origin	Long Island, New York
Genre(s)	Political hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East coast hip-hop
Years active	1982 to present
Label(s)	Def Jam/Columbia/CBS Records Def Jam/Columbia/SME Records Def Jam/PolyGram Records Atomic Pop
Associated acts	Paris, Anthrax
Website	http://www.publicenemy.com
Members
Chuck D Flavor Flav Professor Griff DJ Lord
Former members
Terminator X Hank Shocklee Sister Souljah

Public Enemy, also known as PE, is a hip hop group from Long Island, New York, known for their politically charged lyrics, criticism of the media, and active interest in the concerns of the African American community. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1928x1016, 412 KB) // Descripción: Un miembro de Security of the First World, Professor Griff, Chuck D y Flavor Flav, de Public Enemy, en concierto en el Bilbao Urban Musikaldia, en la plaza de toros de Vista Alegre. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... NY redirects here. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Hardcore hip hop is a form of hip hop music that has confrontational, often violent lyrics, and generally sparse, gritty urban beats. ... In the early 1990s, two styles of hip hop were popular. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Def Jam Recordings is an American based hip-hop record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group. ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... Def Jam Recordings is an American based hip-hop record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group. ... Sony Music Entertainment is a major global record label controlled by the Sony Corporation. ... Def Jam Recordings is an American based hip-hop record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group. ... PolyGram was the name from 1972 of the major label recording company started by Philips as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. ... Paris hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and was catapulted onto the national scene in 1990 with his hit single The Devil Made Me Do It and album of the same name, after earning a degree in economics from University of California-Davis. ... Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, composer, actor, author, radio personality and producer. ... William Jonathan Drayton Jr. ... Richard Professor Griff Griffin (born 1 August 1960) is an American rapper and is a member of the music group Public Enemy and head of the S1W. // A childhood friend of Chuck D, Richard Griffin was exposed to hip-hop as it came to the Long Island, New York town... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Terminator X (born Norman Rogers, 25 August 1966) is best known as the producer DJ of the rap group Public Enemy, which he left in 1999. ... The Bomb Squad is a hip hop production team whose original members were Carl Ryder (Chuck D), Hank Shocklee, Keith Shocklee and Eric Vietnam Sadler. ... Lisa Sister Souljah Williamson (born 1964 in the Bronx, New York) is a controversial American hip hop-generation author, activist, recording artist, and film producer. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... This article is about Long Island in New York State. ... Lyrics are the words in songs. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Public Enemy^[1] number forty-four on their list of The Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.^[2]. They will be inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2007.^[3] This article is about the music magazine. ... The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is an organization located in Lake Grove, New York. ...

Sound of the Funky Drummer

Early years

Public Enemy formed in Roosevelt, Long Island, New York, in 1982, as an outgrowth of the group "Spectrum", the mobile DJ arm of the Roosevelt Youth Center's radio training program formulated in 1978 by Hank Shocklee, Krandel Newton and Eddie Murphy's first manager Ujima. Roosevelt is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Nassau County, New York, United States. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... NY redirects here. ... Edward Eddie Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961, Brooklyn, New York City[1]) is an Academy Award nominated, Golden Globe Award-winning American actor and comedian. ...

Though originally the designer of the group's flyers, Chuck became the group's MC when Hank heard him rapping and was impressed with his skills. Around 1982, the group hosted a popular radio program over WBAU, Adelphi University's radio station in which they developed to compete with the newly-formed KISS-FM and to give exposure to local and popular rap artists. Hosted by Chuck D and Butch Cassidy (who would go on to head the Public Enemy sub-group 5ive-O), and deejayed by Hank's brother Keith, he was introduced to Flavor Flav when he accompanied "T.A." from the group "Townhouse Three" (later "Sons of Bazerk") to the studio to do a tape, which eventually led to a camaraderie between the two. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Adelphi University is a private university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York. ... WRKS-FM (98. ... Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, composer, actor, author, radio personality and producer. ... Butch Cassidy (13 April 1866 - c. ... William Jonathan Drayton Jr. ...

Signing to Def Jam records

Developing his talents as an MC with Flav while delivering furniture for his father's business, Chuck and "Spectrum City", as they were called, released the record "Check Out The Radio", backed by "Lies", a social commentary - both of which would influence RUSH Productions' Run D.M.C. and Beastie Boys. They were signed to the still developing Def Jam record label after co-founder Rick Rubin heard Chuck D freestyling on a demo. Run-D.M.C. (or Run DMC) was a major pioneering hip hop group during the 1980s, founded by Joseph DJ Run Simmons, Darryl D.M.C. McDaniels, and the late Jason Jam-Master Jay Mizell. ... The Beastie Boys are a musical group from the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. ... Def Jam Recordings is an American based hip-hop record label that operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Music Group, which is owned by Universal Music Group. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Frederick Jay Rubin (born March 10, 1963 in Lido Beach, New York) is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American record producer. ... Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, composer, actor, author, radio personality and producer. ... Freestyle rap is an improvisational form of rapping, performed with few or no previously composed lyrics, which is said to reflect a direct mapping of the mental state and performing situation of the artist. ...

Around 1986, Bill Stephney, the former Program Director at WBAU, was approached by Rubin and offered a position with the label. Stephney accepted, and his first assignment was to help Rubin sign Chuck D, whose song "Public Enemy Number One" he had heard from Doctor Dre. According to the bookThe History of Rap Music by Cookie Lommel: "Stephney thought it was time to mesh the hard-hitting style of Run DMC with politics that addressed black youth. Chuck recruited Spectrum City, which included Hank Shocklee, his brother Keith Shocklee and Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, collectively known as 'The Bomb Squad,' to be his production team and added another Spectrum City partner, Professor Griff, to become the group's Minister of Information. With the addition of Flavor Flav and another local mobile DJ named Terminator X, the group Public Enemy was born." André Doctor Dré Brown (born on December 5, 1963 in Westbury, New York) is an African American radio personality and former MTV VJ. He is best known for being the co-host of MTVs hip hop music specialty program Yo! MTV Raps with partner Ed Lover. ... Richard Professor Griff Griffin (born 1 August 1960) is an American rapper and is a member of the music group Public Enemy and head of the S1W. // A childhood friend of Chuck D, Richard Griffin was exposed to hip-hop as it came to the Long Island, New York town... William Jonathan Drayton Jr. ... Terminator X (born Norman Rogers, 25 August 1966) is best known as the producer DJ of the rap group Public Enemy, which he left in 1999. ...

Stardom

It then took roughly one year before their debut, Yo! Bum Rush The Show, was released in 1987 to critical acclaim. They went on to release the revolutionary It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in 1988, which performed better in the charts than their previous release, and included the hit single "Don't Believe the Hype" in addition to "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos," chronicling a daring prison break. Yo! Bum Rush The Show is a 1987 album by Public Enemy. ... It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second full-length album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on April 19, 1988 (see 1988 in music) on Def Jam Recordings. ...

Epic samplers, Public Enemy saw Madonna and Lenny Kravitz, lift the beat for Madonna's hit "Justify My Love" from PE's instrumental "Security of the First World." Nation of Millions... was voted Album of the Year by the The Village Voice Pazz and Jop Poll, the first rap album to be ranked number one by predominantly rock critics in a major periodical. Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16, 1958), better known as simply Madonna, is a six-time Grammy[1] and one-time Golden Globe award winning American pop singer, songwriter, record and film producer, dancer, actress, author and fashion icon. ... Leonard Albert Lenny Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and arranger whose retro style incorporates elements of rock, soul, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk, and ballads. ... The Village Voice is a weekly newspaper in New York City featuring investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts reviews and events listings for New York City. ... The Pazz & Jop critics poll is a highly influential poll of music critics run by The Village Voice newspaper. ...

They also went on to release Fear of a Black Planet, which was considered to be just as militant and controversial as their first two releases. It was also the most successful of any of their albums to date and in 2005 was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress. It included the singles "911 (is a Joke)", which criticized emergency response units for taking longer to arrive at emergencies in the black community than those in the white community, and "Fight the Power", which is considered by many to be the group's anthem. The song is regarded as among the most popular and influential in Hip Hop history and was the theme song for Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing. Fear of a Black Planet is an East Coast rap album by the hip hop group Public Enemy, released on March 20, 1990 (see 1990 in music). ... The Library of Congress is the de facto national library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress. ... For the Isley Brothers song, see Fight the Power, Pt. ... An anthem is a composition to an English religious text sung in the context of an Anglican service. ... This section has been identified as trivia. ... This article relates to the movie, Do the Right Thing. For cultural terms such as the Right Thing or the Wrong Thing, see Right Thing. ...

Their next release, Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black, continued this trend, with songs like "Can't Truss It" and "# I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga". The album's influence could be seen and heard in the controversial song and video "By the Time I Get To Arizona" which chronicled the black community's frustration that some states did not recognize the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The video featured members of Public Enemy taking out their frustrations on politicians in the states not recognizing the holiday. Apocalypse 91. ... Martin Luther King, Jr. ...

Legacy

Public Enemy were pioneers in many ways. Some of Terminator X's most innovative scratching tricks can be heard on the song "Rebel Without a Pause". The Bomb Squad offered up a web of innovative samples and beats; Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine declares that PE "brought in elements of free jazz, hard funk, even musique concrète, via their producing team, the Bomb Squad, creating a dense, ferocious sound unlike anything that came before." [1] Software development stages In computer programming, development stage terminology expresses how the development of a piece of software has progressed and how much further development it may require. ... It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second full-length album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on April 19, 1988 (see 1988 in music) on Def Jam Recordings. ... Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce sounds for some types of music. ... Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a music journalist and the Senior Editor for All Music Guide. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Funk is an African American musical style. ... // Much like electroacoustic music, Musique concrète (French; literally, concrete music), has been subject to conflicting perceptions about its character. ...

PE revolutionized the rap world with their political, social and cultural consciousness, which infused itself into skilled and poetic rhymes with raucous sound collages as a foundation. Prior to PE, political rap was confined to a few tracks by Ice-T and KRS-One, as well as prototypical artists such as Gil Scott-Heron and The Last Poets; PE were the first hip hop act to base their entire image around a political stance. With the success of Public Enemy, hip-hop was suddenly flooded with new artists that celebrated Afrocentric themes, such as Kool Moe Dee, Gang Starr, X Clan, Eric B. & Rakim, Queen Latifah, the Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest.^{[citation needed]} This article is about the poetic technique. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... KRS-One (born Lawrence Krisna Parker on August 20, 1965 in Brooklyn, New York. ... Photo of Gil Scott-Heron. ... The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movements black nationalist thread. ... Mohandas Dewese (born 8 August 1962), better known as Kool Moe Dee, was an American old-school rapper prominent in the late 1980s and early 90s. ... Gang Starr is an influential American hip hop duo composed of MC Guru and DJ Premier based in Brooklyn, New York. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Eric Barrier (Eric B.) and William Griffin (Rakim), were a hip-hop duo known as Eric B. & Rakim. ... Also see the Arab singer Latifa Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey) is a Grammy-winning American rapper/singer, model, and Academy Award-nominated actress. ... The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ...

They were the first rap-group to make extended world tours, which led to huge popularity and influence in Hip-Hop communities in Europe and Asia. They also changed the Internet's music distribution capability by being one of the first groups to release MP3 albums,^[4] a format virtually unknown at the time. MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a popular audio encoding format. ...

Public Enemy helped to create and define the so-called "Rap-Rock" or "Rapcore" genres (rap combined with hard rock or metal) by collaborating with New York thrash metal outfit Anthrax in 1991. The single "Bring Tha Noize" was a mix of semi-militant "black power" lyrics, grinding guitars and sporadic humor. The two bands, cemented by a mutual respect and the personal friendship between Chuck D and his Anthrax counterpart Scott Ian, introduced a hitherto alien genre to rock fans, and the two seemingly disparate groups even toured together. Flavor Flav's pronouncement on stage that "They said this tour would never happen" (as heard on Anthrax's Live: The Island Years CD) has become something of a legend in both rock and rap circles. Metal guitarists Vernon Reid (of Living Color) contributed to Public Enemy's recordings, and PE sampled a riff by guitarist Kerry King (of Slayer). Rapcore is a musical genre that fuses the techniques of hip hop, punk, heavy metal and sometimes funk. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Heavy metal (sometimes referred to simply as metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... Bring the Noise is a single revisited by the thrash metal band Anthrax and Public Enemy (originally written and performed by Public Enemy in 1988 on the album It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back ,released in July of 1991. ... Scott Ian Rosenfeld (born December 31, 1963) is the rhythm guitarist for the metal band Anthrax who uses the stage name Scott Not Ian. ... The Island Years is the name of the twelfth album by the band Anthrax. ... Vernon Reid (born August 22, 1958) is a guitar player, perhaps best known as the founder and primary songwriter of hard rock group Living Colour. ... Living color could refer to at least two things: In Living Color, a sketch comedy television series that was produced in the early 1990s Living Colour, a band This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Kerry King (born June 3, 1964 in Los Angeles, California) is a guitarist, best known as one of the founding members of the thrash metal band Slayer. ... Slayer is an American thrash metal band founded by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. ...

Members of the "Bomb Squad" produced or remixed works for other acts such as Bell Biv DeVoe, Ice Cube, Vanessa Williams, Sinéad O'Connor, Blue Magic, Peter Gabriel, LL Cool J, Paula Abdul, Jasmine Guy, Jody Watley, Eric B & Rakim, Third Bass, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD and Chaka Khan. According to Chuck, "We had tight dealings with MCA and were talking about taking three guys that were left over from New Edition and coming up with an album for them. The three happened to be Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe, later to become "Bell Biv DeVoe." Ralph Tresvant had been slated to do a solo album for years. Bobby Brown had left New Edition and "blew up" in 1988 and Johnny Gill had just been recruited to come in, but Johnny Gill had come off a solo career and could always go back to that. At MCA, Hiram Hicks, who was their manager, and Lowell Silas, who was running the show, were like, "Yo, these kids were left out in the cold, can y'all come up with something for them." It was a task that Hank, Keith, Eric and I took on to try to put some kind of Hip-Hop flavored R&B sh-t down for them. Subsequently, what happened in the four weeks of December (1989) was that the bomb Squad knocked out a large piece of the production and arrangement on Bell Biv DeVoe's three million selling album, Poison. In January (1990), we knocked out Fear of A Black Planet in four weeks, and we knocked out Ice Cube's album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted in four to five weeks in February."^[5] They have also produced local talent such as Son of Bazerk, Young Black Teenagers, Kings of Pressure and True Mathematics and gave producer Kip Collins his start in the business. Bell Biv DeVoe was a successful splinter group of New Edition that consisted of three previous members, Ricky Bell (also known as Slick), Michael Bivins (also known as Biv), and Ronnie DeVoe (also known as R.D.). // Bell Biv DeVoe began to take shape in the late 80s, but not... OShea Jackson (born June 15, 1969) is an American rapper, actor and film director. ... Vanessa Lynn Williams This article is about Vanessa Williams the actress and singer, for the actress on Melrose Place see Vanessa Williams (actress). ... Sinéad Marie Bernadette OConnor (born December 8, 1966) is a Grammy Award winning Irish singer and songwriter. ... The Blue Mage is a character class (or job) featured in Square Enixs Final Fantasy series of computer role-playing games. ... Peter Brian Gabriel (born February 13, 1950, in Chobham, Surrey, England) is an English musician. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American television personality, jewelry designer, multi-platinum selling singer, and Emmy Award-winning choreographer. ... Jasmine Guy Jasmine Guy (born March 10, 1964 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American actress. ... Jody Watley (born Chicago, Illinois on January 30, 1959) is an American pop singer/songwriter, producer and label owner. ... Eric B. & Rakim was an East Coast rap group that popularized the James Brown-sampled funky hip hop of the late 1980s. ... 3rd Bass were a rap group in the late 1980s and early 1990s, notable for being one of the first successful interracial rap groups. ... Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is a rapper from the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, New York. ... EPMD is an American rap group from Brentwood, New York, active from 1987 to 1999; one of the prominent acts in East coast hip hop. ... Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is an American singer known for her 1984 cover of Princes I Feel For You, for her smash hit Im Every Woman and as a member of the funk band Rufus, with whom she recorded the legendary soul record Aint Nobody... The Music Corporation of America was a United States based corporation in the music business. ... New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980, that was most popular during the 1980s. ... This article is about the two men who played professional football; Ricky Bell is also the name of a singer. ... Michael Lamone Bivins (born August 10, 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts) is the founder and member of the R&B group New Edition and the hip hop group BellBivDeVoe. ... Ronnie DeVoe (born Ronald Boyd DeVoe, Jr. ... Bell Biv DeVoe was a successful splinter group of New Edition that consisted of three previous members, Ricky Bell (also known as Slick), Michael Bivins (also known as Biv), and Ronnie DeVoe (also known as R.D.). // Bell Biv DeVoe began to take shape in the late 80s, but not... Ralph Tresvant, aka Rizz (born Ralph Edward Tresvant Jr. ... Robert Berisford Bobby Brown (born February 5, 1969 in Roxbury, Massachusetts) is an American Grammy Award-winning R&B singer and dancer. ... Johnny Gill (born May 22, 1966 in Washington, D.C.) is an R&B singer best known for his romantic ballads and as a member of New Edition. ... Bell Biv DeVoe was a successful splinter group of New Edition that consisted of three previous members, Ricky Bell (also known as Slick), Michael Bivins (also known as Biv), and Ronnie DeVoe (also known as R.D.). // Bell Biv DeVoe began to take shape in the late 80s, but not... OShea Jackson (born June 15, 1969) is an American rapper, actor and film director. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Young Black Teenagers (YBT) was an early 1990s American rap group consisting of Knowledgable Child, First Born, ATA, Tommy Never, and DJ Skribble. ...

Origin of name

Chuck D had put out a tape to promote WBAU (the radio station he was working at the time) and to fend off a local rapper who wanted to battle him. He called the tape Public Enemy #1 because he felt like he was being persecuted by people in the local scene. This was the first reference to the notion of a "Public Enemy" in any of Chuck D's songs. The single was created by Chuck D with a contribution by Flavor Flav, though this was before the group Public Enemy was officially assembled. WBAU is the now-deleted call sign of the student-operated radio station located at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A subculture is a set of people with a set of behaviors and beliefs, which could be distinct or hidden, that differentiate them from the larger culture to which they belong. ... William Jonathan Drayton Jr. ...

Public Enemy is also the name of one of the first film noir gangster movies, a 1931 classic starring James Cagney. The Public Enemy is a 1933 Pre-Code American crime drama film. ... This still from The Big Combo (1955) demonstrates the visual style of film noir at its most extreme. ... James Francis Cagney, Jr. ...

According to Chuck, The S1W, which stands for "Security of the First World", "represents that the Black man can be just as intelligent as he is strong. It stands for the fact that we're not Third World people, we're First World people; we're the original people (of the earth)."^[6]

On the track "Louder Than a Bomb", from It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Chuck D reveals that the D in his nickname stands for "dangerous". It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second full-length album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on April 19, 1988 (see 1988 in music) on Def Jam Recordings. ...

Controversy

• Several members of P.E. were also infamous for their alignment with the Nation of Islam and its leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan, whose remarks and speeches they have sampled along with Malcolm X's on several of their recordings. Professor Griff, after reading the book "The Secret Relationship between Blacks and Jews", published by the Historical Research Department of the Nation of Islam, which elaborates on the Jewish role in the slave trade, Griff made what many perceived to be anti-Semitic remarks in an interview he had with David Mills of The Washington Times. However, according to Chuck D's book Fight The Power, after Griff cited several Jewish sources verifying his claim in a follow-up interview, Mills regretted writing the story and apologized to Griff. The story later surfaced in a Village Voice article. It resulted in Griff leaving Public Enemy and founding his own group, Last Asiatic Disciples, whose lyrics were even more politically and racially charged than Public Enemy's.^[7][8]

• Chuck has stated in the songs "Bring the Noise" and "Don't Believe the Hype" that you should not judge people who you hear on the news in sound-bites like Farrakhan "until you hear the man".

• One of their singles was named "Swindler's Lust", twisting the title of Schindler's List. Upon release of the single, the group was condemned by the Anti-Defamation League,[2] though the group stated that they were not trying to diminish the events of the Holocaust, but were drawing a comparison between the events of the Holocaust and slavery.

• A verse of "Fight the Power" accuses Elvis Presley and John Wayne of being racists. The remarks about Elvis aroused some controversy in both the white and black communities. Many black commentators used the controversy to bring up the racial issues raised by Elvis's career as a white superstar who was heavily influenced by black musical styles. However, it could be argued that it overlooks the fact that Presley was also influenced by Country and western (derived from traditional English and Irish music) and crooners like Dean Martin. Conversely, the same could be said about Eminem today, as well as British Invasion artists like The Who or The Rolling Stones.

• Sister Souljah, a then little-known rapper and writer who had made guest appearances on several Public Enemy tracks, surprisingly became an issue in the 1992 Presidential campaign when Bill Clinton denounced her racial views during a debate.

This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. ... Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ... Richard Professor Griff Griffin (born 1 August 1960) is an American rapper and is a member of the music group Public Enemy and head of the S1W. // A childhood friend of Chuck D, Richard Griffin was exposed to hip-hop as it came to the Long Island, New York town... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... David Mills is an American author, journalist, and screenwriter and producer of television programs. ... The Washington Times[1] is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., United States. ... The Village Voice is a New York City-based weekly newspaper featuring investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts reviews and events listings for New York City. ... Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Anti-Defamation League Logo The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an advocacy group founded by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ... For other uses, see Holocaust (disambiguation) and Shoah (disambiguation). ... For the Isley Brothers song, see Fight the Power, Pt. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979) was an iconic, Academy Award-winning, American film actor. ... Country music, once known as Country and Western music, is a popular musical form developed in the southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, spirituals, and the blues. ... Music from the United Kingdom has achieved great international popularity since the 1960s, when the British Invasion peaked. ... Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic that is currently politically divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known as Eminem or Slim Shady, is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor from the Detroit, Michigan area. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... “Rolling Stones” redirects here. ... Lisa Sister Souljah Williamson (born 1964 in the Bronx, New York) is a controversial American hip hop-generation author, activist, recording artist, and film producer. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ...

Main albums

Album cover	Album information
	Yo! Bum Rush the Show Released: March 1987 Billboard 200 chart position: #125 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #28 Singles: Public Enemy #1 & You're Gonna Get Yours Status: Gold U.S.
	It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Released: June 1988 Billboard 200 chart position: #42 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #1 Singles: "Bring The Noise", "Don't Believe The Hype", "Night Of The Living Baseheads" & "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" Status: 5x Platinum U.S.
	Fear of a Black Planet Released: March 20, 1990 Billboard 200 chart position: #10 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #3 Singles: "Fight the Power", "911 Is A Joke", "Brother's Gonna Work It Out", "Welcome To The Terrordome" & "Can't Do Nuttin For Ya Man" Status: 6x Platinum U.S. Image File history File links Yo!_Bum_Rush_the_Show. ... Yo! Bum Rush The Show is a 1987 album by Public Enemy. ... Cover of the Public Enemy album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. ... It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second full-length album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on April 19, 1988 (see 1988 in music) on Def Jam Recordings. ... Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos is a song by the American political rap group Public Enemy from their 1988 sophomore album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. ... Cover of the Public Enemy album Fear of a Black Planet. ... Fear of a Black Planet is an East Coast rap album by the hip hop group Public Enemy, released on March 20, 1990 (see 1990 in music). ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... For the Isley Brothers song, see Fight the Power, Pt. ...
	Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black Released: October 1, 1991 Billboard 200 chart position: #4 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #1 Singles: "Can't Truss It/Move", "Nighttrain/More News At 11" & "Shut 'Em Down" Status: 5x Platinum U.S.
	Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age Released: August 23, 1994 Billboard 200 chart position: #14 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #4 Singles: "Give It Up" & "What Kind Of Power We Got?" Status: Gold U.S.
	He Got Game Released: August 21, 1998 Billboard 200 chart position: #26 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #10 Singles: "He Got Game" Status: Gold U.S.
	There's a Poison Goin' On Released: July 20, 1999 Billboard 200 chart position: R&B/Hip-Hop chart position:

Apocalypse 91. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links Muse_Sick-n-Hour_Mess_Age. ... Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age is an album by Public Enemy, released August 23, 1994. ... August 23 is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... He Got Game is an album by Public Enemy and the soundtrack to the Spike Lee film He Got Game. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Theres a Poison Goin On is Public Enemys 1999 album, which contained the controversial track Swindlers Lust, an obvious parody of Steven Spielbergs film Schindlers List. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

Members

• Chuck D (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour) — leader, producer, lyricist, main vocalist, and artwork
• Flavor Flav (William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.) — lyricist, vocalist, producer, instrumentalist, hype man, and comic relief
• Professor Griff (Richard Griffin) head of S1W, liaison between PE and S1W, road manager. Occasional vocalist and producer, plays drums at live shows
• DJ Lord (Lord Aswod) — DJ, producer
• Terminator X (Norman Rogers) — DJ, producer (former member)
• DJ Johnny Juice (John Rosado) Studio DJ, Producer, Early member of the Bomb Squad

The following are a part of The Bomb Squad, the revolutionary production group which is closely associated with (sometimes considered a part of) Public Enemy: Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, composer, actor, author, radio personality and producer. ... William Jonathan Drayton Jr. ... A hype man is a hip-hop or funk performer responsible for backup rapping and singing (giving the lead vocalist time to catch his or her breath), as well as providing comic relief and increasing audience excitement and participation with call-and-response chants. ... Richard Professor Griff Griffin (born 1 August 1960) is an American rapper and is a member of the music group Public Enemy and head of the S1W. // A childhood friend of Chuck D, Richard Griffin was exposed to hip-hop as it came to the Long Island, New York town... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Terminator X (born Norman Rogers, 25 August 1966) is best known as the producer DJ of the rap group Public Enemy, which he left in 1999. ... The Bomb Squad is a hip hop production team whose original members were Carl Ridenhour (Chuck D), Hank Shocklee, Keith Shocklee and Eric Vietnam Sadler and Gary G-Wiz. ...

• Hank Shocklee (Hank Boxley)
• Keith Shocklee (Keith Boxley)
• Eric "Vietnam" Sadler
• Gary G-Wiz
• DJ Johnny "Juice" Rosado

Chuck D is often listed as a member of the Bomb Squad under the pseudonym "Carl Ryder", a shortened form of his real name.

The S1W, which stands for "Security of the First World", are sometimes considered a part of Public Enemy, as well. The members constantly rotate and have included (among others): S1W, short for Security of the First World, began as a security organisation in Roosevelt, New York under the name of Unity Force where they provided security at hip hop parties during the mid 1980s. ...

• James Norman
• James Allen
• Roger Chillous
• John (Butch) "Pop" Oliver
• Mike Williams
• Andrew Williams
• Dwayne Cousar
• Ronald Lincoln
• Jacob "Jake" Shankle
• Many of the future members of Professor Griff's Last Asiatic Disciples
• Butch Cassidy (Aaron Allen) & his group "5ive-O" a/k/a "the Interrogators."

• Harry Allen is also a part of the group as writer, journalist and 'media assassin'

James Allen is the name of: James Allen (football player), American football linebacker James Allen (United States) (1912–1978), U.S. Senator from Alabama James Allen (New Zealand) (1855–1942), Cabinet Minister James Allen (Formula One commentator) (born 1966) James Allen (author) (1864–1912) James Allen (nurseryman), nurseryman of Shepton... -1... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: vanity nuisance article If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... Butch Cassidy (13 April 1866 - c. ...

Discography

Main article: Public Enemy discography

This is a discography for the hip-hop group Public Enemy. ...

Books

• Chuch D with Yusuf Jah, Chuck D: Lyrics of a Rap Revolutionary, Off Da Books, 2007 ISBN 0-974-94841-1
• Chuck D with Yusuf Jah, Fight the Power, Delacorte Press, 1997 ISBN 0-385-31868-5
• Fuck You Heroes, Glen E. Friedman Photographs 1976-1991, Burning Flags Press, 1994, ISBN 0-9641916-0-1

FUCK YOU HEROES, an anthology of photos taken by Glen E. Friedman, is one of the few photojournalist documentaries of the underground music scene in southern California during the days when punk rock was just beginning to galvanize itself into a social movement. ...

References

1. ^ Public Enemy. Adam Yauch. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
2. ^ The Immortals: The First Fifty. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
3. ^ "Long Island Music Hall of Fame"
4. ^ Dubois, Keir. "Public Enemy and MP3". Transcriptions Project, December, 1999. Retrieved on March 17, 2007.
5. ^ Fight The Power, pp. 236-237
6. ^ Fight the Power by Chuck D and Yusuf Jah, pg. 82)
7. ^ "Professor Griff's 1990 Album". V.R.M.. Retrieved on March 17, 2007.
8. ^ Davey D . "Professor Griff Returns". Retrieved March 17, 2007.

is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For the Isley Brothers song, see Fight the Power, Pt. ... Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, composer, actor, author, radio personality and producer. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

External links

• Public Enemy's official website
• Public Enemy's Official video site
• Slam Jamz, Chuck D's online record label
• In-Depth Tribute Site to Public Enemy

Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960), better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper, composer, actor, author, radio personality and producer. ...

Interviews

• Chuck D's best story ever about Flavor Flav this is from the TV show The Hour.
• Chuck D Interview with Guitar Player
• Chuck D Interview with Halftimeonline.com
• Paris discusses the making of Public Enemy's Rebirth of a Nation with Innerviews
• Hardgroove (Public Enemy bandleader, bass player) interview with Bass Player
• Khari Wynn (Public Enemy guitarist) interview in Guitar Player