Public Enemy
Long Island group led by Chuck D and Flavor Flav, whose noisy, political records like "Fight the Power" made hip-hop a voice of protest.
Who are Public Enemy?
Public Enemy is a group from Long Island, New York, built around Chuck D and Flavor Flav, with DJ Terminator X and the production team the Bomb Squad.
Known for
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), often named one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever, and Fear of a Black Planet (1990). "Fight the Power", from Spike Lee's film Do the Right Thing, became an anthem. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
Style
Chuck D's booming voice and fierce political lyrics over the Bomb Squad's dense walls of noise, sirens and samples, with Flavor Flav as the wild counterweight.
Impact
Public Enemy proved that hip-hop could be a powerful political voice and pushed sampling to its limits. Their sound and message influenced rap and rock artists worldwide.
