PUBLIC ENEMY

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IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK (1988)

(reviewed by Alex Wilson)

You know, people seem to think 80s/early 90s rap is automatically a cut above the stuff that they release now, and for the most part they're right. Back in the day the style was fresh and the artists were consciously pushing the envelope of a new sound. And as if parachute pants, dumb sunglasses and big freakin' clocks aren't cooler than some dumb white band-aid that you wear on your cheek! Jeez, people! If only rap had more guys with big clocks, than the world might be a better place…

Fickle fashion trends aside, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is one of those albums that everyone always says kicks some serious white ass. And it does, don't get me wrong, it just would have packed a little more punch back in the late 80s, when it was clearly at the forefront of an exciting new sound. Today, although still it still scores points for being awesome and influential, it's clear that a few of the songs haven't aged well.

That doesn't diminish the fact that PE's sound is strikingly powerful, catchy and danceable all at once. Edgy, recycled funk blasts over the top of powerful drumbeats and aggressive, almost dissonant sound samples give the songs a kind of unstable momentum. Terminator X (the group's DJ) contributes some furious scratching that makes Mix Master Mike look as white as he actually is. However, the real appeal of the band lies in its two MCs, Chuck D and Flava Flav. Chuck waxes political in a deep, powerful voice that puts the stoned mumbling of Ja Rule and 50 Cent to shame, while Flava's often insane 'sidekick' lines provide an effective comic element. It's an inherently antagonistic sound that would probably appeal to your average rocker more than the shiny G-Funk of Dr. Dre or Snoop Dogg.

Opening tracks "Bring The Noise" and "Don't Believe The Hype" start the album in style, and are indicative of the quality PE could attain. The rhymes are clever and slick and the flow of Chuck and Flava creates some great hooks. Finally, The Bomb Squad, unlike many rap production crews, realized they needed to construct songs, rather than just repeat beats over and over. The quality doesn't really let up for most of the album, with more great songs like the pro-sampling "Caught, Can I Get A Witness?" and the DJ showcase "Terminator X to The Edge To The Edge Of Panic."

Great as these songs are, they don't approach the greatness of the albums best tracks, the first one being "Night Of The Living Baseheads." Built on a chaotic, horn-driven beat, the anti-drug anthem contains some of PE's most focused and energetic songwriting. Chuck's lyrics and flow on this track are almost perfect. "Here it is! Bam! And you say, 'Godamn, this is a dope jam!' But let's define the term called 'dope,' if you think it means funky, now, no!" It's a great fusion of social commentary and good-time humor, and the end result is a track that is nothing short of fantastic. But perhaps even better than "Night Of The Living Baseheads" is what I consider the album's creative zenith, "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos." In this furious diatribe against the horrors of conscription and imprisonment, Chuck truly hits his stride; his violent lyrical fantasy is strikingly articulate and frightening and his rage tangible. The legendary Isaac Hayes piano sample the song is based around provides the menacing hook the song requires, and the peripheral 'noise' samples are perfectly placed and truly enhance the atmosphere. Lastly, although this is clearly Chuck's song, both Flava Flav and Terminator X contribute some great performances.

Unfortunately, after this awesome cut, the quality drops slightly for the last three or four tracks. If I can fault the album of one thing, it's that there are a just a few songs that don't quite live up the high standard established by the majority of the album. In addition to the weak closing tracks, the self-indulgent "Cold Lampin' With Flava" and the misogynist "She Watch Channel Zero" drag the album down somewhat.

Even though it may not be the flawless masterpiece it's often touted to be, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is still a great and very original album. Although it pushes the 'artier' side of hip-hop, it is still infectious and accessible. And it's more than just the top songs that make this album worth owning. Even if you're a self-proclaimed hater of rap, I bet you my dignity that the skill and conviction displayed on this album will make you change your tune. This is rap music stripped of all the hollow 'bling bling' bullshit and gangsta posing. This is rap music without any guest appearances from Snoop Dogg or Dr. Dre. Many rappers claim to 'keep it real,' yet PE are among the few that actually do.

OVERALL RATING: 8

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