Song: "Louder Than A Bomb"
Artist: Public Enemy
Album: "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back"
Year: 1988
Place Of Origin: Long Island, New York
Years Active: 1986 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
Chuck D., the main rapper and lyricist for the hip hop group Public Enemy, has said that "Louder Than A Bomb" was written about the fact that his phone was being tapped by the government. Not surprising considering some of his views on the FBI and CIA and how he feels they were involved in the murders of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. He kind of shrugged off the phone tapping because he said that everything he had to say about those organizations and the American government as a whole will be right there on his albums so there really is no need to tap his phone. He left it all out there in his lyrics.
PUBLIC ENEMY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1987 - Yo! Bum Rush The Show (Def Jam Records)
1988 - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Def Jam Records)
1990 - Fear Of A Black Planet (Def Jam Records)
1991 - Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black (Def Jam Records)
1994 - Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (Def Jam Records)
1998 - He Got Game (Def Jam Records)
1999 - There's A Poison Goin' On (Atomic Pop Records)
2002 - Revolverlution (Koch Records)
2005 - New Whirl Odor (Slam Jamz Records)
2006 - Rebirth Of A Nation (Guerilla Funk Records)
2007 - How You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul (Slam Jamz Records)
2012 - Most Of My Heroes Still Don't Appear On No Stamp (Slam Jamz Records)
2012 - The Evil Empire Of Everything (Enemy Records)
2015 - Man Plans God Laughs (RCS Music)
2017 - Nothing Is Quick In The Desert (916% Entertainment)
CURRENT STATUS OF PUBLIC ENEMY:
Chuck D. and Flavor Flav used to work together delivering furniture way back in the day. They began trying to form a rap group early on. Before they even became Public Enemy, Chuck D. wrote the song "Public Enemy No. 1" as a diss track against another local emcee. That track eventually got into the hands of producer Rick Rubin and the newly named Public Enemy was signed to Def Jam records. Coming out of the "golden age of hip hop", Public Enemy firmly left their stamp on the rap map, especially in the span of 1987 to 1994. Their albums on Def Jam were all instant classics but especially 1988's "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" and 1990's "Fear Of A Black Planet". Rap music was definitely seeing a shift to a more socially and politically conscious state and Public Enemy would be at the forefront of this movement. While the west coast had things locked down on street violence and gang mentality themes thanks to artists like Ice-T and N.W.A., the east coast was shining a light on racial inequalities and social injustices with groups like Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions. To me, Public Enemy was almost like a hip hop punk band. Their sound was so unique. It was loud, frenetic, in your face and hard hitting and Chuck D. had the perfect commanding voice to compliment those crazy beats. P.E. put out anthems, period. "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos", "Fight The Power", "Don't Believe The Hype", "Welcome To The Terrordome", "Can't Truss It" to name a few. When it comes to rap groups, Public Enemy is right at the top of that chain, along with N.W.A., Wu-Tang Clan and EPMD. By the 2000's, hip hop music was really changing, and in my mind, not for the better. The old school rappers, while respected, were getting passed over by artists who were much more concerned with their image and what they have than of any types of issues to shine a light on. Rap videos were becoming fashion shows. How much money can I show off. How much jewelry can I flaunt. How many women do I have. It was all image with little to no substance. Don't get me wrong, their are still some rap artists that I believe are true to the game. Guys like Eminem and The Game, but those guys are kind of throwbacks to the golden age. They have respect for the craft. Public Enemy is still very much a band. They've dropped eight full length albums since the year 2000, but the gold and platinum selling days of their Def Jam years are long gone. Chuck D. has actually formed a new group called Prophets Of Rage with Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford of Rage Against The Machine and B-Real of Cypress Hill. They have an album and have also been touring extensively. Not quite sure what the future holds for Public Enemy but for all intents and purposes, they are still considered active. Public Enemy is just one of the most well respected groups in rap history, or any genre of music for that matter. "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" is one of the most important albums in music. Bringin' Tha Noize since 1986!!! Strong Island, New York style bitchez!!!!!
TEN PUBLIC ENEMY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos
2. Welcome To The Terrordome
3. Rebel Without A Pause
4. You're Gonna Get Yours
5. Buckwhylin'
6. Fight The Power
7. Can't Truss It
8. Public Enemy No. 1
9. Give It Up
10. I Shall Not Be Moved
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