Vinyl Vault

On the heels of their landmark album, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Public Enemy found themselves mired in controversy over supposedly anti-Semitic comments made by group member Professor Griff. Chuck D and the group responded the only way they knew how: By making their next album, 1990’s Fear Of A Black Planet, even more incendiary than its predecessor. But, now that all the controversy has long since died down, how does the music hold up? The song-by-song album review can answer that.

Fear of a Black Planet (1985, Def Jam Recordings)

Side A

“Contract On The World Love Jam”: ** Listen
Despite the title, this table-setting instrumental sounds an ominous tone.

“Brothers Gonna Work It Out”: **** Listen
It’s easy to forget how much the Bomb Squad production team contributed not only to PE but also to the sound of rap in general. With inventive samples and ever-varying beats, they could dictate the intended emotions as well as Chuck D’s lyrics, which keep a positive vibe here that’s hard to find elsewhere on the album.

“911 Is A Joke”: **** Listen
Well before his reality-show renaissance, this hilarious take on a serious subject (the unreliability of emergency services in low-income neighborhoods) was Flavor Flav’s moment in the sun. “So get the morgue truck to embalm the goner.”

“Incident At 66.6 FM”: ** Listen
A fake radio show devoted to the controversy swirling about the group.

“Welcome To The Terrordome”: **** Listen
Backed into a corner by his critics, Chuck D comes out firing at any and all comers while the Bomb Squad revs up the paranoia. “I got so much trouble on my mind/Refuse to lose,” he defiantly raps at the start. And just about everyone (including Chuck D’s own race) is in the crosshairs here, which is why the ensuing uproar about the song seems unnecessary.

“Meet The G That Killed Me”: * Listen
The whiff of homophobia in the air around this short song is unfortunate.

“Pollywanacracka”: *** Listen
Chuck D doesn’t have a problem with interracial dating, although he takes issue with some of the motives some people have for choosing it. The Barry White-like voice he uses is a nice break from his usual stentorian bombast.

“Anti-Nigger Machine”: *** Listen
Furious and nimble, this rap behind a spare beat shows off Chuck D’s flow, which is often overlooked because of the band’s rabble-rousing reputation.

“Burn Hollywood Burn”: **** Listen
Alongside Chuck D and Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane steals the show on this blistering track that takes aim at the silver screen’s poor track record portraying blacks.

“Power To The People”: * Listen
Good-time dance-party music was never P.E.’s strong suit.

Go to Side B >>

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