Public Enemy

Fear of a Black Planet (Def Jam)

Public Enemy

Apocalypse 91 … The Enemy Strikes Black (Def Jam/Columbia)

“Welcome to the Terrordome,” America. With Bomb Squad Buzz swirling ‘cross full stereo, Chuck D smacks Fear of a Black Planet ‘cross 1990’s white-centric face with hard-bodied opener “Brothers Gonna Work It Out.” Their third LP offers little mercy, targeting gays (“Meet the G That Killed Me”), Jews (“Terrordome”), the L.A. riots (“Burn Hollywood Burn”), and the po’ (“911 Is a Joke”). The pace is expectedly relentless throughout, ripping a new era of black-power funk in the Parliament/James Brown mold. Breaks from the sonic madness “Pollywanacraka,” “Incident at 66.6 FM,” and “Reggie Jax” maintain the lyrically controversial course. Chugging in a year later on the Brown-sampled “Nighttrain,” PE’s Apocalypse 91 … The Enemy Strikes Black rides slightly less dynamic on Fear‘s track, firing shots at Flav-haters (“I Don’t Wanna Be Called Yo Niga”) and ignorant governors (“By the Time I Get to Arizona”).

(Black Planet) *****

(Apocalypse 91) ****

This article appears in July 25 • 2008.

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