Public Enemy 1987-90

Public Enemy's 1987, 1988, and 1990 Albums

Quote
"Time to smack Uncle Sam";
"War at 33 and 1/3"; Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet, 1990, Def Jam Recordings, CBS Records.

Article
      Public Enemy's 1987 album is mild in comparison to all of its later albums. Some of the roughest lines on it are as follows: "this government system needs a tune-up"; (from "You're Gonna Get Yours";) "the odds are stacked [against blacks and] the one who makes the money is white not black. . . . I'm a . . . US defector, South African government wrecker; Panther power, you can feel it in my arm"; (from "Timebomb";) "our solution [is] mind revolution"; (from "Rightstarter--Message to a Black Man";) "in a plan against the man, bum rush attack"; (from "Yo! Bum Rush the Show";) "takes a nation of millions to hold me back; rejected and accepted as a communist; claiming fame to my name as a terrorist. . . . end of the world. . . . I go ready, aim, fire, then I'll blow them up"; (from "Raise the Roof.") The liner notes inserted into the CD's list the members of Public Enemy as Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, and The Security of the First World, which has Professor Griff in it. The rappers sent out a greeting to what was called "the extra strength posse," and it included Run-DMC, Jam Master Jay, The Original Concept, The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Russell Simmons, and Rick Rubin.

      Public Enemy is one of numerous black rap groups who spout out Nation of Islam beliefs, and it began plainly on their 1988 album. For example, listeners are told the following: "Farrakhan is a prophet and I think you ought to listen to what he can say to you. . . . black is back; all in, we're gonna win;" (from "Bring the Noise".) Public Enemy describes itself as "the follower of Farrakhan." (From "Don't Believe the Hype.") Public Enemy repeats the "word of the honorable Elijah Muhammad" by saying that a cover-up orchestrated by white devils prevents blacks from knowing that they are "the original Black Asiatic man." The use of the adjective "Asiatic" comes from Nation of Islam terminology which describes blacks as Asiatic peoples. Thus, due to "the cover-up," says Public Enemy, the meaning of the album's title becomes clear: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. ("Party for Your Right to Fight.")

      The rapper calls himself "a Black man," and he says that black plight today is due to "a form of slavery organized under a swarm of devils"; (from "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos.") Public Enemy repeats Nation of Islam's widely announced belief that the CIA, the FBI, and J. Edgar Hoover were behind the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, and the condemned whites are referred to as "grafted devils," a term which refers to Nation of Islam's belief that whites were created 6000 years ago by a renegade black scientist named Yakub. ("Party for Your Right to Fight" and "Louder Than a Bomb.")

      In the phrases that follow, Public Enemy declares the militancy of its commitment: "because I'm militant, posing a threat; you bet it's fucking up the government. . . . Black for Black. . . . I'm a rebel so I rebel"; (from "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos";) "Panther power on the hour, from the rebel to you. . . . impeach the President, pulling out the ray-gun; zap the next one; I could be your shogun"; (from "Rebel Without a Pause";) and "revolution is a solution for our children"; (from "She Watch Channel Zero".) Public Enemy says that its raps are a continuation of the "pro-Black radical mix" like "[t]his party started right in '66," being a reference to the Black Panther party, and Public Enemy complains that "J. Edgar Hoover" ended "the party with Newton, Cleaver and Seale," apparently a reference to the FBI's COINTELPRO program. ("Party for Your Right to Fight.")

      It is a well established fact that Nation of Islam views Armageddon as racial Armageddon, as the time when God annihilates whites and gives the earth "back" to blacks to rule all the non-whites left, and this fact is also spelled out in the present web site on a link for a book that gives the group's founding doctrine, namely Message to the Blackman in America. When Public Enemy combines its militancy with its warnings for blacks to get ready for Nation of Islam's racial Armageddon, Public Enemy is warning about or calling for a race war.

      Armageddon is warned about as follows: "yoh, Griff, get the Green-Black-Red-and-Gold down [colors of an Afro-American flag that was supposedly started in South Central Los Angeles], countdown to Armageddon"; (from "Don't Believe the Hype";) "Armageddon been in effect. . . . this time around the revolution will not be televised;" (from "Caught Can I Get a Witness.")

      The rappers boast that their "type of music kills the plan of the Klan," and they declare "war on black radio" and "question [radio's] blackness" for not airing Public Enemy's raps. (Klan quote is from "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic," and radio quotes are from "Caught Can I Get a Witness" and "Bring the Noise.")

      In the CD pamphlets, the list of names under "The Extra Strength Posse" grew to include Eric B. & Rakim, Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew, Whodini, KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, Stetsasonic, Davy D, Juice, and Tashan. It is said that "[a]ll praise is due to Allah." "Respect is sent out to "Minister Louis Farrakhan, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sister Minister Ava Muhammad, Minister Khalid Muhammad, Malcolm X (Malik el-Shabazz)." Respect is given out to Nation of Islam, "Naysa," Fruit of Islam, Black Panther Party, 5 Percent Nation, Anthrax, Soul Train, numerous radio stations, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Salt-N-Pepa, Heavy D and The Boyz, EPMD, King Sun, Biz Markie, MC Lyte, Ice-T, Afrika Islam, DJ Pooh, NWA, Eazy-E, Dr Dre, Fresh Prince, Schoolly D, Geto Boys, and 2 Live Crew. The following statement is written beneath: "Peace. I'd like to give a special greeting to all those who've struggled in the past, present and future for the liberation and freedom of our people in America and throughout the world."

      Preaching from Nation of Islam officer Dr. Khallid Muhammad occur on their 1988 CD and continue on their 1990 CD. Khallid Muhammad adheres to core beliefs held by Nation of Islam about the need for blacks to "wake up" from their mental slumbers and recognize that Allah will bring Armageddon down upon whites and that blacks will meet whites on the "battlefield." ("War at 33 and 1/3.") Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane join in to rap on the album as guest artists. ("Burn Hollywood Burn.")

      In the late 80's and throughout the 90's, violently racist rappers have joined African symbolism with Nation of Islam doctrines even though in prior decades Nation of Islam's founder, Elijah Muhammad, portrayed African blacks as backward. Under Louis Farrakhan's leadership, official since 1978, Nation of Islam has evolved to embrace African roots and African culture. "Having an Afro-centric point of view," the rappers begin a 1990 lyric, and they follow up with their purpose: "fighting the enemy." They philosophize that "the race that controls the past controls the living present, and therefore the future." ("Contract on the World Love Jam.")

      US holidays were "invented by those who never repented for the sins" of having killed the rappers' kin. "Jack" tried to "fool the Black" because they never gave "40 acres and a mule" as promised. ("Who Stole the Soul.") Because the US has been "nothing but rednecks for 400 years," the condition of blacks today is dire, we are told, and they must make the correct choice between "freedom or death" and "fight the powers that be." ("Fight the Power.") Saying that they are "black to the bone," the rappers say that they will incite an "intellectual Vietnam" and have all blacks "move as a team" in order to achieve the goal, that is, to get "a piece of this rock" that is "3 stones from the Sun." ("Welcome to the Terrordome" and "Brothers Gonna Work It Out")

      An omen is sent forth: "2001, might be best to be Black or just Brown, countdown." ("Fear of a Black Planet.") It was explained above that calls for revolution together with warnings about racial Armageddon equals calls for a race war, and the following is an example of an effort to align listeners behind a race war: "I say revolution; need for change brings on revolution; the great book, just look, see solution [because] God chooses who and what for the bruisin'." ("Revolutionary Generation.")

      Dating at least as far back as Malcolm X's speeches, one of the many code words for whites is "Uncle Sam." It is "time to smack Uncle Sam," the rappers command. ("War at 33 and 1/3.") Public Enemy describes its messages as "to the left and political." ("B Side Wins Again.")

      Listeners are called "troops," and they are told that "the plan is in the jams." ("Power to the People.") The following declaration is printed on leaflets inserted into tapes or CD's: "BLACK POWER 1990 IS A COLLECTIVE MEANS OF SELF DEFENSE AGAINST THE WORLDWIDE CONSPIRACY TO DESTROY THE BLACK RACE. IT'S A MOVEMENT THAT ONLY PUTS FEAR IN THOSE THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE CONSPIRACY, OR THAT THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS." A follow up statement printed just below concludes why all rappers must put out a universal message: "UNITED WE STAND. YES, DIVIDED WE FALL. TOGETHER WE CAN STAND TALL."

      On the back of the lyric sheet there are pictures of the rappers, and Professor Griff called himself the leader of the S1W's, standing for Security of the First World. The members of the S1W's dress in military-style uniforms and stomp around on stage during concerts. Portraits of the S1W's show them in military garb, and their titles printed underneath are telling: "Brother James 1: Minister of Information; Agent Attitude: Supreme Master of Defense; James Bomb: Czar of Education; Brother Mike: Enforcer 19, High Chief of Affairs." Professor Griff is called The Last Asiatic Disciple.

      Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has the title Blackman and Lyrical Terrorist. Terminator X is known as The Assault Technician. Terminator X is referred to as "X" in the lyrics of both the 1988 and the 1990 albums.

      Thanked in liner notes were Living Colour, Luke Skyywalker, Dr Dre, MTV, The Source magazine, and African Peoples Revolutionary Party. Artists pointed for importance in the development of rap music were Brand Nubian, A Tribe Called Quest, The Fresh Prince, Tone-Loc, Heavy D and the Boyz, MC Hammer, Kool G Rap, King Sun, Schoolly D, Geto Boys, 2 Live Crew, Too Short, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Zulu Nation, Afrika Islam, Prince Akeem, Digital Underground, Last Asiatic Disciples, Lakim Shabazz, DJ Pooh, Dr Dre, KRS-One, Boogie Down Productions, LL Cool J, Eric B. & Rakim, De La Soul, Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, EPMD, Biz Markie, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and Def Jef. Thanks were given to the Revolutionary Generation Black Sister Solidarity and to Brother Malik Farrakhan. Public Enemy writes that they were influenced by George Clinton (the black musician), Muhammad Ali, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Black Panther Party, Geronimo Pratt, Last Poets, Leonard Muhammad Farrakhan, Dr. Khallid Muhammad, Run-DMC, Geto Boys, and Ice-T. Public Enemy gathered "lyrical inspiration" from Daddy-O (Stetsasonic), Big Daddy Kane, Melle Mel, LL Cool J, Kool Moe Dee, Willie Dee Rakim, and KRS-One. Public Enemy states its paranoia as usual with a dedication "to the memory of Brother Huey P. Newton, Keith (Cowboy) Wiggins, Yusef Hawkins and Oliver X. Beasley--[who were] Brothers from 4 different generations whose early departures from this planet symbolized the continuing conspiracy to destroy the Black male by murder, drugs and disease."

References
Yo! Bum Rush the Show, Public Enemy, 1987, Def Jam Recordings, CBS Records. Def Jam is now under PolyGram which is became under The Seagram Company in 1998.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Public Enemy, 1988, Def Jam Recordings, CBS Records.
Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy, 1990, Def Jam Recordings, CBS Records.

The Black Panther party was started in 1966 by Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, and David Hilliard, students at Merritt College in Oakland, California. Eldridge Cleaver later joined in 1967 after his release from prison.

Posted at http://home.att.net/~phosphor on June 30, 1999.

Updates: 11-8-99, info about reference to Black Panther party on 1988 album.

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