Public Enemy

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Formed 1982.

American rap group

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Preview of Black Music Legends of the 1980s - Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage

Preview of Black Music Legends of the 1980s - Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage,how Public Enemy sold millions preaching pro-black politics to fans of all races.

Featured on BBC MUSIC SHOWCASE
 

Biography

Public Enemy is an American hip hop group consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, DJ Lord (who replaced Terminator X in 1999), The S1W group, Music Director Khari Wynn and formerly Professor Griff who was dismissed from the group for anti-semitic remarks in 1990. Formed in Long Island, New York, in 1982, Public Enemy is known for their politically charged lyrics and criticism of the American media, with an active interest in the frustrations and concerns of the African American community. Their first four albums during the late 1980s and early 1990s were all certified either gold or platinum and were, according to music critic Robert Hilburn, "the most acclaimed body of work ever by a rap act."

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Public Enemy number 44 on its list of the Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The group was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2007. The band were announced as inductees for the 2013 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on December 11, 2012, making them the fourth hip-hop act to be inducted after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys.

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Links & Information

Latest News Stories

News from the BBC

  1. Flavor Flav arrested for assault

    Thu 18 Oct 2012 10:17

    The rapper is arrested in Las Vegas for assaulting his fiancee and threatening to kill...
  2. Public Enemy to return in 2012

    Mon 16 Jan 2012 11:41

    Public Enemy bringing out two records this year
  3. Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage

    Fri 9 Dec 2011 13:06

    New documentary charts the ups and downs of the hip hop group

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BBC Reviews

  1. How You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul??? 2007

    Review of How You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul???

    Reviewed by Jerome Blakeney

    Still fighting the power. What time is it? It's PE time, boieeee...
  2. New Whirl Odor 2005

    Review of New Whirl Odor

    Reviewed by Adam Webb

    Their overtly political stance seems about as contemporary as The Cabbage Patch Kids.
  3. Power To The People And The Beats - Public Enemy's Greatest Hits 2005

    Review of Power To The People And The Beats - Public Enemy's Greatest Hits

    Reviewed by James Poletti

    ...a summary of a modern musical giant...
  4. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back 1988

    Review of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back

    Reviewed by Chris Jones

    The message was that black music could be reclaimed and re-tooled as a semantic crowbar.

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