It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Its fun to dive into old school hiphop and this is the best era of it. Gonna listen to this one once or twice more

So good, I think I prefer Fear of a Black Planet as a listening experience but this is such a jolt. The Bomb Squad's wall-of-noise production weaponising it's samples into something genuinely thrilling with Chuck D and Flavor Flav capturing lightning in a bottle. Best intro track ever too

Just that sound, the sheer onslaught of the whole thing. Surprisingly compact for a hip-hip album too.

In a time where disenfranchised black kids were turning to gangs for a sense of pride, identity and camaraderie, albums like 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back\" provided an alternative sense of belonging to a nation. The group's image was relatable from the perspective of gang culture, but the message and methods being advocated were far more constructive, empowering and positive. The icing on the cake? It also made a bunch of tight-assed old white people uneasy.

This album is remarkable on its own for its hip-hop and rap caliber. The fact that it takes aim (and succeeds) at making a positive difference in the world, puts it over the top in my book.

The peak of 80s hip hop. Even today this still holds up against some of the best hip hop albums and has aged a lot better than a lot of 80’s/90’s hip hop including NWA in my opinion maybe due to political rap being more relevant than gangster rap. A true Hip Hop Groundbreaking masterpiece.

Anarkistiset beatit ja hyvä flow! 4/5

my 98

Better than expected

I appreciate the message, but none of it really commanded my attention. Don't know that I would choose to put any of the tracks on, but I think the message is important and the vehicle is effective. Rating it musically I'm going to go three stars. On a philosophical rating system it would be higher

There are few, if any, voices as powerful, raw and at the front as Chuck D. The man is an absolute powerhouse, his technique is perfect and at times it seems as if he’s on a mission to include the entire dictionary on this album.

The beats are mostly insane as well and especially the idea to sample “Angel of Death” on “She Watch Chanel Zero?!” gets me every time.

But - and it’s a big but - if I have to listen to Flavor Flav yell “yeah, boyeeeee” one more time right now I will lose my shit.

Everything starts to blend a little too much for me on Side Black and my mind slowly starts drifting; I mean this is extremely dense lyrically.

But most of I I’m just tired to the bone of listening to Flavor Flav.

Who thinks this would’ve improved drastically with just half the amount it Flav?

This boyeeeeee!

I've heard of Public Enemy, but never delved into their stuff before, so I am looking forward to today's listen. I do enjoy some 80's hip hop.

Chuck D's rhymes are smooth and powerful, and Flavor Flav makes a great hype man. Terminator X is a great DJ, mixing samples and beats flawlessly.

I enjoyed this album quite a bit. Especially because, unlike other 80's hip hop records, this one didn't have skits every 2-3 songs. It didn't have any skits at all, just music. I like that, beause I always found the skits took away from the album flow.

Overall, I really enjoyed this album, and will probably listen again.

Favourite songs: Bring the Noise, She Watch Channel Zero?! (interesting note: this song samples Slayer's song Angel of Death), Don't Believe the Hype, Prophets of Rage, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Night of the Living Baseheads, "Caught, Can We Get a Witness? ", Louder than a Bomb

Least favourite songs: Terminator X to the Edge of Panic (there is a looped squeal throughout this song that just grinded on me the wrong way)

4/5

HL: “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”, “Rebel Without a Pause”, “Don’t Believe the Hype”

After “Don’t Believe The Hype”, I started to wonder if I could listen to an hour of Public Enemy without getting exhausted. And by some miracle, I did not. The experience improved when I switched to headphones, as all the competing overdubs and samples didn’t sound great on my Bluetooth speaker. Special appreciation to the metal sample in “Channel Zero?!” (It’s Slayer, according to Wiki)

Not exactly an easy album to listen to but a very important one. The production really hits you, it's overwhelming in places. Revolutionary in every sense of the word, I can't really think of any other group like PE. This is probably my favourite of theirs, and my favourite 80s hip hop album, even though there are a couple of Flava Flav duds on it. It's pretty nonsensical listening to him rant about trash TV on 'She Watch Channel Zero' considering he ended up running his own reality TV show in the 00s! Chuck D is as great as ever though, Particularly on Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos and the second side of the album.

Bring The Noise is great. This rap album is incredible. Chuck D's voice is just so damn powerful. Prophets Of Rage is a great song.

When this came up, not being familiar with the album, I wasn't really in the mood for any hard attitudes and aggressiveness. What I didn't expect is that while it's full of that, it's accompanied by many great beats! Ended up enjoying it. Though suffers from a bugbear of mine, I can't understand why most tracks end on a fade out. 3.5

*do believe the hype

Though I prefer "Fear of a Black Planet," as I feel that is where they perfected what they established here, this is the breakthrough. This album holds up amazingly well over time, even when you compare it to other albums that came later in its wake. Chuck D's voice is absolutely commanding, and I even appreciate Flavor Flav for his levity and the contrast of style he provides, but it's the beats that completely floor me. I love the fast paced, noise-filled collage. Skillfully controlled chaos. It's high art.

Brilliant. Lots of clever samples, lyrically magnificent, great flow, politically engaged, clear purpose and aims. I loved it.

¿Qué queréis que os diga? Qué grandes y en muchos aspectos qué olvidados. Me encanta cómo suenan, cómo rapean, alucinante lo que consigo pillar de las letras. Imprescindible es poco. Cinco estrellas totales.
Bring the noise, Don't believe the hype, Terminator X to the edge of panic, Show 'em whatcha got, She watch channel zero, Rebel without a pause, Prophets of rage y para terminar Party for your right to fight.

Still just as hype as the first time I heard it. Amazing beats and amazing raps. Definitely a classic.