Public Enemy Returns with New Album – What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?
Public Enemy is back with a new album and of course it has a provocative title. What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? dropped on September 25, 2020. It was Chuck D and Flavor Flav’s first album on Def Jam in over 20-years.
P.E.‘s solidarity has been one of much controversy with internal beef between Chuck and Flavor. While discouraging, we aren’t overly concerned. Terminator X is even back in the house on this one. The fact is hip hop most enduring civil rights activists are back with a new album that is entirely the sound of Public Enemy.
P.E. Back in Full Effect
With the State of the Union in peril, the timing of this album couldn’t have been more appropriate. Public Enemy has been shouting “Black Lives Matter” well before it became a hash tag.
Public Enemy’s new album has some long time Def Jam counterparts and hip hop legends as well. Mike D and Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys and Run DMC make an appearance on the retro banger Public Enemy Number Won. Other hip hop legends to make an appearance include Ice-T, Cypress Hill, DJ Premier, Daddy-O, Nas, Black Thought, and PMD.
State of Union
It’s not what you think, it’s what you follow
Run for them jewels, drink from that bottle
Another four years gonna gut y’all hollow
Gutted out, dried up, broke and can’t borrow
Chuck D on State of the Union (STFU)
My personal favorites are the fist raising anthem State of the Union (STFU). With cuts from DJ Premier and abrasive lyrics, it’s guaranteed to make local Trump voters a-scared when I bump it in the whip. And of course, we already covered how dope the Fight the Power 2020 Remix
Civil Rights Activists
Public Enemy shows that nearly 40 years after their first album, they still are relevant and explosive. The lyrics and foresight of Chuck D has helped shepherd America to the point where it is today in it’s battle against systemic racism. They have united and educated thousands in this country regarding the truth of injustice. And on the doorstep of change, Public Enemy have once again given us a soundtrack.
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