'Power' a good first-step for newbies
By Jeff Renfro
"Power to the People and the Beats" attempts the impossible task of summing up the legacy of Public Enemy in one retrospective album. The group represents much more than a catalogue of singles can convey. In fact, it may be impossible to fully grasp the meaning behind many of their earlier songs, because they are out of historical context.
Started in New York in the early '80s by lyrical master Chuck D., Public Enemy went on to become one of the most ground breaking and controversial groups of the last 30 years. At the beginning of their rise to popularity, they were blackballed by mainstream radio and relegated to the late hours on MTV. Despite this, Public Enemy defined the feeling of a generation of Americans in a way that few groups ever could.
Chuck D. is unquestionably one of the finest emcees to ever touch the mic. One of the most enjoyable parts of the CD is observing his lyrical maturation. The songs are presented in chronological order, following the group as they move from talented party band to the height of political counterculture.
The group has lost members over the years but a majority of the album features the original line-up of Chuck D., Flavor Flav, Terminator X and Professor Griff. This line-up created a sound that changed hip hop while galvanizing popular culture.
The CD begins with "You Gonna Get Yours," a track that expresses the anger that was offset by political savvy in their later years. The track is Public Enemy at their most raw. Starting with "Rebel Without a Pause," a significant number of songs on the album come from the group's two classic albums "Fear of a Black Planet" and "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back."
At this point, every song on this CD is a classic. The album goes from "Bring the Noise" to "Prophets of Rage" to "Don't Believe the Hype." This three-song lineup alone is responsible for much of the political decent which characterized hip hop during this era.
The album ends, appropriately, with "He Got Game," the title track from their second collaboration with Spike Lee. The song also marked a resurgence of the band's history. After defining counterculture for a generation, the group faded away only to come back with a new classic just to show that they are still the best.
The only strike: this album is incomplete. The CD is not for those who are already fans of the group. Fans of hip hop should instead buy Public Enemy's back catalogue. It is a great introduction to a classic group, but offers nothing new. Strictly for beginners or casual fans.
Grade: A
Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 551-1918 or jrenfro@scu.edu.