3 Bombastic Public Enemy Songs That Have Stood the Test of Time

There is no voice more powerful in rap music than Chuck D’s. The literal force and bombastic nature of it is like an earthquake mixed with a train going 1,000 miles per hour down the tracks. And Chuck D has used his immense voice perfectly through the years on exquisite songs with his rap group Public Enemy.

Here below, we wanted to explore three such offerings. A trio of tracks from the Hempstead, New York-born group, which of course features legendary hype man Flavor Flav and beat maker DJ Lord, that exemplify the surge of sonic prowess the group has come to be known for. Indeed, these are three bombastic Public Enemy songs that have stood the test of time.

[RELATED: 3 Classic Hip-Hop Songs that Have Roots in Traditional Music]

“He Got Game” from He Got Game Soundtrack (1998)

This song, which features Stephen Stills and incorporates elements of Buffalo Springfield’s song “For What It’s Worth,” was written for the soundtrack of the 1998 film He Got Game. That soundtrack also doubled as Public Enemy’s sixth studio album. The movie, which was directed by Spike Lee—who the band had worked with about 10 years prior on the movie Do the Right Thing—was about a father and son in New York City caught in the middle of a basketball recruitment process. And this song became the indelible theme from the film, which still resonates today. On it, Chuck D raps,

If man is the father, the son is the center of the earth
In the middle of the universe
Then why is this verse comin’ six times rehearsed?
Don’t freestyle much but I write ’em like such (Word)
Amongst the fiends, controlled by the screens
What does it all mean all this s–t I’m seein’?
Human beings screamin’ vocal javelins
Signs of a local nigga unravelin’

“Public Enemy No. 1” from Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987)

The rap name Public Enemy is a subversive nod to the way many Black men were (and are) viewed by the powers that be in America. After emancipation in the mid-1800s, Blacks were not given the freedom they deserved after helping to build America as slaves. Instead, they were vilified. Hence, the rap moniker from Chuck D and Flavor Flav. And the group doubled down on this idea for their hit 1987 song “Public Enemy No. 1” from their album Yo! Bum Rush the Show. And on that offering, Chuck D raps,

Well I’m all in, put it up on the board
Another rapper shot down from the mouth that roared
1-2-3 down for the count
The result of my lyrics, oh yes, no doubt
Cold rock rap – 49er supreme
Is what I choose and I use – I never lose to a team
‘Cause I can can go solo, like a Sugar Ray bolo
Make the fly girls wanna have my photo
Run in their room, hang it on the wall
In remembrance that I rocked them all
Suckers, ducks, ho-hum emcees
You can’t rock the kid, so go cut some cheese

“Fight the Power” from Do the Right Thing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1989)

This song was featured on the opening credits of Spike Lee’s classic movie Do the Right Thing. And fans of the film know those opening credits also featured the beautiful and equally powerful dancer and actor Rosie Perez. A boxing fan and frequent performer on the television show Soul Train, Perez created the iconic dance movies for Do the Right Thing by combining what she knew best: cutting a rug and punching. The result, along with Public Enemy’s bodacious vocals, created a timeless piece of art that still has intense ripple effects today. On the song, Chuck D raps,

1989 the number another summer (get down)
Sound of the funky drummer
Music hitting your heart ’cause I know you got soul
(Brothers and sisters, hey)
Listen if you’re missing y’all
Swinging while I’m singing
Giving whatcha getting
Knowing what I know
While the Black bands sweating
And the rhythm rhymes rolling
Got to give us what we want
Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say

Fight the power

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