— Musings —12.12.2012 08:21 AM
Public Enemy are God-like Geniuses
The inclusion of Rush was big news on this side of the border, as it should be. But for me, recognition of PE is bigger news. They weren’t just an amazing rock and roll band, I told a doubting Son One this morning – they were an amazing punk band. Their occasional lapses notwithstanding, they will forever remain God-like Geniuses.
Interesting that you call PE a punk band. While I’ve listened to punk since the late ’80s (and PE since they released It Takes A Nation of Millions…), I’d never considered PE to be a punk band. But I can see why.
Out of this year’s nominees, it is a shame NWA wasn’t inducted — truth
While Chuck D deserves the credit for PE’s credibility, Flava Flav as I’ve learned deserves equal billing:
http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-dumb-celebrities-who-are-way-smarter-than-you-think/
(Item #5)
You said it best:……”Before rap and hip hop slid into a morass of misogyny, violence and crass materialism”…….
Fight the Power, what a great song, can’t believe it’s 23 years old.
Hasn’t aged a bit and still has my favourite lyric “Elvis was a hero to most, But he never meant, shit to me you see. Straight up racist that sucker was. Simple and plain. Mother fuck him and John Wayne”
Rap had such promise then until it descended into misogyny, bouncing Hummers and bling.
….Don’t forget the Courvoisier……
Don’t believe the hype!!
I hear everyone decrying the loss of meaning in hip-hop; I think it’s important to note the distinction that it is mainstream hip-hop. Really, any genre of music is prone to becoming a mainstream poseur genre. Rap still has effective social statements and genuine creativity. Check out The Roots, Edmonton’s poet laureate Cadence Weapon… hell, even the Black Eyed Peas pre-Fergie were all about their social conscience.
Warren – PE was amazing. Best rap/punk/hip-hop, anti-establishment group of that generation. Loved Terminator X’s beats, but to me the most important thing was the strong anti-racist political message cranked out Southern Revival Minster-style by Chuck D. Nothing like that sort of thing to uplift the aspirations of a visible minority college kid in the 90s.