Essentials: Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Standing at the crossroads of incendiary racial politics, American history, and a revolution in music’s means of production and distribution, Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back remains an absolute must-hear almost a quarter century since its original release. In this episode, I delve deep into its sonic roots and how this team of untrained musicians rallied from its desultory debut album to become one of rock’s most important, hardest-to-imitate artists.
SET LIST
James Brown – Funky Drummer
Clyde Stubblefield interview, 2008
The J.B.’s – The Grunt (Parts 1 & 2)
Bobby Byrd – I Know You Got Soul
Run-D.M.C. – Hard Times
Beastie Boys – Hold It Now, Hit It
Public Enemy – Timebomb
Eric B & Rakim – I Know You Got Soul
Public Enemy – Rebel Without A Pause
Public Enemy – Bring The Noise
RZA on Chuck D
Chuck D on Flavor Flav
Public Enemy – Cold Lampin’ With Flavor
Hank Shocklee on finding his sound
Public Enemy – Night Of The Living Baseheads
Hank Shocklee and Chuck D on record collecting
Bobby Byrd – Hot Pants – I’m Coming, Coming, Coming
Bar-Kays – Son Of Shaft
Public Enemy – Caught, Can We Get A Witness?
Hank Shocklee on the Public Enemy sound
Isaac Hayes – Hyperbolicsyllablecsesquedalymistic
Public Enemy – Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos
Show starts about five minutes into the file
