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Is it Public Enemy or N.W.A.?
Let the debate begin —
In 1988, I was working a horrible government job when I went out for lunch one day and purchased the Public Enemy album, “It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.”
I was immediately impressed and captivated by what this Black nationalist-themed Hip-hop group was willing to do with the rap genre. Every song except “She Watched Channel ZERO” was just perfect and unique all at once. This was the future of rap music.
I shared the cassette with most of my young co-workers in the cubicles. They were knocked out as well.
Not long after that day, one of my co-workers, who was knocked out by the Public Enemy album, came by my cubicle and slipped me a cassette. N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton.” He told me it was going to blow me away.
Check it out he said.
I did listen to it. I was not impressed. I acted like it was good because my workmate was cool people. I did not want to make him feel bad. I told him I was going to pick up a copy as soon as possible.
He was hyped.
That day probably says more about Hip-Hop music’s various threads than anything. Back then, I was drawn mostly towards the groups with something positive on wax. Public Enemy. Boogie Down Productions. Grandmaster…
