Public Enemy

PE take aim at the notion of "real" in hip-hop culture, bemoan Western imperialism and espouse the possibility of revolt (sentiments that range from disturbing to sad to wistful). Chuck has always sounded great backed by horns (remember Pete Rock's 1992 remix of "Shut Em Down"?), and "Harder than You Think" recalls their most transcendent moments. On the grumpy "Can You Hear Me Now" and "Flavor Man," it's easy to imagine them entering their twilight years -- Flava busting on nurses, Chuck growing gray and embittered in his tower of agitprop.

"I've been a spokesperson for a generation," Chuck D notes on "Long and Whining Road," a
proud fact whose modest past tense suggests why these commercial has-beens still make
terrific albums. Chuck has nothing to prove and plenty to say. Flavor Flav is the funniest
rapper ever to bamboozle VH1. And their young guitar-bass-drums "baNNed" slams their
conscious points down.

"I've been a spokesperson for a generation," Chuck D notes on "Long and Whining Road," a proud fact whose modest past tense suggests why these commercial has-beens still make terrific albums. Chuck has nothing to prove and plenty to say. Flavor Flav is the funniest rapper ever to bamboozle VH-1. And their young "baNNed" slams their conscious points down. (Grade - *** 1/2)