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Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black

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Untitled

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released October 3, 1991 on Def Jam Recordings in the United States. It debuts production team Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk, which consisted of producers Stuart Robertz, Cerwin 'C-Dawg' Depper, Gary G-Wiz, and The JBL.[1] The album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[2] On November 26, 1991, it was certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America, following sales in excess of 1 million copies.[3]

Background

The album title refers to the film Apocalypse Now and Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

The singles released from the album were "Can't Truss It", "Shut Em Down" and its B-side "By the Time I Get to Arizona" (samples "Two Sisters of Mystery" by Mandrill and a live version of "Walk on By" by the Jackson 5), in which Public Enemy was depicted in the video killing the Arizona governor, Evan Mecham, who refused to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday.

The album also included the thrash cover of their earlier hit "Bring the Noise" featuring Anthrax and "Get the Fuck Outta Dodge" - a previously released B-Side to the "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man" single from Fear of a Black Planet.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
Robert Christgau(A)[5]
Entertainment Weekly(A+)[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]
The New York Times(favorable)[8]
NME(7/10)[9]
Rolling Stone 1991[10]
Rolling Stone 2004[11]
Sputnikmusic[12]
The Washington Post(favorable)[13]
  • Rolling Stone (10/3/91) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...attempts nothing short of setting a sociopolitical agenda for the black community....Apocalypse '91 needs to be watched..."
  • Q magazine (9/95, p. 132) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...fine by any but their own Olympian standards...showed Public Enemy ploughing old furrows..."
  • New York Times (9/29/91) - "...hip-hop's prophets of rage...with songs that mix political, personal and promotional statements in quick-cutting, often oblique language..."
  • NME (7/15/95, p. 47) - 7 (out of 10) - "...a more soulful, funkier stew than previously served but there were a couple of fillers....Good, but not as indispensable as its predecessors..."
  • Spin - Ranked #7 in Spin's list of the 20 Best Albums of 1991.
  • Melody Maker (12/91) - Ranked #21 in Melody Maker's list of the top 30 albums of 1991.

Track listing

All tracks written by Ridenour/Robertz/Gary G/Wiz/Depper, unless otherwise noted.

  1. "Lost at Birth" – 3:49
  2. "Rebirth" – 0:59
  3. "Nighttrain" – 3:27 (Ridenhour/Robertz/Gary G/Wiz/The JBL/Depper)
  4. "Can't Truss It" – 5:21
  5. "I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga" – 4:23 (Drayton/Gary G/Wiz/Robertz)
  6. "How to Kill a Radio Consultant" – 3:09
  7. "By the Time I Get to Arizona" – 4:48 (Ridenhour/Robertz/Gary G/Wiz/Depper/Mandrill/Santiago)
  8. "Move!" – 4:59
  9. "1 Million Bottlebags" – 4:06
  10. "More News at 11" – 2:39 (Drayton/Gary G/Wiz/Robertz)
  11. "Shut 'em Down" – 5:04
  12. "A Letter to the New York Post" – 2:45 (Drayton/Gary G/Wiz/Robertz)
  13. "Get the Fuck Outta Dodge" – 2:38 (Ridenhour/Houston)
  14. "Bring the Noise" (w/Anthrax) – 3:47 (Ridenhour/Shocklee/Sadler/Anthrax)

Sample credits

Personnel

Public Enemy
Additional personnel
  • Anthrax – performer (track 14)
  • Frank Able – keyboards
  • Allen Givens – horns
  • Ricky Gordon – percussion
  • Tyrone Jefferson – horns
  • Al MacDowell – bass guitar
  • Steve Moss – percussion
  • Fred Wells – guitar
  • Lorenzo "Tony" Wyche – horns
  • Michael Angelo - mixing

Chart history

Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1991 The Billboard 200 4
1991 Top R&B/hip-hop albums 1
1991 UK Albums Chart[14] 8

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk. Discogs. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  2. ^ Billboard Albums: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  3. ^ Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black". The Village Voice: November 5, 1991. Archived from the original on 2009-12-28.
  6. ^ White, Armond. Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  7. ^ Hochman, Steve. "Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black". Los Angeles Times: 64. September 29, 1991. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  8. ^ Pareles, Jon. Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  9. ^ Columnist. "Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black". NME: 47. July 15, 1995.
  10. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony. Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  11. ^ Hoard, Christian. "Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black". Rolling Stone: 661–662. November 2, 2004.
  12. ^ Spencer, Trey. Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  13. ^ Mills, David. "Review: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black". The Washington Post: g.01. September 29, 1991. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  14. ^ [1]

References

  • Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

External links

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