HomePublic EnemyIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Hip-Hop · 1988 · 16 tracks

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

A revolutionary collage of abrasive noise and authoritative oratory. Dense, fast-paced, and relentlessly political, it redefined the sonic limits of hip-hop.

Find on Amazon

It's like a riot and a college lecture happening at the same time inside a jet engine.

Relentless, confrontational energy with moments of profound, righteous anger.

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back · vs · Public Enemy
Sample Based+0.6σ

The production is pushed a touch harder into sample based than this artist usually allows.

Tracklist · 16 Tracks
01
Countdown to Armageddon
1:41
02
Bring the Noise
3:47
03
Don’t Believe the Hype
5:20
04
Cold Lampin’ With Flavor
4:13
05
Terminator X to the Edge of Panic
4:30
06
Mind Terrorist
1:18
07
Louder Than a Bomb
3:37
08
Caught, Can We Get a Witness?
5:03
09
Show ’em Whatcha Got
1:57
10
She Watch Channel Zero?!
3:50
11
Night of the Living Baseheads
3:16
12
Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos
6:25
13
Security of the First World
1:22
14
Rebel Without a Pause
5:05
15
Prophets of Rage
3:15
16
Party for Your Right to Fight
3:27
Moments Worth Waiting For
The piercing, high-pitched kettle-whistle loop that drives the momentum of Rebel Without a Pause.
Chuck D's booming opening line on Bring the Noise cutting through the sonic shrapnel.
The sudden shift into a haunting, minimalist piano loop on Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos.
Sits BesideSee all
Fear of a Black Planet
Fear of a Black Planet
Public Enemy
1990

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); layered_dense, noise_textured, sample_based (production style)

Planet Earth: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Greatest Rap Hits
Planet Earth: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Greatest Rap Hits
Public Enemy
2013

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, noise_textured, layered_dense (production style)

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
1991

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, noise_textured, layered_dense (production style)

New Whirl Odor
New Whirl Odor
Public Enemy
2005

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); urban_night, basement_show, thunderstorm (atmosphere)

Most of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear on No Stamp
Most of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear on No Stamp
Public Enemy
2012

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); defiant, urgent, aggressive (moods)

Rebirth of a Nation
Rebirth of a Nation
Public Enemy
2005

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); baritone, rap, intense (vocal style)

What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?
What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?
Public Enemy
2020

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, noise_textured, layered_dense (production style)

AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
Ice Cube
1990

Shares sample_based, noise_textured, layered_dense (production style); baritone, intense, rap (vocal style)

Muse Sick‐N‐Hour Mess Age
Muse Sick‐N‐Hour Mess Age
Public Enemy
1994

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, noise_textured, layered_dense (production style)

Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Public Enemy
1987

Shares conscious hip-hop, boom bap (subgenres); defiant, urgent, aggressive (moods)

Reviews

Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →