When it comes to rebellion in Hip-hop, no one does it like Public Enemy. Sure, some other acts, like the Beastie Boys, had a rebellious spirit, and the world of punk and Hip-hop has slowly formed into a new genre since Public Enemy’s heyday. Still, not one act has come close to topping what Public Enemy achieved during the late 80’s and early 90’s. Throughout their prime, it seemed like creating anti-authority anthems was what the groundbreaking five-piece was always meant to do. They captured the civil unrest that was running rampant through their native New York City when Chuck D and Flavor Flav decided to form the group in 1985. It wasn’t long before Public Enemy became a household name with their debut album, 1987’s Yo! Bum Rush the Show immediately connects with critics, Hip-hop fans, and rock fans alike.
Public Enemy has long been solidified as one of the most critical Hip-hop artists. For this week’s Golden Age Thursday, they bring the title’s sentiment from their debut album to life with an electrifying overseas performance. The footage comes from iconic radio host Tim Westwood and captures Public Enemy during Def Jam’s 1988 Def II Tour. We have the whole performance for you as the iconic group shut the venue down with an array of songs that would now be considered stone-cold classics. You can see Public Enemy’s electrifying chemistry with a full, nostalgic performance below.
