new music: public enemy is back! stream ‘man plans, god laughs’ #soundcheck

If any year needed some new Public Enemy, it was 2015. The band’s legendary mix of socio-political commentary, wry humor, and hyper-layered production has made them the rare hip-hop group that’s been able to transcend and lead every era of the movement. Public Enemy has always stood alone, but increasingly every major hip-hop record has some Public Enemy DNA. So in a year where their radical call to arms and bombastic sound is suddenly dominating the cultural conversation, the question facing Public Enemy is: do they have anything new to add to the conversation? On their 13th studio album ‘Man Plans, God Laughs’, Chuck D and co answer with a resounding “hell yes.”

By Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK Contributor

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The record balances new sonic heights with the classic sound they pioneered with the Bomb Squad in the 80’s. Standout opener “No Sympathy For The Devil” is an killer merging of modern noise-rap with their classic sound under the guidance of producer Gary G-Wiz Rinaldo. Chuck D is at his fiery best despite unapologetically reminding us that he’s “55, double nickel” before dropping the chilling line “who give a damn / if they kill another man / woman or child / behind another smile / now see young folk / pass the baton / see same old thing / carry on.” That tension between the past and present plays over into the populist rebel rousing “Me to We,” which prominently features Flavor Flav and a guest appearance by Terminator X on the decks. As a longtime fan, I can’t help a little giddy thrill at hearing Terminator X off the ostrich farm and back in the fold.

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Though Chuck D has more than earned the “I’ve been saying this shit for years, where’ve you been?” stance he takes throughout the record, Man Plans, God Laughs is consistently at its best though when it’s most invested in the now and its possible futures. The title track name-checks “Fight the Power” before reminding us to fight the power “for the culture / do it for the youth.” G-Wiz’s production takes cues from EDM and industrial on this, and the album’s other clear single “Those Who Know Know Who.”

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The singles may be front-loaded on Man Plans, God Laughs, but the classics are saved for the back half. The chilling “Mine Again” celebrates Africa, while condemning the hangover of colonization over Gary G-Wiz’s most stripped-back production. “Corplantationopoly” has some of the best Flavor Flav hype in years, and Professor Griff’s most substantial contribution over an undeniable classic beat. This is what Public Enemy do best, and have done better than just about anyone for 25 years.

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Public Enemy will be playing AFROPUNK’s inaugural Atlanta Festival October 3rd and 4th. Get your tickets and more information here: http://afropunkfest.com/atlanta/ 

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