One of two albums announced for this year by pioneers Public Enemy, and for this one (Most of My Heroes Don’t Appear On No Stamp) it’s interesting to see how much a group of this status has stood the test of time. Which actually to me doesn't matter either way, because in my opinion they did enough during the 1980’s & early 90's, but as opportunities go, this one has to be as good as any. To review a new album, from a group that even after all this time are still making their voice heard, and putting across their opinions through their own brand of rap music.
Music that has come along way from releases like (Fear Of The Black Planet) & (Yo Bum Rush The Show), but none the less it’s still new music. A new release from a group that has been about for the best part of 30 years now, and it’s nice to hear that the boys Chuck D, Flava Flav, & Terminator X can still pull it off.
On an album that begins with (Run Til it’s Dark), and its nothing new from the group really, Chuck D goes in first on a track that sounds like that if it was released in the 80’s or early 90’s P.E fans would only really notice from the content. Mainly about today’s politics, but with that being said I’m sure that like myself most P.E fans of today would just be glad to hear new material. Whatever is, and as being different goes the group bring in a feature for the next track (Get Up Stand Up) and it comes in the form of Brother Ali. On a song slightly reminiscent of the Ice Cube track (Amerikkkaz Most Wanted) It’s quite a dark one really and very in your face, although the Brother Ali feature does work against this in part. It’s a song which finishes with a skit, a little explanation behind the albums title.
An album which continues with the title number next, (Most Of My Heroes Still…), which makes sense considering the outro of the last track. It features DJ Z-Trip, and probably the best part about it is the catchy beat, but it’s a bit all over the place for samples, content, or whatever, and it’s more like an interlude really. So a bit different from the first two structure wise, but skipping on you hardly notice it, and before you do the album moves to track 4 (I Shall Not Be Moved). A quite funky sort of political number and it’s a nice track to listen to for getting into the album. A stand out line is:
“What good is learning from some record when y’all only listen for 15 seconds?”
Something I’m sure that will encourage most listeners to press replay, and I mean on this track in particular you kind of have to, but moving on. Track 5 now, and this one’s called (Get It In) featuring DJ Premier Collaborator Bumpy Knuckles. It’s not much else different sound wise from the album so far, but Bumpy does bring something else to the table. The beats quite cool as well, and it’s a good mix between the two artists, but again though moving on. On to track 6 (Hoover Music), and the more intelligent of rap fans would know that the boys from P.E have made a track about historical figure J. Edgar Hoover, a man who stood against Civil Rights, and not vacuum cleaners. So I mean you can kind of get a feel of what this tracks like from the title, but otherwise it’s a hard rock rap song about controlled discretion of music.
It follows with (Catch The Thrown), no doubt a different take on the Jay-Z & Kanye West album title. It features Queensbridge duo Large Professor & Cormega, and it’s the first track of this type that the features actually blend in with the likes of Chuck D & Flava Flav. It keeps with the political theme, and as standards go it’s another good track on the album. Which has so far been quite Ok on the ear, but with 4 tracks left now one might still think what else is yet to come? From tracks which continue with (Rltk). Which if you might wonder, if you haven’t got round to listening yet, is short for real talk. Another quite typical P.E track, and it’s not as great as some of the other album tracks, but I won’t go on about it. So on to Track 9, and this one’s called (Truth Decay). A title undoubtedly about the lies fed to people through Music, TV, and media. Not exactly out of P.E’s comfort zone, but it’s a good track, and it has quite a nice beat.
Two tracks left now, and they begin with (Fass Food). A number about more than you’re regular McDonalds or BK, although not quite sure what, but skipping on, last track now, and this one’s called (WTF), and it sounds oddly familiar. A bit like the M.I.A song (Paper Planes), but don’t get me wrong, it might not be. As for the title kind of obvious really, it’s short for (What the F***) and it’s not my reaction after the album. Something I thought was good, and something I’m going to give a (8/10).
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