10 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of The 1980s - Ranked
3. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions
Influenced by the hardcore renderings of Run-DMC and humbly beginning as openers for the Beastie Boys during their License to Ill tour, Public Enemy is the group that made their mark as an influential cog in the machine that would churn out the flood of artists known as the Golden Age of hip-hop.
Initially comprised of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, DJ Lord, Khari Wynn, Professor Griff and Terminator X, the group released their first album Yo! Bum Rush The Show to a warm reception that was the first taste of their emotionally-justified protests against society.
A well-woven set of samples sets the setting as the platform for the violently delivered sermon of powerful metaphors to assert the supremely talented group of rapper's onslaught of constant blasts of informative entertainment. Tracks like "Don't Believe The Hype" and "Show 'Em What Ya Got" are joyous occasions in hip-hop and serve as a focal point in the group's make-something-out-of-nothing approach to production.
The reputation of this album surpasses grand stature of greatness and is a proper step towards the making of the next generation of music. Touted as an influence by artists like Nirvana, Nine-Inch Nails, and Bjork, along with injecting metal, and jazz together in ways that would spur the 90s with thrash band Anthrax, Living Colour and Bell Biv Devoe, respectively.
This was the album that put the group on the map, helping get Public Enemy regarded as one of - if not the - most important rap groups of all time.