Last Friday, PE released their 15th studio album, What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?. Their first on Def Jam since 1998, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and DJ Lord provide commentary on the system, criticize the powers that be, and place a mirror in front of their listeners. Months after Flavor Flav was “fired” from the group, this project aims to reject our addiction to technology and challenge the masses to rely on independent thought rather than following the false narratives that the media creates.
King’s Disease serves as a guideline for the young, Black male on how to survive on many levels. Having pride in who you are, loving and respecting your female companion, and protecting your peace are all lessons that African-American men should abide by in order to achieve emotional, mental and spiritual stability.
The East Coast Renaissance of the early-to-mid ’90s was an important time in hip-hop music. During this period, albums such as Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Illmatic, and Ready to Die reset the standard not only for New York artists, but for the genre of rap itself. Hailing from the Queensbridge housing projects, Albert “Prodigy” Johnson and Kejuan “Havoc” Muchita released an underwhelming debut album in 1993, which subsequently led to them being dropped from their label about a year later. Pressure can either bust pipes or create a diamond, and in 1995, they opted for the latter.
In many of the school yards, barbershops and recreational parks across America, a common topic of conversation is: “Who are some of the greatest emcees, ever?” Some people mention 2pac, others may say The Notorious B.I.G., but my personal favorite has always been Nasir Olu Bin Dara Jones, but more widely known as Nas. The aforementioned artist burst on the rap scene in 1991 on Main Source’s “Live At The Barbecue”. At only 17 years old, Nas recited the lyrics of a seasoned veteran with wisdom far beyond his years.
![Public Enemy - What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down [Review]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54e9398ae4b021b682c285fe/1601905447254-VFGYJSRV8EZI81IKO3QA/Albumism_PublicEnemy_WhatYouGonnaDoWhenTheGridGoesDown_MainImage_16x9.jpg)
