>I’ve heard it stated around here before that PE and the
>Bomb Squad have had little in the way of influence in terms of
>people copying or being influenced by their production style,
>and or social commentary.
>
>Just speaking on the first of those, the Bomb Squad’s style
>of production – perhaps the reason so few have copied that
>style is firstly because it’s such a hard style to master.
>
>Another reason no doubt is that the sampling laws made that
>more difficult. But that didn’t stop people sampling at all.
>So PE’s style could technically still be achieved;
>nevertheless, people didn’t go there.
>
>So what I’m saying is its works of art like that, that do
>some shit that is so original that it is un-biteable, say
>Saafir’s whole style, or Freestyle Fellowship, ODB,
>Cappadonna on Winter Warz – the stuff hasn’t been
>replicated – some of that should be held up as much as those
>whose influence is easily observed, e.g. Dilla and his impact
>on drum programming etc.
>
>I digressed a bit but what I’m trying to say is that the
>Bomb Squad/PE is up there with Dilla and Primo etc, despite
>PE’s lesser influence.
>
>Actually, come to think of it, the fact that so few picked up
>on social commentary based hip hop, or did it to the extent
>that PE did - that lack of influence shouldn't be seen as a
>strike against PE. That's a strike against everyone else
>really; and it's a further reason why PE is the shit.
>
>Their lack of influence, musically and subject matter wise, it
>what makes them one of the illest ever.
>
>I saw this presentation by Hank Shocklee which inspired this
>post:
>
>Hank Shocklee: Musical Influences on the Makings of Public
>Enemy
>
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbOE_FJ6Oo8
>