9. "RE: today in hip hop history" In response to In response to 0
August 23rd - Public Enemy released their 5th album “Muse Sick In Hour Mess Age” on Def Jam Records , on this day in 1994.
The album’s heavy focus on live instrumentation would influence The Roots , N.E.R.D and Rage Against The Machine. The album would contain unforgettable tracks like “Whole Lotta Love Goin’ On In The Middle Of Hell” , “Stop In The Name” , “What Kind Of Power We Got” , “I Stand Accused” and the hit-single “Give It Up”. The c.d. version contained an explosive intro track called “Ferocious Soul”.
Where as in the past Public Enemy had gone after mainly white supremacy , racists and enemies of oppressed people around the world , the group had now gone after the Black community itself , holding accountable the Original Man and Woman in the struggle and liberation of The Black Nation.
An almost sci-fi concept known as the “*****trons” were introduced on this album. The goal of “Muse Sick” , to quote lyrics from the track “Whole Lotta Love Goin’ On In The Middle Of Hell” was to “crack the cracka” and “Level the devil”.
The album would also contain a reworking of Minister Louis Farrakhan’s late 60’s hit “A White Man’s Heaven Is A Black Man’s Hell” , renamed “White Heaven/Black Hell”.