Thirty-five years ago, Public Enemy released a classic album It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. The Def Jam Records LP contained the video single “Night Of The Living Baseheads,” which was a stylish and clever indictment on drug use, particularly crack cocaine—which was an epidemic during that decade.
Chuck D’s 1988 lyrics took issue with using and selling drugs. He raised awareness with passages like: “The problem is this, we gotta’ fix it / Check out the justice, and how they run it / Selling, smelling, sniffing, riffing / And brothers try to get swift and / Sell their own, rob a home / While some shrivel to bone / Like comatose walking around / Please don’t confuse this with the sound / I’m talking about.” However, Public Enemy battled addiction at home.
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Best guide to hip hop, soul, reggae concerts & events in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles & New York City + music, videos, radio and more
Steel Pulse
Thursday, May 22 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley
Too $hort, Scarface & DJ Quik
Friday, June 20 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
Earth, Wind & Fire
Friday, June 27 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Macy Gray
Saturday, July 12 @ Palace of Fine Arts, SF
Thievery Corporation
Saturday, Sept 6 @ Fox Theater, Oakland
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