On this day June 28 1988, Public Enemy released their second album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, a landmark in hip hop history that raised the bar for both sound and substance. With Chuck D’s powerful delivery and the Bomb Squad’s dense production, the album blended politics, urgency, and revolutionary energy.
It reached number 42 on the Billboard 200 and hit number one on the Top Black Albums chart. Featuring tracks like Bring the Noise and Don't Believe the Hype, the record brought a bold new voice to mainstream rap and helped cement Public Enemy as leaders of socially conscious music.
80s insight: This album was more than just music. It was a movement. Public Enemy used their platform to challenge the status quo and shaped what hip hop could stand for in the late 80s.
It reached number 42 on the Billboard 200 and hit number one on the Top Black Albums chart. Featuring tracks like Bring the Noise and Don't Believe the Hype, the record brought a bold new voice to mainstream rap and helped cement Public Enemy as leaders of socially conscious music.
80s insight: This album was more than just music. It was a movement. Public Enemy used their platform to challenge the status quo and shaped what hip hop could stand for in the late 80s.
