Where were you the first time you heard Public Enemy? Wherever it was, it was likely you were hearing something from their galvanizing sophomore record, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, or their stunning sequel, Fear of a Black Planet.
Now the twin masterpieces are being reissued in deluxe formats so you can re-bring the noise in some lush packages with tons of extras. For It Takes a Nation, in addition to the classic album, the set will include a second disc of 13 tracks featuring rare mixes and outtakes. It will also include a DVD featuring the out-of-print 1989 Fight the Power…Live, directed by Hart Perry and featuring videos and live performances. The package will also feature liner notes by Roots drummer and noted hip-hop historian, Amir “?uestlove” Thompson.
For Black Planet, there will be a two-CD set with 18 bonus cuts, including outtakes and alternate mixes from the record, as well as liner notes by Wax Poetics’ editor-in-chief, Andre Torres. Both reissues will include the Do the Right Thing soundtrack version of “Fight the Power,” (the one with the sick sax solo in the end by Branford Marsalis). Black Planet will also feature a brand new vinyl reissue with a 3-D cover image.
All of this is part of Def Jam’s year-long 30th anniversary celebration commemorating Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin’s historic founding of the influential label in 1984. The It Takes a Nation and Fear of a Black Planet reissues will be out on November 25 on Def Jam/Universal.
Read our interview with P.E.’s Chuck D here.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_t13-0Joyc]