What began as a thinly veiled reference to the Public
Enemy revolutionary classic, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold
us Back, ends with an experiment for the group as a whole to become a
collective mindset once again or a tempered example of what may be on the minds
of many American’s today. After Chuck D had publicly denounced
Flavor Flav for his continued involvement with the
reality-television world, the usual writer of the groups’ politically-minded
lyrics announced Bay Area producer/MC Paris, a fellow
artist/activist would write and produce many songs on the album.
This stood as a foray into the unknown for Chuck D, but gave a
new twist on a familiar sound, especially with current topics so heavy on the
minds of Chuck D and Paris who had
respectively outed President Bush before. Rebirth of a Nation is a much needed message which,
as always, is well delivered by a time-tested group who started their career in
the early 80s during a much darker social and political period.
The artist most accountable for the political-mindness of N.W.A with a deft delivery, Chuck D is responsible
for the KRS’s and the Boots Riley’s of today.
The definition of a hype man as portrayed by America’s new favored son, Flavor
Flav, whose own name rings out like a calling card on a slew of
Celeb-reality reality-television on VH1. The group itself has
been somewhat in disarray since Flav’s courting of the
“acting” realm on “Strange Love” and “Flavor of Love,”
which Chuck D grew tired of early on. The legendary rapper
instead decided to enlist the talents of Bay Area artist Paris,
an experiment the rapper said he had been looking to try for a long time.
If 98% of the material was done by Paris
(including lyrics and production), what, if any true Public Enemy
spirit resides behind these words? Chuck D has repeatedly said
the album cannot be considered along other Public Enemy
projects as it is a “special project” unto itself. The initial
attempt on a collaboration between the group and Paris dates
back to the Revolverlution album, but this most recent effort comes
from Paris‘
own Guerilla Funk label. The album,
which does feature a slew of talented artists like Dead Prez, Immortal
Technique, Conscious Daughters, MC Ren,
Sista Souljah, and Kam doesn’t sound forced,
if anything Chuck D and Flav’s familiar
voices are a much needed reminder of what “conscious Hip Hop” once
stood for. This most recent attempt seems like an honest one. A fresh take on a
war-torn, politically saturated and agitated country with a fresh start for Professor
Grif, Flavor Flav, Chuck D and newly
deputized member Paris. Songs of protest and songs of change
attest to the constant that is the groups message from the beginning,
“Fight The Power/Fight the Powers That Be“.
