No. 1 It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
Its been 25 years since Chuck D., Flavor Flav, Terminator X and Professor Griff exploded the possibilities of the hip-hop album and set the bar for socio-political rap music as the Reagan era came to an end. Their debut, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was critically acclaimed, but it paled in comparison to this — their magnum opus. Chuck’s focus is sharp and sure, with Flav’s comedic asides working as the perfect counterpoint — all supported by the sample-heavy hard funk of the Bomb Squad’s production. Hailed as an instant classic by hip-hop and rock critics alike, It Takes A Nation … hasn’t lost an ounce of its power to incite and inspire. One of the genre’s crowning achievements.
