"Fight the Power" is a 1989 song by hip hop group Public Enemy. First released on the soundtrack for the film Do the Right Thing (Rosie Perez dances to the song over the opening credits), an extended version was released in 1990 on Public Enemy's third album, Fear of a Black Planet. The song has largely served as the political statement of purpose for the group, and is their biggest single. "Fight the Power" was recently ranked #1 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, further demonstrating the impact of the song. The single reached #1 on Hot Rap Singles, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot R&B Singles.

Another version is featured in the Chuck D Presents: Louder than a Bomb compilation, featuring a saxophone solo by Branford Marsalis.

Music videos

Spike Lee produced and directed two music videos for this song. The first featured clips of various scenes from Do the Right Thing. In the second video, Lee used hundreds of extras to simulate a massive political rally in Brooklyn. The extras carry signs featuring Paul Robeson, Marcus Garvey, Chuck Berry and Martin Luther King. Tawana Brawley made a cameo appearance. Brawley gained national notoriety in 1987 when, at the age of 15, she accused several police officers and public officials from Wappingers Falls, New York of raping her. The charge was rejected in court, and she instead was sued for supposedly fabricating her story.

Samples used

• "Teddy's Jam" by Guy

• "Bird of Prey" by Uriah Heep

• "Hot Pants Road" by The J.B.'s (bassline)

• "Pump Me Up" by Trouble Funk (percussion, vocal: "Pu-pu-pump")

• "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson (heard before the 3rd chorus)

• "I Shot the Sherriff" by Bob Marley

• "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa (Vocal: "Yeah!")

• "I Know You Got Soul" by Bobby Byrd (Vocal: "I know you got soul")

• "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone) (Singing heard after the line "Bum rush the show")

• "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" by The Dramatics (guitars)

• "Let's Dance (Make Your Body Move)" by West St. Mob (Vocal: "Come on you got it")

• "Funky President" by James Brown (Heard after the line "People, people we are the same")

• "Funky Drummer" by James Brown

• The opening quotation, "Yet our best trained, best educated, best equipped, best prepared troops refuse to fight! Matter of fact, it's safe to say that they would rather switch than fight!," was taken from Chicago attorney and civil rights activist, Thomas "TNT" Todd.

Honors

It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, #322 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, #40 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs, and #288 on Songs of the Century. "Fight the Power" was also voted #68 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s and #1 on their list of 100 greatest hiphop songs of all time.

"Fight the Power" was voted "Best Single" by the "Pazz & Jop" critics poll of 1989.

Covers

"Fight the Power" was covered, tongue-in-cheek, by Barenaked Ladies for the soundtrack for the 1993 movie Coneheads. It was also covered by Korn with Xzibit on the XXX: State of the Union soundtrack. In 2008, Vanilla Ice covered the song for the album Vanilla Ice Is Back!

In Entertainment

• The song was used as the walkout song for Tito Ortiz at UFC 84 when he fought Lyoto Machida.