It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on Def Jam Recordings in the United States on April 14, 1988.

The album is frequently cited as one of the most celebrated and influential albums in hip hop history. The album's mix of The Bomb Squad's dense, sample-heavy production and Chuck D's politically charged lyrics turned the album into a sensation, peaking at #42 on the Billboard 200, and at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip hop Album charts.

Reception and influence

Widely regarded as the group's finest work, the album regularly ranks as one of the greatest and most influential recordings of all time in various publications. In 2003, the album was ranked number 48 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It is the highest ranking hip-hop album on the list.
Acclaimedmusic.net ranks the album as the 17th best album of all time and also the greatest hip-hop album. Time Magazine hailed it as one of the 100 greatest albums of all time in 2006. It was listed in The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. Kurt Cobain, the lead guitarist and singer of the grunge band Nirvana listed 'It Takes A Nation of Millions' as one of his top 50 favorite albums in his journals.
Spin - Included in Spin's list of the Top Ten College Cult Classics.
Spin - Ranked #2 in Spin's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of 1985-2005.
Q magazine (10/01, p. 44) - Ranked #47 in Q's "Best 50 Albums of Q's Lifetime.
Alternative Press (11/00, p. 144) - Included in AP's "10 Essential Political-Revolution Albums.
Alternative Press (8/01, p. 112) - Included in AP's "10 Essential '80s Albums.
Alternative Press (7/95, pp. 76–77) - Ranked #6 in AP's list of the 'Top 99 Of '85-'95'.
Vibe (12/99, p. 158) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century.
Vibe (6/02, p. 108) - Ranked #1 in Vibe's "Top 10 rap albums.
NME (9/25/93, p.18) - Ranked #5 in NME's list of The 50 Greatest Albums Of The '80s.
NME (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #9 in NME's list of the 'Greatest Albums Of All Time.

Track listing

All songs written by Carlton "Chuck D" Ridenhour, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, and Hank Shocklee, except where noted.

• "Countdown to Armageddon" – 1:40

• "Bring the Noise" – 3:46

• "Don't Believe the Hype" (Ridenhour, Sadler, Shocklee, William "Flavor Flav" Drayton) – 5:19

• "Cold Lampin' with Flavor" (Sadler, Shocklee, Drayton) – 4:17

• "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic" (Ridenhour, Norman "Terminator X" Rogers, Drayton) – 4:31

• "Mind Terrorist" – 1:21

• "Louder Than a Bomb" – 3:37

• "Caught, Can We Get a Witness?" – 4:53

• "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" – 1:56

• "She Watch Channel Zero?!" (Ridenhour, Sadler, Shocklee, Richard "Professor Griff" Griffin, Drayton) – 3:49

• "Night of the Living Baseheads" – 3:14

• "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (Ridenhour, Sadler, Shocklee, Drayton) – 6:23

• "Security of the First World" – 1:20

• "Rebel Without a Pause" (Ridenhour, Sadler, Shocklee, Rogers) – 5:02

• "Prophets of Rage" (Ridenhour, Sadler, Shocklee, Drayton) – 3:18

• "Party for Your Right to Fight" – 3:24

Don't Look Back tour May 2008

Public Enemy performed the album in its entirety to audiences in the UK during May 2008 as part of the Don't Look Back series of concerts which saw classic rap albums such as Nation of Millions and Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx performed for the first time in years.

These performances were also included on the extended tour in Australia, including shows in Brisbane and Sydney.

Song title references

Certain track titles refer to other titles from popular culture. These include:

• The title of the track "Louder Than a Bomb" was influenced by the title of The Smiths' album Louder Than Bombs.
  • "Party for Your Right to Fight" is a rearrangement of the Beastie Boys' song, "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)" (frequently referred to as: "Fight For Your Right to Party").
  • The track title "Rebel Without a Pause" is influenced by the iconic 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause starring James Dean.
  • "Night of the Living Baseheads" references the film Night of the Living Dead. It connects people addicted to crack cocaine with zombies.

  Partial list of samples

  The following lists some of the songs and sounds sampled on It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. In an interview years later, producer Hank Shocklee said that in the face of increased clearance costs for copyrighted material that replicating the number of samples used on the album would not be impossible, but would be far more expensive than it was at the time.
  "Bring the Noise"
  
  *Speech by Malcolm X (vocals: "Too black...too strong"; extracted from a speech about the integration of the March on Washington where he says "It's just like when you've got some coffee that's too black, which means it's too strong. What do you do? You integrate it with cream, you make it weak. But if you pour too much cream in it, you won't even know you ever had coffee. It used to be hot, it becomes cool. It used to be strong, it becomes weak. It used to wake you up, now it puts you to sleep.)
  *"It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney (horns)
  *"Funky Drummer" by James Brown (drums during the "Never badder than bad..." verse)
  *"Get Off Your Ass and Jam" by Funkadelic (opening guitar solo)
  *"Fantastic Freaks at the Dixie" by Grandwizard Theodore & the Fantastic Five (vocals: "Say turn it up")
  *"Give It Up or Turn It a Loose" by James Brown (the backwards loop in the chorus)
  *"Get on Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown (the scratching done before the last verse)
  *"The Assembly Line" by The Commodores (drum loop and "ugh!" chants in the scratching bridge)
  *"I Don't Know What this World Is Coming To" by The Soul Children (vocals: "Brothers and sisters!")
  "Don't Believe the Hype"
  
  *"Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss (drums)
  *"Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas (drums)
  *"I Got Ants in My Pants" by James Brown (drums)
  *"Escape-ism" by James Brown (trumpet squeak)
  "Cold Lampin' with Flavor"
  
  *"Funk It Up!" by Sweet
  *"Jungle Fever" by Chakachas
  *"Here We Go" (Live at the Funhouse) by Run-DMC (vocals: "Ah, yeah")
  *"Gimme Some More" by The J.B.'s (vocals: "Yeah")
  *"I Know You Got Soul" by Bobby Byrd
  *"Lesson 1 (The Pay-Off Mix)" by Double Dee and Steinski (vocals: "Now we come to the payoff")
  *"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)" by Beastie Boys (vocals: "yeah!")
  "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic"
  
  *"Flash" by Queen (vocals: "Ah, ah! The savior of the universe!")
  *"The Grunt" by The J.B.'s (trumpet glissando)
  *"Bad" by Big Audio Dynamite (vocals: "Go ahead")
  *"Rebel Without a Pause" by Public Enemy
  *"Love Rap" by Spoonie Gee & the Treacherous Three (drums)
  *"Funky Drummer" by James Brown
  *"Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown
  "Louder Than a Bomb"
  
  *"Long Red" by Mountain (vocals: "Louder!")
  *"It's Yours" by T La Rock and Jazzy Jay (vocals: "It's yours!")
  *"AJ Scratch" by Kurtis Blow
  *"Here We Go" (Live) by Run-DMC (Vocals: "Ah, yeah!")
  *"One for the Treble" by Davy DMX
  *"Feel Like Making Love" by Bob James
  *"Who's Gonna Take the Weight?" by Kool & the Gang (intro and guitar)
  *"Fantastic Freaks at the Dixie" by Grandwizard Theodore & the Fantastic Five (Vocals: "Come on! Louder! Louder!")
  *"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)" by Beastie Boys (Vocals: "Yeah!")
  "Caught, Can We Get a Witness?"
  
  *"Blow Your Head" by Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s
  *"Son of Shaft" by The Bar-Kays (wah wah guitar)
  *"Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes (wah wah guitar)
  *"Terminator X Speaks with His Hands" by Public Enemy
  *"Soul Power" (from the album Revolution of the Mind, 1971) by James Brown
  *"Hot Pants - I'm Coming, I'm Coming, I'm Coming" by Bobby Byrd (tambourine and drums)
  "Show 'Em Whatcha Got"
  
  *"Son of Shaft (Live)" by Bar-Kays (Vocals: "Freedom is a road, seldom traveled by the multitude")
  *"Darkest Light" by the Lafayette Afro Rock Band
  "She Watch Channel Zero?!"
  
  *"Angel of Death" by Slayer (guitar)
  *"Funky Drummer" by James Brown (drums)
  "Night of the Living Baseheads"
  
  *Speech by Louis Farrakhan (intro)
  *"UFO" by ESG (sirens)
  *"Fame" by David Bowie
  *"The Grunt" by The J.B.'s (horn glissando)
  *"Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band (drums)
  *"Son of Shaft" by Bar-Kays
  *"Funky Man" by Kool & The Gang
  *"Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy (Vocals: "Bass! How low can you go?")
  *"Christmas Rappin'" by Kurtis Blow (Vocals: "Twas the night"/"Hold it now"
  *"Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas (drums)
  *"Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin (Vocals: "Rock!")
  *"I Can't Get Next to You" by The Temptations (Vocals: "Everybody hold it, listen")
  *"Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band
  *"You Can Make It If You Try" by Sly & the Family Stone (drums)
  *"I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" by Soul Children (Vocals: "Brothers and sisters")
  *"Here We Go" (Live at the Funhouse) by Run-DMC
  *"Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1)" by Run-DMC (Drums/Vocals: "First come, first serve basis")
  *"Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown
  *"Soul Power Pt. I" by James Brown
  *"Rappin' Ain't No Thang" by The Boogie Boys featuring Kool Ski, Kid Delight and Disco Dave (Vocals: "We are willing")
  "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos"
  
  *Spoken intro taken from a documentary film on country singer Johnny Cash upon his 1969 visit to San Quentin State Prison, where he would record a live album released later that year.
  *"Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder (Spoken word: "Get in that cell, nigger")
  *"Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" by Isaac Hayes (piano riff)
  *"Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy (Vocals: "Now they got me in a cell", "death row, what a brother know")
  "Rebel Without a Pause"
  
  *"The Grunt" by The J.B.'s (trumpet glissando)
  *"Funky Drummer" by James Brown (drums)
  *"Get Up Offa That Thing" by James Brown (horns)
  *"I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To" by The Soul Children (Vocals: "Brothers and sisters")
  *"Rock and Roll Dude" by Chubb Rock (Vocals: "Rock and roll")
  "Prophets of Rage"
  
  *"Hum Along and Dance" by The Jackson 5
  *"Cold Sweat" by James Brown (drums)
  *"Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire
  *"Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy
  *"Miuzi Weighs a Ton" by Public Enemy
  *"Pump That Bass" by Original Concept (Vocals: "Get a little stupid")
  "Party for Your Right to Fight"
  
  "Do That Stuff" by Parliament
  *"I Know You Got Soul" by Bobby Byrd (Vocals: "You got it!")
  *"Butt-to-Butt Resuscitation" by Funkadelic
  *"Get Up, Stand Up" by Bob Marley & the Wailers (Vocals: "Don't give up the fight")
  *"Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & The Family Stone (Vocals: "Oh yeah")
  *"Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown (Vocals: "Get involved, get into it")
  *"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)" by Beastie Boys (Vocals: "Fight!")

  Adaptations

  The track "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" was covered by Tricky on the album Maxinquaye. It was also covered by thrash metal group Sepultura on their Revolusongs EP. During their 1996 European tour Rage Against the Machine would frequently play alternative versions of this song including one at the Pinkpop Festival where they brought Chuck D out onto the stage to perform with them. This was later included on the Live & Rare album and the People of the Sun 10" single. The West-Coast Hip-Hop group The Pharcyde also referenced the song "Black Steel in the Hour of Choas" in their song "Officer" on their album "Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde", were the paraphrase the lyrics, saying "I got a letter from the DMV the other day/I opened and read it, it said they were suckers."
  Chuck D recorded a new version of "Bring the Noise" in a 1991 collaboration with the thrash metal band Anthrax.
  
  In 2008, the album was performed live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series. First it was be debuted as a UK tour featuring special guest DJ Hank Shocklee (Bomb Squad), and then it appeared on July 18, 2008 at Pitchfork Music Festival. Chuck D has expressed reservations about the format of the Don't Look Back series.
  
  On April 1, 2008 BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe featured the album in a two-hour 'masterpiece' program. The album was played in its entirety, preceded by interviews with various prominent musicians.
  
  On June 6, 2009, at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Public Enemy performed the album in its entirety along with Antibalas and The Roots – the first time this album was recreated backed by a live band.

  Later Samples

  • "Show ‘Em Whatcha Got"
  • *"Show Me What You Got" by Jay-Z from the album Kingdom Come
  • *"Friday" by Ice Cube from the Friday soundtrack album.
  • "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos"
  • *"Remedy" by The Game from the album Doctor's Advocate.
  • "Security of the First World"
  • *"Justify My Love" by Madonna from the album The Immaculate Collection
  • *"Instrumental B" by My Bloody Valentine, white vinyl shipped simultaneously with copies of Isn't Anything
  • "Prophets of Rage"
  • *"What's Golden" by Jurassic 5 from the album Power In Numbers

  Deluxe Edition

  In the liner notes to their most recent album , How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?, Public Enemy listed "Soul of a Nation - Deluxe edition of 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back'" under "Coming 2008 and beyond", but no other information is currently available.

  Personnel

  • Producers – Rick Rubin (exec.), Eric "Vietnam" Sadler (assistant producer), Carl Ryder, Hank Shocklee
  • Vocals – Professor Griff, Chuck D., Fab 5 Freddy, Flavor Flav, Erica Johnson, Oris Josphe, Harry Allen
  • Engineers – John Harrison, Jeff Jones, Nick Sansano, Chuck Valle, Greg Gordon, Jim Sabella, Matt Tritto, Christopher Shaw
  • Mixing – Steven Ett, Rod Hui, Keith Boxley, Chuck Chillout
  • Scratching – Norman Rogers, Johnny Juice Rosado
  • Turntables – Terminator X, Johnny Juice Rosado
  • Photography – Glen E. Friedman
  • Programming – Hank Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler
  • Production supervisor – Bill Stephney

  Chart positions

  Album

  Album chart positions are taken from Billboard magazine (North America).

  Singles

  Singles chart positions are taken from Billboard magazine (North America).

  Singles information