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Review: Public Enemy, Homelands, Scotland
All revolutionaries eventually become dated. It happened to Marx, it happened to Mao and eventually itll happen to Public Enemy . But not yet. First bursting onto the scene in 82, PE's popularity fuse still has a ways to go before burning out.
Still trying to push their latest album, last year's "Theres a Poison Goin On," Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and their military dance troupe the S1Ws have hit the U.K. festival trail. And Homelands, Scotland, is one of the weirdest places you would expect to find hardcore rappers. Not only are they performing at a dance event where every other act is house, techno or drum & bass music, but they have de-camped to U.K.'s own "Deliverance" country. Homelands is cold, wet and miles from the nearest McDonalds, but on Saturday (6/3) Public Enemy didnt care. The group came to empower and to entertain.
The crowd was white, young and Scottish. With their baggy army pants, Adidas sneakers and Gap sweatshirts, most of them have likely heard classics off of "Fear of a Black Planet," but have never actually come face to face with the Enemy. Yet, they are enthusiastic PE supporters and this encourages the track suit-clad Chuck D and clock-wearing Flavor Flav to give the 75-minue set 110%.
Everyone in the group knew his part. Griffs twirling high kicks were amazing, while Chuck and Flav were in top vocal form as they belted out "911 Is a Joke," "Dont Believe the Hype" and "He Got Game." They are consummate professionals whose stage presence put even established British groups like Leftfield to shame on Saturday.
Public Enemys attack on Homelands was three-pronged. First, it was, as always, to make their listeners question authority and all the conventions that come with living in a Western society--"Fight the Power" is the groups creed in three words. Second, it was a publicity stunt for their latest release--the band has its own label now, with overheads to be met. And third, to reinforce that it is one of the tightest rap groups that has ever walked the planet. The group succeeded in doing all three on Saturday, confirming that its act isnt just a smoke screen these days, but that the fire still rages on.
