Cyrus Langhorne
Rap group Public Enemy's long-awaited Def Jam return is near and will come packed with ample guest features. The group has released the tracklisting for its What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down? studio album.
Public Enemy’s Tracklisting Revealed
On Tuesday, the group officially unveiled the album’s star-studded line-up. The LP comes with nearly 20 songs and guest features from multiple generations including George Clinton, Cypress Hill, Nas, Rapsody and YG.
01 – “When The Grid Goes Down” ft. George Clinton
02 – “Grid” ft. Cypress Hill and George Clinton
03 – “State of the Union (STFU)” ft. DJ Premier
04 – “Merica Mirror” ft.. Pop Diesel
05 – “Public Enemy Number Won” ft. Mike D, Ad-Rock, Run-DMC
06 – “Toxic”
07 – “Yesterday Man” ft. Daddy-O
08 – “Crossroads Burning” (Interlude) ft. James Bomb
09 – “Fight The Power: Remix 2020” ft. Nas, Rapsody, Black Thought, Jahi, YG, Questlove
10 – “Beat Them All”
11 – “Smash The Crowd” ft.. Ice-T, PMD
12 – “If You Can’t Join Em Beat Em”
13 – “Go At It” ft. Jahi
14 – “Don’t Look At The Sky” (Interlude) ft. Mark Jenkins
15 – “Rest In Beats” ft. The Impossebulls
16 – “R.I.P. Blackat”
17 – “Closing: I Am Black” ft. Ms. Ariel
Public Enemy Reunite At Def Jam
A few days ago, reports emerged about Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Flavor Flav gearing up to drop their new What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down album through Def Jam. It will be their follow-up release to 2017’s Nothing Is Quick In The Desert.
In a press release, Chuck D said, “Cultural Institutions are important. Being an integral part of one is an honor bestowed and to uphold. Public Enemy songs are forever sonic prints in the sands of time. And it’s time—it’s necessary—to bring the noise again from a place called home. Def Jam. Fight The Power 2020.” Flavor Flav added, “Def Jam is like the house we grew up in. It’s cool to be home.” (Pitchfork)
Wait, There’s More
The new album features standout anti-Donald Trump song “State of the Union.” The record specifically calls out the head of state and encourages Americans to remove him from the White House.
What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down is out September 25, and features the group’s previous Juneteenth single “State of the Union (STFU).” “State of the Union” took clear aim at Trump — “Vote this joke out, or die tryin’,” Chuck D raps — so expect more of the same from What You Gonna Do. “It’s time — it’s necessary — to bring the noise again from a place called home,” Chuck D said in a press release. “Def Jam. Fight the Power 2020.” Flavor Flav added, “Def Jam is like the house we grew up in. It’s cool to be home.” (Vulture)
Before You Go
In celebration of the new reunion project, Chuck D and Flav released their new “Fight The Power: Remix 20” record.
The group have also shared a new version of ‘Fight The Power: Remix 2020’, a song which was first heard opening the 2020 BET Awards in June. It features Nas, Rapsody, Black Thought, YG, Jahi and Questlove. In a statement, the group described the song as “an unflinching statement about the destruction the current administration has unleashed on the country and its people.” “…[It] speaks truth to power while urging people to fight against racism, injustice and oppression with their vote.” (NME)
