A Diverse Public's Enemy
At the last concert in their 20th year as the group [Public Enemy] – whose 1987 release, Yo Bum Rush the Show, was the first in a slew of genre-redefining albums – frontmen Chuck D and Flava Flav displayed more energy and intensity than lots of rappers one third their age. Averaging 47.5 years between them (Chuck is 47, Flav 48), they ran (and jumped) the stage throughout their two-hour set, the younger in Knicks shorts, black tank-top, black hat and black wristbands, the elder in a neon green polo shirt (then shirtless) with his signature clock pendant swinging from his neck.
On paper at least, the venue (the [Warsaw] in Greenpoint) was a treat, an intimate counterpoint to their previous nights show at Manhattans Fillmore Auditorium. The culture mash-up of seeing rap pioneers take over a small Polish cultural center was potent, as was having to choose between spending money on a PE shirt or a plate of pierogi. Though the kitchen handled the show just fine, dolling out vast quantities of the Eastern European dumplings all night long, the Warsaws sound system wasnt up to the task. That fine balance of booming bass, crisp drums and a clear enough system to hear the MCs words clearly just wasnt happening. Those in the audience who didnt already know the Public Enemy catalogue by heart probably didnt pick much up at last nights show.
That said, it was hard to tell who in the audience knew the group well and who was just along for the ride. In fact, this might have been the most diverse rap show audience ever assembled: '80s, '90s and '00s hip-hop fans, recently emigrated Greenpoint hipsters, a contingent of Greenpoint Poles, a few yuppie Manhattanites and some totally unclassifiable extras. All these different constituencies created a pretty fun environment, which testifies to Public Enemys enduring appeal (and energy). Even if their most recent album, this years How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul, wont have the impact of 1988s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back, this show (and its eclectic audience) proves the groups staying power and the continued relevance of their message.
Photo by Benjamin Sutton