Drawing inspiration from their roots in classic rock and indie pop, Public released their first EP titled "Red" in 2012, quickly establishing a strong local fanbase in Cincinnati. Their energetic performances and infectious sound caught the attention of renowned acts like Walk the Moon, Twenty One Pilots, and Young the Giant, leading to opportunities for the band to support these artists on tour. Public also made appearances at notable festivals including Forecastle, Bunbury, CMJ, and SXSW, exposing them to diverse crowds and expanding their reach.
Following their second EP release, "Let's Make It," and a national tour supporting Walk the Moon, Public ventured to Los Angeles, California, to collaborate with producer Eric Palmquist (known for his work with Mars Volta and Bad Suns). Immersed in a new creative environment and drawing from their experiences on the road, the band embraced alternative and pop influences, resulting in the creation of their 2015 single, "Heartbeating." The release coincided with their national tour alongside Oh Honey and received favorable recognition from respected blogs such as Kings of A&R and Good Music All Day, which praised Public's harmonies and captivating indie style.
In 2019, Public experienced a breakthrough with their single "Make You Mine." Originally self-released in 2015, the song gained significant traction after going viral on TikTok, accumulating over 2.5 million TikTok videos featuring the track. The band's success on the platform and their partnership with Jonas Group Entertainment, headed by Kevin Jonas Sr., caught the attention of major record labels. In July 2019, Public signed with Island Records.
Following their signing, Public released a new version of "Make You Mine" that was mixed by Grammy Award winners Chris Lord-Alge and mastered by Emily Lazar. The track became a sensation on TikTok, reaching the number four spot on the trending charts and accumulating over 7 million streams per week. To date, "Make You Mine" has garnered over 260 million streams. On May 8, the group released their new single "Honey in the Summer," a breezy laid-back love song co-written and produced by John Fields.
Black
Public Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never felt the warmth of existence
Watching the days exhaust into hours
And then limp into minutes
Into seconds
Pursued, the black wave ever nearer
Like a dream
Running away in slow motion
Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting
Suppressed into silence
Suppressed into silence
Suppressed into silence, silence
Silence, silence, silence, silence, silence
View the world outside the same cold window
The black wave spares no shade of grey
The same people walk by, the same blank faces
In the same enclosed cell
With the same numb feeling, feeling, feeling, feeling
Suppressed into silence
Suppressed into silence
Suppressed into silence, silence
Silence, silence, silence, silence, silence
Suppressed into silence
Suppressed into silence
Suppressed into silence, silence
Silence, silence, silence, silence, silence
The song "Black" by Public addresses the issue of racial mixing and the fear and discrimination that often come with it. The lyrics start off with the singer assuring someone that they don't need to worry about their daughter because she's not his type. However, the singer imagines what would happen if the daughter did confess her love for him and the potential backlash because of the mix of Black and White.
The second verse challenges the idea of purity and questions what it means to be pure. The singer questions how fear and influence affect our choices when it comes to race. The third and final verse addresses the fear and discrimination that the singer has faced because of their skin color. Despite not being the one causing harm or committing crimes, the singer is still being treated with suspicion and aggression. The song ends with a call for peace and love, which is how the singer believes God intended the world to be.
Overall, the song encourages the listener to reflect on their own biases and fears when it comes to race and interracial relationships. It challenges the idea of purity and exposes the flaws in the concept of race-based discrimination.
Line by Line Meaning
Man you ain't gotta
Worry 'bout a thing
'Bout your daughter
Nah she ain't my type
(But supposin' she said she loved me)
Don't worry about your daughter, she's not my type. But what if she loved me? Are you scared of mixing black and white? In a country where mixed races produce impure blood, you can't stand the idea of me being with her.
Man calm your ass down, don't get mad
I don't your sista'
(But supposin' she said she loved me)
Would you still love her
Or would you dismiss her
What is pure? Who is pure?
Is it European state of being, I'm not sure
If the whole world was to come
through peace and love
Then what would we made of?
Let's calm down, I'm not interested in your sister. But if she loved me, would you still love her or hate her? What defines purity? Does it come from being European? If the world was united through peace and love, what would that mean for us?
Excuse us for the news
You might not be amused
But did you know white comes from Black
No need to be confused
Sorry for the news that might not amuse you. But did you know that white people originated from black people? There's no need to be confused.
Excuse us for the news
I question those accused
Why is this fear of Black from White
Influence who you choose?
Sorry for the news. I question those who fear black people because of their skin color. Why should skin color influence who you choose to associate with?
Man c'mon now, I don't want your wife
Stop screamin' it's not the end of your life
(But supposin' she said she loved me)
What's wrong with some color in your family tree
I don't know
Come on, I don't want your wife. Don't scream like it's the end of the world. But what if she loved me? What's the problem with having some color in your family tree? I don't know.
I'm just a rhyme sayer
Skins protected 'gainst the ozone layers
Breakdown 2001
Might be best to be Black
Or just Brown countdown
I'm just a rapper. My skin is protected from the ozone layer. In the year 2001, it might be better to be black or have a tan.
I've been wonderin' why
People livin' in fear
Of my shade
(Or my hi top fade)
I'm not the one that's runnin'
But they got me one the run
Treat me like I have a gun
All I got is genes and chromosomes
Consider me Black to the bone
All I want is peace and love
On this planet
(Ain't that how God planned it?)
I've been wondering why people are afraid of my skin color or my haircut. I'm not running away, but they treat me like I'm a dangerous criminal. All I have are genes and chromosomes, so consider me black to the core. All I want is peace and love on this planet. Isn't that how God intended it to be?
Lyrics Β© DistroKid
Written by: Matthew Fleetwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bobsmith6544
@@Mallrat31 Oh snap. When I saw the other comment about PE being the most important group in hip hop history, the first group that came to mind was BB. If I was doing the desert island disc challenge NoM and one BB album would be there for Sure! I'm gonna listen to Paul's Boutique right now...
Midnight Marauders?
Whatever the best 2Pac album is?
Quality Control?
Watermelon Chicken and Gritz?
$hort Dog's in the House?
The Chronic?
Whatever the best Wu-Tang album was?
3 Feet High and Rising?
jeez this could go on for ever lol.
edit: epic album; but not even close to goat.
@justintime8922
Most important group in hip hop history
@marcus.6487
damn right
@sJ-bb8lr
I CONCUR.....
@bobsmith6544
Not that I don't agree they should be Very high on the list and possibly first. But why?
@yyz4761
Chucks lyrics ant that freaking voice
@billsny9243
Krs1
@ClarkyGuitar
I'm from a small town in Scotland, and in 1988 when we were 15 someone got hold of a tape with Don't Believe The Hype on it and we all got a copy. It was like music from another planet to us. This dude rapping with authority about stuff we had never heard of, but it was having lyrics punched right into your brain and we all loved it. Learned all the lyrics and can still recite them today. We all ended up buying It Takes a Nation of Millions and then Yo! Bum Rush The Show. Then there was the epidemic of Raiders baseball caps and jackets. Us little pasty-faced Scottish kids in Raiders gear lol. Still listening to them now all these years later. Some of the lyrics come up as part of natural conversation these days.
@weatherman68
Public Enemy- Music for adults, with wisdom and messages. Brawπ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏππΎβπΎπ΄ββ οΈ
@UncannyEra
ππ½ππ½
@larrytalbert5742
Thats cool