Public Enemy has gone through many lineup changes over the years, with Chuck D and Flavor Flav remaining the only constant members. Co-founder Professor Griff left in 1989 but rejoined in 1998, before parting ways again some years later. DJ Lord also joined Public Enemy in 1998 as the replacement of the group's original DJ Terminator X. In 2020, it was announced that Flavor Flav had been fired from the group. His firing was later revealed to be a publicity stunt that was called an April Fools' Day prank. Public Enemy, without Flavor Flav, would also tour and record music under the name of Public Enemy Radio which consists of the lineup of Chuck D, Jahi, DJ Lord and the S1Ws.
Public Enemy's first four albums during the late 1980s and early 1990s were all certified either gold or platinum and were, according to music critic Robert Hilburn in 1998, "the most acclaimed body of work ever by a hip hop act". Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called them "the most influential and radical band of their time". They were inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. They were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Enemy
Studio albums
Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987)
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black (1991)
Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994)
There's a Poison Goin' On (1999)
Revolverlution (2002)
New Whirl Odor (2005)
How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? (2007)
Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp (2012)
The Evil Empire of Everything (2012)
Man Plans God Laughs (2015)
Nothing Is Quick in the Desert (2017)
Loud Is Not Enough (2020) (released under the name Public Enemy Radio)
What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? (2020)
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There are three other groups named Public Enemy:
2) The first Public Enemy, an Oi!/punk band formed in 1984 who released one LP album (England's Glory) and one 7 inch (Skinheads). This band was never white supremacist and has no connection to the "revived" Public Enemy:
3) White Power group from the UK, formed by Paul Burnley (of No Remorse). Released 3 CDs: “Paul Burnley Is The Real Public Enemy”, "There is only one..." and “Archives”.
4) Public Enemy was a Hardcore/Punk group from Tuscon, Arizona.
Meet the G That Killed Me
Public Enemy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know if they can
From what I know
The parts don't fit
(Ah shit)
How he's sharin' a needle
With a drug addict
He don't believe he has it
But now he does, he doesn't know cause he
Goes straight to a ho
Tell you what who was next on the but
Wild thinin' on a germ
Runnin' wild
Yo stop
But the bag popped
The lyrics of Public Enemy's song Meet the G That Killed Me depict a grim reality of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. In this song, Chuck D is narrating the story of a man who has contracted AIDS through sharing a needle with a drug addict. The man is in complete denial of his condition and engages in risky sexual behavior without informing his partners. The lyrics "Man to man, I don't know if they can, from what I know, the parts don't fit" imply that the man has been diagnosed with AIDS and is now struggling to come to terms with his diagnosis.
The lyrics go on to describe how the man, who is now infected with the virus, engages in reckless behavior, going from one sexual partner to another without any regard for their health or well-being. The lyrics "Tell you what who was next on the but, wild thinking on a germ, running wild, yo stop, but the bag popped" suggest that the man's condom broke during sexual intercourse, making it likely that he has transmitted the virus to his partner.
Public Enemy's Meet the G That Killed Me is a powerful social commentary on the devastating impact of AIDS on communities in the 80s. The song remains relevant today as it highlights issues around the stigma of AIDS and people's reluctance to come to terms with their condition. The song also touches on the issue of social inequality and how it impacts access to healthcare and education.
Line by Line Meaning
Man to man
Having a serious conversation between two individuals
I don't know if they can
I am doubtful if they are capable
From what I know
Based on my knowledge
The parts don't fit
The pieces of the puzzle do not come together
(Ah shit)
An exclamation of disappointment or shock
How he's sharin' a needle
He is engaging in drug use with shared needles
With a drug addict
The individual he is sharing the needle with has a substance abuse problem
He don't believe he has it
He does not believe he has contracted a disease
(Either)
An addition to the previous statement to say that the other person he is with does not believe they have the disease either
But now he does, he doesn't know cause he
He is now infected with the disease, but he is unaware because
Goes straight to a ho
He goes to have sexual intercourse with a prostitute
Tell you what who was next on the but
He then tells you who was next in line for sexual intercourse
Wild thinin' on a germ
He is possibly unaware of the danger of spreading germs or diseases
Runnin' wild
The danger is spreading or growing uncontrollably
Yo stop
The need to stop and assess the situation
But the bag popped
Something or someone has been contaminated or infected
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: CARLTON RIDENHOUR, ERIC SADLER, KEITH BOXLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind