Public Enemy is an American hip hop group formed by Chuck D and Flavor Flav… Read Full Bio ↴Public Enemy is an American hip hop group formed by Chuck D and Flavor Flav in Long Island, New York, in 1985. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as American racism and the American media. Their debut album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was released in 1987 to critical acclaim, and their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), was the first hip hop album to top The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll. Their next three albums, Fear of a Black Planet (1990), Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black (1991) and Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994), were also well received. The group has since released twelve more studio albums, including the soundtrack to the 1998 sports-drama film He Got Game and a collaborative album with Paris, Rebirth of a Nation (2006).

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.

More News At 11
Public Enemy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo yo yo gee, guess what happened
To the burned up hand that was clappin'
Too good to be true
Getting all the guys turn to get in doo-doo
Took it all for granted
Then life start turn to granted
Having everything to having nothing
Now this turkey ain't got no stuffing

On the couch ill puffing
To get you buffin', it's you they got cuffin'
Your family they did not believe me
Till they heard it for themselves on TV
I called the crib, the clock said seven
More news at eleven

[Chorus]
More news at eleven

I was watching the TV screen
Can't believe what I seen
Three guys tried to rob a store
Got more than what they bargained for
They shot them right before my eyes
All three just dropped like flies
If they only thought before they did it
Neither one of those three would have been with it
As they fell to the floor and got rougher
Now the family has got to suffer
Pallbearers got to carry them
While the family cry loud just to bury them
Newscast and people were heavily amazed
Flavor Flav just stared in a daze
Eyewitness News, channel seven
More news at eleven

This is Harry Allen hip hop activist and media
assassin with my co-anchor Flavor Flav for P.E.

TV and by the way if you still think that they're that
don't believe the hype

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Public Enemy's song More News At 11 depict two harsh scenarios that showcase the destructive consequences of recklessness and crime. The first few lines describe the downfall of someone who took their success for granted and lost everything, leading to a life of aimless puffing on the couch. The second scenario involves three guys attempting to rob a store who end up being shot and killed, leaving their families to suffer. The chorus, "More news at eleven," delivers a critical message about the media's tendency to sensationalize and profit off of tragic stories.

The lyrics raise significant questions about the value of life and decision-making. In the first scenario, the singer suggests that a sense of entitlement and neglectful behavior caused the individual to lose everything they had. In the second scenario, the three men failed to consider the consequences of their actions before they took action, leading to their deaths. The theme of accountability runs through both scenarios, with the message that every decision someone makes has an impact on the trajectory of their life.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo yo yo gee, guess what happened
The singer is addressing someone in a casual way, asking them to guess what occurred.

To the burned up hand that was clappin'
Referring to someone who was applauding a situation that turned out to be harmful or negative.

Too good to be true
The situation seemed favorable, but ended up being deceptive or misleading.

Getting all the guys turn to get in doo-doo
Referring to a situation where everyone involved is going to suffer negative consequences.

Took it all for granted
Not appreciating the positive circumstances, and assuming they will always be present.

Then life start turn to granted
Things took a turn for the worse, and the singer realized they shouldn't have taken their previous situation for granted.

Having everything to having nothing
Going from a position of abundance to a state of lack or deprivation.

Now this turkey ain't got no stuffing
The artist no longer has any resources, and may be feeling empty or incomplete.

On the couch ill puffing
The artist is smoking on the couch, likely to alleviate stress or anxiety.

To get you buffin', it's you they got cuffin'
To get you moving and motivated, they will restrict your freedom and put you in handcuffs.

Your family they did not believe me
The singer tried to warn their family about something, but they didn't believe it until they saw it for themselves.

Till they heard it for themselves on TV
The family only believed the artist's warning once they saw it on the news.

I called the crib, the clock said seven
The singer called someone's home and the clock indicated it was 7pm.

More news at eleven
There will be more news to come later that night at 11pm.

[Chorus] More news at eleven
Repeating that more news will be presented later in the evening.

I was watching the TV screen
The artist was observing something on television.

Can't believe what I seen
The artist is shocked by what they have just witnessed.

Three guys tried to rob a store
Three individuals attempted to steal from a retail establishment.

Got more than what they bargained for
The thieves experienced greater consequences than they anticipated.

They shot them right before my eyes
The store owners or employees fatally shot the robbers in front of the artist.

All three just dropped like flies
The intruders died suddenly and simultaneously.

If they only thought before they did it
The artist suggests that the robbers should have considered their actions more carefully before committing the crime.

Neither one of those three would have been with it
The singer believes that had the thieves been more thoughtful, they would have decided not to engage in criminal activity.

As they fell to the floor and got rougher
Describing the aftermath of the shooting, and how the situation became more chaotic.

Now the family has got to suffer
The robbers' loved ones will be forced to endure the consequences of their actions.

Pallbearers got to carry them
The people who will carry the coffins of those who died.

While the family cry loud just to bury them
The robbers' family members will be distraught and vocal during the burial ceremony.

Newscast and people were heavily amazed
The news anchor and the audience were incredulous about the situation.

Flavor Flav just stared in a daze
Flavor Flav (the co-anchor) was shocked and stunned by what he witnessed.

Eyewitness News, channel seven
The news program that is currently being watched.

More news at eleven
A reminder that additional news will be broadcast later in the evening.

This is Harry Allen hip hop activist and media assassin
Introducing Harry Allen, who is known for using hip hop as a tool for activism, and for being an incisive critic of the media.

with my co-anchor Flavor Flav for P.E. TV
Acknowledging Flavor Flav as his partner in presenting information to the public.

and by the way if you still think that they're that
The artist is contradicting a previous assertion, and suggesting that their audience reconsider their beliefs.

don't believe the hype
The singer is urging listeners to be skeptical of exaggerated, sensationalized information.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: WILLIAM DRAYTON, CARLTON RIDENHOUR, GARY RINALDO, HANK SHOCKLEE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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