FIRST TIME HEARING Public Enemy - Fight The Power REACTION 

I'm a white boy metalhead grew up in the 70s-80s, but this album is one of the greatest albums ever made, IMO. We listened to this and Ice-T constantly. As important now as it ever has been. Things need to change.

No internet/social media/cell phones back then. People SHOWED UP

Your comments in the video..if only you knew what the rest of 2020 had in store. I was around when this song came out, and they were fighting for some of the same things as we are now.

You are wrong that the world can't get better. I know it seems at times like it's hopeless. But I had never heard of you until this afternoon, and I've spent the last 90 minutes watching your videos. Seeing your reactions to these songs, watching a young man like you go through the process of learning new things has made my day. You just made the world better for me.

This was when black folks had a reckoning with ourselves, and our mis-education. It was when we didn’t pass one another on college campuses without a head nod, or a hello, when we had a major or minor in black studies, when we wore kufi hats and leather Africa medallions, we wore lines of unity cut into our fades and brows. This was when rap music had a message, or a lesson to teach. It really was a movement- possibly the one that would prepare us for what’s happening now.

Chuck D sounds so much better than 99.99 percent of rappers. Everything he says sounds cool. He could rap the phone book.

The Message - Grandmaster Flash O.P.P. - Naughty By Nature Insane In The Brain - Cypress Hill Supersonic - JJ Fad It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

Music was more powerful back then this song is still so relevant today as it was back then

This song and Do The Right Thing defined a generation, man. You gotta see the movie after hearing this song.

This song is still relevant today. Makes me sad you are so young and sounding like there is no hope. There is always hope. Keep the faith. I know it’s hard, you don’t sound depressed. Just almost accepting of the status quo. As a Latina this song resonated with me when it came out. Keep the faith. A change is going to come. 🙏🏽👊🏽

YOU are making it better! Twins are bringing people together by showing us what open hearts and minds can do!

I commented on your last reaction.... This is when rap stood for something... PE was huge in the day!

I'm late to your reaction, but yes. People really showed up for PE like this. Those were real people from the neighborhood and the Power is the system and racism. As for things not changing, a friends mom once said that people don't change they just get older.

PE was the thinking person's group and they still are! Check out ALL of their their raps. Chuck D was the absolute truth!

Public Enemy were by far the most important Rap group of all time.

It breaks my heart to hear you say that it isn't going to get better in January 2020 and to know how right you are in August 2020.

This kid is wise beyond his years... would have fit in JUST FINE in 89'

At high school I looked up to chuck d. Being Maori i could relate as how were treated here in New Zealand.. public enemy for life

People forget the PRIDE that PE made you feel. Brilliant!👊

"Fight The Power" means fighting against injustice.

Its Brooklyn you can start a block party at the drop of a dime.

I'm so glad you got to Public Enemy, probably my favorite rap group of all time. I would consider this song to be an essential listen for just checking them out. Other ESSENTIAL TRACKS: Don't Believe the Hype, Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Rebel Without a Pause, Burn Hollywood Burn, Brothas Work it Out, Welcome to the Terrordome, She Watch Channel Zero, Bring the Noise (original), 991 is a Joke, Shut Em Down, Get the F* Outta Dodge, Can't Truss It, .....

Black people were a little more together back then. We could get together for stuff like this, we even had BLOCK PARTIES, ask your old heads about those.....Oh and nobody died from those either

It was a rally against police brutally also Spike Lee had people come out shoot a video for his movie DO THE RIGHT THING.

It’s 2020 and we are still bumpin this. And yes all those people showed up for PE. Still do.

Such a great group. Glad you reacted to this one!

Funny, lots of metalheads here. In my experience in the late 80's every metalhead I knew loved this album. Definitely one of the greatest albums of the century. To me this album is when Hip Hop became the new Rock & Roll. Music with a message speaking to its generation!

Chuck D is one the few rappers I’ve seen who sounds exactly the same live. Great show!

This is exactly what ignorant folks are terrified of... Education and power

P.E. was (and IS the real deal). When Chuck D said something you listened. I got to see them in a club and it was an epic night. P.E. shined a light on a lot of stuff that white kids like me had no clue about. Go back and listen to their whole catalog. It's motivational. Also watch the Spike Lee film, "Do the Right thing." You can kinda get a feel for what things were like 30 years ago. And how some things haven't changed enough.

“Self destruction” is a good song too

This song will always be sentimental to me. It came out the year I graduated high school, 1989. Before the movie "Do The Right Thing" came out, the entire school got passes to a screening that Spike Lee actually attended. He sat in the theater & gauged the reactions of the audience. There was actually a scene where Rosie Perez danced for an extended period of time while this song blared & people were like "Alright Spike." It was crazy because seeing the movie in the theater months later when it was released, the scene was shortened. I ALWAYS yell out 1989 when this comes on the radio. Great memories!... BTW.. Please check out "By The Time I Get To Arizona."

Public Enemy - 911 is a joke. Do that one next young playa! Classic ish

Check out A tribe called quest

“Do the Right Thing”, Spike Lee A must watch movie. BLM Movement is going to make a difference all of us together to fight evil.

Fight the power by any means. By speaking truth, by supporting your neighborhood, by being involved, by reading, by walking marching listening reading learning loving,

You really need to start reacting to more old school hip hop... "Kool g rap" "Eric b and rakim". "Mob deep". "Slick rick". Etc.....

You saw the future in your comments for this song, and now we are there. And it's beautiful.

Their jam "Public Enemy No. 1" , is the first one i heard on the radio. Please do more "Old School" jams. Different styles too. Schooly D Steady B Mantronix Biz Markie Word Of Mouth Eric B & Rakim Original Concept Newcleus Jonzun Crew HASHIM Rodney O & Joe Cooley Kurtis Blow 3rd Bass MC Shan Boogie Boys T La Rock Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force Planet Patrol Kid 'N Play Beastie Boys LL Cool J Run-D.M.C. Whodini

This song was one of the reasons record companies started pushing groups like NWA and "Gangsta" rap. Conscious music was bringing us together. You should do some BDP.

I wouldn't go with it being PE's break through video/song but I will give you that it + Do the Right Thing the movie that it was for was a big deal and the popularity and message of the movie really did help this song take off.

Public has a ton of great songs. I would recommend Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Shut em Down, By the Time I Get to Arizona.

Twin we always have hope, these are the days that the BIble speaks of, how love would “wax cold”, You continue to let your light shine , this channel is helping so many, their will always be someone who can’t be helped and we jus pray 4 them and continue to do our part, know matter how small...THANKU, you are making a difference 🙏🏽

Yeah, they brought out all those people for their video. Public Enemy was always the real deal. "Fight the Power" is the lead cut off their third album "Fear of a Black Planet." For me personally, hearing it again reminds me of my college days running errands at work and listening to KDAY over the AM radio in the truck. If you're not familiar with AM radio, the signal travels over considerable distances. So I was able to pick up a station from Los Angeles even though I was in San Diego. And better still that station played hip-hop rather than golden oldies or sports talk or what have you. Sadly, KDAY no longer exists. Hip-hop jumped over to FM radio and KDAY lost its audience and was sold.

This was my high school football team's theme song. Class off '88, Oxon Hill High, just outside of DC.

This was really revolutionary when it came out .. & i like how you always hit the nail on the head with a simple sentence bcuz yes this was bumped when it came out

One Of The Most Important Songs & Groups in recorded History!! Chuck D Voice Demands Respect

Yes, back in the day "they were PUMPIN" THIS!!" See the Spike Lee film this song was feathered in..."Do the Right Thing."

Are you talking about fighting within our own communities? It's true this was a unifying song/album in many ways. There's a lot of historical references to 1987-1989

Chuck D...….miss hearin that dude! He can make a simple "Hello" sound cool as hell.

This is one of the greatest rap songs of all time! Can't believe you haven't heard it before but better late than never. Public Enemy is the vanguard of hip hop.

Its good to see young men listening to old skool jams like PE.. I grew up with them.. I'd love to see you react to "Bring the noise" ppublic enemy with antrax.. Its awesome!!!!$

Mate, I'm a 50 year old white English guy, I bought Fear of a Black Planet 30 years ago, it is possibly the best album ever made.

Awesome. You should check out Burn Hollywood Burn, Public Enemy + Big Daddy Kane + Ice Cube.

20k! Congratulations!

Great choice man! Public Enemy gets shit hyped up like no other. Used to jam Public Enemy in the locker rooms before football games and wrestling matches. On a more serious note, you are right about communities needing to help each other out.

Your reaction to phil collins in the air tonight video was on CBS news this morning 7 am national news yesterday they showed your reaction to the drum break really cool bro. Be blessed from NY.

30 years later we are still fighting the powers that be!

I know it's easy to get discouraged. Don't underestimate your own power. You add positive energy to the world. You are helping in your own way to make this world better.

Late 80's and 90's we breathed, slept, and lived hip hop... Very different then today.. We woke up TO to it and went to sleep with it... Our fashion, movies, everything... Thats when conscious rap, fun rap existed... There Always a knuckle head acting a fool.. But it definitely got worse... You have a great platform to plant seeds of change👏👏👏

Yeah, people are always gonna be the same, but if you want change, it starts with you. Be the change.

Me an hour ago: Welcome to the Thunderdome To myself one hour later: Welcome to the Terrordome, stupid

Really glad to see Public Enemy, was going to recommend them. Essential listening.

Chuck D. was a lyrical genius back in the day!! He woke up this lil' black girl who was raised in a Catholic school all her life. The 1st time I heard this song, it blew my mind! I was never the same after that. And Flava Flav the hype man of the group, they loved him because he was the clown that took some of the sting out of the truth of Chuck D's words and made him less threatening. If Chuck D and Tupac had rapped together, it would've been OVER for the world as we know it now. The Revolution would've already happened. PeriodT!!!

Back then the power was in the 'Hood" and they supported their own. If their was jealousy or a 'beef' it was handled respectfully.

For the record, young man, this world can get better but the key is, you must be the change you want to see in this world. That is the message of Public Enemy.

Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff and the S1W'S YEAH BOYEEEE

You take your joy where you can you make the change by spreading the love .

Oh yeah react too Welcome too the thunderdome my favorite from PE (: But they got so many banging tracks (:

Do MC LYTE!!! Paper thin! De la soul!

You got the like and SUB because you said "If we can stand together as 1" and stand for what's right. Young man, talk that ish...peace and blessings.

1:35 If I understood your question, you wanted to know if all those people were there for the filming of the music video, or if the musical performance was part of some larger event. I think the answer is yes, they all showed up to be part of a Public Enemy video, which was being directed by Spike Lee. Lee has said in an interview that the intention was to "reenact a march". And a skilled director such as Spike Lee is able to make things look a lot bigger on screen. What I mean is, the people who showed up may have numbered in the low hundreds, but through the use of clever framing and whatnot, the impression on screen is that there were thousands. (For all I know, thousands actually showed up. My point is that it wouldn't take that many people to give the impression of a massive rally or march.)

Young dude what's going on is the same thing that's happening today, WAKE UP AMERICA, BECAUSE WE ARE READY

Check out the song “self destruction” various rap artist came together.

You and your brother are changing the world. You have brought together all types of people from all over the world every type of person. We feel a lot better after watching you and your brother ❤ would have liked to see him with this one. Hugs

Powerful truth! I love this group forever!!

This was more than a music video.... it was a protest! I was 8 when this came out

You NEED to do Public Enemy's "By the Time I Get to Arizona." And if you do, the back story on the song/video: Back in the late 80s/early 90s, the governor of Arizona cancelled Martin Luther King Jr Day for the state, saying basically who cares that he did a lot for black Americans. Later an attempt to reinstate it was voted down by Arizona voters. In the video, of course the fight that they show Chuck D and company bring to Arizona and the governor is just a fantasy. However, everything else they show depicts what really occurred during the Civil Rights struggle of the 60s - the police attacking protesters with dogs and spraying them with high powered hoses, black people not being allowed to sit on buses or eat at the same counter as whites (and how racists reacted to that when blacks and whites both tried to protest it), and the assassination of Dr. King are all shown in the video as well. And of course, even though the fight for Civil Rights was won back then, racism is still alive and well in the US, and Arizona particularly has continued to have very serious issues with racist practices within their government and police force, so it's still very relevant today.

Saw PE in Sheffield in 2013. Just so powerful. Brilliant lyrics, brilliant sound.

I've just scrolled through all your videos praying this is on here. One of THE best albums of all time END OF! I still remember every word ✊

The Isley Brothers Fight the Power

Chuch D later walked back on his racist comment on Elvis saying he picked him because he was an icon for white people not because he was a racist

This song was everything in the 80’s, woke a lot of people up. Including me, a young girl growing up in Canada. My school didn’t teach black history, this was the song that inspired me to learn about black history, history of slavery, racism. This song was and is so important.

Yes, you're so right!! That song and video is still listed as one of the top rap songs of all time, and it still says the same thing as what's going on now. It's powerful. ☮️👍🎶

It's interesting to see your reaction to this almost 7 months later, when it feels like so much has changed after the death of George Floyd and the BLM protests across the country. Things seemed stagnant for so long and then *kapow* they moved light years

Very wise young man. The black community stands in its own way. Hope that changes.

So much love for you. ❤ You inspire me.

You are a deep young brother! Keep the faith! I appreciate your realness.

Do yourself a favor and check out "Self Destruction". It's a song by a TON of rap artists at the time about gun violence and so forth!!! A must listen/see!!

you predicted it perfectly.."this world is gonna get worse"

there is a much older song by The Isley Brothers called "Fight The Power", same meaning but most of the lyrics are different, they do say "We got to fight the powers that be!" Public Enemy's version of this song was at the beginning of the movie Do The Right Thing, I turned that one into an mp3 cause it's the best version. As far as Public Enemy's breakout is concerned, their entire second album is it, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back "Night of the Living Baseheads" "Rebel Without a Pause" "Don't Believe the Hype" "Bring the Noise" "She Watch Channel Zero" "Black Steel In the Hour of Chaos" "Prophets of Rage" "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic" play that one driving down the street :) I really do feel sorry for the young music lovers that were not around when this album came out and THAT'S THE TRUTH RUTH!!! haha

Keep ya head up young man!

Watching your reaction to this song 5 months after you posted it, with all that has happened in the world since then... well, I have your George Floyd video open in another tab, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. My love to you and yours. #BlackLivesMatter #FightThePower

Chuck D is still fighting the power with Prophets of Rage and supporting Bernie Sanders! It's not for show the dude is for real - power to the people!

What a era of Hip-Hop!

Chucks voice alone is powerful

Dont lose faith brother,there was a time where it wasnt as bad..I know people like to point out that there were problems but it wasnt all the time shit was better man and I grew up on food pantry food and assistance to a single mother of 5 but those times were much safer and better....If it can happen once it can happen again..

Enjoy you and your style happy for both you and your brother...given that he's more layed back in his energy.

Seen PE 3 times in Glasgow...great live. Hip Hop legends.

You said it Tim. You're right. (I love hearing his youthful perspective.)