Last summer Public Enemy toured with a show Chuck D described as “cut for cut, track for track: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back.” And it was awesome. Last night they dusted off Millions‘ “Bring The Noise” once more, this time joined by Black Thought, @qoolquest, and the rest of the most fabulous Roots crew. I love it. While Conan and Letterman have done a respectable job offering safe space for occasionally untelegenic indie rockers, and Leno’s had his mitts on the glossy LA pop/least common denominator scene, there hasn’t been much of a late night venue for hip hop like this. Hopefully with the Roots twittering in his ear (and even more hopefully offering to give these acts the Jay-Z Unplugged treatment), Jimmy will take the lead in showcasing quality rap. Public Enemy obviously fits that bill. Watch this, it hits pretty hard. Also worth noting: If you like this, you might wanna make your way to the second annual Roots picnic in Philly, where PE will once again perform this LP cut for cut, track for track, with the Jimmy Fallon house-band and Antibalas backing them up. Even more worth noting: last night was Flav’s 50th birthday.
(via P4K)
Right? Between this and the name drop during Rachel Maddow’s interview on Letterman, Chuck D owned late night last night. The Roots picnic goes down at Penn’s Landing in Philly on 6/6 and features TV on The Radio, the Black Keys, Santigold, and of course Public Enemy, Antibalas, and The Roots. More info on the Roots picnic at okayplayer.com. Last year’s looked like this.
PS I think Jimmy should stop doing that bowling thing. Or maybe just stop doing the monologue thing.
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Yeah boyeeee!!! I recently dusted off my copy of It Takes a Nation of Millions and yep, still awesome!
something about exclamation points and public enemy albums seem to clash for me.
just to be clear, i’m a fan.
Yeah, totally. Keep it quiet and polite. Chuck D would want it that way.
wow, that was a great performance. Wish they would do something I can see them out live here in cleveland, or go to lolla, ill be there.
Just imagine how good this show could be if Jimmy Fallon wasn’t allowed on screen…
i saw PE play the Showbox in Seattle (one of my favorite venues) about two years ago. it started out okay and then turned into one of the worst shows we’d ever seen. at one point Chuck D disappeared for like forty minutes while Flav just hopped around asking “what time is it?” and attempting to play a drum solo. more than half the crowd had walked out midway.
this description of the summer tour sounds like a totally different artist.
That was awesome. People should check out Public Enemy’s record “How to sell soul to a soulless people who sold their soul”. For me, it’s their best album. It sold like… 5 copies. But it’s just fucking amazing.
F*ck yes. Just when I was finally getting over my amazement at Fallon scoring The Roots as his house band, they up the game to the roof. 2009 – The Enemy Strikes Black (Thought)! Of course, it’s still kind of strange to have earnest wise-”cracker” (ahem) Jimmy Fallon walk out after that roof was brought down…
somewhat off topic,
when tom hanks jr. walked out in the flav outfit, a part of me died with the disappointment of the audience
should be stuntin like yo daddy, jr – i suggest “Big” for inspiration