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| cover = PublicEnemyApocalypse91.jpg
| cover = PublicEnemyApocalypse91.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = October 1, 1991<ref name = Billboard/>
| released = {{Start date|1991|10|01}}<ref name = Billboard/>
| recorded = 1990 - 91
| recorded = 1990–91
| venue =
| studio = The Music Palace in [[Long Island]], [[New York City|New York]]
| studio = The Music Palace in [[Long Island]], [[New York City|New York]]
| genre = * [[Hardcore hip hop]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Grierson|first=Tim|chapter=Chapter Five|title=Public Enemy: Inside the Terrordome|year=2015|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|isbn=978-1783233908}}</ref>
| genre = * [[Hardcore hip hop]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Grierson|first=Tim|chapter=Chapter Five|title=Public Enemy: Inside the Terrordome|year=2015|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|isbn=978-1783233908}}</ref>
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| length = 51:54
| length = 51:54
| label = {{hlist|[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}
| label = {{hlist|[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}
| producer = [[Gary G-Wiz]] [[The Bomb Squad]] <small>([[executive producer|exec.]])</small>, The Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk
| producer = {{hlist|[[Gary G-Wiz]]|[[The Bomb Squad]] <small>([[executive producer|exec.]])</small>|The Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk}}
| prev_title = [[Fear of a Black Planet]]
| prev_title = [[Fear of a Black Planet]]
| prev_year = 1990
| prev_year = 1990
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| next_year = 1994
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{Singles
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black''
| name = Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
| type = studio
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Bring the Noise#Anthrax version|Bring the Noise]]
| single1 = [[Bring the Noise#Anthrax version|Bring tha Noize]]
| single1date = June 4, 1991
| single1date = June 4, 1991
| single2 = Can't Truss It
| single2 = [[Can't Truss It]]
| single2date = September 24, 1991
| single2date = September 24, 1991
| single3 = [[Shut 'Em Down (Public Enemy song)|Shut 'Em Down]]
| single3 = [[Shut 'Em Down (Public Enemy song)|Shut 'Em Down]]
| single3date = January 3, 1992
| single3date = January 3, 1992
| single4 = [[Nighttrain]]
| single4 = Nighttrain
| single4date = March 3, 1992
| single4date = March 3, 1992
}}
}}
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== Release and promotion ==
== Release and promotion ==
The album was released on September 24, 1991, by [[Def Jam Recordings]] and [[Columbia Records]].<ref name = Billboard/><ref name="AllMusic review"/> ''Apocalypse 91'' produced four singles: "Can't Truss It", "Night Train", "[[Shut 'Em Down (Public Enemy song)|Shut 'Em Down]]" and its B-side "[[By the Time I Get to Arizona]]". The latter featured a controversial [[music video]] where Public Enemy was depicted killing the [[List of Governors of Arizona|17th Governor of Arizona]], [[Evan Mecham]], who refused to recognize [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'s birthday as a national holiday.<ref name="Spin Arizona"/> "Can't Truss It" was Public Enemy's most successful single, peaking at No. 9 on the [[Hot Soul Singles]] chart and at No. 50 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.<ref name="HS and BH charts"/> The song also peaked at No. 5 on the [[Dance Club Songs|Dance]] chart, becoming their most successful release there.<ref name="Dance charts"/>
The album was released on October 1, 1991, by [[Def Jam Recordings]] and [[Columbia Records]].<ref name = Billboard/><ref name="AllMusic review"/> ''Apocalypse 91'' produced four singles: "Can't Truss It", "Nighttrain", "[[Shut 'Em Down (Public Enemy song)|Shut 'Em Down]]" and its B-side "[[By the Time I Get to Arizona]]". The latter featured a controversial [[music video]] where Public Enemy was depicted killing the [[List of Governors of Arizona|17th Governor of Arizona]], [[Evan Mecham]], who refused to recognize [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'s birthday as a national holiday.<ref name="Spin Arizona"/> "Can't Truss It" was Public Enemy's most successful single, peaking at No. 9 on the [[Hot Soul Singles]] chart and at No. 50 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart.<ref name="HS and BH charts"/> The song also peaked at No. 5 on the [[Dance Club Songs|Dance]] chart, becoming their most successful release there.<ref name="Dance charts"/>


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic review"/>
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic review"/>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name="CT review"/>
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name="CT review"/>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = A+<ref name="EW review"/>
| rev3score = A+<ref name="EW review"/>
| rev4 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="LA Times review"/>
| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Guardian review"/>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev5Score = 7/10<ref name="NME review"/>
| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="LAT review"/>
| rev6 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Q review"/>
| rev6score = 7/10<ref name="NME review"/>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS review"/>
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Q review"/>
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="RS2004"/>
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS review"/>
| rev9 = ''[[The Source]]''
| rev9 = ''[[The Source]]''
| rev9Score = 4/5<ref name="Source review"/>
| rev9score = 4/5<ref name="Source review"/>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10Score = A<ref name="Voice review"/>
| rev10score = A<ref name="VV review"/>
}}
}}


Upon release, ''Apocalypse 91'' earned critical acclaim. [[Anthony DeCurtis]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' praised its production and lyrics, stating that ''Apocalypse 91'' "attempts nothing short of setting a sociopolitical agenda for the black community."<ref name="RS review"/> Similarly, Ronin Ro of ''[[The Source]]'' highlighted [[Chuck D]]'s powerful and focused lyrics as well as the uncompromising and raw nature of the album.<ref name="Source review"/> ''[[NME]]'' credited the album for being "more soulful" and [[funk]]ier than its predecessors, but admitted that it includes some [[Filler (media)|filler]].<ref name="NME review"/> In ''[[Playboy]]'', prominent critic [[Robert Christgau]] highlighted the first half of the album, calling it "Public Enemy's most exciting sustained sequence ever", but criticized the second half for being less consistent.<ref name="Playboy review"/>
Upon release, ''Apocalypse 91'' earned critical acclaim. [[Anthony DeCurtis]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' praised its production and lyrics, stating that ''Apocalypse 91'' "attempts nothing short of setting a sociopolitical agenda for the black community."<ref name="RS review"/> Similarly, Ronin Ro of ''[[The Source]]'' highlighted [[Chuck D]]'s powerful and focused lyrics as well as the uncompromising and raw nature of the album.<ref name="Source review"/> In ''[[Playboy]]'', prominent critic [[Robert Christgau]] highlighted the first half of the album, calling it "Public Enemy's most exciting sustained sequence ever", while criticizing the second half for being less consistent, although altogether enduring in the same way as [[the Rolling Stones]]' ''[[Let It Bleed]]'' (1969).<ref name="Playboy review"/> ''[[NME]]''{{'}}s Ian McCann credited ''Apocalypse 91'' for its "totally brutal and [[funk]]y" music, but was disappointed that it rarely deviates from its forceful approach, despite the "sharp intelligence" of its lyrics.<ref name="NME review"/>


"''Apocalypse '91'' is great rather than classic because you can't make four classic albums in a row…" observed the hip-hop [[fanzine]] ''Louder Than A Bomb!''. "PE are still the best band in America and they've once again made the best album of the year."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Martin|last=Bainton|title=On 33|magazine=Louder Than A Bomb! #2|date=February 1992|page=5}}</ref>
"''Apocalypse '91'' is great rather than classic because you can't make four classic albums in a row…" observed the hip-hop [[fanzine]] ''Louder Than A Bomb!''. "PE are still the best band in America and they've once again made the best album of the year."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Martin|last=Bainton|title=On 33|magazine=Louder Than A Bomb! #2|date=February 1992|page=5}}</ref>
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{{track listing
{{track listing
| all_writing = Carlton Ridenhour, Stuart Robertz, [[Gary G-Wiz|Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo]], and Cerwin "C-Dawg" Depper unless otherwise noted
| all_writing = Carlton Ridenhour, Stuart Robertz, [[Gary G-Wiz|Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo]], and Cerwin "C-Dawg" Depper unless otherwise noted
⚫
| total_length = 51:54
| headline = Side 1
| headline = Side 1
| title1 = Lost at Birth
| title1 = Lost at Birth
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| title4 = [[Bring the Noise|Bring tha Noize]]
| title4 = [[Bring the Noise|Bring tha Noize]]
| length4 = 3:34
| length4 = 3:34
| note4 = featuring [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]]
| note4 = with [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]]
| writer4 = Ridenhour, Eric Sadler, [[Keith Shocklee]], [[Joey Belladonna|Joseph Bellardini]], [[Scott Ian]], [[Frank Bello]], [[Charlie Benante]], [[Dan Spitz]]
| writer4 = Ridenhour, Eric Sadler, [[Keith Shocklee]], [[Joey Belladonna|Joseph Bellardini]], [[Scott Ian]], [[Frank Bello]], [[Charlie Benante]], [[Dan Spitz]]
⚫
| total_length = 51:54
}}
}}


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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Public Enemy|title=Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black|award=Gold|relyear=1991}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Public Enemy|title=Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black|award=Gold|relyear=1991}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Public Enemy|title=Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black|award=Silver|relyear=1991|id=560-1649-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Public Enemy|title=Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black|award=Silver|relyear=1991|id=560-1649-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Public Enemy|title=Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black|award=Platinum|relyear=1991}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Public Enemy|title=Apocalypse 91 ... The Enemy Strikes Black|award=Platinum|relyear=1991}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}


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<!--CITE BOOK-->
<!--CITE BOOK-->

<ref name="RS2004">{{cite book |chapter=Public Enemy |last=Relic |first=Peter |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/661 661–662] |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 }}</ref>


<ref name="HS and BH charts">{{cite book |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=474}}</ref>
<ref name="HS and BH charts">{{cite book |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=474}}</ref>
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<ref name="Dance charts">{{cite book |title=Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=210}}</ref>
<ref name="Dance charts">{{cite book |title=Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=210}}</ref>


<ref name="1001 Albums">{{cite book |author1=Robert Dimery |author2=Michael Lydon |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition |date=2006-02-07 |publisher=Universe |isbn=0-7893-1371-5}}</ref>
<ref name="1001 Albums">{{cite book |chapter=Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black |last=Lindemann |first=Christoph |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |title-link=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |editor-last=Dimery |editor-first=Robert |year=2006 |publisher=[[Universe Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3 |page=665}}</ref>


<!--CITE JOURNAL-->
<!--CITE JOURNAL-->


<ref name="NME review">{{Cite journal |title=Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black |journal=[[NME]] |date=1995-07-15 |page=47}}</ref>
<ref name="Guardian review">{{cite news |title=Public Enemy: Yo! Bum Rush the Show / It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back / Fear of a Black Planet / Apocalypse 91.... The Enemy Strikes Black / Greatest Misses (Island/Def Jam) |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=1995-07-21 |last=Wazir |first=Burhan}}</ref>


<ref name="Q review">{{Cite journal |title=Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=108 |date=September 1995 |page=132}}</ref>
<ref name="NME review">{{cite magazine |title=Yoda Boyee!!! |magazine=[[NME]] |date=1991-10-05 |last=McCann |first=Ian |page=36}}</ref>


<ref name="Source review">{{Cite journal |title=Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black |journal=[[The Source]] |last=Ro |first=Ronin |issue=27 |date=December 1991 |page=55}}</ref>
<ref name="Q review">{{cite magazine |title=Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=62 |date=November 1991 |last=Sandall |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Sandall}}</ref>


<ref name="Spin Top 20 1991">{{cite journal |title=20 Best Albums of the Year |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=December 1991 |pages=68 |volume=7 |issue=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5zrzfgLFgUYC&pg=RA1-PA56 |access-date=2016-07-27}}</ref>
<ref name="Source review">{{cite magazine |title=Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black |magazine=[[The Source]] |issue=27 |date=December 1991 |last=Ro |first=Ronin |page=55}}</ref>


<!--CITE WEB-->
<!--CITE WEB-->


<ref name="Spin Arizona">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spin.com/2011/11/public-enemy-look-back-20-years-time-i-get-arizona/ |title=Public Enemy Look Back at 20 Years of 'By the Time I Get to Arizona' |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=2011-11-10 |last=Serpick |first=Evan |access-date=2016-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405075621/http://www.spin.com/2011/11/public-enemy-look-back-20-years-time-i-get-arizona/ |archive-date=2016-04-05 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="AllMusic awards">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235/awards |title=Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy — Awards |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2016-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421052725/http://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235/awards |archive-date=2016-04-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="AllMusic review">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235 |title=Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy |website=[[AllMusic]] |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129084737/https://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235 |archive-date=2016-01-29 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="Cert US">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Public+Enemy |title=American album certifications – Public Enemy |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=2016-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112615/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Public+Enemy |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Cert US">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Public+Enemy |title=American album certifications – Public Enemy |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=2016-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112615/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Public+Enemy |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="AllMusic awards">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235/awards |title=Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy — Awards |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2016-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421052725/http://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235/awards |archive-date=2016-04-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="CT review">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-11-9104010950-story.html |title=Rockers Get Caught In The Crossroads |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1991-10-11 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224025043/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-11-9104010950-story.html |archive-date=2021-02-24 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="AllMusic review">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235 |title=Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy |website=[[AllMusic]] |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129084737/http://www.allmusic.com/album/apocalypse-91the-enemy-strikes-black-mw0000269235 |archive-date=2016-01-29 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="EW review">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/09/27/apocalypse-91-enemy-strikes-black/ |title=Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=1991-09-27 |last=White |first=Armond |author-link=Armond White |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529074946/https://ew.com/article/1991/09/27/apocalypse-91-enemy-strikes-black/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="NYT view">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/29/arts/recordings-view-hip-hop-s-prophets-of-rage-make-noise-again.html?pagewanted=all |title=RECORDINGS VIEW; Hip-Hop's Prophets of Rage Make Noise Again |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=1991-09-29 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2016-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109064446/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/29/arts/recordings-view-hip-hop-s-prophets-of-rage-make-noise-again.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=2016-01-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="LAT review">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-29-ca-4477-story.html |title=Maturity Wins Out in Enemy's Latest Public Confrontation |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1991-09-29 |last=Hochman |first=Steve |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308040057/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-29-ca-4477-story.html |archive-date=2021-03-08 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="CT review">{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-10-11/features/9104010950_1_enemy-strikes-black-public-enemy-apocalypse-mellencamp |title=Rockers Get Caught In The Crossroads |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1991-10-11 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701052526/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-10-11/features/9104010950_1_enemy-strikes-black-public-enemy-apocalypse-mellencamp |archive-date=2016-07-01 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NYT view">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/29/arts/recordings-view-hip-hop-s-prophets-of-rage-make-noise-again.html |title=Hip-Hop's Prophets of Rage Make Noise Again |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=1991-09-29 |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |access-date=2016-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417145857/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/29/arts/recordings-view-hip-hop-s-prophets-of-rage-make-noise-again.html |archive-date=2023-04-17 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="EW review">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/1991/09/27/apocalypse-91-enemy-strikes-black |title=Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=1991-09-27 |last=White |first=Armond |author-link=Armond White |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109064446/http://www.ew.com/article/1991/09/27/apocalypse-91-enemy-strikes-black |archive-date=2016-01-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Pazz & Jop">{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres91.php |title=The 1991 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=1992-03-03 |access-date=2016-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102080357/https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres91.php |archive-date=2016-01-02 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="LA Times review">{{cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-29/entertainment/ca-4477_1_public-enemy |title=Maturity Wins Out in Enemy's Latest Public Confrontation; Public Enemy: 'Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Back', Def Jam/Columbia |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1991-09-29 |last=Hochman |first=Steve |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915040221/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-29/entertainment/ca-4477_1_public-enemy |archive-date=2015-09-15 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Playboy review">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1991-09.php |title=Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=September 1991 |magazine=[[Playboy]] |access-date=2016-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311143221/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1991-09.php |archive-date=2015-03-11 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="RS review">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/publicenemy/albums/album/103468/review/6067323/apocalypse_91_the_enemy_strikes_black |title=Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |last=DeCurtis |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony DeCurtis |date=1991-10-03 |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114031343/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/publicenemy/albums/album/103468/review/6067323/apocalypse_91_the_enemy_strikes_black |archive-date=2007-01-14 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="RS review">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/publicenemy/albums/album/103468/review/6067323/apocalypse_91_the_enemy_strikes_black |title=Public Enemy: Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=1991-10-03 |last=DeCurtis |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony DeCurtis |access-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114031343/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/publicenemy/albums/album/103468/review/6067323/apocalypse_91_the_enemy_strikes_black |archive-date=2007-01-14 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


<ref name="Voice review">{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1091-91.php |title=Consumer Guide |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=1991-11-05 |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=2016-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170804/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1091-91.php |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Spin Arizona">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.spin.com/2011/11/public-enemy-look-back-20-years-time-i-get-arizona/ |title=Public Enemy Look Back at 20 Years of 'By the Time I Get to Arizona' |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=2011-11-10 |last=Serpick |first=Evan |access-date=2016-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405075621/https://www.spin.com/2011/11/public-enemy-look-back-20-years-time-i-get-arizona/ |archive-date=2016-04-05 |url-status=live}}</ref>


<ref name="Playboy review">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1991-09.php |title=Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=September 1991 |magazine=[[Playboy]] |access-date=2016-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311143221/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1991-09.php |archive-date=2015-03-11 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Spin Top 20 1991">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5zrzfgLFgUYC&pg=RA1-PA56 |title=20 Best Albums of the Year |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=7 |issue=9 |date=December 1991 |access-date=2016-07-27 |page=68}}</ref>


<ref name="Pazz & Jop">{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres91.php |title=The 1991 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=1992-03-03 |access-date=2016-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102080357/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres91.php |archive-date=2016-01-02 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="VV review">{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1091-91.php |title=Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=1991-11-05 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |access-date=2016-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170804/https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1091-91.php |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>


}}
}}

Latest revision as of 08:15, 9 October 2024

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Studio album by
Public Enemy
ReleasedOctober 1, 1991 (1991-10-01)[1]
Recorded1990–91
StudioThe Music Palace in Long Island, New York
Genre
Length51:54
Label
Producer
Public Enemy chronology
Fear of a Black Planet
(1990) 		Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
(1991) 		Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age
(1994)
Singles from Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
  1. "Bring tha Noize"
    Released: June 4, 1991
  2. "Can't Truss It"
    Released: September 24, 1991
  3. "Shut 'Em Down"
    Released: January 3, 1992
  4. "Nighttrain"
    Released: March 3, 1992

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on October 1, 1991, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records.[1][4] The album received critical acclaim, ranking at No. 2 in The Village Voice's 1991 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

Recording and production

[edit]

Apocalypse 91 was recorded at The Mix Palace in Long Island, New York and produced by The Bomb Squad and The Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk, which consisted of producers Stuart Robertz (fictional), Cerwin "C-Dawg" Depper (fictional), Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo, and The JBL.[5] The album title is an allusion to the titles of the films Apocalypse Now and The Empire Strikes Back.

The group would take a new direction with their sound, partly out of necessity. According to Hank Shocklee, around this time, the disks for every track they had been working on for the past four to five years had been stolen. As a result, they had to rush to re-create their music and to put out their album in a timely manner. Shocklee admitted that it was impossible to completely recover what they had lost, saying "once you lose all your data, it's very difficult to get that data back...you may get some of it back, but you'll never get the complete set. You won't even know what the complete set is, because there's data in there you didn't really know you had." In retrospect, he believed the loss "stunted [Public Enemy's] growth. We never really recovered after that. We was on a roll—I was on a roll, and to lose that material set me back so hard." As a result, the sound was a little leaner than the dense production of their previous albums, and live musicians became a prominent element as well.[6]

The group recorded "1 Million Bottlebags" to protest the pervasiveness of malt liquor in the African-American community.[7] Public Enemy collaborated with the metal band Anthrax to record a thrash version of their earlier single "Bring the Noise".[8]

Release and promotion

[edit]

The album was released on October 1, 1991, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records.[1][9] Apocalypse 91 produced four singles: "Can't Truss It", "Nighttrain", "Shut 'Em Down" and its B-side "By the Time I Get to Arizona". The latter featured a controversial music video where Public Enemy was depicted killing the 17th Governor of Arizona, Evan Mecham, who refused to recognize Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday.[10] "Can't Truss It" was Public Enemy's most successful single, peaking at No. 9 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[11] The song also peaked at No. 5 on the Dance chart, becoming their most successful release there.[12]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Chicago Tribune[13]
Entertainment WeeklyA+[14]
The Guardian[15]
Los Angeles Times[16]
NME7/10[17]
Q[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
The Source4/5[20]
The Village VoiceA[21]

Upon release, Apocalypse 91 earned critical acclaim. Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone praised its production and lyrics, stating that Apocalypse 91 "attempts nothing short of setting a sociopolitical agenda for the black community."[19] Similarly, Ronin Ro of The Source highlighted Chuck D's powerful and focused lyrics as well as the uncompromising and raw nature of the album.[20] In Playboy, prominent critic Robert Christgau highlighted the first half of the album, calling it "Public Enemy's most exciting sustained sequence ever", while criticizing the second half for being less consistent, although altogether enduring in the same way as the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed (1969).[22] NME's Ian McCann credited Apocalypse 91 for its "totally brutal and funky" music, but was disappointed that it rarely deviates from its forceful approach, despite the "sharp intelligence" of its lyrics.[17]

"Apocalypse '91 is great rather than classic because you can't make four classic albums in a row…" observed the hip-hop fanzine Louder Than A Bomb!. "PE are still the best band in America and they've once again made the best album of the year."[23]

Apocalypse 91 was ranked at No. 2 in The Village Voice's 1991 Pazz & Jop critics' poll, behind Nirvana's Nevermind,[24] while editors of Spin ranked it 7th in their list of 20 Best Albums of the Year.[25] Retrospectively, AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine cites the album as one of the great records of golden age hip hop.[9] The record was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[26]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart and at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[27] On November 26, 1991, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of one million copies in the United States.[28]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Carlton Ridenhour, Stuart Robertz, Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo, and Cerwin "C-Dawg" Depper unless otherwise noted

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lost at Birth" 3:49
2."Rebirth"Ridenhour, Robertz, Rinaldo, The JBL, and Depper0:59
3."Nighttrain" 3:27
4."Can't Truss It" 5:21
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Don't Wanna Be Called Yo Niga"William Drayton Jr., Rinaldo, and Robertz4:23
2."How to Kill a Radio Consultant" 3:09
3."By the Time I Get to Arizona"Ridenhour, Robertz, Rinaldo, Depper, Mandrill, Neftali Santiago4:48
Side 3
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Move!" (featuring Sister Souljah) 4:59
2."1 Million Bottlebags" 4:06
3."More News at 11"Drayton Jr., Rinaldo, and Robertz2:39
Side 4
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shut 'Em Down" 5:04
2."A Letter to the New York Post"Drayton Jr., Rinaldo, Robertz2:45
3."Get the Fuck Outta Dodge" (featuring True Mathematics)Kenny Houston, Ridenhour2:38
4."Bring tha Noize" (with Anthrax)Ridenhour, Eric Sadler, Keith Shocklee, Joseph Bellardini, Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, Dan Spitz3:34
Total length:51:54

Personnel

[edit]

Public Enemy

Additional personnel

  • Anthrax – performer (track 14)
  • Harry Allen – spoken word
  • Frank Abel – keyboards
  • Fred Wells – guitar
  • Lorenzo "Tony" Wyche – horns
  • Allen Givens – horns
  • Ricky Gordon – percussion
  • Tyrone Jefferson – horns
  • Al MacDowell – bass guitar
  • Steve Moss – percussion
  • Michael Angelo – mixing

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[29] 11
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[30] 12
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] 62
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] 38
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33] 5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 36
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 33
UK Albums (OCC)[36] 8
US Billboard 200[37] 4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[38] 1

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[41] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Janine McAdams (September 14, 1991). "Public Enemy 'Strikes Black'; Group Returns With New Album". Billboard.
  2. ^ Grierson, Tim (2015). "Chapter Five". Public Enemy: Inside the Terrordome. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1783233908.
  3. ^ Cader, Michael, ed. (2002). People: Almanac 2003. Time Home Entertainment. p. 175. ISBN 192904996X.
  4. ^ "𝟹0 𝚈𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚂 𝙰𝙶𝙾 𝚃𝙾𝙳𝙰𝚈! #Apocalypse91". Facebook. October 1, 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  5. ^ Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black (CD booklet). Public Enemy. New York: Def Jam, Columbia. 1991. CK #47374.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Batey, Angus (December 13, 2011). "20 Years On: Public Enemy's Apocalypse 91 The Enemy Strikes Black Revisited". The Quietus. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. ^ Coward, Kyle (April 21, 2015). "When Hip-Hop First Went Corporate". The Atlantic. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  8. ^ Pareles, Jon (1991-09-29). "Hip-Hop's Prophets of Rage Make Noise Again". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  9. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  10. ^ Serpick, Evan (2011-11-10). "Public Enemy Look Back at 20 Years of 'By the Time I Get to Arizona'". Spin. Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  11. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 474.
  12. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 210.
  13. ^ Kot, Greg (1991-10-11). "Rockers Get Caught In The Crossroads". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  14. ^ White, Armond (1991-09-27). "Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  15. ^ Wazir, Burhan (1995-07-21). "Public Enemy: Yo! Bum Rush the Show / It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back / Fear of a Black Planet / Apocalypse 91.... The Enemy Strikes Black / Greatest Misses (Island/Def Jam)". The Guardian.
  16. ^ Hochman, Steve (1991-09-29). "Maturity Wins Out in Enemy's Latest Public Confrontation". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  17. ^ a b McCann, Ian (1991-10-05). "Yoda Boyee!!!". NME. p. 36.
  18. ^ Sandall, Robert (November 1991). "Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black". Q. No. 62.
  19. ^ a b DeCurtis, Anthony (1991-10-03). "Public Enemy: Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-01-14. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  20. ^ a b Ro, Ronin (December 1991). "Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black". The Source. No. 27. p. 55.
  21. ^ Christgau, Robert (1991-11-05). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  22. ^ Christgau, Robert (September 1991). "Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black". Playboy. Archived from the original on 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  23. ^ Bainton, Martin (February 1992). "On 33". Louder Than A Bomb! #2. p. 5.
  24. ^ "The 1991 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. 1992-03-03. Archived from the original on 2016-01-02. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  25. ^ "20 Best Albums of the Year". Spin. Vol. 7, no. 9. December 1991. p. 68. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  26. ^ Lindemann, Christoph (2006). "Public Enemy: Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe Publishing. p. 665. ISBN 978-0-7893-1371-3.
  27. ^ "Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy — Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  28. ^ "American album certifications – Public Enemy". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  29. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91 %2E%2E%2E The Enemy Strikes Black". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  30. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  31. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91 %2E%2E%2E The Enemy Strikes Black" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91 %2E%2E%2E The Enemy Strikes Black" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  33. ^ "Charts.nz – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91 %2E%2E%2E The Enemy Strikes Black". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  34. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91 %2E%2E%2E The Enemy Strikes Black". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91 %2E%2E%2E The Enemy Strikes Black". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  37. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  38. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  39. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black". Music Canada.
  40. ^ "British album certifications – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black". British Phonographic Industry.
  41. ^ "American album certifications – Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91 ... The Enemy Strikes Black". Recording Industry Association of America.
[edit]
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