Nothing Is Quick in the Desert: Difference between revisions

Nothing Is Quick in the Desert
Nothing Is Quick in the Desert
Studio album by Public Enemy
Released	June 30, 2017
Genre	Hip hop
Length	40:45
Producer	Chuck D (exec.); C-Doc; Dejuan Boyd; DJ Infinite; DJ Pain 1; East Duel West; Mike Redman; Racer X; Sammy Vegas; Threepeeoh;
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Nothing Is Quick in the Desert is the fourteenth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy. It was digitally self-released on June 30, 2017, via Bandcamp.^[1] Production was handled by C-Doc, Dejuan Boyd, DJ Infinite, DJ Pain 1, East Duel West, Mike Redman, Racer X, Sammy Vegas and Threepeeoh, with Chuck D serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Daddy-O, Ice-T, Jahi, PMD and Solé.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	71/100^[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Chicago Tribune	^[3]
Consequence of Sound	B−^[4]
HipHopDX	3.5/5^[5]
Noisey	^[6]
Pitchfork	6/10^[7]
Punknews.org	^[8]
RapReviews	7.5/10^[9]

Nothing Is Quick in the Desert was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 71, based on six reviews.^[2]

Steve 'FLASH' Juon of RapReviews stated: "that's not to say there's no "Boom and Proud" anywhere to be found on Nothing but it's not "Shut 'Em Down" level like those old Bomb Squad albums from the 1980's and early 90's".^[9] Kellan Miller of HipHopDX wrote: "celebrating their 30th anniversary, there's still plenty of life in the elder statesmen who once started a musical revolution".^[5] Matt Melis of Consequence of Sound wrote: "Public Enemy's message hits hardest when the lyrics remain open for listeners to step inside. A couple presidential putdowns are enough (no need for another "Son of a Bush"), and the small handful of times the album stumbles are when the focus narrows to micro grievances like calling out Kanye and Kim for being "a spectacle instead of spectacular" ("Yesterday Man") or pointing out the negative effects of social media on millennials ("SOC MED Digital Heroin")".^[4] Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune wrote: "Nothing is Quick in the Desert--its 14th studio recording--flexes the group's stadium-rap muscle. This was an album specifically designed to be played live, and some of the subtlety and nuance that informs Chuck D's most incisive raps is missing".^[3]

In mixed reviews, Jay Balfour of Pitchfork wrote: "for all the missteps, there are gratifying moments littered throughout. For the most part, the production, spearheaded by David “CDOC” Snyder, is patched together smartly and with regard to tradition".^[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Nothing Is Quick in the Desert"	DJ Pain 1	1:21
2.	"sPEak!"	C-Doc	3:33
3.	"Yesterday Man" (featuring Daddy-O)	DJ Infinite Racer X	4:21
4.	"Exit Your Mind"	C-Doc	0:52
5.	"Beat Them All"	C-Doc	2:56
6.	"Smash the Crowd" (featuring Ice-T and PMD)	C-Doc	3:33
7.	"If You Can't Join Em Beat Em"	C-Doc	1:28
8.	"So Be It" (featuring Jahi)	DJ Pain 1	3:51
9.	"SOC MED Digital Heroin" (featuring Solé)	Dejuan Boyd	3:55
10.	"Terrorwrist"	Mike Redman	1:58
11.	"Toxic"	Threepeeoh	3:12
12.	"Sells Like Teens Hear It"	East Duel West Sammy Vegas	2:58
13.	"Rest in Beats (Part 1 & 2)"	C-Doc	6:54
Total length:			40:45

References

^ Blistein, Jon (June 29, 2017). "Public Enemy Release Surprise New Album 'Nothing Is Quick in the Desert'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Critic Reviews for Nothing Is Quick In The Desert - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Kot, Greg (July 14, 2017). "Public Enemy almost gets it right on 'Desert'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Melis, Matt (July 7, 2017). "Album Review: Public Enemy - Nothing Is Quick in the Desert". Consequence Of Sound. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Miller, Kellan (July 5, 2017). "Review: Public Enemy's "Nothing Is Quick In The Desert" Rages Against Trendiness". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^ Christgau, Robert (July 2017). "Robert Christgau: Expert Witness: July 2017". Noisey. Retrieved September 15, 2023 – via www.robertchristgau.com.
^ ^a ^b Balfour, Jay (July 12, 2017). "Public Enemy: Nothing Is Quick in the Desert". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^ River, Julie (July 6, 2017). "Public Enemy - Nothing is Quick in the Desert". www.punknews.org. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Juon, Steve 'Flash' (July 4, 2017). "Public Enemy :: Nothing Is Quick in the Desert – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

External links

Nothing Is Quick In The Desert at Discogs (list of releases)

[1] Blistein, Jon (June 29, 2017). "Public Enemy Release Surprise New Album 'Nothing Is Quick in the Desert'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 29, 2017.

[MC-2] "Critic Reviews for Nothing Is Quick In The Desert - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

[CT-3] Kot, Greg (July 14, 2017). "Public Enemy almost gets it right on 'Desert'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

[CoS-4] Melis, Matt (July 7, 2017). "Album Review: Public Enemy - Nothing Is Quick in the Desert". Consequence Of Sound. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

[HHDX-5] Miller, Kellan (July 5, 2017). "Review: Public Enemy's "Nothing Is Quick In The Desert" Rages Against Trendiness". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

[6] Christgau, Robert (July 2017). "Robert Christgau: Expert Witness: July 2017". Noisey. Retrieved September 15, 2023 – via www.robertchristgau.com.

[p4k-7] Balfour, Jay (July 12, 2017). "Public Enemy: Nothing Is Quick in the Desert". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

[8] River, Julie (July 6, 2017). "Public Enemy - Nothing is Quick in the Desert". www.punknews.org. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

[RR-9] Juon, Steve 'Flash' (July 4, 2017). "Public Enemy :: Nothing Is Quick in the Desert – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox album
-| name       = Nothing Is Quick in the Desert
+| name         = Nothing Is Quick in the Desert
-| type       = studio
+| type         = studio
-| artist     = [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]]
+| artist       = [[Public Enemy]]
-| cover      =
+| cover        = Nothing_is_Quick_in_the_Desert_Album_Cover.jpg
-| alt        =
+| alt          =
-| released   = June 30, 2017
+| released     = {{Start date|2017|6|30}}
-| recorded   =
+| recorded     =
-| venue      =
+| studio       =
+| genre        = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
-| studio     =
-| genre      = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
+| length       = {{Duration|m=40|s=45}}
-| length     = 40:45
+| label        =
+| producer     = {{hlist|[[Chuck D]] ([[Executive producer|exec.]])|C-Doc|Dejuan Boyd|DJ Infinite|[[DJ Pain 1]]|East Duel West|Mike Redman|Racer X|Sammy Vegas|Threepeeoh}}
-| label      = Spitdigital
-| producer   = [[David “CDOC” Snyder]], Carl Ryder
+| prev_title   = [[Man Plans God Laughs]]
+| prev_year    = 2015
-| prev_title = [[Man Plans God Laughs]]
+| next_title   = [[What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?]]
-| prev_year  = 2015
-| next_title =
+| next_year    = 2020
-| next_year  =
+| misc         =
 }}
+'''''Nothing Is Quick in the Desert''''' is the fourteenth studio album by American hip hop group [[Public Enemy]]. It was digitally self-released on June 30, 2017, via [[Bandcamp]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Public Enemy Release Surprise New Album 'Nothing Is Quick in the Desert' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/public-enemy-release-surprise-new-album-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert-194089/ |accessdate=June 29, 2017 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=}}</ref> Production was handled by C-Doc, Dejuan Boyd, DJ Infinite, [[DJ Pain 1]], East Duel West, Mike Redman, Racer X, Sammy Vegas and Threepeeoh, with [[Chuck D]] serving as executive producer. It features [[guest appearance]]s from [[Daddy-O (rapper)|Daddy-O]], [[Ice-T]], Jahi, [[PMD (rapper)|PMD]] and [[Solé]].
-{{Album ratings
-| MC = 71/100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert/public-enemy |title=Reviews Nothing Is Quick in the Desert by Public Enemy |publisher=Metacritic |date= |accessdate=2017-06-30}}</ref>
-|
-}}
-'''''Nothing Is Quick in the Desert''''' is the fourteenth[[studio album]] by American hip hop group [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]]. The album was released on June 30, 2017, on [[Bandcamp]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Blistein |first=Jon |https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/public-enemy-release-surprise-new-album-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert-194089/ |title=Public Enemy Release Surprise New Album ‘Nothing Is Quick in the Desert’ |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2017-06-29 |accessdate=2017-06-29}}</ref>
-== Background ==
-“‘Nothing Is Quick In The Desert‘ is a saying I use when the average person looks at the record industry,” Chuck D said in a statement. “It looks dead like a desert. But there’s plenty of life in the desert when one is educated on what they see and hear. There, a cactus absorbs and stores water deep in its root, taken from the air itself and certain creatures thrive in that dry heat whereas the average cannot. It pays to be above average (or well below it) in the desert for survival. The music industry is similar in that analogy. It’s still in motion, it just needs redefinition.” <ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/public-enemy-release-surprise-new-album-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert-194089/</ref>
-The features guest appearances from such artists as [[Ice Cube]], Mo Bee, [[Prophets of Rage]], [[EPMD]]'s Parrish Smith, Solé, and Sammy Vegas
 ==Critical reception==
+{{Music ratings
+| MC = 71/100<ref name="MC">{{Cite web |title=Critic Reviews for Nothing Is Quick In The Desert - Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert/public-enemy/critic-reviews |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=[[Metacritic]] |language=en}}</ref>
+| rev1 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
+| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}<ref name="CT">{{Cite web |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |date=July 14, 2017 |title=Public Enemy almost gets it right on 'Desert' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/greg-kot/sc-ent-0714-music-public-enemy-desert-20170714-column.html |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>
+| rev2 = ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence of Sound]]''
+| rev2score = B−<ref name="CoS">{{Cite web |last=Melis |first=Matt |date=July 7, 2017 |title=Album Review: Public Enemy - Nothing Is Quick in the Desert |url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/album-review-public-enemy-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence Of Sound]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
+| rev3 = ''[[HipHopDX]]''
+| rev3score = 3.5/5<ref name="HHDX">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Kellan |date=July 5, 2017 |title=Review: Public Enemy's "Nothing Is Quick In The Desert" Rages Against Trendiness |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2959/title.review-public-enemys-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert-rages-against-trendiness |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=[[HipHopDX]] |language=en}}</ref>
+| rev4 = ''[[Noisey]]''
+| rev4score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=July 2017 |title=Robert Christgau: Expert Witness: July 2017 |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2017-07.php |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=[[Noisey]] |via=www.robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
+| rev5 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
+| rev5score = 6/10<ref name="p4k">{{Cite web |last=Balfour |first=Jay |date=July 12, 2017 |title=Public Enemy: Nothing Is Quick in the Desert |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/public-enemy-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
+| rev6 = Punknews.org
+| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=River |first=Julie |date=July 6, 2017 |title=Public Enemy - Nothing is Quick in the Desert |url=https://www.punknews.org/review/15194/public-enemy-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=www.punknews.org |language=en}}</ref>
+| rev7 = RapReviews
+| rev7score = 7.5/10<ref name="RR">{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |date=July 4, 2017 |title=Public Enemy :: Nothing Is Quick in the Desert – RapReviews |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2017/07/public-enemy-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=www.rapreviews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
+}}
+''Nothing Is Quick in the Desert'' was met with generally favorable reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]]. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an [[Weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 71, based on six reviews.<ref name="MC" />
+Steve 'FLASH' Juon of RapReviews stated: "that's not to say there's no "Boom and Proud" anywhere to be found on Nothing but it's not "[[Shut 'Em Down (Public Enemy song)|Shut 'Em Down]]" level like those old [[The Bomb Squad|Bomb Squad]] albums from the 1980's and early 90's".<ref name="RR" /> Kellan Miller of ''[[HipHopDX]]'' wrote: "celebrating their 30th anniversary, there's still plenty of life in the elder statesmen who once started a musical revolution".<ref name="HHDX" /> Matt Melis of ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence of Sound]]'' wrote: "Public Enemy's message hits hardest when the lyrics remain open for listeners to step inside. A couple presidential putdowns are enough (no need for another "Son of a Bush"), and the small handful of times the album stumbles are when the focus narrows to micro grievances like calling out [[Kanye West|Kanye]] and [[Kim Kardashian|Kim]] for being "a spectacle instead of spectacular" ("Yesterday Man") or pointing out the negative effects of social media on [[millennials]] ("SOC MED Digital Heroin")".<ref name="CoS" /> [[Greg Kot]] of ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote: "''Nothing is Quick in the Desert''--its 14th studio recording--flexes the group's stadium-rap muscle. This was an album specifically designed to be played live, and some of the subtlety and nuance that informs Chuck D's most incisive raps is missing".<ref name="CT" />
+In mixed reviews, Jay Balfour of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' wrote: "for all the missteps, there are gratifying moments littered throughout. For the most part, the production, spearheaded by David “CDOC” Snyder, is patched together smartly and with regard to tradition".<ref name="p4k" />
-''Nothing Is Quick In The Desert'' received generally positive reviews from [[Music criticism|music critic]]s. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an [[Weighted mean|average]] score of 71 based on 6 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="metacritic1"/>
 ==Track listing==
 {{Track listing
-| total_length = 40:45
+| all_writing =
+| extra_column = Producer(s)
-| title1 = Nothing Is Quick In The Desert
+| title1 = Nothing Is Quick in the Desert
-| note1 =
+| extra1 = [[DJ Pain 1]]
 | length1 = 1:21
 | title2 = sPEak!
-| note2 =
+| extra2 = C-Doc
 | length2 = 3:33
 | title3 = Yesterday Man
-| note3 =
+| note3 = featuring [[Daddy-O (rapper)|Daddy-O]]
+| extra3 = {{hlist|DJ Infinite|Racer X}}
 | length3 = 4:21
 | title4 = Exit Your Mind
-| note4 =
+| extra4 = C-Doc
 | length4 = 0:52
 | title5 = Beat Them All
-| note5 =
+| extra5 = C-Doc
 | length5 = 2:56
+| title6 = Smash the Crowd
+| note6 = featuring [[Ice-T]] and [[PMD (rapper)|PMD]]
-| title6 = Smash The Crowd
-| note6 =
+| extra6 = C-Doc
 | length6 = 3:33
 | title7 = If You Can't Join Em Beat Em
-| note7 =
+| extra7 = C-Doc
 | length7 = 1:28
 | title8 = So Be It
-| note8 =
+| note8 = featuring Jahi
+| extra8 = DJ Pain 1
 | length8 = 3:51
 | title9 = SOC MED Digital Heroin
-| note9 =
+| note9 = featuring [[Solé]]
+| extra9 = Dejuan Boyd
 | length9 = 3:55
 | title10 = Terrorwrist
-| note10 =
+| extra10 = Mike Redman
 | length10 = 1:58
+| title11 = Toxic
+| extra11 = Threepeeoh
-| title11 = Sells Like Teens Hear It
-| note11 =
+| length11 = 3:12
+| title12 = Sells Like Teens Hear It
-| length11 = 2:58
+| extra12 = {{hlist|East Duel West|Sammy Vegas}}
-| title12 = Toxic
+| length12 = 2:58
+| title13 = Rest in Beats (Part 1 & 2)
-| note12 =
-| length12 = 3:12
+| extra13 = C-Doc
-| title13 = Rest In Beats
-| note13 =
 | length13 = 6:54
+| total_length = 40:45
 }}
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+==External links==
+*{{Discogs master|1202519|Nothing Is Quick In The Desert}}
 {{Public Enemy}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:2017 albums]]
+[[Category:Self-released albums]]
 [[Category:Public Enemy (band) albums]]

v t e Public Enemy
Chuck D Flavor Flav Professor Griff DJ Lord S1W Terminator X Sister Souljah
Studio albums	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 Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age He Got Game There's a Poison Goin' On Revolverlution New Whirl Odor Rebirth of a Nation How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp The Evil Empire of Everything Man Plans God Laughs Nothing Is Quick in the Desert What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?
Live releases	Fight the Power... Live! Fight the Power: Greatest Hits Live!
Compilations	Greatest Misses Power to the People and the Beats: Public Enemy's Greatest Hits
Singles	"You're Gonna Get Yours" "Rebel Without a Pause" "Bring the Noise" "Don't Believe the Hype" "Night of the Living Baseheads" "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" "Fight the Power" "Welcome to the Terrordome" "911 Is a Joke" "Can't Truss It" "Shut 'Em Down" "Give It Up" "Make Love Fuck War" "Hell No We Ain't All Right!" "Harder Than You Think"
Other songs	"Self Destruction" "By the Time I Get to Arizona" "Long and Whining Road"
Related articles	Discography Harry Allen 360 Degrees of Power The Bomb Squad Bring the Noise 2000 East Coast hip hop PE 2.0 Political hip hop