Tag Archives: Pubic Enemy

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Song of the Day #5,319: ‘Bring the Noise’ – Public Enemy

In 2013, Public Enemy made it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, making them the second hip-hop act to do so (following Run DMC in 2009). Cue the perennial argument over whether rap acts belong in the Rock Hall.

I land in the ‘yes’ camp, recognizing that rock music over the last 35 years owes as much to rap as the rock music of the previous 35 years owed to country and blues. The Rock Hall features plenty of country and blues musicians, so why not rap artists?

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Song of the Day #2,492: ‘Fight the Power (Live)’ – Public Enemy

do_the_right_thingMy next Oscar-snubbed song was the least egregious oversight the Academy made of this film.

Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing is unquestionably the finest film of 1989 (and a front-runner for best of the 80s), yet it failed to land a nomination for Best Picture or Best Director. Lee did earn a screenwriting nomination, and Danny Aiello was deservedly nominated for his supporting turn as Sal Frangione.

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