Fight the Power by Public Enemy (1989)

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Fight The Power Cover

Fight the Power was released as a single by American hip hop group Public Enemy in 1989. The song was recovered on Mowtown Records and written by Chuck D, Hank Shocklee, Eric Sadler and Keith Shocklee. [1] and reached number one on Hot Rap Singles and number 20 on the Hot R&B Singles.

FIght the Power is the best known song of the group and has received as one of the greatest songs of all time by critics and publications. This was originally as a soundtrack of Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee. The lyrics combine various samples of African-American culture, including civil rights, black church services and James Brown’s music. [2]

Public Enemy

Black Empowerment

Fight the Power opens with Chuck D roaring "1989!", means as a declaration from an African-American perspective. In the first verse of the song, he addresses "brothers and sisters" who are "swingin' while I’m singin' / Givin' whatcha gettin'". He also clarifies that the group as a musical artist: "Now that you've realized the pride's arrived / We've got to pump the stuff to make us tough / From the heart / It's a start, a work of art / To revolutionize". The lyrics dismiss the liberal notion of racial equality: "'People, people we are the same' / No, we're not the same / 'Cause we don't know the game". Chuck D depicts the power structure to "give us what we want/ Gotta give us what we need", and for his African-American community: "What we need is awareness / We can't get careless [...] Let's get down to business / Mental self-defensive fitness."[3]

The song may be anachronistic as it was not released until June. However, the lyrics are perfect to tell a story about racial injustice in 1980s New York. That was a decade of high-profile cases of African- American dying at the hand of racist mobs, and this being an inspiration of Spike Lee’s third movie, Do the Right Thing. [4]

As in an interview with Variety, Chuck D says, “Cultural Institutions are important. Being an integral part of one is an honor bestowed and to uphold. Public Enemy songs are forever sonic prints in the sands of time. And it’s time – it’s necessary – to bring the noise again from a place called home. Def Jam. Fight the Power 2020.” [5]

Key Lyrics in Fight the Power by Public Enemy (1989) :

Elvis was a hero to most

but he never meant shit to me you see

Straight up racist that sucker was

simple and plain

Motherf*ck him and John Wayne

Cause I’m Black and I’m proud [6]

References