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Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Tracklist
Side Silver | |||
Countdown To Armageddon | 1:41 | ||
Bring The Noise | 3:47 | ||
Don't Believe The Hype | 5:20 | ||
Cold Lampin With Flavor | 4:13 | ||
Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic | 4:30 | ||
Mind Terrorist | 1:18 | ||
Louder Than A Bomb | 3:37 | ||
Caught, Can We Get A Witness? | 5:03 | ||
Side Black | |||
Show 'Em Whatcha Got | 1:57 | ||
She Watch Channel Zero?! | 3:50 | ||
Night Of The Living Baseheads | 3:16 | ||
Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos | 6:25 | ||
Security Of The First World | 1:22 | ||
Rebel Without A Pause | 5:05 | ||
Prophets Of Rage | 3:15 | ||
Party For Your Right To Fight | 3:27 |
Credits (31)
- Carl RyderArranged By [Derangements]
- Eric SadlerArranged By [Derangements]
- Hank ShockleeArranged By [Derangements]
- Chuck DBass Vocals
- Chris ShawEngineer
- Chuck ValleEngineer
Notes
Album Sales: 1,000,000+
First Release Date: April 1988
The second studio album from Public Enemy. It is considered one of their most commercially successful albums as well as one of the most influential rap albums. By August of 1989, it was certified platinum in sales by the RIAA, after shipments of one million copies in the United States.
"It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" reached Number 42 in the Billboard Top 200 and produced five singles:
"Don't Believe The Hype / Prophets Of Rage"
"Night Of The Living Baseheads"
"Bring The Noise (No Noise Version)"
"Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos"
"Rebel Without A Pause (Vocal Mix)"
First Release Date: April 1988
The second studio album from Public Enemy. It is considered one of their most commercially successful albums as well as one of the most influential rap albums. By August of 1989, it was certified platinum in sales by the RIAA, after shipments of one million copies in the United States.
"It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" reached Number 42 in the Billboard Top 200 and produced five singles:
"Don't Believe The Hype / Prophets Of Rage"
"Night Of The Living Baseheads"
"Bring The Noise (No Noise Version)"
"Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos"
"Rebel Without A Pause (Vocal Mix)"
Versions
Filter by
105 versions
, | – | ||||||||
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![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back CD, Album | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 2, CBS – 01-462415-10 | Europe | 1988 | Europe — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo Carrollton Pressing | Def Jam Recordings – BFW 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 1, CBS – DEF 462415 1 | Europe | 1988 | Europe — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back CD, Album | Def Jam Recordings – CK 44303, Columbia – CK 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album | Def Jam Recordings – 462415 4 | UK | 1988 | UK — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Opaque White Shell, Checkered | Def Jam Recordings – FCT 44303, Def Jam Recordings – CT 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | CBS – DEF 462415 1 | Greece | 1988 | Greece — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo Carrollton Press | Def Jam Recordings – C 44303, Def Jam Recordings – FC 44303, Columbia – C 44303, Columbia – FC 44303 +2 more labels... | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | ||||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | Def Jam Recordings – 462415 1, CBS – 462415 1 | UK & Europe | 1988 | UK & Europe — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 4 | Europe | 1988 | Europe — 1988 | ||||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Promo, Stereo Carrollton Pressing | Def Jam Recordings – BFW 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album | Def Jam Recordings – BFCT-44303 | Canada | 1988 | Canada — 1988 | ||||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Transparent Shell | Def Jam Recordings – BWT 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | Epic – 177.180/1-462415 | Brazil | 1988 | Brazil — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | Def Jam Recordings – 462415 1, CBS – 462415 1 | Australia | 1988 | Australia — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo Carrollton Pressing | Def Jam Recordings – BFW 44303, Def Jam Recordings – FC 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | Def Jam Recordings – BFC 44303 | Canada | 1988 | Canada — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 1 | Spain | 1988 | Spain — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Chromium dioxide | Def Jam Recordings – BFCT-44303 | Canada | 1988 | Canada — 1988 | ||||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back CD, Album | Def Jam Recordings – 25DP 5209 | Japan | 1988 | Japan — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo Carrollton Pressing | Def Jam Recordings – BFW 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo Textless Labels | Def Jam Recordings – C 44303, Def Jam Recordings – FC 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo Carrollton Pressing | Def Jam Recordings – FC 44303, Def Jam Recordings – C 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back CD, Album | Def Jam Recordings – BFCK-44303, Columbia – BFCK-44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back CD, Album, Stereo | Def Jam Recordings – CK 44303, Columbia – CK 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back CD, Album | Def Jam Recordings – CK 44303, Columbia – CK 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | ||||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 4 | 1988 | 1988 | New Submission | ||||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album, Stereo | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 1, CBS – DEF 462415 1, Columbia – DEF 462415 1 +1 more label... | Europe | 1988 | Europe — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Transparent Shell | Def Jam Recordings – FCT 44303, Def Jam Recordings – CT 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album, Stereo Dolby System | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 4, CBS – DEF 462415 4 | Spain | 1988 | Spain — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back LP, Album | Def Jam Recordings – DEF 462415 1, CBS – DEF 462415 1 | Europe | 1988 | Europe — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Opaque White Shell, Smooth | Def Jam Recordings – FCT 44303, Def Jam Recordings – CT 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Transparent Shell | Def Jam Recordings – FCT 44303, Def Jam Recordings – BWT 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Opaque White Shell | Def Jam Recordings – 462415 4 | Greece | 1988 | Greece — 1988 | New Submission | ||||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Transparent Shell | Def Jam Recordings – FCT 44303, Def Jam Recordings – CT 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back CD, Album | Def Jam Recordings – CK 44303, Columbia – CK 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | Recently Edited | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions Of Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Matte | Def Jam Recordings – BWT44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Dolby System | Def Jam Recordings – BFCT-44303, Def Jam Recordings – BFCT 44303, Columbia – BFCT-44303, Columbia – BFCT 44303 +2 more labels... | Canada | 1988 | Canada — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album | Def Jam Recordings – 462415 4, CBS – 462415 4 | Australia | 1988 | Australia — 1988 | New Submission | |||
![]() | It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Cassette, Album Beige Shell, Grid Bottom Panel, Dolby System | Def Jam Recordings – FCT 44303, Def Jam Recordings – CT 44303 | US | 1988 | US — 1988 | New Submission |
Recommendations
Reviews
Show All 41 Reviews
referencing It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (LP, Album, Stereo, Carrollton Pressing) BFW 44303
Fun fact: my copy was saved from a dumpster. A friend of my dad was dumpster diving in Nashville back in the 90’s and found some LPs thrown out behind a record shop (all of them had “not for sale” promo stickers on them).

referencing It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Lenticular) B0019394-01
I owned this and sold it. Flat and kind of muffled sound. Dont know if thats true of all copies. Sounds good if you crank it though because the vinyl is quiet. Seems like my CD was more dynamic back in the day.

In case anyone is wondering (I couldn't track down the info anywhere online and finally bought a copy to find out) the DVD is likely region free. I can't confirm other regions but it works in my NTSC DVD player in the US.

referencing It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Lenticular) B0019394-01
Despite multiple spin clean cleanings I got some bad pops and skipping on the final track of side b. The track sounds horribly compressed too (like a bad cassette dub). Other than that a decent pressing.

Compressed and my copy was flat but dirty. A nice cleaning helped but have to really crank it to really hear it this really needs a 2 disc pressing

referencing It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (CD, Album, Enhanced, Reissue, Remastered) 542 423-2
The success was not immediate for Public Enemy, who especially impressed on stage during the Def Jam Tour thanks to the paramilitary choreography of the S1W (Security Of The First World) and the two front men : the massive Chuck D which has one of the most beautiful voices of black music, and the clownesque Flavor Flav with his inimitable teenager voice.
Accelerating the tempo and abandoning any effect on the vocals, the Bomb Squad propels Public Enemy into a new noisy universe ("Bring The Noise") with sort of high-pitched drill sounds that are particularly used in "Don't Believe The Hype", and that will later be found in video games. "Jump Around" by House of Pain has the same arrangements.
The instrumentals also feature metal guitars in "She Watch Channel Zero" and saxophones in an avant-garde RnB like in "Night Of The Living Baseheads". Therefore there's an important diversity of instrumentals.
By reinforcing its radical discourse by abandoning all affordable musicality, Public Enemy is one of the founding fathers of modern noise and put a seminal album on the map.
I particularly like the skits "Mind Terrorist" and "Security Of The World" as such beats will be heard in lots of productions in the following decade, especially in electronic music. Also "Caught, Can We Get A Witness" is personally nostalgic for me as two of my favorite tunes are sampled from there : "Electro Cali" by Pretty Lights and "Freestyle Noize" by Freestylers.
This LP has been sampled as much as the AC Cobra has been replicated, and that's one of the numerous reasons "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" is worth the try, made by one of only 4 hip-hop groups that made the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Accelerating the tempo and abandoning any effect on the vocals, the Bomb Squad propels Public Enemy into a new noisy universe ("Bring The Noise") with sort of high-pitched drill sounds that are particularly used in "Don't Believe The Hype", and that will later be found in video games. "Jump Around" by House of Pain has the same arrangements.
The instrumentals also feature metal guitars in "She Watch Channel Zero" and saxophones in an avant-garde RnB like in "Night Of The Living Baseheads". Therefore there's an important diversity of instrumentals.
By reinforcing its radical discourse by abandoning all affordable musicality, Public Enemy is one of the founding fathers of modern noise and put a seminal album on the map.
I particularly like the skits "Mind Terrorist" and "Security Of The World" as such beats will be heard in lots of productions in the following decade, especially in electronic music. Also "Caught, Can We Get A Witness" is personally nostalgic for me as two of my favorite tunes are sampled from there : "Electro Cali" by Pretty Lights and "Freestyle Noize" by Freestylers.
This LP has been sampled as much as the AC Cobra has been replicated, and that's one of the numerous reasons "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" is worth the try, made by one of only 4 hip-hop groups that made the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

For me it is simply the best rap album ever, amazing use of sampling, great creativity and raping, conscious lyrics and delivery from Chuck D. glad I bought the first original LP version when it came out. The tune "Night of the Living Baseheads" is just a KILLER!
Lot of calls for this to be a double. Can any owners comment on recording quality? Is none for sale a sign? Thanks!