Timeline Public Enemy: Fight the Power

Public Enemy: Fight the Power 12

• 1985 Public Enemy formed on Long Island Adelphi University radio Chuck D and Hank Shocklee meet around the college station WBAU.
• 1986 Public Enemy sign with Def Jam Rick Rubin Rubin persuades Chuck D to sign.
• 1987 Public Enemy release Yo! Bum Rush the Show Debut album Their debut on Def Jam.
• 1988 Public Enemy release It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Rebel Without a Pause Dense, noisy and political — often called the greatest hip hop album.
• 1989 Public Enemy's Professor Griff controversy Antisemitic remarks Griff's remarks in an interview cause a crisis in the group.
• 1989 Public Enemy release Fight the Power Do the Right Thing The theme of Spike Lee's film.
• 1990 Public Enemy release Fear of a Black Planet 911 Is a Joke Their best-selling album.
• 1991 Public Enemy tour with Anthrax Bring the Noise A rap-metal crossover tour.
• 1991 Public Enemy release Apocalypse 91 By the Time I Get to Arizona A song attacking Arizona's refusal to observe MLK Day.
• 1998 Public Enemy release He Got Game Spike Lee film Another collaboration with Spike Lee.
• 1999 Public Enemy release an album online There's a Poison Goin' On Among the first major acts to release an album on the internet.
• 2013 Public Enemy inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Hall of Fame Among the first hip hop acts inducted.