Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - 1988 - Def Jam
Just a year after their debut album Public Enemy return with what is an undoubted classic. Questlove from The Roots has often cited It Takes A Nation as the defining record that led to him taking music seriously as a career. And it's understandable why. This album certainly sounds like the time it was released, but the power is not diminished in the slightest. Produced by Chuck D and Hank Shocklee before they grew into the full on Bomb Squad, the tracks are full of that urgent and layered sound of sirens and shrieks. It's a dense, wonderful mess that also makes the more restrained tracks ("Show 'Em Whatcha Got," "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos" ) stand out even more. It Takes A Nation spawned several of PE's biggest hits including "Bring The Noise" but this is a masterpiece that deserves to be played in full to hear all the various twists and turns that it takes including what is probably my personal favorite PE track of all time "She Watch Channel Zero?!" that features a jaw-droppingly amazing Slayer sample.