On Thursday, Public Enemy shared a new music video for “Public Enemy Number Won”. The song, which features Mike D and Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys) and Run-DMC, comes from the group’s recent well-received record, What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?, and joins the previously-released animated video for “GRID“.
Released in September, What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down? marked the Chuck D and Flavor Flav-fronted outfit’s return to Def Jam after over 20 years on their own. In accordance with their return to the greater hip hop establishment, the new album featured guest appearances from a litany of the genre’s most influential names including Nas, Cypress Hill, Ice-T, and even as far back as George Clinton.
Opening up with a dialogue between the two remaining Beastie Boys, the song jumps straight to hype man Flavor Flav. From there, “Public Enemy Number One” becomes a lyrical baton relay between the members of Public Enemy, Run-DMC, and Beastie Boys. Of all the verses, Daryl “DMC” McDaniels comes in the most personal, as he lays bare his experiences with substance abuse and self destruction. In just under 50 seconds, however, he conveys his triumphs of overcoming his demons with the help of his parents and realizing his self-worth and full potential.
All the while, vintage posters and footage of the pioneering hip hop acts appear behind the animated renditions of the artists. Chuck D said of the song in a press release,
The song is an homage to ‘Public Enemy No. 1 and that moment in time. The Beastie Boys and Run-DMC were playing it all the time and Rick Rubin kept coming at us to sign with Def Jam. So it’s my way of bringing it all back together again.
Watch the new music video for “Public Enemy Number Won” from What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?.
Public Enemy (ft. Mike D, Ad-Rock, Run-DMC) – “Public Enemy Number Won” (Animated)
[Video: Channel ZERO]