"It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on June 28, 1988, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. Recorded in sessions from 1987 to 1988 at various studios in New York, the album was designed to capture the energy and tempo of the group's live performances.
Public Enemy aimed to create a hip hop album with significant social commentary, akin to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." Their production team, the Bomb Squad, crafted a sound that was densely aggressive, drawing influences from free jazz, heavy funk, and musique concrète. This complex backdrop supported lead rapper Chuck D's performances, which were noted for their sociopolitical rhetoric, revolutionary attitudes, and dense vocabulary.
The album was highly successful, charting for 47 weeks on the US Billboard 200 and peaking at number 42. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1989. Critics widely acclaimed the album, praising its innovative production and Chuck D's impactful lyrics. It topped many year-end lists for 1988 and was overwhelmingly voted the best album of the year in The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll.
Over the years, "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" has been hailed as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time. It was voted number 92 in Colin Larkin's "All Time Top 1000 Albums" in 2000 and ranked number 48 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003, where it was the highest-ranking hip hop album. In the 2020 update of the
same list, it climbed to number 15, with other hip-hop albums also moving into the top 100, reaffirming its lasting impact and influence on music and culture.
