"Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age" is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on August 23, 1994, by Def Jam Recordings. The album's title is a play on the phrase "music and our message".
Dominated by their own self-produced music, the album was recorded between 1992 and 1994 at The Music Palace in Long Island, New York. With Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age, Public Enemy set out to make a record more relevant to a wider urban audience, tackling themes such as the state of youth in urban communities, technology's effect on urban youth, drug abuse, criticism of the record industry, and questioning the direction that hip hop in general and their own music in particular was going.
However, the album was heavily criticized upon its release by both fans and critics who argued that Public Enemy had lost their intensity. It was not as commercially successful as the group's previous albums. Despite this, it managed to peak at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The album's lead single "Give It Up" peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the group's highest-charting single on the chart to date. Other singles from the album include "Bedlam 13:13," and "What Kind of Power We Got?" It is usually considered the group's most underrated work despite its powerful political messages and production solidity.
Years removed from its release, Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age has been viewed more favorably with critics praising its production, lyrical content, and the group's willingness to take risks in their music and experiment with more organic sounds. While it may not be viewed in the same light as their earlier work, it is recognized for its exploratory nature in both its music and message.
