No Bomb Squad, no slamming furious beats, no dense layered production, and basically no outstanding songs.  I picked up my first PE album in '90 with FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET, (never even heard their music, just curious as to all the talk of them), picked up their masterpiece next: IT TAKES A NATION OF..., and bought APOCALYPSE 91 on the release day.  I believed that their genius had no end...until this album.  The melodies and beats are forgetable, the songs are below average, the messages that were so provacative, intelligent, and ahead of their time now sound dated, tired, and old.  Lyrically, Chuck D sounds like he needs another 6-pack of creative juice.  The profanity which was rare in their songs now has become more prevalent.  Don't believe the hype from anyone praising this tired, God-awful CD.
I guess all good things have to an end.  Sad.  Actually, Chuck has nothing to be embarrassed about on this CD, he did a fine job of that on the MTV music awards shortly after the CD's release when he said "Free Mike Tyson" and was roundly booed.  Why Chuck?  Just cause he's black?  Way to go Chuck.
No Bomb Squad, no slamming furious beats, no dense layered production, and basically no outstanding songs. I picked up my first PE album in '90 with FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET, (never even heard their music, just curious as to all the talk of them), picked up their masterpiece next: IT TAKES A NATION OF... , and bought APOCALYPSE 91 on the release day. I believed that their genius had no end... until this album. The melodies and beats are forgetable, the songs are below average, the messages that were so provacative, intelligent, and ahead of their time now sound dated, tired, and old. Lyrically, Chuck D sounds like he needs another 6-pack of creative juice. The profanity which was rare in their songs now has become more prevalent. Don't believe the hype from anyone praising this tired, God-awful CD. I guess all good things have to an end. Sad. Actually, Chuck has nothing to be embarrassed about on this CD, he did a fine job of that on the MTV music awards shortly after the CD's release when he said "Free Mike Tyson" and was roundly booed. Why Chuck? Just cause he's black? Way to go Chuck.