About

SOLD OUT

Public Enemy is my favorite, and in my opinion, the most important hip hop group of all time. I became interested in the group after reading a Thrasher magazine review of their first album which described Public Enemy’s music as “the new punk”. I was into punk and hardcore all through middle school and high school, but by 87-88 I was feeling they had run their course. I liked the Beastie Boys (who had coincidentally originally been a hardcore band) and RUN DMC, but not until Public Enemy did I feel Hip Hop was the new punk. I love Public Enemy’s first record: Yo, Bum Rush The Show, but it was only the warm up for the sonic and lyrical firestorm of It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and Fear of a Black Planet. Those records are must have classics and showed P.E. to be one of the most important forces in music, politics, and culture of the late 20th century. Public Enemy have continued to tour and put out great records for the last twenty years. Chuck D, the group’s founder is an author, activist, and lecturer as well. Public Enemy has been a huge inspiration for me. My design studio (Studio Number One) was named after the song Public Enemy Number One from which the group’s name was derived. The photo the print is illustrated from is by Glen E. Friedman. Glen shot the first two Public Enemy album covers as well as covers for LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Minor Threat, among others. Glen’s book FUCK YOU HEROES is a must have (link here). I am incredibly honored to to be able to bring Public Enemy, Glen E Friedman, and Obey together for this collaboration. The print is signed by me, Chuck D., and Glen E. Friedman. Enjoy! – Shepard Fairey

Reference photo by Glen E. Friedman