Public Enemy‘s Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025, their 17th studio album and first in five years, arrived as a surprise Bandcamp exclusive, embodying the group’s unyielding spirit of rebellion.
Released on June 27, 2025, without fanfare and initially pay-what-you-want, it harks back to their golden era while confronting contemporary chaos.
Chuck D and Flavor Flav, at 65 and 66 respectively, deliver with undiminished fire, proving ageism in hip-hop is a fool’s errand.
Musically, the album recaptures the Bomb Squad’s dense, layered sound—think serrated guitars, chopped samples, live drums (courtesy of Tré Cool on “Fools Fools Fools”), and analog grit—handled by producers like C-Doc and DJ MROK. It’s not bloated; every beat pulses with purpose, blending old-school drums, funky basslines, and rock textures for a potent, urgent vibe.
Themes tackle political dysfunction, media decay, gun violence, social media frauds, and the erasure of elders in a youth-obsessed culture. Chuck‘s commanding bars call out corruption and complacency, while Flav injects chaotic energy, trading verses that affirm their legacy as the “last of a dying breed.”
Standouts include opener “Siick,” a rap-rock assault on political sickness; “Sexagenarian,” sampling soulfully to address aging emcees speaking to struggling 35-year-olds; “Ageism,” with its funky groove challenging industry cycles; and closer “March Madness,” Flav‘s solo rant against crooked politicians and violence.
Tracks like “Confusion (Here Come the Drums)” showcase their chemistry, and “Evil Ways” humbles the savage with self-produced introspection.This isn’t a retread of classics like Fear of a Black Planet—it’s an extension, raw and relevant, extending Chuck‘s recent solo work Radio Armageddon.
At 12 tracks, it’s tight, avoiding filler, though some may miss superstar guests. User reception varies, with scores averaging mid-70s, praising its energy but noting it doesn’t top their untouchable peaks.
Still, in a diluted hip-hop landscape, Public Enemy remains essential, dropping truth bombs that demand attention.
https://publicenemy.bandcamp.com/album/black-sky-over-the-projects-apartment-2025
