Still fighting, louder than ever.

Public Enemy’s Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 comes 38 years after Public Enemy released their debut album and in that time, they have woven politics and music together in a way that is both gritty and soulful. They are loud, bold and unafraid to speak their mind on heavy boom-bap instrumentals, and nothing has changed on this new record. Members Chuck D and Flavor Flav are over 65 years old, yet their youthful energy shines. Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 demonstrates why Public Enemy maintains legendary status.

The album’s central themes include Public Enemy’s typical concerns, with anti-racism and anti-authority rhetoric prominent throughout the record. In addition to those issues, many verses critique the use of artificial intelligence in music and art. On the 11th track, “The Hits Just Keep On Coming,” Flavor Flav says “Human life been replaced by AI/Flavor Flav still the same/No way I ever change.” 

Another noteworthy theme is that of age discrimination. The song “Ageism” dives deep into the subject, showing how they seek harmony between younger rappers and themselves, all while facing judgment for growing older. The clear line that sticks out is, “Been their age, they ain’t never been mine.” In just this one line, Chuck D says so much about his perspective on life and what others around him think.

The production on this album goes hand in hand with the lyricism, with the song “Fools” returning to the theme of age discrimination. However, when rapping about this concept during the song, the old-school boom-bap instrumental switches into a new-school trap beat. Using this as an homage to the new generation of rappers, there is no disrespect being shown to those younger, but rather a respect that is hoped to be mutual.

Speaking of the production, this album is quite strange with its musical arrangement, but in the best way possible. Songs will drastically change the tempo, key and instruments used at different times. These switches occur mid-track at surprising moments, not in between tracks as one might expect. While this may not work for other artists, Public Enemy embraces the weirdness of the production they rap over, using this distinguishing feature to push themselves further into the spotlight.

With that, it is not a stretch to say that Public Enemy still brings the heat almost 40 years since they first started, as Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 is both a victory lap and a bold political statement, proving they still deliver political firepower, musical innovation and undeniable relevance.