Rebirth of a Nation

For the remix film of the same name, see DJ Spooky.
Rebirth of a Nation
Studio album by
Public Enemy and Paris
ReleasedMarch 7, 2006 (2006-03-07)
Genre
Length1:05:46
LabelGuerrilla Funk Recordings
ProducerParis
Public Enemy chronology
New Whirl Odor
(2005) 		Rebirth of a Nation
(2006) 		How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul???
(2007)
Paris chronology
Sonic Jihad
(2003) 		Rebirth of a Nation
(2006) 		Acid Reflex
(2008)
Singles from Rebirth of a Nation
  1. "Can't Hold Us Back"
    Released: 2005
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Guardian[2]
HipHopDX[3]
RapReviews8/10[4]
Robert ChristgauA−[5]
Tom Hull – on the WebA[6]
XXL[7]

Rebirth of a Nation is a collaborative studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy and rapper/producer Paris. Its title is a reference to the 1915 white supremacist film The Birth of a Nation as well as one of the group's prior albums, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Despite the Public Enemy branding on the album, many tracks were written and produced by Paris; the album itself was deemed a "special project" by Chuck D in order to differentiate it from other Public Enemy works.[8] It was released on March 7, 2006 through Guerrilla Funk Recordings with distribution via Caroline Distribution. The album was mixed and mastered at Data Stream Studio in San Francisco, California. The album features guest appearances from Dead Prez, MC Ren, Kam, Sister Souljah, The Conscious Daughters, Immortal Technique and Professor Griff. Rebirth of a Nation peaked at number 180 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States and sold 5,592 units in its first week out.

Critical reception

Robert Christgau stated: "PE's best album in nearly a decade was overseen by Oakland Muslim-stockbroker-revolutionary Paris, who puts his stamp on its functional funk and unyielding class consciousness. In fact, with its international perspective and bitter 'People on the bottom kill each other for scraps,' Paris's 'Hannibal Lecture' boasts the sharpest lyric on the record. But he's got competition--from a retrofitted Jesse Jackson, from Professor Griff if you can believe that, even from reality TV 'ho Flavor Flav: 'I'm in your mouth when you wake in the morning/I'm the stink on your breath when you're yawning.' But mostly, of course, from Mistachuck, whose musicality carries the record--and who folded in a Katrina song after the CD was done."[5]

Track listing

All music is composed by Oscar Jerome Jackson, Jr.

No.TitleLength
1."Raw Shit" (featuring Paris and MC Ren)4:16
2."Hard Rhymin'" (featuring Paris and Sister Souljah)4:41
3."Rise"4:08
4."Can't Hold Us Back" (featuring Dead Prez and Kam)5:07
5."Hard Truth Soldiers" (featuring Dead Prez, The Conscious Daughters and MC Ren)4:18
6."Hannibal Lecture" (featuring Paris)3:50
7."Rebirth of a Nation" (featuring Professor Griff)3:27
8."Pump the Music, Pump the Sound"2:28
9."Make It Hardcore" (featuring Paris)5:16
10."They Call Me Flavor"3:09
11."Plastic Nation"3:03
12."Coinsequences" (featuring Paris)4:19
13."Invisible Man"4:28
14."Hell No We Ain't All Right! (Paris Remix)"4:31
15."Watch the Door"3:35
16."Field Nigga Boogie (XLR8R Remix)" (featuring Paris and Immortal Technique)5:10
Total length:1:05:46

Chart history

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[9] 180
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] 54
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[11] 16

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rebirth of a Nation - Public Enemy | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Collins, Hattie (August 5, 2005). "CD: Public Enemy, featuring Paris, Rebirth of a Nation". The Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Goodson, Dave (May 24, 2006). "Public Enemy - Rebirth of a Nation". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  4. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (March 14, 2006). "Public Enemy :: Rebirth of a Nation :: Guerilla Funk". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Public Enemy". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  6. ^ Hull, Tom (November 8, 2023). "Grade List: Public Enemy". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Johnson, Brett (March 24, 2006). "Public Enemy Feat. Paris Rebirth Of A Nation - XXL". XXL. Archived from the original on May 4, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  8. ^ Leroy, Dan (February 17, 2006). "Public Enemy Return, With Guest". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  9. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  11. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2018.