Public Enemy’s The Evil Empire of Everything is a mission statement. The group has spent decades warning about corporate greed, racial injustice, and political corruption, and this 2012 album is them restating their case with new urgency. It is not a reinvention. It is a reminder that the empire they named on their 1989 debut still controls everything, from the music industry to the criminal justice system. The record wants you to feel angry, informed, and ready to fight. It mostly succeeds.
Track By Track
The album opens with “The Evil Empire of…,” a short instrumental intro that sets the tone before “Don’t Give Up the Fight” kicks in with a call to arms. The song is direct, built around a sample loop and a chorus that repeats the title. It is effective, but it also shows the album’s central weakness: many tracks lean on familiar hooks and shout-along choruses instead of developing their ideas.
“1 (PEace)” and “2 (resPEct)” form a loose pair about unity and dignity. Both are solid, but neither breaks new ground. They are the kind of tracks that work live but feel slight on paper. “Beyond Trayvon” is a standout. It deals with police violence directly, naming the case that defined a national conversation about race and law enforcement. The song is pointed, angry, and specific, and it earns its place.
“… Everything” picks up the title from the album’s full name and runs with it, another track that leans on repetition over development. “31 Flavors” is lighter, a tribute to the group’s history that references their catalog and their influence. It is fun, but it is also the most obvious filler on the record. “Riotstarted” is angrier, built around a sample-heavy production that feels like a throwback to the group’s earlier work. It is not their best track, but it is one of the more dynamic moments here.
“Notice (Know This)” is brief and blunt, a quick message about awareness. It is functional but forgettable. “Icebreaker” is the longest track on the record, a seven-minute meditation that stretches out the group’s spoken-word delivery over a slow beat. It is ambitious, but the length tests patience. “Fame” is more focused, a track about wealth and power that hits harder than most of the album’s middle section. “Broke Diva” is lighter, a pop-leaning track that shows the group can move past their usual militant sound without losing their edge.
“Say It Like It Really Is” closes the album with its longest statement, a six-and-a-half minute track that ties together the record’s themes of truth-telling and resistance. It is the most complete track here, a fitting closer for an album that wants to leave its message hanging in the air.
What Works And What Doesn’t
The album’s strengths are its anger and its specificity. Public Enemy are not vague about who they blame. They name corporations, politicians, and systems by name, and they do not soften the language. That clarity is rare in rap, and it makes the record feel more relevant than most of its peers.
The weaknesses come from a lack of variation. The group’s sound has always been built on samples, drums, and shouts, and this album rarely moves beyond that formula. Some tracks feel like placeholders, songs that exist to fill space rather than advance the argument. The record is also uneven in its pacing, with a strong opening and closing bracket bookended by a middle stretch that loses energy.
Comparing The Tracks
| Track | Length | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Beyond Trayvon” | 4:30 | Specific, pointed | Minor |
| “Fame” | 4:49 | Focus, clarity | Minor |
| “31 Flavors” | 3:10 | Light, fun | Filler |
| “Icebreaker” | 7:14 | Ambition | Length |
Key Facts
- Artist: Public Enemy
- Album: The Evil Empire of Everything
- Year: 2012
- Tracks: 13
- Total runtime: 50 minutes
Final Word
The Evil Empire of Everything is not a great album, but it is a necessary one. Public Enemy are not trying to remake themselves, and they do not need to. What they offer instead is a steady drum of outrage, delivered with the confidence of a group that has spent decades proving its point. The record is at its best when it is specific, and it is at its worst when it relies on repetition.
It is a record that rewards attention and punishes casual listening. If you want to hear a group speak truth to power, this is as good a place as any. If you want to hear innovation, you will have to look elsewhere.
- The Evil Empire of…1:53
- Don’t Give Up the Fight3:47
- 1 (PEace)2:47
- 2 (resPEct)3:10
- Beyond Trayvon4:30
- … Everything4:12
- 31 Flavors3:10
- Riotstarted3:28
- Notice (Know This)2:15
- Icebreaker7:14
- Fame4:49
- Broke Diva3:13
- Say It Like It Really Is6:24
