Public Enemy built How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul??? as a mission statement. The record traces the rise of American gangster culture and the fall of political will in the face of it. The title track asks the question directly: how did we get here, and who sold our soul to get us there?
The album is not a single statement. It is a sprawl, a mixtape of old Public Enemy songs, live footage, comic book narration, and a long spoken-word track. That sprawl is the point. Public Enemy wants to be everywhere at once, in your car, your headphones, your living room, and your mind.
Track by Track
“Black Is Back” opens the record with a simple thesis: the black community has been sold out, and now it is time to reclaim its power. The track is a direct address to the listener, a call to arms that sets the tone for everything that follows.
“Harder Than You Think” stretches past four minutes and builds its case through repetition and layered samples. It is one of the record’s best moments, a song that earns its runtime by refusing to resolve.
“Between Hard and a Rock Place” is a brief interlude, a pause before the record’s central argument begins. “Sex, Drugs & Violence” picks up where the interlude left off, a track that names the problem without offering much in the way of solution.
“Amerikan Gangster” is the record’s clearest target. It is a takedown of the American criminal class, and it lands with real force. “Can You Hear Me Now” is a plea for attention, a track that asks the listener to stop and listen before anything else happens.
“Head Wide Shut” is a short, sharp interlude. It does not need to be longer. “Flavor Man” is a return to form, a track that recalls the group’s earlier work without repeating it. “The Enemy Battle Hymn of the Public” is a hymn of sorts, a track that turns the record’s anger into something closer to worship.
“Escapism” is a warning about the dangers of distraction. “Frankenstar” is a track about the dangers of corporate influence. “Col‐Leepin” is a track about the dangers of ignoring the world around you. These three tracks address different kinds of escape.
“Radiation of a RADIOTVMOVIE Nation” is a short, sharp critique of media culture. “See Something, Say Something” is a call to action, a track that asks the listener to speak up when something is wrong. “Long and Whining Road” is a track about the slow pace of change. “Bridge of Pain” is a track about the cost of that slow pace.
“Eve of Destruction” closes the main body of the record with a sense of finality. It is a track about the end of an era, and it plays like a farewell to the world as it currently exists.
“How You Sell Soul (Time Is God Refrain)” is a shorter version of the title track, a reprise that recycles the record’s central question. “Where There’s Smoke…” is a long spoken-word track that runs the length of the record. It is the longest track on the album, and it is also the most essential.
The Long Version
The spoken-word tracks are the heart of the record’s ambition. “Where There’s Smoke…” and “PE20 TOUR58: Power Energy, Planet Earth, Public Enemy” are long, repetitive, and sometimes hard to follow. They are the parts of the record that test the listener’s patience.
The comic book narration is a curiosity. It is a nice touch, but it is not essential to the record’s argument.
What Works
The record’s best moments come early and often. “Black Is Back,” “Harder Than You Think,” “Amerikan Gangster,” and “Escapism” are all tracks that stand on their own. They are the reason the record exists, the songs that justify the sprawl.
The spoken-word tracks are less successful. “Where There’s Smoke…” and “PE20 TOUR58: Power Energy, Planet Earth, Public Enemy” are long, repetitive, and sometimes hard to follow. They are the parts of the record that test the listener’s patience.
The comic book narration is a curiosity. It is a nice touch, but it is not essential to the record’s argument.
The Verdict
How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul??? is a sprawling, ambitious record that mostly delivers on its promises. The songs are strong, the spoken-word tracks are occasionally exhausting, and the overall message is clear: Public Enemy believes the country has sold its soul, and they want everyone to know it.
The record is a product of its moment, a response to the rise of American gangster culture and the fall of political will in the face of it. It is not a perfect record, but it is a necessary one.
Running Order
| Position | Track |
|---|---|
| 1 | Black Is Back |
| 2 | Harder Than You Think |
| 3 | Between Hard and a Rock Place |
| 4 | Sex, Drugs & Violence |
| 5 | Amerikan Gangster |
| 6 | Can You Hear Me Now |
| 7 | Head Wide Shut |
| 8 | Flavor Man |
| 9 | The Enemy Battle Hymn of the Public |
| 10 | Escapism |
| 11 | Frankenstar |
| 12 | Col‐Leepin |
| 13 | Radiation of a RADIOTVMOVIE Nation |
| 14 | See Something, Say Something |
| 15 | Long and Whining Road |
| 16 | Bridge of Pain |
| 17 | Eve of Destruction |
| 18 | How You Sell Soul (Time Is God Refrain) |
| 19 | Where There’s Smoke… |
| 20 | PE20 TOUR58: Power Energy, Planet Earth, Public Enemy |
| 21 | Live @ BB King’s Footage |
| 22 | The Story of the Public Enemy Comic Book |
| 23 | Do You Wanna Go Our Way??? The Post 1999 PE Video Collection |
| 24 | Photo Gallery |
| 25 | SlamJamz Video Jukeboxx |
The Long Version, Verified
The record’s bonus features are a separate category from the main album. “PE20 TOUR58: Power Energy, Planet Earth, Public Enemy” is a 50-minute spoken-word track. “Live @ BB King’s Footage” is a five-minute clip of the group performing live. “The Story of the Public Enemy Comic Book” is an eight-minute audio track.
These are not tracks on the album itself, but they are part of the record’s total package.
- How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?2:37
- Black Is Back2:42
- Harder Than You Think4:09
- Between Hard and a Rock Place1:00
- Sex, Drugs & Violence3:36
- Amerikan Gangster4:04
- Can You Hear Me Now3:58
- Head Wide Shut1:31
- Flavor Man3:44
- The Enemy Battle Hymn of the Public3:24
- Escapism4:53
- Frankenstar3:24
- Col‐Leepin3:59
- Radiation of a RADIOTVMOVIE Nation1:10
- See Something, Say Something3:46
- Long and Whining Road4:25
- Bridge of Pain3:07
- Eve of Destruction4:16
- How You Sell Soul (Time Is God Refrain)2:31
- Where There’s Smoke…60:00
- PE20 TOUR58: Power Energy, Planet Earth, Public Enemy50:00
- Live @ BB King’s Footage5:00
- The Story of the Public Enemy Comic Book8:00
- Do You Wanna Go Our Way??? The Post 1999 PE Video Collection
- Photo Gallery
- SlamJamz Video Jukeboxx
