Editing Public Enemy (section)

==History==
===1985–1987: Formation and early years===
[[File:Public Enemy.png|thumb|Public Enemy's official logo]]
Public Enemy was formed in 1985 by Carlton Ridenhour ([[Chuck D]]) and William Drayton ([[Flavor Flav]]), who met at [[Adelphi University]] on [[Long Island]] in the mid-1980s.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Developing his talents as an [[Master of Ceremonies|MC]] with Flav while delivering furniture for his father's business, Chuck D and Spectrum City, as the group was called, released the record "Check Out the Radio", backed by "Lies", a social commentary—both of which would influence RUSH Productions' [[Run-DMC|Run–D.M.C.]] and [[Beastie Boys]].<ref>Chang 2005, pp. 239, 241–242.</ref> Chuck D put out a tape to promote [[WBAU]] (the radio station where he was working at the time) and to fend off a local MC who wanted to [[freestyle battle|battle]] him. He called the tape ''Public Enemy #1'' because he felt like he was being persecuted by people in the local [[Subculture|scene]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} This was the first reference to the notion of a [[public enemy]] in any of Chuck D's songs. The single was created by Chuck D with a contribution by Flavor Flav, though this was before the group ''Public Enemy'' was officially assembled.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Around 1986, Bill Stephney, the former Program Director at WBAU, was approached by Sam Mulderrig, who offered Stephney a position with the label.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Stephney accepted, and his first assignment was to help fledgling producer [[Rick Rubin]] sign Chuck D, whose song "Public Enemy Number One" Rubin had heard from [[Doctor Dré|Andre "Doctor Dré" Brown]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

According to the book ''The History of Rap Music'' by [[Cookie Lommel]], "Stephney thought it was time to mesh the hard-hitting style of Run DMC with politics that addressed black youth. Chuck recruited Spectrum City, which included Hank Shocklee, his brother Keith Shocklee, and Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, collectively known as [[the Bomb Squad]], to be his production team and added another Spectrum City partner, [[Professor Griff]], to become the group's Minister of Information. With the addition of Flavor Flav and another local mobile DJ named [[Terminator X]], the group Public Enemy was born".{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} According to Chuck, The S1W, which stands for Security of the First World, "represents that the black man can be just as intelligent as he is strong. It stands for the fact that we're not third-world people, we're first-world people; we're the [[Recent African origin of modern humans|original]] people".<ref>Chuck D. and Yusuf Jah, ''[[Fight the Power (Public Enemy song)|Fight the Power]]'', p. 82.</ref> Hank Shocklee came up with the name Public Enemy based on "underdog love and their developing politics" and the idea from Def Jam staffer Bill Stephney following the [[Howard Beach racial incident]], [[Bernhard Goetz]], and the [[death of Michael Stewart]]: "The Black man is definitely the public enemy."<ref>Chang 2005, p. 247.</ref>

Public Enemy started out as opening act for the Beastie Boys during the latter's ''[[Licensed to Ill]]'' popularity.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

===1987–1993: Mainstream success===
[[File:Flavor Flav - Public Enemy- konser-Slakthuset-Malmö-1991.jpg|thumb|[[Flavor Flav]] performing in [[Malmö]], Sweden, in 1991]]
[[File:Chuck D. Slakthuset i Malmö 1991.jpg|thumb|[[Chuck D.]] performing in Malmö, Sweden, in 1991]]
The group's debut album, ''[[Yo! Bum Rush the Show]]'', was released in March 1987.<ref>{{cite news |title=Superstar Winds Blow in March Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-03-07-Billboard-Page-0006.pdf|pages=8, 89|location=New York|editor-last=Schlager|editor-first=Ken|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. |date=March 7, 1987}} [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-03-07-Billboard-Page-0119.pdf p. 89]</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Album Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/80s/1987/CB-1987-03-28-OCR-Page-0008.pdf|location=New York|page=8|editor-last=Padgett|editor-first=Stephen|work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |publisher=Cash Box Publications |date=March 28, 1987}}</ref> In October 1987, music critic [[Simon Reynolds]] dubbed Public Enemy "a superlative ''rock'' band".<ref>Reynolds, Simon. "Public Enemy", ''Melody Maker'', October 17, 1987.</ref> They released their second album, ''[[It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back]]'', in 1988, which performed better in the charts than their previous release, and included the hit single "[[Don't Believe the Hype]]" in addition to "[[Bring The Noise|Bring the Noise]]".{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} It was the first hip hop album to be voted album of the year in ''[[The Village Voice]]''{{'}}s influential [[Pazz & Jop]] critics' poll.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|last=McCombs|first=Joseph|date=December 11, 2012|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/12/decking-the-hall-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fames-new-members/slide/public-enemy/|title=Decking the Hall: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's New Members – Public Enemy|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|location=New York|access-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref>

In 1989, the group returned to the studio to record their third album, ''[[Fear of a Black Planet]]'', which continued their politically charged themes. The album was supposed to be released in late 1989,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PK1uLUXpAzoC&pg=PA100 |title=SPIN – Google Books |date= September 1989|access-date=April 19, 2014}}</ref> but was pushed back to April 1990.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} It was the most successful of any of their albums and, in 2005, was selected for preservation in the [[National Recording Registry]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Complete National Recording Registry Listing {{!}} Recording Registry {{!}} National Recording Preservation Board {{!}} Programs {{!}} Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/recording-registry/complete-national-recording-registry-listing/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref> It included the singles "[[Welcome to the Terrordome]]", written after the band was criticized by Jews for Professor Griff's anti-semitic comments, "[[911 Is a Joke]]", which criticized emergency response units for taking longer to arrive at emergencies in the black community than those in the white community, and "[[Fight the Power (Public Enemy song)|Fight the Power]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.aol.ca/article/vh1-crowns-public-enemys-fight-the-power-as-best-hip-hop-song/353728/ |title=Canadian Music – HuffPost Canada |website=music.aol.ca |access-date=April 19, 2014 |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170422/http://music.aol.ca/article/vh1-crowns-public-enemys-fight-the-power-as-best-hip-hop-song/353728/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> "Fight the Power" is regarded as one of the most popular and influential songs in hip hop history.<ref>[[Spike Lee|Lee, Spike]]. "[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/riot-on-the-set-how-public-enemy-crafted-the-anthem-fight-the-power-20140630 Riot on the Set: How Public Enemy Crafted the Anthem 'Fight the Power']". rollingstone.com, June 30, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2017</ref> It was the theme song of [[Spike Lee]]'s ''[[Do the Right Thing]]''.

The group's fourth album, ''[[Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black]]'', continued this trend, with songs like "Can't Truss It", which addressed the history of slavery and how the black community can fight back against oppression; "I Don't Wanna be Called Yo Nigga", a track that takes issue with the use of the word ''nigga'' outside of its original derogatory context.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} The album also included the controversial song and video "[[By the Time I Get to Arizona]]", which chronicled the black community's frustration that some US states did not recognize [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'s birthday as a national holiday. The video featured members of Public Enemy taking out their frustrations on politicians in the states not recognizing the holiday.<ref>{{cite web| title = Public Enemy Look Back at 20 Years of 'By the Time I Get to Arizona'| work = Spin Magazine| publisher = SpinMedia| url =http://www.spin.com/2011/11/public-enemy-look-back-20-years-time-i-get-arizona/| date = November 10, 2011}}</ref>

In 1992, the group was one of the first rap acts to perform at the [[Reading Festival]] in the UK, headlining the second day of the three-day festival.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Azerrad|first=Michael|date=29 October 1992|title=Nirvana, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys Cross the Pond for Reading Fest|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nirvana-public-enemy-beastie-boys-cross-the-pond-for-reading-fest-83644/|access-date=25 September 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

===1994–2019: Later years and member changes===
[[File:PE at Vegoose 2007.jpg|thumb|Public Enemy performing in [[Las Vegas]] in October 2007. Left to right: [[DJ Lord]], [[Chuck D]], and [[Flavor Flav]].]]
After a 1994 motorcycle accident shattered his left leg and kept him in the hospital for a full month,{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Terminator X relocated to his 15-acre farm in [[Vance County, North Carolina]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} By 1998, he was ready to retire from the group and focus full-time on raising African black ostriches on his farm.<ref>{{cite news|title=My Ostrich Weighs a Ton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iCsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA33|newspaper=Vibe|date=March 1998}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In late 1998, the group started looking for Terminator X's permanent replacement. Following several months of searching for a DJ, Professor Griff saw [[DJ Lord]] at a [[Vestax]] Battle and approached him about becoming the DJ for Public Enemy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dj Lord of the battle|url=http://www.inthemix.com.au/features/5459/DJ_Lord_of_the_battle|publisher=In the Mix|date=June 4, 2002|access-date=January 19, 2012|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035904/http://www.inthemix.com.au/features/5459/DJ_Lord_of_the_battle|url-status=dead}}</ref> DJ Lord joined as the group's full-time DJ just in time for Public Enemy's 40th World Tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=DMC Kicks Back ... Mr. Lord-Public Enemy Spinner & Hip Hop King|url=http://www.dmcworld.net/features/entry/features/dmc-kicks-back-mrlord---public-enemy-spinner--hip-hop-king.html|publisher=DMC World Magazine|access-date=April 19, 2014|archive-date=March 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302093456/http://www.dmcworld.net/features/entry/features/dmc-kicks-back-mrlord---public-enemy-spinner--hip-hop-king.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Since 1999, he has been the official DJ for Public Enemy on albums and world tours while winning numerous turntablist competitions, including multiple [[DMC World DJ Championships|DMC]] finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dj Lord Biography|url=http://www.rapartists.com/artists/djlord/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610200330/http://www.rapartists.com/artists/djlord/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2008|publisher=Rap Artists|access-date=April 19, 2014}}</ref>

In 2007, the group released an album entitled ''[[How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? by Public Enemy |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/how-you-sell-soul-to-a-soulless-people-who-sold-their-soul/public-enemy |access-date=2023-10-10 |language=en}}</ref> Public Enemy's single from the album was "[[Harder Than You Think]]".{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Four years after ''How You Sell Soul ... '', in January 2011, Public Enemy released the album ''[[Public Enemy discography#Compilation albums|Beats and Places]]'', a compilation of remixes and "lost" tracks.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} On July 13, 2012, ''[[Most of My Heroes Still Don't Appear on No Stamp]]'' was released and was exclusively available on iTunes.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} In July 2012, on UK television an advert for the London [[2012 Summer Paralympics]] featured a short remix of the song "Harder Than You Think". The advert caused the song to reach No. 4<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29085/public-enemy/|title=PUBLIC ENEMY &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=October 4, 2019}}</ref> in the [[UK Singles Chart]] on September 2, 2012.<ref>{{cite web| title = UK Top 40 Singles Chart = Radio 1| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=April 19, 2014}}</ref> On July 30, 2012, Public Enemy performed a free concert with [[Salt-N-Pepa]] and [[Kid 'n Play]] at [[Wingate Park]] in [[Brooklyn]], New York City, as part of the [[Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} On August 26, 2012, Public Enemy performed at South West Four music festival in [[Clapham Common]] in London.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} On October 1, 2012 ''[[The Evil Empire of Everything]]'' was released.<ref>{{Citation |title=Public Enemy - The Evil Empire of Everything Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-evil-empire-of-everything-mw0002421125 |access-date=2023-10-10 |language=en}}</ref> On June 29, 2013, they performed at [[Glastonbury Festival 2013]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Music - BBC Music - A short history of hip hop at Glastonbury |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2TYRPngRNgGH5pbf5kTKs5H/a-short-history-of-hip-hop-at-glastonbury |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> On September 14, 2013, they performed at [[Riot Fest]] & Carnival 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} On September 20, 2013, they performed at Riot Fest & Side Show in Byers, Colorado.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In 2014, Chuck D launched [[PE 2.0]] with Oakland rapper Jahi as a spiritual successor and "next generation"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yoshis.com/event/790673-pe-20-oakland/ |title=SUN 5.31 The Next Gen of Public Enemy PE 2.0 DOORS: 9:15 PM / SHOW: 9:30 PM |website=Yoshis.com |access-date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075058/http://www.yoshis.com/event/790673-pe-20-oakland/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> of Public Enemy.<ref name="The Oak Q & A: Jahi as PE2.0">{{cite web|last1=Arnold|first1=Eric K.|title=The Oak Q & A: Jahi as PE2.0|url=https://oakulture.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/the-oak-q-a-jahi-of-pe-2-0/|website=Oakculture.wordpress.com|access-date=October 8, 2015|date=October 8, 2014}}</ref> Jahi met Chuck D backstage during a soundcheck at the 1999 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and later appeared as a support act on Public Enemy's 20th Anniversary Tour in 2007.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} PE 2.0's task is twofold, Jahi says, to "take select songs from the PE catalog and cover or revisit them" as well as new material with members of the original Public Enemy including DJ Lord, Davy DMX, Professor Griff and Chuck D.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2-0pe.com/bio|title=The time is now. – The time is now. – BIO|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026065223/http://www.2-0pe.com/bio|archive-date=October 26, 2015}}</ref> PE 2.0's first album ''People Get Ready'' was released on October 7, 2014. ''InsPirEd'' PE 2.0's second album and part two of a proposed trilogy was released a year later on October 11, 2015.<ref name="The Oak Q & A: Jahi as PE2.0"/>
''[[Man Plans God Laughs]]'', Public Enemy's thirteenth album, was released in July 2015.<ref>{{Citation |title=Public Enemy - Man Plans God Laughs Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/man-plans-god-laughs-mw0002860861 |access-date=2023-10-10 |language=en}}</ref> On June 29, 2017, Public Enemy released their fourteenth album, ''[[Nothing Is Quick in the Desert]]''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Public Enemy - Nothing Is Quick in the Desert Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert-mw0003146396 |access-date=2023-10-10 |language=en}}</ref> The album was available for free download through [[Bandcamp]] until July 4, 2017.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Public Enemy Release Surprise New Album 'Nothing Is Quick in the Desert'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/public-enemy-release-surprise-new-album-nothing-is-quick-in-the-desert-194089/|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Jon|last=Blistein|date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>

===2020–present: Controversy, Public Enemy Radio, and return to Def Jam===
In late February 2020, it was announced that Public Enemy (billed as Public Enemy Radio) would perform at a campaign rally in Los Angeles on March 1, 2020, for [[Bernie Sanders]], who was campaigning to be the nominee of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref name="SandersRally">{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Sam |title=Public Enemy to perform at Bernie Sanders rally |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/public-enemy-performing-at-bernie-sanders-la-rally-2615269 |website=[[NME]] |publisher=NME |access-date=November 6, 2020 |date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> Days following the announcement, Flavor Flav's lawyer Matthew Friedman issued a cease-and desist letter asking the campaign to not use the group's name or logo, stating: "While Chuck is certainly free to express his political views as he sees fit — his voice alone does not speak for Public Enemy".<ref name="YahooCeaseDesist">{{cite news|title=Flavor Flav Sends Bernie Sanders Cease and Desist Over Public Enemy Rally Gig|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/flavor-flav-sends-bernie-sanders-175407360.html|website=Yahoo|date=March 1, 2020|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301200610/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/flavor-flav-sends-bernie-sanders-175407360.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chuck D responded to the statement by saying: "Flavor chooses to dance for his money and not do benevolent work like this. He has a year to get his act together and get himself straight or he's out".<ref name="YahooCeaseDesist"/> A lawyer for Chuck D added: "Chuck could perform as Public Enemy if he ever wanted to; he is the sole owner of the Public Enemy trademark. He originally drew the logo himself in the mid-80s, is also the creative visionary and the group's primary songwriter, having written Flavor's most memorable lines".<ref name="YahooCeaseDesist"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Chuck D Responds to Bernie Sanders Endorsement Controversy: 'I Don't Attack Flav On What He Don't Know'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9326043/chuck-d-responds-flavor-flav-bernie-sanders|magazine=Billboard|date=March 1, 2020}}</ref>

On March 1, 2020, before the group's performance at the Sanders rally, Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi, James Bomb and Pop Diesel issued a joint statement announcing that Flavor Flav had been fired from the group, stating: "Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav. We thank him for his years of service and wish him well".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Public Enemy Fire Flavor Flav After Bernie Sanders Rally Spat|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/public-enemy-flavor-flav-bernie-sanders-960272/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 1, 2020}}</ref> The statement also claimed: "Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work".<ref name="StatementBillboard">{{cite magazine |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Public Enemy Releases Statement on Flavor Flav Exit, Says He's Been on 'Suspension Since 2016' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9326963/public-enemy-full-statement-flavor-flav-exit |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=Billboard |access-date=November 6, 2020 |date=March 2, 2020}}</ref> On March 2, 2020, it was announced that Public Enemy Radio would be releasing the album ''[[Loud Is Not Enough]]'', which was due for release in April 2020. The album was to feature the lineup of Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi and the S1Ws and according to a statement from the group it will be "taking it back to hip hop's original DJ-and-turntablist foundation".<ref>{{cite news|title=Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio to Move Forward Without Flavor Flav|url=https://www.spin.com/2020/03/public-enemy-and-public-enemy-radio-to-move-forward-without-flavor-flav/|website=Spin|date=March 2, 2020}}</ref>

On April 1, 2020, it was revealed Flavor Flav's firing was a publicity stunt to gain attention and provide a commentary on disinformation, and Reuters claimed that Chuck D and Flavor Flav "concocted a fake split to grab attention and highlight media bias towards reporting bad news about hip hop".<ref name=":2">{{cite news|title=Public Enemy split with Flavor Flav was a hoax, group now says|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-public-enemy-split-with-flavor-flav-was-a-hoax-group-now-says-idUSKBN21J6FB|website=Reuters|date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> In an interview with rapper [[Talib Kweli]], Chuck D stated that the stunt was inspired by [[Orson Welles]]' 1938 radio drama "[[The War of the Worlds (1938 radio drama)|The War of the Worlds]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Nick |title=Public Enemy's Chuck D says feud with Flavor Flav was a hoax: "We takin' April Fools" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/public-enemys-chuck-d-says-feud-with-flavor-flav-was-a-hoax-we-takin-april-fools2638642-2638642 |website=[[NME]] |publisher=NME |access-date=November 6, 2020 |date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> In response, Flavor Flav tweeted: "I am not a part of your hoax" and: "There are more serious things in the world right now than April Fool's jokes and dropping records. The world needs better than this...you say we are leaders so act like one".<ref name="FiringStunt">{{cite news|title=Chuck D says Flavor Flav firing was a stunt, but Flav disagrees|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/entertainment/chuck-d-flavor-flav-hoax/index.html|website=CNN|date=April 2, 2020}}</ref>

On June 19, 2020, Public Enemy (with Flavor Flav), released the single and music video for their anti-[[Donald Trump]] song "State of the Union (STFU)".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Peters |first=Mitchell |date=20 June 2020 |title=Public Enemy Returns With Anti-Trump 'State of the Union (STFU)' Song: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/public-enemy-returns-with-anti-trump-state-of-the-union-stfu-song-watch-9406256/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Chuck D stated, "Our collective voices keep getting louder. The rest of the planet is on our side.  But it's not enough to talk about change. You have to show up and demand change. Folks gotta vote like their lives depend on it, cause it does".<ref>{{cite news|title=Public Enemy Takes on Trump In Scorching New Single "State Of The Union (STFU)": Stream|url=https://consequence.net/2020/06/public-enemy-state-of-the-union-stream/|website=Consequence of Sound|date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, the group returned to [[Def Jam]] and released their studio album ''[[What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?]]'' on September 25, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eustice|first=Kyle|date=August 28, 2020|title=Public Enemy Returns To Def Jam Armed With New Album 'What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?'|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.57566/title.public-enemy-returns-to-def-jam-armed-with-new-album-what-you-gonna-do-when-the-grid-goes-down|access-date=September 10, 2020|work=[[HipHopDX]]}}</ref>

On November 25, 2023, the authors of <nowiki>''Jesahel''</nowiki> ([[Ivano Fossati]] and [[Oscar Prudente]]) together with [[Universal Music Group]] sued Public Enemy for plagiarism, since Fossati and Prudente are not recognized as co-authors of "Harder Than You Think"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michele |first=Bovi |date=2023-11-25 |title="Jesahel di Sanremo 1972 plagiata dai Public Enemy" (di M. Bovi) |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.it/cultura/2023/11/25/news/jesahel_sanremo_plagio_public_enemy-14287977/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=HuffPost Italia |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dario |first=Freccero |date=2023-12-01 |title=Musica, la Universal fa causa ai Public Enemy per il plagio di "Jesahel" dei Delirium (che la portarono a Sanremo su un bus del Genoa) |url=https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/genova/2023/12/01/news/musica_la_universal_fa_causa_ai_public_enemy_per_il_plagio_di_jesahel_dei_delirium_che_la_portarono_a_sanremo_su_un_bus_-13904143/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Il Secolo XIX |language=it}}</ref>