Public Enemy celebrates new album with Royal Albert Hall concert

Matt Bailey, The Music Universe

The Rock Hall members returned to London for the first time in ten years

Flavor Flav, Chuck D, and DJ Lord hit the stage at Royal Albert Hall in London, England on June 27th to celebrate the release of their latest 12-song LP.

That record, Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025, surprised fans hours earlier. But the first physical copies were placed at the seats of every attendee in the packed RAH, England’s most storied live entertainment venue.

The group kept the energy up as they powered through 26 songs from throughout nearly 40 years as hip-hop pioneers. There were the political songs, (“911 is a Joke,” “State of the Union”) and the pure head bangers (“Cold Lampin’ with Flavor,” “Bring the Noise),” and all the antics one would expect from the clock-wearing MC.

It was a surreal experience to hear the beats and shouts of “Yeah Boyeeeeeee” inside one of the most historic concert halls. But the crowd ate it up. In fact, according to opener Monie Love, it was London that first embraced Public Enemy before America warmed to their socially-conscious rap.

And they didn’t shy away from being the politically-charged group they’re known to be. Chuck D made the statement, “No government can be trusted anywhere in the world.” And at various times in the night, both Chuck and Flav called for the end to global wars.

Flavor Flav, wearing a loud yellow pair of sweats and a bejeweled red-rimmed clock around his neck, took a few moments to thank his manager (and girlfriend) Rhiannon, as well as the team that made it happen.

Flanked all night by two men in pseudo-military gear, Public Enemy gave their all for fans hungry for American hip-hop from a group that hasn’t been across the pond in a decade. It seems that even inside the storied walls of Royal Albert Hall, there’s still a desire to Fight the Power.