Public Enemy

Public Enemy play the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, October 24, as part of the Arizona State Fair. It's a single-bill night with the group as the only act on the program.

If you're not familiar with the name, Public Enemy is a Long Island hip-hop group formed in 1985 by Chuck D. They built their reputation on the Bomb Squad's dense, sample-heavy production and on politically charged records like It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and Fear of a Black Planet, which gave us tracks like "Fight the Power" and "911 Is a Joke." They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Seeing them live is a different thing than hearing the records. The Bomb Squad's production is built on layers of samples piled on top of one another, and that wall of sound translates to a full stage. Chuck D's voice sits right on top of it, and the political edge they're known for is a big part of the live experience. If you've only ever heard the hits on the radio, this is a good chance to hear how they fit into the wider run of albums they've put out since the mid-eighties.

The show is at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1826 W McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85007, on Saturday, October 24, starting at 7 PM.