One of those albums that Iāve always admired rather than totally loved. Completely understand the adulation it receives ā can only imagine what it must have been like hearing it in 1988. Usually totally hyped when I hear a song from it too, but itās fairly rare that Iāll ever put the record on. Think most of it is probably to do with the fact that got into hip hop in a big way in the 90s and PEās star was starting to fade a bit by then, but I do still listen to a decent amount of 80s hip hop and thereās still a couple of albums from the same era that I prefer to Nation. Donāt know why, just never completely clicked with it the way others have seemed to.
All of that said, itās an unarguably brilliant record. Itās so difficult to make a political record (or even a song) without coming across as corny or hectoring, so making an album that is political enough to make the FBI open a file on you while at the same time sounding like the most exciting thing on earth is quite some feat. Also, the guys at Ego Trip magazine (reckon the most knowledgeable and entertaining music writing Iāve ever read) were unified in thinking this is the greatest album ever made, so what do I know. Very high 9
