Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Nominally a soundtrack to Spike Lee's basketball drama, but in reality more of an individual album, He Got Game appeared in 1998, just the second Public Enemy album since 1991's Apocalypse 91. Even though Chuck D was pushing 40, the late '90s were friendlier to PE's noisy, claustrophobic hip-hop than the mid-'90s, largely because hip-hop terrorists like the Wu-Tang Clan, Jeru the Damaja, and DJ Shadow were bringing the music back to its roots. PE followed in their path, stripping away the sonic blitzkrieg that was the Bomb Squad's trademark and leaving behind skeletal rhythm tracks, simple loops, and basslines. Taking on the Wu at their own game -- and, if you think about it, Puff Daddy as well, since the simple, repetitive loop of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" on the title track was nothing more than a brazenly successful one-upmanship of Puff's shameless thievery -- didn't hurt the group's credibility, since they did it well. Listen to the circular, menacing synth lines of the opening "Resurrection" or the scratching strings on "Unstoppable" and it's clear that Public Enemy could compete with the most innovative artists in the younger generation, while "Is Your God a Dog" and "Politics of the Sneaker Pimps" proved that they could draw their own rules. That said, He Got Game simply lacked the excitement and thrill of prime period PE -- Chuck D, Terminator X, and the Bomb Squad were seasoned, experienced craftsmen, and it showed, for better and worse. They could craft a solid comeback like He Got Game, but no matter how enjoyable and even thought-provoking the album was, that doesn't mean it's where you'll turn when you want to hear Public Enemy.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $16.65/month
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Tony Prendatt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Masta Killa, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Keith Shocklee, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Mario Rodriguez, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Henry Boxley III, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Kenneth Lewis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Princess Tiye, ComposerLyricist - D.R. Period, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Keith Shocklee, Producer - Ricciano Lumpkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Stills, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - ROB CHIARELLI, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mario Rodriguez, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Henry Boxley III, Producer - D.R. Period, Producer - Voices Of Shabach Community Choir Of Long Island, Choir - LuQuantum Leap, ComposerLyricist - Rawle Gittens, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - House Of Tre, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - KRS-One, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Paul Logus, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gary G-Wiz, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Tony Prendatt, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Roger McNair, ComposerLyricist - Keith Shocklee, Producer - LEON HUFF, ComposerLyricist - BEN GARRISON, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Hank Shocklee, Producer - D.R. Period, Producer - Flavor Flav, MainArtist - 4kast, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Rasheed Goodlowe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Abnes "Abnormal" Dubose, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Corey Brewer, Producer, Associate Producer, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Juice, Mixer, Participant, StudioPersonnel - Chris Champion, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Hughe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Paul Logus, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gary G-Wiz, Producer, Associate Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kerwin E. "Sleek" Young, ComposerLyricist - Kerwin Young, Producer, Keyboards, Saxophone, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Tony Prendatt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Shocklee, Producer - Tragedy, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Ken Lewis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Hank Shocklee, Producer - Minnesota, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Supernatural, ComposerLyricist - Paul Falcone, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - LuQuantum Leap, ComposerLyricist - Dolo, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Tony Prendatt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Shocklee, Producer - Monty Norman, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Ken Lewis, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Smoothe Da Hustler, ComposerLyricist - D.R. Period, Producer - Ted Wohlsen, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Paul Logus, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gary G-Wiz, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Kyle Jason, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Paul Logus, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gary G-Wiz, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Veda, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Public Enemy, MainArtist - Rasheed Goodlowe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Phelps, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Abnes "Abnormal" Dubose, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Champion, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Danny Saber, Producer, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Reeves Gabrels, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Public Enemy, MainArtist - CHRIS HAYNES, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Dangers, Producer, Mixer, Programming, Participant, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - John Penn, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Public Enemy, MainArtist - Gary G-Wiz, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kerwin E. "Sleek" Young, ComposerLyricist - Kerwin Young, Producer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Griffin, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Album review
Nominally a soundtrack to Spike Lee's basketball drama, but in reality more of an individual album, He Got Game appeared in 1998, just the second Public Enemy album since 1991's Apocalypse 91. Even though Chuck D was pushing 40, the late '90s were friendlier to PE's noisy, claustrophobic hip-hop than the mid-'90s, largely because hip-hop terrorists like the Wu-Tang Clan, Jeru the Damaja, and DJ Shadow were bringing the music back to its roots. PE followed in their path, stripping away the sonic blitzkrieg that was the Bomb Squad's trademark and leaving behind skeletal rhythm tracks, simple loops, and basslines. Taking on the Wu at their own game -- and, if you think about it, Puff Daddy as well, since the simple, repetitive loop of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" on the title track was nothing more than a brazenly successful one-upmanship of Puff's shameless thievery -- didn't hurt the group's credibility, since they did it well. Listen to the circular, menacing synth lines of the opening "Resurrection" or the scratching strings on "Unstoppable" and it's clear that Public Enemy could compete with the most innovative artists in the younger generation, while "Is Your God a Dog" and "Politics of the Sneaker Pimps" proved that they could draw their own rules. That said, He Got Game simply lacked the excitement and thrill of prime period PE -- Chuck D, Terminator X, and the Bomb Squad were seasoned, experienced craftsmen, and it showed, for better and worse. They could craft a solid comeback like He Got Game, but no matter how enjoyable and even thought-provoking the album was, that doesn't mean it's where you'll turn when you want to hear Public Enemy.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:02
- Main artists: Public Enemy
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1998 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1998 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.