Public Enemy delivered a high-energy performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday night, marking a special week of broadcasts originating from the Brooklyn Academy of Music.The legendary hip-hop group, featuring Chuck D and Flavor flav, performed a medley encompassing their iconic tracks and new material.
The performance included “Don’t Believe the Hype” from it Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), “Fight the Power” from Fear of a Black Planet (1990), and “The Hits Just Keep On Comin” from their recently released album, black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025. Public Enemy’s continued relevance-spanning decades of politically charged music-resonates as the group continues to address contemporary issues through their art. This appearance arrives after a brief hiatus for Jimmy kimmel Live! itself, following a suspension related to political commentary.
Flavor Flav opened the set with a direct address to host Jimmy Kimmel, proclaiming, “Hey yo, Jimmy Kimmel, we are Public Enemy, and I just want you to know that Public Enemy always got ya back.” The group previously released the protest song “March Madness” in June, preceding the July release of Black Sky Over the projects.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! resumed airing on September 23 after ABC suspended Kimmel earlier in the month. The suspension stemmed from pressure from the Trump governance following a joke Kimmel made regarding the alleged shooter of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Public Enemy’s performance adds to the show’s return to form.
Fans can revisit Public Enemy’s seminal albums, Fear of a Black Planet and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, as featured on Pitchfork’s list of “The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time.”
