Fear of a Black Planet
Object Details
- Description
- A long-playing (LP) record album, Fear of A Black Planet, recorded by Public Enemy. The album consists of a vinyl record (a) with jacket cover (b) and paper sleeve (c).
- The vinyl record has a black center label. [Def / Jam / recordings] is printed in the top half of the label, with the D and J almost interlocking. There is also an outline of a gramophone printed on the label. The tracks on either side are printed below the notched center hole. On side A they are "Contract On The World Love Jam," "Brothers Gonna Work It Out," "911 Is A Joke," "Incident At 66.6 FM," "Welcome To The Terrordome," "Meet The G That Killed Me," "Pollywanacraka," "Anti-Nigger Machine," "Burn Hollywood Burn" and "Power to the People." On side B they are "Who Stole the Soul?" "Fear of A Black Planet," "Revolutionary Generation," "Can't Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man," "War At 33 1/3," "Final Count of The Collision Between Us and The Damned," and "Fight the Power."
- A gatefold album jacket (2015.195.36b) accompanies the vinyl record. The front cover has a blue space background, with [PUBLIC / ENEMY] printed on the top of the page. Below, an image of a black planet hovers next to the faded outline of another planet resembling Earth. The black planet has the Public Enemy logo (a target on a silhouette) etched on it in flaming orange. [FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET] is printed below the planets, in yellow, uppercase letters. White text printed along the bottom edge repeats: [THE COUNTERATTACK ON WORLD SUPREMACY]. The imagery from the front cover is repeated on the inside of the album jacket, albeit darkened; everything is faded except the black planet. On the next page, the entire painting has been darkened, except the black planet. The back cover has the same outer space background. At center is a color photograph of the members of Public Enemy with S1W members dressed in white and red Fruit of Islam uniforms. A map of the world and a globe are on the table in front of them.
- A printed, white album sleeve (2015.195.36c) also accompanies the vinyl record. One side of the sleeve is divided into four (4) columns. In the first, [PUBLIC / ENEMY] is printed, followed by the Public Enemy logo, the album title, and finally a grayscale photograph. Underneath the photograph, the following is printed: ["BLACK POWER 1990 IS A COLLECTIVE MEANS OF SELF DEFENSE AGAINST THE WORLDWIDE CONSPIRACY TO DESTROY THE BLACK RACE. IT'S A MOVEMENT THAT ONLY PUTS FEAR IN THOSE THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE CONSPIRACY, OR THAT THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING OTHER THAT WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS...."]. There are also numerous sections that list artists, activists, athletes etc. who have influenced them. On the other side of the sleeve, the lyrics to each track is printed.
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Date
- 1990; republished 2014
- Object number
- 2015.195.36abc
- Recorded by
- Public Enemy, American, founded 1982
- Published by
- Universal Music Group, American, founded 1934
- Def Jam Recordings, American, founded 1984
- Produced by
- The Bomb Squad, American, founded 1986
- Photograph by
- Jules Allen, American, born 1947
- Restrictions & Rights
- © 2014 Def Jam Recordings
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
- Type
- record covers
- long-playing records
- Medium
- vinyl with ink on paper and cardboard
- Dimensions
- Diameter (a. disc): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
- H x W x D (b. album jacket): 12 1/4 × 12 3/8 × 1/8 in. (31.1 × 31.4 × 0.3 cm)
- H x W (c. sleeve): 12 × 12 1/4 in. (30.5 × 31.1 cm)
- Place made
- United States, North and Central America
- See more items in
- National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
- Classification
- Record Albums
- Topic
- African American
- Hip-hop (Music)
- Rappers (Musicians)
- Record ID
- nmaahc_2015.195.36abc
