Power to the People and the Beats: Public Enemy's Greatest Hits

Album information

The collection represents the group's output during their time on Def Jam/Universal.

The planned Power to the People and the Videos release has been delayed due to legal issues with Universal.

Reception

Uncut (p. 130) – 4 stars out of 5 – "PE harnessed the power of chaos and rage more effectively than any punk or speed-metal merchant, were more articulate in their anger than any folk singer, were as righteous as any roots reggae or gospel singer."

Mojo (p. 132) – 4 stars out of 5 – "[With] squealing, clashing samples..."

CD version

1. "You're Gonna Get Yours" (C. Ridenhour, H. Shocklee) (from Yo! Bum Rush The Show) – 4:05
2. "Public Enemy No. 1" (C. Ridenhour, H. Shocklee) (from Yo! Bum Rush The Show) – 4:41
3. "Rebel Without a Pause" (Vocal Version) (C. Ridenhour, H. Shocklee, E. Sadler, N. Rogers) (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 4:18
4. "Bring the Noise" (C. Ridenhour, H. Shocklee, E. Sadler) (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 3:47
5. "Don't Believe the Hype" (C. Ridenhour, E. Sadler, H. Shocklee, W. Drayton) (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 5:19
6. "Prophets of Rage" (C. Ridenhour, H. Shocklee, E. Sadler) (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 3:20
7. "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" (Single Edit) (C. Ridenhour, H. Shocklee, E. Sadler, W. Drayton) (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 3:43
8. "Fight the Power" (K. Shocklee, E. Sadler, C. Ridenhour) (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 4:36
9. "Welcome to the Terrordome" (K. Shocklee, E. Sadler, C. Ridenhour) (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 5:26
10. "911 Is a Joke" (W. Drayton, K. Shocklee, E. Sadler) (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 3:17
11. "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" (K. Shocklee, E. Sadler, C. Ridenhour) (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 5:08
12. "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man" (H. Shocklee, E. Sadler, C. Ridenhour) (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 2:47
13. "Can't Truss It" (C. Ridenhour, S. Robertz, Gary G-Wiz, C. Depper) (from Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black) – 4:52
14. "Shut Em Down" (C. Ridenhour, S. Robertz, Gary G-Wiz, C. Depper) (from Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black) – 4:19
15. "By the Time I Get to Arizona" (C. Ridenhour, S. Robertz, Gary G-Wiz, C. Depper, Mandrill, Santiago) (from Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black) – 4:00
16. "Hazy Shade of Criminal" (C. Ridenhour, W. Drayton, The JBL, S. Robertz, Gary G-Wiz) (from Greatest Misses) – 4:50
17. "Give It Up" (Gary G-Wiz, C. Ridenhour, Studdah Man, A. Isbell, M. Thomas) (from Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age) – 4:43
18. "He Got Game" (C. Ridenhour, L. Leap, S. Stills) (from He Got Game) 4:45

Vinyl version

A1. "Rebel Without a Pause" (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 4:18 A2. "Bring the Noise" (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 3:47 B1. "Don't Believe the Hype" (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 5:19 B2. "Night of the Living Baseheads" (from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back) – 3:14 C1. "Fight the Power" (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 4:36 C2. "911 Is a Joke" (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 3:17 D1. "Welcome to the Terrordome" (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 5:26 E1. "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 5:08 E2. "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man" (from Fear of a Black Planet) – 2:47 F1. "Can't Truss It" (from Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black) – 4:52 G1. "Shut Em Down" (from Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black) – 4:19 G2. "Shut Em Down" [Pete Rock Mixx] (from Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black) H1. "Nighttrain" (from Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black) I1. "Give It Up" (from Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age) – 4:43 I2. "So Watcha Gonna Do Now" (from Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age) J1. "He Got Game" (from He Got Game) – 4:45