Don't Believe the Hype

Public Enemy

About Don't Believe the Hype

"Don't Believe the Hype" is a song by hip hop group Public Enemy and the second single to be released from their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. The song's lyrics are mostly about the political issues that were current in the United States at the time of its release. "Don't Believe the Hype" charted at number 18 on the U. S. R&B chart and also reached a high of 18 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1988. Chuck D has stated the song was inspired by the works of Noam Chomsky. The B-side includes "Prophets of Rage" and "The Rhythm The Rebel", an a cappella of the opening verse from "Rebel Without a Pause" which was a popular scratching phrase. 


Year:
1988
5:19
475 
#6

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Back
Caught you lookin' for the same thing
It's a new thing, check out this I bring
Uh Oh the roll below the level
'Cause I'm livin' low next to the bass, c'mon
Turn up the radio
They claim that I'm a criminal
By now I wonder how
Some people never know
The enemy could be their friend, guardian
I'm not a hooligan
I rock the party and
Clear all the madness, I'm not a racist
Preach to teach to all
'Cause some they never had this
Number one, not born to run
About the gun
I wasn't licensed to have one
The minute they see me, fear me
I'm the epitome, a public enemy
Used, abused without clues
I refused to blow a fuse
They even had it on the news
Don't believe the hype

Yes
Was the start of my last jam
So here it is again, another def jam
But since I gave you all a little something
That we knew you lacked
They still consider me a new jack
All the critics you can hang 'em
I'll hold the rope
But they hope to the pope
And pray it ain't dope
The follower of Farrakhan
Don't tell me that you understand
Until you hear the man
The book of the new school rap game
Writers treat me like Coltrane, insane
Yes to them, but to me I'm a different kind
We're brothers of the same mind, unblind
Caught in the middle and
Not surrenderin'
I don't rhyme for the sake of of riddlin'
Some claim that I'm a smuggler
Some say I never heard of 'ya
A rap burglar, false media
We don't need it do we?
It's fake that's what it be to 'ya, dig me?
Don't believe the hype

Don't believe the hype, its a sequel
As an equal, can I get this through to you
My 98's boomin' with a trunk of funk
All the jealous punks can't stop the dunk
Comin' from the school of hard knocks
Some perpetrate, they drink Clorox
Attack the black, 'cause I know they lack exact
The cold facts, and still they try to Xerox
Leader of the new school, uncool
Never played the fool, just made the rules
Remember there's a need to get alarmed
Again I said I was a timebomb
In the daytime the radio's scared of me
'Cause I'm mad, plus I'm the enemy
They can't c'mon and play with me in primetime
'Cause I know the time, plus I'm gettin' mine
I get on the mix late in the night
They know I'm livin' right, so here go the mike, sike
Before I let it go, don't rush my show
You try to reach and grab and get elbowed
Word to herb, yo if you can't swing this
Just a little bit of the taste of the bass for you
As you get up and dance at the LQ
When some deny it, defy if I swing bolos
Then they clear the lane I go solo
The meaning of all of that
Some media is the whack
You believe it's true, it blows me through the roof
Suckers, liars get me a shovel
Some writers I know are damn devils
For them I say don't believe the hype
Yo Chuck, they must be on a pipe, right?
Their pens and pads I'll snatch
'Cause I've had it
I'm not an addict fiendin' for static
I'll see their tape recoreder and grab it
No, you can't have it back silly rabbit
I'm going' to my media assassin
Harry Allen, I gotta ask him
Yo Harry, you're a writer, are we that type?
Don't believe the hype
I got flavor and all those things you know
Yeah boy, part two bum rush and show
Yo Griff, get the green black red and
Gold down countdown to Armageddon
88 you wait the S1Ws will
Rock the hard jams, treat it like a seminar
Teach the bourgeois, and rock the boulevard
Some sau I'm negative
But they're not positive
But what I got to give
The media says this

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Public Enemy

Public Enemy is an American hip hop group consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and his S1W group, DJ Lord (DJ who replaced Terminator X in 1999), and Music Director Khari Wynn. Formed in Long Island, New York, in 1982, Public Enemy is known for their politically charged lyrics and criticism of the American media, with an active interest in the frustrations and concerns of the African American community. more »

1 fan

Written by: CARLTON RIDENHOUR, ERIC SADLER, HANK SHOCKLEE

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, MISSING LINK MUSIC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album and Release Year
"Don't Believe the Hype" is a song by the American hip hop group Public Enemy from their second album, "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," which was released in 1988.
Role in Pop Culture
The song is widely recognized as a defining track of its era and has been frequently referenced and sampled in other media, spotlighting its role as an indicator of the racial and socio-political issues of the late 80s.
Song Theme
"Don't Believe the Hype" deals with themes of media discrimination, vilification, and stereotyping, as well as the negative portrayal of African Americans. The group uses the phrase "Don't believe the hype" to caution listeners from believing everything the media portrays about them.
Impact in Music
The song's unique and innovative production, consisting of layered samples, sound effects, and scratching, helped to solidify Public Enemy's place in the annals of influential hip hop acts and demonstrated their production team, The Bomb Squad's prowess.
Chart Performance
"Don't Believe the Hype" reached number 18 on the UK singles charts and number 13 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Critic Review
The song has received primarily positive reviews from critics. Rolling Stone magazine placed the track at number 25 on its list of "The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time."
Music Video
The music video of "Don't Believe the Hype" directed by Bret Ratner, added a visual dimension to the song's message. It features the likenesses of mainstream media outlets—symbolized by a news reporter who continually misinterprets the group's lyrics—again emphasizing the warning not to trust all media portrayals.
Cultural Influence
This song has often been included in media addressing racial issues or those related to media trust. For example, "Don't Believe the Hype" was used in a 2016 promotional video for the Netflix series "Luke Cage."
Distinctive Lyrics
The lyric "Elvis was a hero to most / But he never meant shit to me / Straight up racist that sucker was simple and plain / Motherfuck him and John Wayne" is one of the song's most controversial and memorable, expressing the group's perspective on the oppression of Black culture and historical figures.
Awards Recognition
In 2018, the album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" and therefore "Don't Believe the Hype" was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant."

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