#nightofthelivingbaseheads

Public Enemy -  Night of the Living Baseheads, Live

Both Public Enemy, with “Night of the Living Baseheads,” and Salt-N-Pepa, with “Shoop,” work to address social issues, but in slightly differing ways. While Public Enemy focuses more on the outward community, Salt-N-Pepa make a statement instead by looking towards themselves.

“Night of the Living Baseheads” is Public Enemy’s take on the crack epidemic of the eighties. At its core, the track is a protest song, decrying the dangers and negative effects the drug trade inflicted upon lower income neighborhoods. Sonically, there are more than a few similarities to a group like Run-D.M.C., with shouted lyrics and electronic samples. Instead of romanticizing life on the street, though, Public Enemy is trying to explain how, in reality, communities are being overrun by zombie-like drug addicts.