On this day, Oct. 1, in hip-hop history...

UMG Recordings
UMG Recordings
loading...

1991: Although Long Island crew Public Enemy's place in hip-hop history had already been solidified with their 1990 album Fear of a Black Planet, the guys decided to go for broke with their fourth studio album, Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black, released on Oct. 1, 1991.

Under Def Jam Recordings, this was the first time Public Enemy had enlisted production team Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk for their new, experimental sound. Apocalypse 91 spawned the singles "Bring In The Noise," "Can't Truss It," "Night Train" and "Shut 'Em Down" which served as party bangers and sociopolitical conversation-starters. Although Chuck D, Flavor Flav and Terminator X didn't enjoy the same rave reviews from Apocalypse 91 as they did with Fear of a Black Planet, the album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was positively received by critics. The album went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA by November of the same year.

25 years later, the topics of politic brutality and civil unrest are expressed by hip-hop contemporaries like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Talib Kweli, Vic Mensa and more. The guys of P.E. and Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black undoubtedly laid out the blueprint for radically reactive rap.

Here's the Ultimate Guide to Rappers With Acronyms in Their Name

More From XXL