Toast's comments:

No other rap group in any era could touch Public Enemy
when they were at their prime, and this album was released at their prime.

I have seen Public Enemy live in concert over a dozen times, and 3 of those were at the RPI Fieldhouse here in Troy, NY. They toured with the Beastie Boys, on the (Def Jam Tour with LL Cool J, Eric B. & Rakim and others), and with the band Anthrax.
All three of those tours came to Troy.

Public Enemy rewrote the rules of rap music.
They combined killer beats and mixed in politically charged lyrics when most of the lyrics of that time bragging, boasting and partying themes. In doing so PE become the most influential and controversial rap group of the late '80s. How many people bought clocks to hang aroud their necks? How many people bought Africa medallions? How many people bought Pittsbugh Pirates or Philadelphia Phillies baseball hats after seeing Chuck D wear them? How many people even heard of Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan
until they heard "Bring the Noise"?

The members of the group were a great mix and variety. Indeed the sum was stronger than the parts. The attention getting baritone of lead rapper Chuck D, joined by the comical stylings of Flava Flav, the cuts of Terminator X (who replaced original DJ Johnny Juice Rosado), Professor Griff and the S1W's. The production was handled primarily by the Bomb Squad, who created dense soundscapes that relied on unrecognizable samples, piercing sirens, relentless beats, and deep funk.

Arguably this is the best rap record of all time.