The six hundred and thirty-fifth album: #635 Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
At the end of the eighties, it seems like hip hop has settled into its groove of party music with, if it wants, a message included in it. Here it mostly addresses larger issues in the US's political landscape. It does both really well, setting up up a statement in a scratch and sample heavy set up, with a strong rap throughline that binds it all together. The scratching and tricks get a bit much and I wish the album would settle down more often to focus on the message rather than the sound, but it does feel like there is a vision underneath it.