“Bring the Noise” was released as a single from It Takes a Nation and was later given a rock remix with Anthrax that was featured on their 1991 album Apocalypse 91…The Enemy Strikes Black.

The song was initially created for the soundtrack of the 1987 film Less Than Zero but PE kept it, even though Rick Rubin suggested they not put the track on the album. Chuck also said he didn’t initially like the track at one point before changing his stance:

I hated that record. I practically threw it out the window. I kept hearing people ask, ‘What’s this record you’ve got out? People are going crazy over it.‘ I was like ‘OK, pull that acetate out, and let’s play it [in concert].’ People went berserk.

Chuck D fights for respect for his group, his people, his art form, Black leaders, and, um, Sonny Bono. The song was written in answer to critic John Leland, who had written a review of PE’s first album that had “Noise” in the headline (though overall, the review was positive!)

“Chuck & Flav” watercolor on paper 16" x 28.5" by Genius Editor HaringDMC