Public Enemy Quiz Questions and Answers
Q1. In what year was Public Enemy formed?
A. 1983
B. 1985
C. 1987
D. 1989
Answer: B. 1985
Q2. Where did Public Enemy originate, specifically the town associated with their early formation?
A. Roosevelt, New York
B. Hempstead, New York
C. Brooklyn, New York
D. Queens, New York
Answer: A. Roosevelt, New York
Q3. Who are the two founding members of Public Enemy?
A. Chuck D and Terminator X
B. Flavor Flav and Professor Griff
C. Chuck D and Flavor Flav
D. Hank Shocklee and Keith Shocklee
Answer: C. Chuck D and Flavor Flav
Q4. What university did Chuck D and Flavor Flav attend where they first met?
A. Harvard University
B. Adelphi University
C. Howard University
D. Berklee College of Music
Answer: B. Adelphi University
Q5. What was the original name of the group before they became Public Enemy?
A. Enemy Radio
B. The Bomb Squad
C. Spectrum City
D. S1Ws
Answer: C. Spectrum City
Q6. What inspired the name “Public Enemy” for the group?
A. A Marvel comic series
B. Chuck D’s demo tape titled Public Enemy #1
C. A historical novel about gangsters
D. A political protest slogan
Answer: B. Chuck D’s demo tape titled Public Enemy #1
Q7. Which production team crafted Public Enemy’s signature dense, layered sound?
A. The Bomb Squad
B. The Neptunes
C. Trackmasters
D. Stargate
Answer: A. The Bomb Squad
Q8. Who served as Public Enemy’s original DJ before retiring in 1998?
A. DJ Lord
B. DJ Johnny Juice
C. Terminator X
D. Davy DMX
Answer: C. Terminator X
Q9. What role did Professor Griff hold in the group?
A. Hype man
B. Minister of Information
C. Drummer
D. Producer
Answer: B. Minister of Information
Q10. What is the primary theme in Public Enemy’s lyrics, focusing on social issues?
A. American racism and media criticism
B. Romantic love stories
C. Personal wealth accumulation
D. Abstract surrealism
Answer: A. American racism and media criticism
Q11. Which early track by Public Enemy influenced groups like Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys?
A. “Fight the Power”
B. “Check Out the Radio”
C. “Don’t Believe the Hype”
D. “Bring the Noise”
Answer: B. “Check Out the Radio”
Q12. What was Public Enemy’s debut album, released in 1987?
A. Fear of a Black Planet
B. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
C. Yo! Bum Rush the Show
D. Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Answer: C. Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Q13. Which 1988 album was the first hip-hop record to top The Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop critics’ poll?
A. Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age
B. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
C. He Got Game
D. Revolverlution
Answer: B. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Q14. What iconic 1988 single from Public Enemy critiques media misinformation?
A. “Don’t Believe the Hype”
B. “911 Is a Joke”
C. “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”
D. “Night of the Living Baseheads”
Answer: A. “Don’t Believe the Hype”
Q15. Which 1990 album features the track “Fight the Power,” the theme for Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing?
A. Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
B. Fear of a Black Planet
C. New Whirl Odor
D. There’s a Poison Goin’ On
Answer: B. Fear of a Black Planet
Q16. What 1990 song by Public Enemy addresses slow emergency response in Black communities?
A. “911 Is a Joke”
B. “Welcome to the Terrordome”
C. “Brothers Gonna Work It Out”
D. “Can’t Truss It”
Answer: A. “911 Is a Joke”
Q17. Which 1991 album includes the controversial track “By the Time I Get to Arizona”?
A. Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age
B. How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?
C. Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
D. Man Plans God Laughs
Answer: C. Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Q18. What innovative release format did Public Enemy use for their 1999 album There’s a Poison Goin’ On?
A. Vinyl-only limited edition
B. First downloadable-only album
C. Live concert recording
D. Collaboration with a symphony orchestra
Answer: B. First downloadable-only album
Q19. Which 2007 album features the track “Harder Than You Think”?
A. Revolverlution
B. New Whirl Odor
C. How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?
D. The Evil Empire of Everything
Answer: C. How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?
Q20. What was Public Enemy’s most recent studio album as of 2025?
A. Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025
B. What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?
C. Nothing Is Quick in the Desert
D. Loud Is Not Enough
Answer: A. Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025
Q21. Which 2025 single by Public Enemy was a collaboration with students from Harvard, Berklee, and Howard Universities?
A. “State of the Union (STFU)”
B. “March Madness”
C. “Give It Up”
D. “He Got Game”
Answer: B. “March Madness”
Q22. In what year was Public Enemy inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
A. 2005
B. 2007
C. 2009
D. 2013
Answer: D. 2013
Q23. Which award did Public Enemy receive at the 62nd Grammy Awards?
A. Best Rap Album
B. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
C. Record of the Year
D. Song of the Year
Answer: B. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Q24. Which of Public Enemy’s first four albums was preserved in the National Recording Registry in 2005?
A. Yo! Bum Rush the Show
B. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
C. Fear of a Black Planet
D. Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Answer: C. Fear of a Black Planet
Q25. What major controversy in 1989 involved Professor Griff and led to his temporary dismissal?
A. A plagiarism lawsuit
B. Anti-Semitic remarks in an interview
C. A public feud with another rapper
D. Accusations of financial mismanagement
Answer: B. Anti-Semitic remarks in an interview