Public Enemy Announces Return To Def Jam For New Album

Public Enemy is heading home to Def Jam.

On Friday (August 28), the iconic rap group announced their new album, What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down, is set for release via Def Jam. This marks their first new album on the label in more than two decades. The collection is scheduled to drop September 26. In their announcement post on Twitter, which also included the album artwork, leader Chuck D, wrote, "Time is intensifying and folks are Tight. In this moment a Album release is NOT asking anyone’s support of IT( that’s up to you) but projecting a important question. 'What You Gonna Do When The GRID Goes Down? Exposing a final game possibly played before election. Ask yourselves."

Over in a press release, Chuck D said that it feels necessary to release the upcoming LP from a place they've called home. "Cultural Institutions are important,” he declared. “Being an integral part of one is an honor bestowed and to uphold. Public Enemy songs are forever sonic prints in the sands of time. And it’s time—it’s necessary—to bring the noise again from a place called home. Def Jam. Fight The Power 2020."

Meanwhile, Flavor Flav kept his feelings short and sweet, saying, "Def Jam is like the house we grew up in. It’s cool to be home." In addition to the album announcement, they dropped the studio version of "Fight The Power: Remix 2020," which kicked off the 2020 BET Awards in June.

"Like so many of us, I have long been a Public Enemy fan, and the group was incredibly formative for me and the path I would take," said Def Jam Chairman & CEO, UMG General Counsel Jeff Harleston in a statement. "PE has consistently been a living example of how music can profoundly move and unite people, and affect real change in the national conversation. As we continue to confront inequality and injustice, we need PE’s voice in the national dialogue. Def Jam is proud to partner with Chuck and welcome Public Enemy home."

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