Summary
FIGHT THE POWER » - PUBLIC ENEMYWe can see Public Enemy's records as so many raised fists and their universe could be summed up in one word: combat. This is also true for style, a marriage of streetwear and military fashion .
However, Public Enemy is not the only hip-hop group to have taken over the military wardrobe. For example, we find traces of it among the Wu Tang Clan. You have probably observed this phenomenon elsewhere than in music: fatigue pants, OG 107 type shirts and other M-65 jackets are no longer just reserved for soldiers.
© Photo Jack Mitchell/Getty Images
Chuck D, Flavor Flav and Terminator X, members of the group Public Enemy, in 1987.
Lovers of khaki and camouflage patterns , you will find what you are looking for at Public Enemy. But the experience doesn't stop there: if you are a fan of caps, whether sporty or military, the group is also a famous source of inspiration.
Let's face it, choosing headwear is a real dilemma whatever the season. In summer, two important parameters must also be taken into consideration: breathability and protection against the sun . What to choose between the bucket hat, the cap and other Panama hats without losing an ounce of style? Everything is possible, according to your desires.
You may have noticed: we very recently looked at the cap:
It’s a subject that raises questions beyond style: take a look, for example, at Nicolò’s carte blanche . Personally, I prefer the bob but that doesn't stop me from finding a certain charm in others. An example ? Public Enemy and its leader Chuck D.
Our first photograph above is characteristic of the style displayed by the group: sweatshirts, jeans, t-shirts, military pants and parkas, caps or berets .
Between military wardrobe and streetwear , Public Enemy develops its activism even in its outfits. On the right, Chuck D. imposes both an attitude and a style largely dedicated to denim .
The cap, a bit more sober than those of its comrades, completes the look perfectly. The logos and messages on the front are somewhat part of folklore. But we can definitely prefer models without.
It's a very simple outfit, which can work all year round and even in summer if the temperatures are mild. You can find a similar spirit in this other portrait from 1988, with more light colors:
© Photo Lisa Haun/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Public Enemy in 1988.
As you can imagine: the headgear at Public Enemy is far from being trivial and simply utilitarian. The outfits themselves have something eminently symbolic. Everything appears here: the scale and distinctive signs of the street, the discipline of combat outfits, the relaxed spirit of streetwear and a certain form of radicalism, more political.
The cap is worn straight or
It’s not seen here, but Public Enemy also incorporates the Do The Right Thing latticework and patterns.”
He actually invites his listeners to wear black on a hot day to store as much heat as possible for the winter. Well, obviously, I don't advise you to go down this route: the heatwaves of the 2020s are incommensurate with those described in Spike Lee's film.
On the other hand, you can rewatch the film, if only to see from the opening what would be a perfect music video for “Fight The Power” if the song didn't already have one. It's a punch song, an anthem and arguably Public Enemy's most iconic track.
“Fight The Power” has in any case lost none of its bite. To go further and discover Public Enemy in more depth, try for example “ It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back ” (1988) and “ Fear of a Black Planet ” (1990). This might make you want, who knows, to wear the cap too.
