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Public Enemy is never one to shy away from ruffling feathers and making a political statement, and now, the legendary group has returned with a visual for “The Hits Just Keep on Coming” Thursday (Oct. 30). The song landed on June’s Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025.
In the visual, TVs surround Chuck D and Flavor Flav as they serve up a history lesson throughout the politically motivated video. Before Public Enemy makes an appearance in the clip, Ruby Bridges is shown ending segregation, bravely walking into her elementary school in New Orleans in 1960.
Flavor Flav also used his connection to the 2024 U.S. women’s Olympic water polo team to recruit player Ashleigh Johnson to star in the visual. She transforms into Black icons such as Serena Williams, Prince and Tommie Smith.
There are also cuts to clips from U.S. revolutionaries such as Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. Johnson returns to make another statement by smashing a TV screen that reads “Hate.”
“This music video for ‘The Hits Just Keep on Comin’ got a real important history lesson, a real important message, and a real important warning,” Flavor Flav told Rolling Stone. “My girl Ashleigh Johnson from the Olympic water polo team did a phenomenal job honoring some of the greatest heroes of modern civil and cultural rights. I’m very proud of the important artwork and messaging that Public Enemy continues to put out.”
Chuck D hopes that politically charged art can still mobilize fans and inspire them to be the change they want to see in the world.
“These lyrics are still relevant today as much as yesterday, and when they’re juxtaposed with these heroes that never stopped, no one can make excuses,” Chuck D added to RS. “It’s time to wake up and DO something. Emphasis on the ‘DO.’ And Flav outdid himself on this one.”
Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 served as Public Enemy’s 16th studio album after arriving in June. However, physical copies and vinyl CDs were shipped earlier in October.
Watch “The Hits Just Keep on Coming” video below.
