Has It Been 20 Years Already?

Hey: If you’re in Chicago tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, July 17th, around 3 pm, come on by the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater. I’m going to be there with my pals Chuck D of Public Enemy, and Hank and Keith Shocklee of the Bomb Squad, hosted by the Future of Music Coalition, and talking about the creation of P.E.’s seminal album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, above.

According to the press release,

When Public Enemy released It Takes a Nation in 1988, it sounded like nothing else at the time. The album’s sirens, squeals and squawks were met by dynamic beats and frontman Chuck D’s unflinchingly observant rhymes. Twenty years later, the record remains one of hip-hop’s finest achievements. It Takes a Nation fused politics and music in unprecedented ways, creating a dense sound collage of rhythm, noise and the voices of 20th century black leaders.

Chicago’s in-depth discussion explores the making of It Takes A Nation, as well as the cultural events that helped shape its message. The event takes place one day before Public Enemy reunites to play the album in its entirety at the Pitchfork Music Festival.

Hank Shocklee and Keith Shocklee — one half of Public Enemy’s production unit, the Bomb Squad — will reveal how they fashioned their powerful world of sound. Harry Allen, journalist, activist and PE Media Assassin, will join the members of the Bomb Squad in a lively conversation led by documentary filmmaker Kembrew McLeod (Copyright Criminals: This Is a Sampling Sport).

What a lot of nice words. There’s a lot of similar patter on their web site. Also:

Admission to the event is free, but those interested in attending must reserve spots by emailing rsvp@pitchforkmedia.com.

So come on by! And, if you’re not in Chicago, at 3 pm CT, cup your ear, point it toward the Windy City, and ask everybody near you to lower their voices.