Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age

Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age
Studio album by
Public Enemy
ReleasedAugust 23, 1994
Recorded1993–94
Genre
Length74:28
Label
Producer
Public Enemy chronology
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
(1991) 		Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age
(1994) 		He Got Game
(1998)
Singles from Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age[2]
  1. "Give It Up"
    Released: July 1994
  2. "What Kind Of Power We Got?"
    Released: 1994
  3. "I Stand Accused"
    Released: December 1994
  4. "So Whatcha Gone Do Now"
    Released: July 1995

Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on August 23, 1994, by Def Jam Recordings. The title is a reverse mondegreen of the phrase "music in our message" (emphasizing that their message is more important than the music, rather than the typical "message in our music"). Alternatively, it could be interpreted as "music and our message."[3][4] The album debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 56,000 copies in its first week.[4]

The album's first single, "Give It Up", peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1994, and was the group's only American top 40 hit in their career.[5][6]

Upon its release, Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age received generally mixed-to-positive reviews from most music critics,[7][8] amid controversy among critics and fans over Public Enemy's relevance in hip hop at the time.[9]

Mark Texeira illustrated the cover and inside sleeve.

  1. ^ "Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age - Public Enemy | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Strong (2004), p. 1227.
  3. ^ McGovern, Gerry. "Review: Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age". Hot Press: September 21, 1994. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  4. ^ a b Strauss, Neil. The Pop Life: Public Enemy's Enemies. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2010-01-01.
  5. ^ Davis, Clint (25 September 2014). "10 great acts that were actually one-hit wonders". WXYZ. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Public Enemy: Billboard Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  7. ^ Iwasaki, Scott. "Musical Scene Fizzed with Nostalgia, Trends". Deseret News: F3. December 15, 1994.
  8. ^ Product Page: Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age. Muze. Retrieved on 2010-01-01.
  9. ^ Considine, J.D. "Review: Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age". Chicago Sun-Times: August 28, 1994.