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What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?
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What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

  • Summary: The 15th full-length studio release for the rap group features guest appearances from Ad-Rock, Black Thought, George Clinton, Daddy-O, DJ Premier, Ice-T, Jahi, James Bomb, Mark Jenkings, Mike D, Ms. Ariel, Nas, PMD, Pop Diesel, Questlove, Rapsody, Run-DMC, The Impossebulls, and YG.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Paste Magazine
    Sep 25, 2020
    80
    What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down? is mostly Public Enemy doing what they’ve always done—offering insight about what’s happening in the world around us and prodding folks to wake up and do the right thing. It’s a space they’ve held for over three decades, and one where they’re always welcome.
  2. AllMusic
    Sep 28, 2020
    80
    It's not the sound of a group resting on their laurels, it's the sound of a band summoning their strengths with a hint of sentiment to figure out how to deal with a world gone mad.
  3. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Oct 5, 2020
    80
    Te nearly two dozen guests here add both a gravitas and liveliness to the LP.
  4. Consequence
    Sep 29, 2020
    75
    Chuck D’s hard-hitting lyrics and the album’s dynamic production can serve as a soundtrack for the American Dream (or nightmare, depending on your perspective) for the foreseeable future. Public Enemy seem here to stay, but the truth is — they have never really left.
  5. PopMatters
    Oct 5, 2020
    70
    With What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?, the band have concocted a balm for so much of what that ails us. There's certainly something to be said for that.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Sep 25, 2020
    70
    The most heartening thing about this record isn’t the critical takes, it’s the guys bringing the noise.
  7. Uncut
    Oct 16, 2020
    60
    What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? is no return to the glory days, it is a credible reprise of their old-school rolling and one-two punch, spiked with heavy psychedelic guitar. [Dec 2020, p.36]
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See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Archer_11
    Jun 18, 2023
    8
    Proof positive that PE are still in the game. New fans should start with Nation and Fear, but any old heads tuning in could be in for a treat.Proof positive that PE are still in the game. New fans should start with Nation and Fear, but any old heads tuning in could be in for a treat.

    Minor gripe - they left Griff off this one, not sure why.    … Expand
  2. KaedenSouki
    Sep 25, 2020
    7
    Great features especially on FTP remix. Good old fashioned public enemy solid rock infused production on many tracks. My only big problem isGreat features especially on FTP remix. Good old fashioned public enemy solid rock infused production on many tracks. My only big problem is some out of place/oldhead lyrics that made me cringe a little bit but overall a great project.… Expand

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