What was the most significant release of hip hop's most significant year? Whilst it might seem like a tough question, Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back stands tall over 1988. Though the year featured classic releases from acts such as Eric B. & Rakim, N.W.A., Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick, many of which were influential in shaping the trajectory of the then-exploding genre, no album left as strong a mark as It Takes A Nation.

Public Enemy, then little more than a controversial outfit with an acclaimed debut and a support slot alongside Beastie Boys, were Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and Terminator X. They were supported by an up-and-coming production team, The Bomb Squad, and a six man b-boy outfit, Security of the First World. The Bomb Squad - a posse comprised of Chuck D, Hank Shocklee, Keith Shocklee and Eric "Vietnam" Sadler - were the architects of the record's chaotic soundscape. The palette, punctuated by squealing horns and electric guitars, was later described by Chuck D as a "wall of noise." This "wall of sound" - defined by intricate arrangements, complex musical interplay and a mix of samples and original instrumentation - helped revolutionise production in hip hop, a firm refutation of new school minimalism that presaged the rise of sampling throughout the '90s. The sampling remains wild, even by todays standards: "Night of the Living Baseheads" incorporates 22 different samples into a brisk three minutes and fifteen seconds, a testament to both artistic vision and the then-lax copyright law surrounding such use.

Public Enemy championed both sonic and thematic innovations, confronting the status quo with unflinchingly political content and impassioned Afrocentricity. The runaway success of It Takes A Nation would contribute to popular culture's wholehearted embrace of the art form, an acceptance which - for better or for worse - helped create modern hip hop culture. It championed political hip hop, pushed the boundaries of production and achieved a newfound level of mainstream success. The first hip hop album to top the noted Pazz & Jop Critic's Poll. A genre-defining effort for audiences and critics alike. Thirty years on, Public Enemy's blockbuster sophomore album still packs a powerful punch.