Bring The Noise

This was originally released by Public Enemy on their 1988 album It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. Chuck D, who is the leader of Public Enemy, isn't a fan of R&B ballads, but likes heavy metal, which left him open to a collaboration with Anthrax. Said Chuck: "Metal has attitude and it has speed, and that's two things that I like." He took some lessons from the marketing side of metal as well, telling Melody Maker: "Metal records give a lot more in terms of sleeve information and imagery. That's why metal groups stay tight with their audiences for so long. In rap, groups are treated like they're disposable, and so they become disposable. Heavy metal groups are involved in how their music is presented, packaged, marketed. They have control of the merchandising and their logos, whereas the vast majority of rap groups have no control at all."

Inspired by the Run-D.M.C./Aerosmith union on "Walk This Way," Anthrax teamed up with Chuck D of Public Enemy on this for one of the first rap-rock collaborations. The groups toured together after it was released, which was an interesting move for Public Enemy, as they went after white headbangers to build their fan base. It proved that there was a natural crossover between hardcore rap and heavy metal, which share an aggression and sense of alienation from authority and tradition. The tour started in the United States in September 1991 and went to the UK in January 1992.

This song gave Anthrax a big boost, which led to a $10 million deal with Elektra Records.