Which 1987 album was Public Enemy’s debut studio album?

Public Enemy’s 1987 debut studio album was Yo! Bum Rush the Show.

The album was released by Def Jam Recordings on February 10, 1987. It introduced the core lineup of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, DJ Terminator X, and Professor Griff, with production by Chuck D, Hank Shocklee, and Keith Shocklee.

Its sound was more stripped-down and abrasive than the dense, sample-heavy production that would define the group’s next records. Songs such as “Public Enemy No. 1” and “Miuzi Weighs a Ton” established the group’s politically charged approach and Chuck D’s commanding delivery.

A common mix-up is to identify It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back as Public Enemy’s debut. That 1988 album was their second studio release, but it became their major breakthrough and is often the record most associated with their early legacy.