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Public Enemy Brings Revolutionary Fire to Innings Festival 2026

By Clarissa Darling on March 9, 2026

Under the Arizona evening sky at Tempe Beach Park, Public Enemy, trying to remain relevant, delivered a masterclass in politically charged hip-hop during their 7:55 p.m. set on the Right Field Stage for Day 3 of Innings Festival 2026. This was the second hip-hop act of the festival, following Big Boi, (half of OutKast).

Hip Hop legendary band Public Enemy performs at the Innings Festival, February 20, 2026, in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo credit and copyright Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

With Chuck D’s commanding baritone and Flavor Flav’s energetic hype leading the charge, the group’s signature sound — dense, sample-heavy beats fused with social commentary — proved why they remain somewhat relevant in today’s music scene, turning a festival crowd into a unified voice for awareness and resistance, but certainly not what they’d get at a more hip hop themed festival. The scene and stage presence was strong, but the intense backlighting detracted from the performance. It was too strong, and made it difficult to see the performers’ faces.

Formed in 1985 in Roosevelt on Long Island, New York, Public Enemy has been active for more than 40 years. Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour) and Flavor Flav (William Drayton) built the group around a revolutionary message that blended hip-hop with activism. Their breakthrough albums, including the landmark It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) and Fear of a Black Planet (1990), defined an era. Signature songs like “Fight the Power,” “Don’t Believe the Hype,” “911 Is a Joke,” and “Welcome to the Terrordome” became anthems, while later tracks such as “He Got Game” kept their relevance alive.

The group earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, multiple Grammy nominations, and a legacy of festival appearances worldwide. They released the surprise album Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 last year and continue touring with the same fire. There have been no substantial lineup changes in the past few years—the core duo of Chuck D and Flavor Flav remains intact alongside their longtime DJ support.

Band Members

Chuck D – lead vocals
Flavor Flav – vocals, hypeman
DJ Lord – turntables, DJ

Verified setlist from Innings Festival 2026:

Don’t Believe the Hype
Shut ‘Em Down
Can’t Truss It
Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos
Confusion (Here Come the Drums)
911 Is a Joke
Welcome to the Terrordome
He Got Game
State of the Union (STFU)

There’s a rare kind of electricity that comes from watching pioneers who have never softened their message yet still connect across generations, despite this not exactly being a hip-hop festival. Public Enemy’s Innings Festival set mixed timeless classics with the same raw energy they brought decades ago, but not as impactful, creating a powerful late-evening moment that felt both reflective and forward-looking. But it was more historical than anything else. And the lighting…. Grade B-.