When Paris dropped The Devil Made Me Do It in 1990, a bomb went off in the Hip Hop world. This was a revolutionary manifesto set to beats, a fiery call to arms that demanded attention and refused to be ignored.
The album kicks off with a brief “Intro” about the racially motivated murder of Yusef Hawkins in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City that sets the tone for what’s to come. Then “Scarface Groove” hits hard, establishing Paris’s unique blend of funk-influenced production and hard-edged lyrics. This track is light on content but has Paris establishing microphone dominance with battle rap-style bars. “This Is a Test” follows, a short but potent track that criticizes commercial radio and “mindless music for the masses.” Paris isn’t here to entertain – he’s here to educate and agitate, and in the rest of the album he goes for the throat.
“Panther Power” is a standout track, both musically and lyrically. The beat is built around a killer driving beat that gives the song an urgent energy. Paris pays tribute to the Black Panthers, a political organization founded in the 1960s to combat oppression, particularly by the racist California police, within the black community. The song’s title draws from a well-known Panther slogan, often cited in speeches and writings by Huey P. Newton and other BPP leaders. The song starts with an excerpt of an often-quoted speech by Bobby Seale, co-founder of The Black Panther Party, a perfect start to an intense song. Paris uses this platform to deliver what amounts to a Black Panther mission statement, touching on everything from self-defense to community organization. It’s a history lesson and a call to action rolled into one.
“Break the Grip of Shame” is one of the album’s centerpieces, with Paris’s lyrics highlighting the importance of making music with substance. A famous Malcolm X speech snippet in the middle of the song accentuates where Paris stands. The album is punctuated by shorter tracks like “Warning,” “On the Prowl,” and “The Hate That Hate Made,” which serve as interludes and reinforce the album’s themes. These tracks add to the album’s cohesiveness and help maintain its intense, urgent atmosphere.
“Ebony” provides a change of pace, with Paris showing a more optimistic side. Over a smooth, jazzy beat, he reflects on Black beauty and upliftment. It’s a moment of positivity in an album that’s often bleak, showing that Paris’s vision of Black empowerment isn’t all about struggle – it’s also about celebration and pride. “Brutal” lives up to its name, with Paris talking about Black consciousness and leadership figures, and after a dope beat-switch addressing drug dealing and government policies detrimental to the Black communities. The production here is particularly effective, with menacing beats creating a sense of tension and danger that mirrors the lyrics.
The iconic title track, “The Devil Made Me Do It,” is one of the album’s absolute highlights. Over a funky, bass-heavy beat, he spits lyrics that are part Black Panther rhetoric, part street knowledge, and all attitude. The hook, with its eerie, echoing “devil made me do it” refrain, burrows into your brain and stays there. “Mellow Madness” is a mellow cut indeed, with Paris casually proclaiming superiority over vacuous emcees, while “I Call Him Mad” is a dope DJ track, well-placed to provide some levity.
“Escape from Babylon” serves as an epic closer to the album. At over five minutes long, it gives Paris room to fully flesh out his ideas, touching on themes of Black empowerment, political corruption, and the need for radical change. “Wretched” rounds out the album, showing off Paris’s skills as a battle rapper, with clever wordplay and biting insults aimed at artists who make pop rap without a message. Throughout the album, Paris’s delivery is commanding and authoritative. He’s not trying to be your friend or make you dance – he’s here to educate, agitate, and motivate. His voice is deep and resonant, with a hint of a growl that gives his words extra weight and urgency.
The production on The Devil Made Me Do It deserves special mention. Paris handles most of it himself, crafting a sound that’s uniquely his own. Heavy on the funk and soul samples, with hard-hitting drums and deep, rolling basslines, the beats provide the perfect backdrop for Paris’s militant rhymes.
Looking back at The Devil Made Me Do It from today’s perspective, it’s clear how ahead of its time this album was. While political- and Black consciousness rap wasn’t new in 1990 – acts like Public Enemy, KRS-One, Poor Righteous Teachers, and others were doing their thing too – Paris took it to another level in terms of both content and delivery. His unflinching examination of systemic racism and call for revolutionary action was more akin to a Black Panther speech than a typical rap album.
Striking about The Devil Made Me Do It is how relevant many of its themes still feel today. Paris’s critiques of police brutality, economic inequality, and media manipulation could easily apply to current events – his insight and the persistence of these issues are reasons the album still resonates so strongly. The influence of The Devil Made Me Do It can be heard in the work of numerous politically conscious rappers who followed. You can draw a direct line from Paris to artists like dead prez, Immortal Technique, Killer Mike, and Kendrick Lamar, all of whom have continued the tradition of using Hip Hop as a vehicle for radical political thought.
In many ways, this album can be seen as a time capsule of a particular moment in Black American consciousness. Released in the wake of the Reagan era, with drugs ravaging inner cities and police brutality on the rise, it captures the anger and frustration of a community under siege. But it also captures the hope and determination to fight back and create change. What makes The Devil Made Me Do It such a powerful album is its fearlessness. Paris didn’t care about radio play or mainstream acceptance – he had a message to deliver, and he delivered it with all the force and skill he could muster. In doing so, he created a low-key Hip Hop classic that continues to inspire and provoke to this day.
Whether you agree with Paris’s politics or not, there’s no denying the artistry and passion that went into The Devil Made Me Do It. It’s an album that demands to be grappled with, argued with, and thought about. In a genre that’s often accused of prioritizing style over substance, Paris proved that Hip Hop could be both sonically innovative and intellectually challenging. For that alone, The Devil Made Me Do It deserves its place of honor in Hip Hop history.
