Muse Sick N Hour Mess Age

Public Enemy Muse Sick N Hour Mess Age (Def Jam) No denying this Mess Age is something of a mess, especially PE's sonic whirlpool and Chuck D's tired- sounding us-versus-them exhortations. Only intermittently, like with the galloping single ''Give It Up,'' does the group kick it with new energy. Still, it takes true guts to dis gangsta rap and to challenge the black community to confront its problems, and Chuck's deepening voice is starting to resemble Howlin' Wolf's, which bodes well for the future. B --DB