The group was started by Hank Shocklee (nee Boxley) as a sound system in Long Island in 1975. His brother Keith joined him 1978 and Chuck D came on board in 1979. The crew got a slot on local radio station WBAU in 1982 where the program director was Bill Stephney and Flavor Flav also had a show. Spectrum City put out one single on the Vanguard label and then disappeared before returning in 1987 with additional members and a serious game plan under the moniker Public Enemy.