Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.

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Track 1 - Straight Outta Compton

One of the most iconic gangster rap songs of all time and the lead single from the album, 'Straight Outta Compton' both received wide spread praise and criticism on release. With a menacing beat and aggressive raps all round this track truly is a classic, it may not have much money in the production but with a collection of rappers of this calibre plus Dr Dre (and DJ Yella to a lesser degree) ...
...they were released they went straight to the studio to record this track, Dre recalls the incident - "It was me and Eazy riding around. He had this paintball gun, and he was shooting people at bus stops. The cops caught us and we were face down on the freeway with guns pointed at us. We thought it was bullsh*t. So we went to the studio and created the song. So we said f*ck the police cuz cops are f*ckin pigs who think everything's a god damn ... more

'Straight Outa Compton' is the 1988 full length debut album from gangster rap pioneers NWA (Niggaz With Attitude, comprised of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, DJ Yella and briefly the Arabian Prince), often called 'the worlds most dangerous group', released on Ruthless Records and produced by the combination of Dr Dre and DJ Yella. The record was the first of its kind to draw attention to gangster rap and the violence fuelled, profanity laced lyrics and helped introduce a whole new genre of music to the world and take it out the underground. Without this album its unlikely artists like Snoop, Biggie Smalls, 2pac, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang, and Eminem would ever become successful. The album totally redefined the entire style of rap music and shaped what we know (and love) today.

Eric 'Eazy-E' Wright (RIP), a former drug dealer and gang member, formed Ruthless Records in 1987 with Jerry Heller as a platform to release his own solo album, and maybe make some money from other aspiring rappers. The first record to be released was the 'NWA and the Posse' album which is often credited as the first NWA album due to the name and the fact Cube, Dre, and Eazy rapped together, although NWA are only credited on 4 of the 11 tracks. The next release would be Eazy-E's 'Boyz-n-the Hood' solo LP that would heavily feature guest appearances but none that stood out more than a young man named MC Ren. Buy 1988 NWA were formed and the legendry record 'Straigth Outta Compton' was released.

Upon release the album was so controversial it was basically banned from most radio and television, yet still managed to become the first album to ever go platinum without any airplay or even a major tour to boost sales. The album currently stands at double platinum. It was one of the first ever records to come with a 'Parental Advisory' sticker, although back then it just said 'warning'.

The production of the album was seen at the time as almost ground breaking and the best quality available at this point, but these days many critics claim it doesn't match up with the production of today, well this was released 20 years ago and to me still sounds better than most things I hear. Dre's abilities for sound production through drum-machines, synthesizers, and different instruments combined perfectly with DJ Yella's scratches and cuts.

The Album

(Sample information from Wikipedia)

Track 1 - Straight Outta Compton

One of the most iconic gangster rap songs of all time and the lead single from the album, 'Straight Outta Compton' both received wide spread praise and criticism on release. With a menacing beat and aggressive raps all round this track truly is a classic, it may not have much money in the production but with a collection of rappers of this calibre plus Dr Dre (and DJ Yella to a lesser degree) producing it's difficult not to make a good song. A young Ice Cube opens the song with the strongest rap, and one of the better ones in his career.

Performers

Ice Cube
MC Ren
Eazy-E

Samples

"You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic
"West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson and the Street People
"Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett
"Amen, Brother" by The Winstons

10/10

Track 2 - F*ck tha Police

One of the most controversial rap songs of all time. The origins of this track came from Dr. Dre and Eazy-E being arrested after going about drive-by shooting people with a paintball gun, both members were disgusted at the treatment they received from the police so once they were released they went straight to the studio to record this track, Dre recalls the incident - "It was me and Eazy riding around. He had this paintball gun, and he was shooting people at bus stops. The cops caught us and we were face down on the freeway with guns pointed at us. We thought it was bullsh*t. So we went to the studio and created the song. So we said f*ck the police cuz cops are f*ckin pigs who think everything's a god damn crime!". Due to the violent nature of the song the FBI and the US Secret Service both actually sent letters to Ruthless Records voicing their problems with the track. To me this is a great song and a true gangster rap classic on par with SOC, love the beat and the lyrics.

Performers

Dr. Dre (spoken word)
Ice Cube
MC Ren
Eazy-E

Samples

"Funky President" by James Brown
"It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney
"Boogie Back" by Roy Ayers
"Feel Good" by Fancy
"Funky Drummer" by James Brown
"Ruthless Villain" by Eazy-E

10/10

Track 3 - Gangsta Gangsta

One of the most sample heavy songs I've ever heard, GG is a basically a story of what it's like living the street gangster lifestyle, both the good and bad sides of it. The production on this one is excellent, its a real mix of different sounds and music. It also has one of my favourite Eazy-E raps of all time on it.

Performers

Ice Cube
MC Ren
Eazy-E

Samples

"Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington
"Troglodyte" by Jimmy Castor Bunch
"Be Thankful for What You Got" by William Devaughn
"Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
"N.T." by Kool & the Gang
"Funky Worm" by Ohio Players (amazing song)
"Prison" by Richard Pryor
"My Philosophy" by Boogie Down Productions (KRS-One)
"The Show" by Slick Rick
"(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)" by Beastie Boys

8/10

Track 4 - If It Ain't Ruff

MC Ren goes solo on here to great effect. I've always felt that while Dre, Cube, and Eazy-E gained major solo success MC Ren was always under-rated, he often has the best raps on NWA tracks, more so in the later NWA albums. The beats are pretty laid back after the last 3 tracks, pretty simple music but works well, love Ren's flow.

Performer

MC Ren

Samples

"A Star in the Ghetto" by Average White Band
"Quiet on tha Set" by N.W.A
"Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A
The riff heard throughout the song is similar to that of Roy Ayers' song, "Boogie Back"
"Ruthless Villain" by Eazy-E

8/10

Track 5 - Parental Discretion Iz Advised feat The D.O.C.

NWA ghost writer (mainly for Eazy-E) and friend of the band The D.O.C. makes his only appearance on the album here with the first verse and intro, I do love his rap style, I was gutted when he was in a car crash and severed his vocal cords, he's tried to come back but never sounded right. Dre also makes his first rapping appearance on the album. A funky track with a nice bass riff added in there, well worth the listen.

Performers

The D.O.C.
Dr. Dre
Eazy-E
Ice Cube
MC Ren

Sample

Contains samples from "I Turned You On" by the Isley Brothers

8/10

Track 6 - 8 Ball (Remix)

Another sample heavy track, the original version of this song was released on the previous 'NWA and the Posse' album, the original was rapped by Ice Cube but the remix is Eazy-E's only solo song credited on this NWA album. The track is basically a story of Eazy getting drunk and getting into trouble. I prefer this version to the original even if Cube is the superior rapper out the two.

Performer

Eazy-E

Samples

"It's My Beat" by Sweet Tea
"Be Thankful for What You Got" by William Devaughn
"Yes, We Can Can" by Pointer Sisters
"(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)", "The New Style" and "Hold It, Now Hit It" by the Beastie Boys
"Terminator X Speaks With His Hands" by Public Enemy
"Too Much Posse" by Public Enemy
"Hollywood Swinging" by Kool and the Gang
"Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye

9/10

Track 7 - Something Like That

A funky track, it's obvious there wasn't much money for the production of this one, but with the use of the samples and the minimal beats NWA's two most talented members combine to great effect. A short song but it does everything it needs to.

Performers

Dr Dre
MC Ren

Samples

"Down on the Avenue" by Fat Larry's Band
"Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band
"I Think I'd Do It" by Z. Z. Hill

8/10

Track 8 - Express Yourself

The most radio friendly song NWA ever made, this track (unlike most of the album) is pretty much devoid of violent lyrics or profanity. The track is a social commentary on the rights to free speech and censorship imposed on rappers on TV and radio. Dre handles the raps on this song and conveys the message well.

Performer

Dr Dre

Samples

"Express Yourself" by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
"Dopeman" by N.W.A

10/10

Track 9 - Compton's in the House [Remix]

A very minimal beat with some nice raps but nothing special, one of the weaker tracks on here easily.

Performers

Dr. Dre
MC Ren
Eazy-E

Sample

Contains samples from "Something Like That" by N.W.A

6/10

Track 10 - I Ain't tha 1

Ice Cube's solo track, this is basically Cube rapping about women and how he's 'ain't tha 1' to be taken for a ride for his cash by any women. It's pretty offensive to women but then again only to a type of girl who deserve no praise anyway. Great slow beats with a nice piano use in there, top track.

Performer

Ice Cube

Sample

Contains samples from "The Message (Inspiration)" by Brass Construction

8/10

Track 11 - Dopeman (Remix)

A dark gangster rap song about a drug dealer who is a pretty violent person. The imagery in this one is bleak and paints the life of a dopeman in both the good and bad. Ice Cube is on top form on this track. The original was on the 'NWA and the Posse' album and was a solo Ice Cube song, whilst this version adds Eazy into the raps while Dre talks a couple of times on the record, and changes the music slightly to make it a touch more up key. The track would be the second on the album to sample 'Funky Worm' by the Ohio Players, a track Dre would sample time and time again throughout his career. A true gangster rap classic.

Performers

Ice Cube
Dr. Dre
Eazy-E

Samples

"Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly & Life
"Funky Worm" by Ohio Players

8/10

Track 12 - Quiet on tha Set

MC Ren's second solo track, the bass line to the beat sounds remarkably like Ren's other solo song on here 'If It Ain't Ruff', the raps are excellent but the song sounds a bit too much like the other one for my liking.

Performer

MC Ren

Samples

"Funky Drummer" by James Brown
"I Get Lifted" by George McCrae
"Rock Creek Park" by The Blackbyrds
"Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band
"Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A

7/10

Track 13 - Something 2 Dance 2

The one track on here with the Arabian Prince. The AP's decision to leave NWA and pursue a solo career surely has to be in the top 10 worst decisions ever made in music if not top 5, and always makes me chuckle as he did have talent. The track is basically an old-school electro funk beat with emceeing over the top, the raps are mostly done as if the performers are having a conversation with each other, including a rare spoken appearance from DJ Yella. An odd but decent track, unlike anything else on here.

Performers

Arabian Prince
DJ Yella
Dr. Dre
Eazy-E

Samples

"You're the One for Me" by D-Train
"Dance to the Music" by Sly & the Family Stone

7/10

Overall a 10/10 for the album for me, a true old school rap classic and one of the original gangster rap albums to get main stream attention. Some of the record may sound cheaply produced but this is from a time when rap wasn't the biggest selling music on the planet. This is one of the greatest examples of the hunger for success some musicians have to get out of the poverty they live in. Recommended to all rap fans and fans of ground breaking records. 

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