Straight Outta Compton

Most of the messages on this album do not age well. Misogyny, homophobia, violence, toxic masculinity run rampant throughout. The approach was not the best, but the message of the cops vs. the black community still rigs true today. The level of frustration in Compton that spawned the movement of gangsta rap must have been great. The rhyme schemes in today's rap almost make this album feel corny despite deliberate and aggressive violent lyrics.

You know what the fuck it is !! FUCK THA POLICE COMIN STRAIGHT FROM THE UNDERGROUND

This may be the most important rap album ever made. You had public enemy doing militant stuff and tribe called quest and others doing rap on social issues. "zingalamaduni" comes to mind. NWA though... they captured the anger and reality of being a young black man. They really addressed all the social issues on the streets instead of in society and it resonated with so many people. Police, goldiggers, dope sellers, other rappers... NWA was out for you. Part of their genius was building their character through their songs. Eazy E especially. I am a huge fan of his character - too cool. He gives props to Dre all over though, which sucks for all their splintering later. Most of the songs hold up extremely well to time. "I ain't the one" is the only one that doesn't hold up - I know what he was going for, but... not all women man. This album has so much variety too - a song for everyone. Folks who roll hard get fuck the police, misogynists get I ain't the one, radio gets express yourself, and clubs get something to dance to. Their sampling is so good and their rhymes seem so effortless. It's really a triumph and deserves all the praise it got.

The album that killed my love of hip hop and sent the entire genre on a shitty path for at least 10 years. Fuck this album. Express yourself was a dope track though.

Despite this being a landmark album, I have trouble with the violent and misogynistic lyrics.

Waaaayy too long. I feel like they needed to edit this down to half. The first few songs it was like they were trying to squeeze everyone in. It’s interesting, never listened to the full album and I’m realizing now Gangster rap was created during this album: there’s a stark difference between the songs, some still stuck in the 80s paradigm. It may have been created but it sure wasn’t mastered, later albums Dre would produce like The Chonic abd Doggystyle epitomize the gangster rap style and do it much better. Weird to think the Beastie Boys came out before this, you hear it sampled a few times, it puts the album into perspective, because the beastie boys album was better, more complete song craft. Dr. Dre’s sampling really shines in some of the interludes. Easy E was annoying and not a great rapper—apparently he was a drug dealer and funded the album, most of his shit was written by others and it shows. MC Ren, Dre and Ice Cube all stand out as better. I liked a couple of the more 80’s style non-gangster songs like “Somethit Like That” and “Express Yourself.” Not a terrible album but not yet fully cooked. 2-3, C+, gets extra credit for be prescient re: Fuck the Police.

I fucking hate the police

‘Do I look like a mothafuckin' role model?‘ This is a huge landmark album, but it doesn’t really speak to me. The anger and confrontational tone of tracks like Fuck tha Police still kicks pretty hard, and the aggressive lyrics really force you into the artists’ world, but the rampant sexism is hard to ignore, because it’s everywhere. I get that they were never trying to be role-models, and that most of it is really just tongue-in-cheek posturing, but the contempt for women is pretty real, and it hasn’t aged well at all. To me, this is a really important time-capsule of an album, which I’d rather not actually listen to in 2021, but if it’s closer to your world, you’d probably feel differently

i think you can successfully argue that without this album, Snoop wouldn’t be commentating at the Olympics right now

Ahh I remember going on a geography field trip to Stafford back when this dropped. I saw myself as a bit of a bad ass motherfucker - well as much as an eleven year old could be. I remember learning all of the words to Fuck Tha Police to try and impress a girl I really fancied. On a break time, me and my mate Stanley decided we would wander over and try and show off to this girl and a group of her friends by performing it in front on them. We had the baggy Jean's, the caps, the attitude, but although we wanted to, just about stopped short of blacking up. We were feeling confident and thought we had done a great job and that the girls would now desire our 11 year old white boy bodies. A short while later, our teacher pulled us to one side. The girls had obviously grassed us up for using inappropriate language and "being weird". Our parents were called and I was grounded for two weeks. Two years later I had fingered two of those girls...because I'm a bad ass motherfucker.

Fuck, fuck, fucking motherfuck and more fuck.

Things I noticed: - Lots of Beastie Boys samples getting dropped in the tracks. Makes me wonder if the Beasties actually had credibility in the 80s rap scene - Ren sounds a lot like the lead guy from Jurassic 5 on "Something Like That". The guy who's not Chali Tuna. - Dre brings a surprisingly clean message on Express Yourself. A self-positive, anti-drug, pro-meditation, happy tune on a gangster rap album? What an odd duck on the tracklist - I've never understood why people clown on Dr Dre's rhymes. He seems solid. - Every track left me wishing Ice Cube would jump in with a yayeeYAYYEE, we be clubbin style. This album was fun ("If It Ain't Ruff"), I know its important, but I didn't have any interesting thoughts about it. B-

Good album all the way through, with no filler. Its the god damn birth of G-Funk, the rise of Dre, Ice Cube, EazyE, Ren, the DOC. The birth of West Coast Hip Hop and a wide spreading of gangsta rap. The incredible songs (that still hold up) all the way through are only surpassed by the cultural significance of the album.

This is one of the albums I think of when I think of how present day rap was defined. I remember when I was younger we called it gangster rap but I just read something about how N.W.A. referred to it as "reality rap" instead and my adult mind agrees with that description more. This is the type of album that makes me appreciate the creativity that goes into producing a rap song. It's not my go-to genre of music but I have so much admiration for this craft.

As opening tracks go, Straight Outta Compton is a bloody good way to announce yourselves. Following it up with Fuck Tha Police, a song which is even better is terrifying. I'd be scared at this point to even try to compete with this! Gangsta Gangsta is alright too, 808 beeps and all. The quick bit of 70s soul and the Funky Worm sample give a quick hint of what Dre might be up to in a few year's time! It drops right off after this. If It Ain't Ruff and Parental Discretion are sooo dated when you look at other acts putting records out this year. And 8 Ball's 5 minutes feel like 20, in spite of the Beastie Boys samples. Like putting Kurtis Blow in a battle against Kendrick Lamar. This contrast sums up the album. When NWA have something to say, this is a five star album. When they don't, it's outdated old school hip hop except (golly gosh) they swear a lot. The bangers get fewer and further between as the album goes on. You have maybe 5 great songs on this (three all timers) and a lot of filler. NWA's reputation really did the rest. I'm glad they upset all the right people, but even so, I can't give it five stars - it does get four just for the three classics (the singles).

Liked the music but I just couldn’t get on with the sexist lyrics.

FUCK POLICE!

It’s interesting how old white people praise Johnny Cash, who sang countless songs about killing people. And praise Bob Dylan for his political lyrics. And love bands like Aerosmith who wrote all these songs about sex. And then they’ll decry how violent, sexual, and subversive rap artists like NWA are. Is it racism? Yeah. I think so. This album is electric. So much energy, so lively. The beats are funky and fun. The mix is exciting. These songs are inherently political. “Fuck tha Police” is just as relevant today as ever. And “Express Yourself” is a call to action for rappers (and to the tone deaf media), proclaiming the importance of freedom of expression—ironically avoiding profanity while criticizing rappers for avoiding profanity to end up on the radio. It feels like they’re creating a “sleeper cell” to infiltrate the radio and bring people to their album. Brilliant. Has some of it not aged well? Yeah, but neither have a lot of the greatest pieces of art. What an album. There’s a reason NWA changed the game.

So I won’t hand out many easier five stars than this - as brilliant, fun, dangerous, ridiculous as it ever was. Listened on a walk this morning despite putting this on quite a lot anyway and had a shit eating grin as wide as 13 year old me on Xmas day 1989 when I managed to get this past my mum for Xmas 😂 the only rap album I know every single word to. MC Ren technically the best, Ice Cubes lyrics untouchable, Dre and his production, Eazy E just being Eazy E - a game changing album for me personally and for rap music in general - hard to believe what this spawned - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the more iconic records of this genre. The problem I’ve got with this and others like it is theyre just so one dimensional. Great music, great flow, but lyrically suspect. If I had a pound for every time there was a reference to bitches, money, or being hard as fuck, Id probably have about £147. It just gets old, quickly. Sadly the more important themes which they cover incredibly well are still prominent 30 odd years on which is fucking shameful. That said, it is enjoyable especially as background music. Production is great and they manage to include a few different influences throughout it (I’m sure they borrowed a riff or two from Bowie, especially in Gangsta Gangsta). First time I’ve properly listened to these outside of their hits, but I’ll be back. Probably a 3.5 but I’ll round up to a 4.

I remember when Northwest Airlines came out with this album. Very controversial at the time. Very controversial now. Crazy talented line-up. I hadn't realized that they sampled the Beastie Boys at the 2:32 mark of 8 Ball

“I got a boyfriend.’ Bitch stop lyin!” Eazy-E ruined every song he was on

I haven’t heard this before I’m thinking I have probably heard a lot of the songs on it at one point or another. The music is iconic but the contemptuous treatment of women and gays makes it hard to get down with. This hasn’t aged well. A fine historical artifact but nothing I would listen to or recommend today.

I hate this putrid crap.

The lyrics are provocative, the beats are tight. And I don't just think that because I'm white. The message is evocative and the samples iconic. This shit hits harder than the dankest chronic. The world wasn't ready when album was dropped. The sensible conservative hearts all stopped. The FBI sent them a cease and desist, and when they asked for security, no cops would assist. Their use of hyperbole to make a point, glides through this album like a smooth joint. And so they became the beats that they dropped, and etched their names as gods of hip-hop. This album is definitely one for the shelf, so I'm gonna quit making a fool of myself. Beyond that, I've got nothing else to say say. Except, in closing, they live up to the name, NWA. Tracks I enjoyed: 8 ball, I Ain't tha 1 and of course Fuck Tha Police

this is the first gangsta rap album ever and keeping that mind they created a masterpiece without any modern influences. dr dre, ice cube, eazy e and more are stars on their own. this being their debut album is crazy. controversial lyrics make this record. the perspective of the group is so interesting to look at and to hear.

Hadn’t listened to this in a few years. Starts off hard, first two tracks are amazing. Ice Cube’s delivery on point. I found myself getting a little burnt out after that. Hip hop sound has come so far in terms of production, quality of samples and skill of MCing. Not denying the influence of this record. I just didn’t find it exciting like I once did.

Oof, dreadful. I hate rap, only managed a track and a half then tapped OUT (motherfucker)

One of the worst albums ever made.

7th April 2022 Listened throughout the day while in the office. Went out to ping pong then drinks after with work people. One of the greatest came straight outta Compton.

Some works of art establish themselves as inflection points in their art. SOC is one of those albums. Dre blew doors off the boom bap standard with the innovative west coast g funk sound while Ice Cube and Wren's storytelling broke gangster rap to the world. I mostly don't find the album all that listenable these days but Straight Outta Compton still slams and is always good for stoking my mostly dormant teen defiance. Fuck that Police is timeless and a good reminder that police violence against blacks isn't something new. I'd definitely encourage Mara to listen to Express Yourself but the original Charles Wright version is my preference. The rest of the album has some catchy funk worthy of an old school party.

Lots of foundational stuff. I forgot how good the D.O.C was. A distinctly different flow and rhyming pattern than the typical old school rapper. This group was better than the sum of its parts RIP Eazy-E Early Dre was more influenced by funky funk beats and I miss that . More groovy/danceable stuff. From the snoop era thru the chronic 2001, the beats had some catchy hooks but it was like weed laced with heroin. Smooooooothed out. Not for me

N.W.A. built on the foundation laid by Ice-T and Schooly D. Cube’s hyperbole and sense of humor combined with Dre’s beats were aided by the antics of the PRMC and a formal introduction of rap to white audiences through the unprecedented popularity of the Beastie Boys resulting in a real zeitgeist moment for the group. Without airplay, it became a big hit, made gangsta rap a viable product for the masses, and put the West Coast on the map. Dre would go on to be a better producer (with a hell of a business acumen) and Cube would go on to add a bit of social commentary to his angry street persona (and make many a dumb comedy), but this remains the collective’s most powerful statement together or apart. There are cringey moments.. rap more than any other genre seems to date itself not only through the prolific time stamps throughout its history but by being a record of the mentality of its auteurs. The album would be important beyond the hype given its subtle political message- young black men in America were mad (righteously so) and this was, if nothing else, a way to express that anger without the fear of incarceration. Unfortunately, through both the mechanisms of a society that was censorshiptastic (which was oddly directed with more penalty at African Americans - systemic racism at its finest) and other’s attempts to be real (even if they weren’t), gangsta rap wasn’t a healthy or prison free outlet for very long. They weren’t the first or even the best gangsta act, but they were the big bang and the album is a landmark for hip hop, in both positive and negative ways.

The hits hit hard. The entire album is a little more mixed. Some of the subjects are going to come across as dated. I try to keep the context in mind when rating this one. An iconic album but not as complete as I remember it.

this has nothing to do with how i feel about the album but it is objectively funny to go from this to "are we there yet"

An important album that could've used some editing. Cut this down to a tight 30 minutes and it's a perfect 5. At an hour? 3 feels right

"Dre makes the beats so fun-fun-funky" its true. You can hear the roots here of the production that would dominate the 90s emerging from the sparse drum-machine big BOOM BOOM TISH formula with layering samples from a deep well of jazz, funk and soul - taken to an extreme on what's basically a genre-reinvention cover of Express Yourself, but more varied on most of the other tracks that borrow from 4-7 songs at a time to put a rhythm together. Having a bunch of different rappers performing across the album keeps it fresh, but the songs are all too long/repetitve and the album could be trimmed down a bit too.

I know this is groundbreaking. There are clearly great moments and aspects. But I have trouble listening to so much misogyny and violence.

This is a complicated album. NWA were and are some of the most talented and innovative artists in music. Any hip hop artist (and many artists in other genres) owe a lot to this group and its members. And frankly, while I probably loved this album in my teens, in my forties, I’m not sure I want to hear some of this stuff. It’s brilliant and groundbreaking. And misogynist and homophobic.

Racist, misogynist, violent, hateful. Great beats and delivery, but whining about how hard it is in the 'hood gets tedious. This isn't improving things is it? Just stirring up more racist hatred. Stupid beyond belief.

Musically, this has actually aged quite well (probably due to Dre and Yella’s production) However, while the lyrics on tracks like FTP and the title track are still relevant today, there’s still a lot of evidence of misogyny and homophobia across the record (despite this being considered the norm at the time) Still, you can’t deny that this ended up being one of the most influential albums in music, let alone hip-hop Favourite tracks: Straight Outta Compton, FTP, Express Yourself

It is a combative yet playful record, and the first two tracks are fantastic.

I listened until I could stand it no more. 2*

On 'Something Like That', Dre explains what it takes to be a good MC: "To create something funky that's original / You need to talk about the place to be / Who you are, what you got, or about a sucker MC." Which pretty much nails all of his group's shortcomings. For his part, the beats are far fresher than the raps.

So much anger, and very one note. Didn't really know where the songs were beginning and ending, just one long profanity session.

Yeah yeah this album is important, groundbreaking and whatnot, but I really dislike gangsta rap. These guys just keep talking about themselves and what they gonna do and all I keep thinking is 'sit your ass down and shut up, get over yourself ffs'. So annoying, the beats, the guys, the lyrics

Don't get the hype around this one. Mediocre tunes and too much profanity

Vile. There’s something seriously wrong with humanity when so many people can give 5 stars to this violent, homophobic, misogynistic loser trash.

Horrible

Same review as yesterday. Dr. Dre is a sack of shit.

Gangsta (c)rap

This was a tough album to endure - I listened to the first 3 ‘songs’ and stopped listening to the album generator for 2 months! I gave it another go today and realised it’s not for me - too many issues to start I haven’t got the energy……..

Whe i started this project, I decided I'd listen to all of every album, no matter what. I quite enjoyed the first track but my resolve soon diminished as the album progressed

Over my head why this is revered. 3 planks spouting fantasy lyrics in a monotonous, single paced, rhythmically tedious, naff fashion. Pile of nonsense.

Argh

Never choose this. ever.

Fuck Da Police... How about Fuck This Shit?

I can’t do this

Not for me.

Hated it. I hate rap. This was particularly bad. Glorifying violence and drugs, chants about killing cops. Not for me.

There's some great songs on this album, but the pervasive misogyny made this difficult to get through. This isn't the casual sexism that you get in a lot of other media; this album *hates* women with several songs that amount to little more than screeds against "bitches." It's a tragedy, because this is otherwise an album about a group of people who feel like media (and life in general) is not made for them, and they're rightly angry about it. But then they turn around and do the same thing to another group of people. A historically very important album, which I'm glad I listened to, but holy shit.

Fuck the police. And women. And Mexicans. And... Surprisingly funky, but very little for me in this.

I’ll be honest, rap groups are absolutely hilarious to me. N.W.A. is literally just an edgier version of *NSYNC. I find it corny and it’s hard to believe that this was one of the defining albums in hip hop history. I’m resisting the inner urges to give this a 1. Never mind, the inner urges won.

p631. 1988. 1 star. Arrogant, puerile noise. Shouting "fuck" and "motherfucker" every other sentence is neither "big" or clever. This noise is obnoxious on pretty much every level - misogyny, homophobia, violence, toxic masculinity, its all there if you want it. I don't.

Instructive and an important album.

I’ve been exited to hear this one… The album starts with the title track a brilliant introduction to the album and a brilliant rap song! The turntable is used to it’s advantage in the second song fuck the police a very angry tune but rightfully angry. Gangsta gangsta is also a banger I love the guitar and siren samples and the lyrics are sharp and on point. If it ain’t ruff is still good but not as good as the last 3 but that’s fine as after 3 amazing song’s the next one will always look worse. Parental Discretion iz advised is a great tune I love the piano samples all across the song. 8 ball is a banger I love all of the false starts at the beginning of the song. Something like that is solid but not one of my favourites. I can’t deny how good of a song express yourself is to be honest I love the beat and the sample in this tune! Comptons N the house ( remix) is okay, probably my least favourite so far but nothing bad here. I ain’t the 1 has a great piano rhythm and yeah it’s solid but the piano is definitely the best bit. Dopeman is also a great tune it’s very obvious what it’s about and those “chopping” noises are cool. Quiet on tha set is solid but not one of my favourites. The album ends with something 2 dance 2 and yeah it’s danceable and a good party to end the album on. Overall it’s really good and has much more energy than most rap albums. 5/5.

cool

Loved it! Great instrumentals, great lyrics and a lot of energy

Absolute pure gold! Hard to relate some of the lyrics and context now - but if you're unfamiliar with the background, the group members and their stories I implore you to watch the film of the same name. As a 13 yr old white kid from England when this was released I didn't fully understand the underlying issues, and stories or context behind the tracks - it just seemed exciting and 'rebellious' to me. As a statement of intent, and a voice of a generation and community this is hard to beat. Buy it, download it, do whatever you have to and listen to this album.

Sick as fuck. Truly a classic.

It slaps.

Great classic

Adorei, deveria ter ouvido antes.

Straight up classic. This album was game-changing in so many ways. Taking p-funk samples and creating g-funk. The flow! Second to none. This album redefined rap, changing the West Coast paradigm and, without any question, powered the social movements that altered the whole course of the 1980s. The lyricsm, the power, the anger. It makes me genuinely a little bit sad that after 35+ years of young black men drawing attention to their issues, the systemic oppression... After god alone knows how many platinum records and oblivious people singing along to lyrics born out of pain, there's still bitches who only want them for their money. Straight Outta Compton has aged, it's true. The beats, the flow, the loops - have aged like fine wine. One could argue that the misogyny, homophobia and casual violence have aged like milk, but that might not be the best analogy. Misogyny is just as much a problem now as it was in the 1980s. Homophobia is thankfully decreasing, but in the US, at least, causal violence is still ever-present. As social commentary this album gets lots right and lots wrong. As music - it gets almost everything bang on right.

Initial thoughts: so much fun and energy out of everything. Lyrics may be too graphic for some but I think they compliment the sound surprisingly well. Every sample so far is full, fun and well mixed. Great variety of instruments Final thoughts: everything above still applies. Fantastic album Best song: Express Yourself Worst song: I Ain’t Tha 1

-classic -used to listen to this in middle school on my walk to the bus stop in the mornings loll :))

Love the whole damn thing

One of the greatest collabs ever

Catchy, gritty and way ahead of its time.

An absolute classic hip-hop album from NWA. Straight Outta Compton moved straight into the hearts of millions, even through all the controversy. In particular, after 6 months of playing Fuck Tha Police, Australia's youth radio station Triple J were censored from playing it, and subsequently staged a protest. The entire station went on strike and Express Yourself was put on repeat for 24 hours (350 times) instead of regular programming. The entre album is full of energy and angst, that allows everyone living outside their way of life to begin to understand and appreciate. Best: Fuck Tha Police; Express Yourself Worst: If It Ain't Ruff

Certified classic. It’s the pioneer of the gangster rap genre and brought in many different artists into the rap game. I never actually listen to the whole album because I never cared for 80s rap but I liked this more than I thought. It does show its age with the beats but they’re still great songs. I liked every track. My favorites being straight outta Compton, fuck the police, if it ain’t ruff, something like that, Compton’s N the house remix, dopeman remix

Good album.

An album that launched a genre. And every track is outstanding without that context. Easy rating here.

A lot of anger and pain went into making this. Lived, real, and if neither, the art is greater for their ability to convey the imagined. While I felt shouted at for the entirety of the album, I endured, and I have more compassion for people of color because of it. Great art changes you, even if -- and often because -- it makes you uncomfortable.

10/10

One of the greatest ever

Szalony matkojebca zwany Kostką Lodu!!! Uwielbiam tę płytkę, klasyka gangsta rapu w czystej postaci, 0 pozerki, sporo szokujących treści, a także relacji z tego co w sumie chłopaki doświadczali na co dzień. Klasyczne bity od Dr Dre się w sumie tak nie zestarzały, agresywny rap reszty chłopaków też zawsze miodne.

Just the vibe from this album is already 5 stars... I'm sitting at my desk all bored out of my mind... halfway through the album I'm pumped up talking to myself "Yeah, fuck da police, pussy ass nigga"

I really thought the lyrics were outstanding.

I thought I'd listened to this end-to-end before but didn't remember some of the later tracks. Still powerful and (sadly) relevant, and drives home how Ice Cube is an all-time great who gets lost in the Biggie/Tupac conversations.

Awesome hip-hop album. I really enjoy the sampling throughout this one, reminds me of Paul's Boutique in that sense. Stellar production. The lyrics remain incredibly relevant today, and they serve as exceptional political commentary. These guys are the literal OGs and it is well-deserved. Paved the way for an entirely new, experimental, and controversial style of music. Fave tracks: Fuck Tha Police, If It Ain't Ruff, Express Yourself

Iconic. Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, how can you go wrong?

Who am I to give less than 5 stars to this?

Good start

A game changer in the music history. But not quite my thing

Now this is rap music,loved it. I did listen to tone loc in the day but wished I got this album instead. Today’s rap (2021) is nowhere near this….bring back NWA

Still slaps.

Amazing album. Just the funk and soul combined with the raw power. Perfecto!

Brutal!

Finally a hip hop album! Classic album that sprung out a slew of some of the greatest hip hop albums ever released. A must listen to anyone who cares about the genre.