Reviews (page 10 of 14)
Not for me. I appreciate the importance of this album. Rating reflects that.
a classic, pivotal for its time and music going forward
Some of the songs on this album have become undisputed classics in rap, and the record itself is an important moment in hip hop. The album pushed rap into new places. Dr. Dre’s production defines the west coast sound, and the flows are ahead of their time, but all that’s secondary to the point of the album. It’s a big fuck you to everyone who’s not young black kid from Compton. They're saying this is what I’m about. Everyone hates me for it, and I like it that way. It’s not that they don’t care if it offends you. They hope it does. 3.6
Extreme anger and other antisocial rhymes set to a beat. I suppose if I was angry with the deck stacked against me I'd be all in. But as "music," this is DNQ.
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
Classic gangsta rap. Good beats, clever lyrics, good from beginning to end.
I know this is groundbreaking. There are clearly great moments and aspects. But I have trouble listening to so much misogyny and violence.
Catchy, funky, super aggressive and offensive but brilliant.
Very good. Intense. Occasional five star moments.
Now this one I did understand the words, and it’s an indisputable classic. I have to knock off a star, like I always seem to need to with these albums that are full of misogynistic lyrics. Otherwise a pretty perfect album.
Yeeeeeeesh. Some of those lyrics didn’t age well.
Influential, and Dre's production is fantastic, a pinnacle moment in hip hop history, but the lyrics are mixed, with a lot of points that still ring true today, but tons of homophobia, sexism, and a general view of violence for the sake of fun. It is hard to even say "that was just the time period," as groups like Public Enemy already had It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, something far more nuanced with just as good production. However, it is tough to deny the impact here. I mean, you still have people quoting the first two tracks' opening lines constantly, and there are tons of production moments that overshadow the lyrics so much that it is easy to tune out anything too hateful, but sometimes it just felt like being edgy for the sake of it. It spawned so many careers that did go on to create greater projects, but when it comes to classic hip hop groups, easy to put NWA on a lower bracket if this is their best material.
Filled with hits, beats, samples, hooks. Some songs toward the back half of the album were a little samey, and I feel like there's maybe a much more concise 40 minute album in here (though I wouldn't drop the two tracks that were included on the CD but not the vinyl album, I liked those). Really great listen though.
The beeeeeaaaaaaaattts. The beats. Amazing album. It’s really mean though.
This is a classic! Honestly I was a little disappointed that it didn't feel super different than a lot of the other hip hop albums from this era that we've listened to. But "Fuck Tha Police" is great.
ACAB
I'm fully unequipped to evaluate this on its relevance or merit but what I can say is that it's full of bangers with beats and instrumental stings that still feel like they could be released new today.
Classic beats but hard to get by the lyrics
good
Real cruisin’ album. Don’t really care about learning to drive but would great to be in a low top convertible pumping this album. Title track and “Express Yourself” are all timers but also really liked “Gangsta Gangsta” and “Parental Discretion Iz Advised”. Anti-role model music but the production should be appreciated by all. Samples go hard. Final song great energy. 4.2.
3 Stars. (8/15)
Normally, good albums can be described by words like “beautiful”, “fun”, or even “pleasant”. This album is none of those, but is still fascinating as a snapshot of life for those in Compton at that time, which makes the harshness and brutality of it an integral part. I’m not usually into rap, but this I was able to enjoy much more than usual. Still not a favorite of mine musically, but as a piece of protest art, this is extremely compelling
Went on a bit loo long, but I generally didn’t mind this. Varied enough to keep my interest for most of the hour, but I probably won’t listen again.
Enjoyed it but not enough for a higher rating.
It was better than I was expecting. But these guys should probably go to some anger management sessions.
This wasn’t for me really, some interesting stuff but most of it passed me by. I liked the way they talked about the police, I was less keen with how they talked about women. That being said I liked the sound of I Ain’t the 1 and the lyrics were clever and flowed well but it just left me with an icky feeling.
Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: 🔫📷😨 Production (2002 Remaster): 🫶🧊🎤 Music: 🔪⛓️🏎️ Rating: 💵💵💵💵(💵)/5
I had a pretty hard time with this at first, and I'm still kinda wrestling with Straight Outta Compton obviously being a landmark record with some pretty cutting-edge DJing and MCing at the time. It's a bit overlong, but the beats get better as the record goes on, some of the corny flow settles down into some old-school flow. Some of the sampling is ahead of its time and obviously influenced generations of hip hop artists to come. Still, I probably won't have this on for my own listening enjoyment, and while a lot of the material hasn't aged well, other parts of it are derivating even given the time period.
Despise the misogyny. And the violence is a bit much for me too.
Wow this gansta rap classic drops the hell off after track 3 (except Express yourself and I ain't the 1. I can see why Cube and Dre left to do their own things
Infantile lyrics, too bad talent is used like this.
So violent ad sexist 😬 it’s a solid album though.
Idk, whatever.
Fuck da police
Low 4
in the sea of mostly 70-80 rock, which is this list, any hip hop album instantly catches attention. and this is a classic
Why are all rap albums so long? Maybe my rate would be different if this lasted haft its time
Fuck fuck fuck the police
great singles
Title track and Fuck Tha Police epitomize classic rap, full of samples but with brutal lyrics that were ahead of their time. Really good 1-2 punch. Gangsta Gangsta isn't as good but If It Ain't Ruff is another strong one, Ren rapping solo over a simple beat. Then we have a couple of slower tracks with funky bass and interesting percussion. Something Like That and Express Yourself come close to hitting the heights again, but the second half is weaker and I'm torn over the final rating. Still a really great sounding album and undoubtedly a classic.
Way too long, but generally really good. Some complete bangers on the track list
Fuck the Police and all that. It’s still very relevant 36 years later. The misogynistic lyrics are extremely outdated and off putting by today’s standards, though.
I used to love this album and I understand the impact it had on rap/black america as a whole, but it’s 2024 and I can’t condone anything that glorifies beating women (esp when members genuinely were beating women, tho thanks for apologising Dre, I guess).
Bangs, obviously, but so many of the tracks are never gonna get into my daily rotation because of how they are about women. Favourite song: Parental Discretion
Ice Cube and Dre were amazing. I remember having a bootleg tape of this in high school and still remember every line. Amazing that they put out songs that remain so iconic when they were so young. Taking away one star for Eazy-E’s horrible misogyny.
At first, I was like I don’t understand why people like this. Of course I know the history and the significance but it’s not generally my type of music. But after listening a SECOND time. I fell in love. I really enjoyed a lot of these songs.
Real old school hip hop style album. So so easy to listen, and with cool vibes.
Ngl its also a good album. The language is very very intense though, especially the openers.
Good
3.8 probably one of the most important 80's rap albums faves: fuck da police, express yourself
great album. love this generation of rap. lots of bangers
Absolute classic. Massively influential but still sounds fresh 30+ years on. Yes, some of the lyrics are highly questionable but it is by no means the only album like that on this list. Fav songs: Express Yourself, Straight Outta Compton, Something Like That
My kindergarten class absolutely loved this!!! Fav songs: - Straight Outta Compton - Fuck Tha Police - Express Yourself
This album is pretty interesting as some of it is amazing while other parts are just ok. I think I'm more of a fan of Dr. Dre's style as his parts of songs tend to be much more interesting. The other songs sound a little primitive by today's standard. I do like the attitude of this album as you can tell they don't care what anyone thinks about them. Overall I admire the album but it's just not a five for me as it isn't as consistent or good as albums like Illmatic.
Damn this album still goes hard. The beats are solid and the lyrics are brutal. I'm not surprised it achieved such notoriety. So good to drive around to!
Wow, an iconic hip hop album. Not my genre, but good beats throughout. Highlights: straight outta compton, express yourself
Brilliant. Bad. Brutal. Unapologetically so. A great, challenging listen.
Though Dre disavowed this album in terms of production quality, the beats are working on just about every cut. Even "Something 2 Dance 2", which seems out of place but slaps in its own right. When Ice Cube is firing on all cylinders, he's a great lyricist. Five minutes of him talking about how he disrespects women ("I ain't the 1") is about five minutes too long. Everything else hangs together pretty well. Timeless.
You can’t deny the impact and influence this album has had for years and years to come. So many samples have been taken from this album, and just about every underground DJ mixtape has had tracks from this album on them. On a personal level, it’s kind of unfortunate, but albums like this really fall flat for me these days. Overall, I have to say my life is good, I’m pretty happy, and now when I listen to these types of albums, it reminds me of a younger, less evolved version of me. Yuck!!!
Easy 5 stars. So impactful and fill with amazing talent.
Not my thing, personally. However, the grooves were solid and if I didn't mind the lyrics too much I did find that I really enjoyed some of it. 5.5/10
Tja, hierdoor begint het weer te kriebelen. Een reviewachterstand van een week ongeveer, dat wordt even aanpoten. Maar deze glipt er even tussendoor uit de losse pols, want dit is gangsta rap, misschien wel mijn favoriete hiphop genre. En het is voor dit genre ook zo'n enorm belangrijke. Een opstand tegen police brutality en ongelijkheid, een oorlogsverklaring aan de politie, maar ook de verheerlijking van grof geweld en het objectificeren van vrouwen. In feite de belichaming van de gangsta rap. De mannen komen zo keihard binnen op de openingstrack Straight Outta Compton. De classic Fuck Tha Police doet het ook altijd goed. Gangsta Gangsta heeft al een vleugje G-Funk, een stijl die pas een aantal jaar later écht populair werd. Gesampled van Ohio Players - Funky Worm. Lekker hoor. Er staan ook nummers op die niet helemaal aan de bekende nummers kunnen tippen, het is geen gangsta rap album als All Eyez On Me of Ready To Die waarbij letterlijk elk nummer een knaller is. Straight Outta Compton een groundbreaking album dat zeker gezorgd heeft voor de exponentiele groei van de gangsta rap en g-funk. Het album is verre van perfect, maar deze hiphop pioniers verdienen een dikke voldoende. Rating: 7,5/10 Highlights: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Dopeman
The birth of Gangster Rap, zo kun je dit wel noemen. De politieke West Coast tegenhanger van Public Enemy, maar wel van een hele andere schaal. Waar Public Enemy de staat bijna de rechtbanken in sleurde, focuste N.W.A. zich vooral op hood politics. Het straatleven wordt op rauwe, grafische wijze op tape gezet, met 'Straight Outta Compton' en 'Fuck Tha Police' als paradepaardjes. Het was de vonk voor een revolutie, waarin de mood in het genre veranderde. Hip Hop was nu niet alleen een uitlaatklep voor de minderbedeelden, maar ook een wapen tegen onderdrukking. De bevolkingsgroep waarvan de gezaghebbers in de US wilden dat hij niet te veel gehoord werd, was ineens de aller luidste. Dit keerpunt in de gemoedstoestand binnen de Hip Hop scene, en in de straten van urban USA in het algemeen, kan niet ondergewaardeerd worden. Maar toch klikte deze tak van sport binnen de rapmuziek - gelukkig - nooit helemaal met mijn gemoedstoestand. Het is een beetje een ver van je bed show, net als 'Rage Against The Machine' dat was. Wel moet ik toegeven dat ik aangenaam verrast was door de verscheidenheid in beats, waar lang niet alles wordt gedreven door een agressieve drum machine zoals in de titelsong. Het contrast tussen sommige bijna cartooneske samples en de vurige lyrics van de N***** with Attitude was opvallend, maar hielt het album wel vermakelijk van start tot eind. Maar het album schiet in mijn oren wel te kort in echte statements van het niveau van het openingsduo. Ice Cube was on fire, en hij redde nog een hoop songs, maar het was over het algemeen een beetje flets. Als geheel prima, maar de plaat leverde weinig momenten om echt voor terug te komen. Na de luisterbeurt kan ik dan ook alleen maar concluderen dat de hoes iconischer is dan de muziek die hij omhult. 6,5/10 Highlights: Straight Outta Compton
Ganster rap classic en een iconisch album. Maar wel iconisch van een genre en stijl wat toch wat ver bij mij af staat. Het voelt wat vreemd om een politiek beladen en boos album als Straight Outta Compton te beoordelen als vermakelijk en 'goeie beats' maar mijn leefwereld staat nou eenmaal iets te ver af hetgeen de N.W.A. be-rappen in hun tracks. So be it, misschien. Ik houd het hier daarom ook maar gewoon bij voor nu. 5/10 Highlights Straight Outta Compton Fuck tha Police
Fuck the police. 5 stars for that
This album changed my life and it was a main influence on me as a teen. I was into Ice-T and Public Enemy discovering social injustice rap along with Rage against the machine. Understanding the world we live and how minorities are bullied and abused over a century+ This screw everything I aint affraid to fight or speak up got my pokitical views in order to what I am today. Absolutely top 10 rap albums ever
6,5/10 Норм, классическая чёрная рэпчина. Негры делают то что умеют лучше всего. Не имею ничего против хоршей рэпчины, главное чтобы не русской. Вообще, само по себе существование термина "русский рэп" это сюр, данный "жанр" должен называться коричневый звук. Возвращаясь к альбому, опять же classic, я бы даже сказал true story.
5 star classic gangsta rap album. Fire from start to finish.
Fuck tha police indeed. All timer. Don't think it quite gets to 5*. 87/100
niente di entusiasmante..
A very impactful rap album. Some of the beats are pretty funky, although some of the production elements sound dated today. MC Ren, for being featured on so many tracks, has lots of unremarkable bars. This is definitely an example of what people who don't like rap think what rap is. I think Ice Cube has lots of poignant lines and biting deliveries. Some songs seem aggro for aggro's sake, like "I Ain't The 1." I can appreciate the album in small doses, but I'm a big fan of the works spawned after this
Gonorrhea mentioned
An important album in the hip hop landscape to be sure but if I'm being honest the album is pretty mid. Aside from Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police and Express Yourself there isn't much here worth listening too.
Mehhhhh
It's iconic, but is it actually good? The singles are what you would expect, but they're as good as this album gets.
Already rated this on rym (4/5). However, after a relisten, I dropped my rating to 3.5, but leaning towards a 4. A classic, but not really one to revisit as a whole. tracks straight outta compton, fuck tha police, gangsta gangsta, and express yourself are obvious highlights of the album. side a is a pretty good track run. side b (express yourself an exception) is pretty much full of duds and was a slog to get through. rated original track listing Personal favs: gangsta gangsta (eazy e verse goes crazy), express yourself
Most attention (for good reason) was paid to the lyrics when it came out but 40 yrs later it’s the production that stands out. The Dre beats are light years ahead of the simple drum machine production you hear in all the late 80s east coast rap and this album starts him on a path to be the most influential musician of his generation (in my opinion). Also Ice Cube is really the only good rapper in the group and he’s absolutely shot out of a cannon on this album. No doubter 5 stars
4.7 If they make a movie about it, you get a 5 star.
This record is oddly nostalgic for me, as a white boy who listened to this a ton throughout middle and high school. Not that I was trying to be "gangsta" per se, but I was consuming a lot of media at the time that included this era of hop-hop (The in-game radio for GTA: San Andreas was highly influential to me in that regard) and I fell in love with this "Golden Era" of hip-hop the more I was exposed to it. N.W.A. was a force, albeit a short lived one. They were clear and concise in their messages and opinions on the establishment and the police force (which makes you question how much has really changed nearly 36 years later). I think the first three tracks summarize this album and N.W.A. pretty well: displaying their gangster image and character ("Straight Outta Compton", "Gangsta Gangsta") and their aggressive, anti-law enforcement views that many know them for ("Fuck tha Police"). Complete with hard, yet clear, delivery from each of the MCs involved as well as some pretty iconic sampling and mixing scattered throughout. Listening with older ears though, makes me a little more aware on how poorly some of the lyrical content has aged. Misogyny, toxic masculinity, extreme violence, etc, these were all too common in hip-hop from this era and it's hard to block them out when you listen to these albums nowadays. This was a genre-shifting album and has a rightful place on this list. You can honestly hear this shift in real time as the album progresses, with a lot of the samples and beats you'd hear in early 80's hip-hop, combined with the hardcore lyrical delivery. This launched gangsta rap into the mainstream for a bit and in a more general sense, gave the west coast an even bigger seat in the hip-hop scene.
straight up gangster rap. another one of those albums where it's pretty much the definition of the genre. it's very vulgar, a lot of the material is absolutely not for the average audiences. this is an album you really, REALLY wouldn't want your parents listening to and i mean it so strongly. is it still good? absolutely. scratchy boomin' beats, violent, and yet really catchy lyrics, and despite all the shock value, is objectively great and is a raw and true glimpse at gang culture during this time.
While I do listen to rap, I probably don't listen to enough to have truly thoughtful commentary on this album. But I understand its place in shaping the genre of gangsta rap. Obviously a lot of the lyrics haven't aged well - the blatant misogyny is hard to stomach, for one. But not so surprising for its time. What's also hard to stomach is how Fuck Tha Police still rings as true today as it did then. That track, Express Yourself, and Something to Dance To are the standouts for me every time I listen to this album.
OK, let's address the obvious. The lyrics can be.. no, they are, very hostile. However, this album (lyrics included) is pretty incredible. The influence can't be denied. Hearing a young Cube, Dre, and Eazy-E create the foundations of gangsta rap is pretty special, and they don't hold back dishing out their view (from that time period) on racial injustices.
Their Spotify description quote literally begins with, ‘NWA, the unapologetically violent and sexist pioneers of gangsta rap’. … … … … I finally understand what ‘dated’ production is. And every ‘song’ (out of the three half-things I listened to) has the SAME background. babs. omg shut the fuck up what am i even listening to 0/10
From its amazing opening to its, albeit odd closer, I really liked this record and will be going back to it for many years. It's always been on my list but I've never gotten around to actually getting to it until today.
Imagine being Arabian Prince, huh? You're on one of the most seminal, famous and influential rap albums of all time, and your only contribution to it is... "Something 2 Dance 2". A weak, wack-ass elecrtrodance track that sounds nothing like everything else on the album. Imagine: that's on the same album as the title track, with its driving, forecul production. It's on the same album as "Fuck Tha Police", so infamous for its calling out of the cops (even though it's really only Cube's verse) that it got an FBI letter. It's on the same album as "8 Ball (Remix)", with its amazing interweaving of samples. It's on the same album as "I Ain't The 1", which... OK, to address the lyrical content, a lot of the violence n' whatnot I've seen people ding it for can be easily excused, at least in my eyes, by the fact that they were just rapping about their reality at the time. And who am I, or anyone, to tell them how to represent their stories? But the misogyny, mm, that's a little less excusable. Hasn't aged all that well—not that it was any good at the time, but you know what I mean. That being said, though, I'unno why I'd spend in my time railing against nearly 40-years old lyrics when it'd probably be more worth everyone's time to address the misogyny still ongoing in modern rap. Although that's besides the point. Even despite that and it's weird, kinda corny beat, at least Ice Cube's delivery and flow are really good. Imagine all of that coming beforehand, nearly an hour of classic gangsta rap, and then you show up for dated production with barely any lyrics or flow with an alright sample usage at best. And as an album closer—don't get me started! If I were Arabian Prince, I'd be kind of embarased. Especially considering how hard he's been written out of the group's history. Goodness, he's on the damn album cover, but even a Wikipedia-style summary of their history like the STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON biopic can't make time for him. Although, to be fair, despite his appearance on the cover, he wasn't actually in the group at the time, so I don't know how they woulda fit him in anyway. And all that said, I can't actually say I dislike "Something 2 Dance 2". Frankly, I find it too goofy in how out-of-place it is to dislike it. And besides, I rag on Arabian Prince, but he was still on STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON. I wasn't, and you weren't either. He's got that legacy going for him. Oh, and, uh, album's a 5, by the way. Not gonna argue with the current group average. I mean, **damn**, that shit was dope.
One of the best damn debuts you'll hear from the hip hop genre.
I'm gonna put a 5, for the sake of the website, but realistically, I’m surprisingly only at a 4, because I just can’t bump it up from a 4.5. Don’t get me wrong, I really want to bump this up to a 5, and maybe on a better day, I can, but like… I dunno, this album kinda falls off after Track 8 for me. I really do think those first 8 tracks cover a great variety of soundscapes, great lyricism, and if it had climaxed on Express Yourself as a totally honest closing track, it’d totally be a 5. I think it just overstays its welcome afterwards, mainly because the last 5 songs are really long, taking up over a third of the album’s runtime by mostly retreading old ground, circling the subject matter a few too many times, or being outright horrendously misogynistic like on Dopeman (Remix). The last 2 tracks are fun though, so like… I dunno, 10 out of 13 isn’t bad? It’s just an album that goes a little too long – based on like, pure vibes, this album would totally get a 5; it’s just an incredible snapshot of its time, and Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and Dr. Dre (who really doesn’t even do THAT much on this album in terms of actually rapping) are all on top of their game here. I just think the entire album experience ends up at a 4 because of the run of Compton’s N The House, I Ain’t Tha 1, and Dopeman (Remix) just kinda killing the vibes. Cut those 3 tracks, I’m easily at a 5. With those 3 tracks, I’m stuck on a 4. Regardless, it’s an all-time classic album and it easily deserves to be on this list.
bevat beste en meest iconische hip-hop songs ooit, maar het is veel te lang, begin is sterker dan tweede helft. Maar zeker een goed album: 3/5 of 3,5/5 beste tracks: Express Yourself, straight outta compton, fuck tha police en gangsta gangsta
lyrics, beat and a great tempo - enjoyable; dated? sure, but it was groundbreaking back in the day
Ground breaking.
When this came out, loved it. While the beats are stellar the rage is pure, and the sense of encapsulated history is accurate, a lot of slurs and denigrative language should remain in the past.
The beats were very groovy, but the lyrics were full of mysogyny, violence, and homophobia . At first I was gonna knock it down a point for that, but I decided I can enjoy the music even if I disagree with it. Mid to high 4. Favorite track: express yourself
Classic
Misogynie und homophobie abzug >:(
Incredible in every sense of the word. Filled with action, filled with power, and filled with attitude. The samples and production were all top notch and even mind blowing here and there (lookin at you 8 Ball). Might be the most polarizing on this list, but damn is it good. Favorites were Gangsta Gangsta, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, 8 Ball, and Express Yourself
A classic for a reason. This feels like the inflection point where mainstream hip-hop shifted in the direction it would take for the next 15 years. The beats are still really good. A little too long. Favorites were Straight Outta Compton, Fuck The Police, Express Yourself. And Gangsta Gangsta
I was ready with my standard criticisms of rap and hip-hop - skits I don't understand, over long, boring, bland and repetitive ... but this is really good. Yes, it is still a long album an hour on the original release, hour and a quarter on the re-issue with bonus tracjs), but the production and rapping is clear, Ice Cube and Eazy-E especially have great flow, and there are no skits to annoy me. Over all, I enjoyed this - easily one of the best rap albums I've heard.
I don’t like rap
Some interesting wresting stuff
Great production and synergy between the group. Perfect at the gym
Enjoyed it a lot - aged really well for a rap album from 1988
A fantastic album. A political or social piece perhaps but with some great beats and lyrics.
Some great songs and obvious classic but it's a bit too ''early'' in terms of rap style for my taste
Classic gangster rap but misogynistic lyrics. Gritty portrait of 90s urban USA. Fuck the Police is a banger though.
I guess I never really listened to this album all the way through. I was aware it was controversial, and I’ve definitely heard some of the songs, I think I listened to this all the way through years ago. That being said, I didn’t realize how sexist this album is. I would say it’s of its time but I’m pretty sure this wasn’t acceptable even for the 80s. No, I think they were doing it for shock value, and if that’s the case it still didn’t age well. I still like some of the stuff on here, Express Yourself is low key the best song on the album. That and the hits are all solid, even though I can’t stand Eazy E. His voice just irks me. But this one def takes a hit for how poorly some of the songs aged. However, one song has definitely stood the test of time, and unfortunately its message still holds true today. This country really needs to take a deep look into the rampant racism in policing.
I don’t listen to a lot of rap so I have been looking to expand this direction. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this album but I probably won’t go back to it very often because it’s a really angry album. Rightfully so but still.
N.W.A. = NSFW. That’s good. Harrison Butker would not approve. Also good. The pre-ACAB ACAB record. Cool samples, but the misogyny and homophobia loses it a star
I love how political some these lyrics are, and the samples and turns of phrase are so good. Don’t love the homophobia and misogyny. Fuck the police has never felt more relevant.
absolutely fuckin psyched i love this album!! straight outta compton - fucking HISTORIC i miss old 'pass the mic' style rap so bad fuck the police - this song is more important than the iliad gangsta gangsta - this one is fun and the samples are great if it ain't ruff - good vibes but weaker than a lot of the other tracks parental discretion- underrated track imo 8 ball - okay but that beastie boys sound fucking incredible something like that - the conversation intro to this song always cringes me out lol express yourself - ahhh the fun lil instrumental! compton in the house - okay but was this one really necessary i aint tha one- GETTIN PLAYED LIKE A POOP BUTT dopeman - simple but great (too long tho i think) quiet on set- one of the groovier tracks something 2 dance 2 - what the fuck even is this but i can't get mad at it bonus beats- it's beats and i have youtube compilations for that now so a bitch is a bitch- is it horrible? yes. am i gonna vibe anyway? also yeah sorry yall Uhhh you think I can rate the album with 'fuck tha police' anything other than a 5?
Had a hard time rating this album. Really liked the beat and music, but the misogyny and macho were too much for me. I’m obviously not the target demo for their music and im sure it laid the foundation for a lot of great stuff, but was clearly written by men in their early 20s, although some of the lines are very funny and love the guy who came out as anti-foreplay good for him!
Loves the sampling, Express yourself and Fuck that Police were high points. Don't love the misogyny.
Dnf but I liked If It Ain’t Ruff
They (mainly ice cube) sure do hate women. Fuck tha police is 5 star.
I ain’t the one, the one to get played like a pooh butt. This album is an interesting time capsule. Equal parts funny, vulgar, and outdated. I liked it best when I played it off the speakers on my phone. Without a vested interest in the history of rap, it serves as a compelling "before" to the more musically and lyrically complex rap that is popular now (I say, as a total outsider). I came into this album amid the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef. In comparison, the lyrics, beats, and flows all seemed really simplistic. It took listening to about half the album and then going back to adjust my expectations and then appreciate this album for what it is. Obviously, in context this album has a lot of value, but I was curious if I could enjoy this album as just something to listen to! Letting the songs be kind of goofy and funny on their own terms gave me an angle to appreciate it. Still, I’m unlikely to revisit this album except for a bit. Delighted to find that Ice Cube was my favorite! Standout tracks: I Ain't Tha 1, Dopeman, Quiet On Tha Set
Truly a land of contrasts
huge and majorly influential gangsta rap album. These dudes are pissed and let you know it. Some songs actually have a reasonable or even valuable points (Fuck Tha Police, Express Yourself), but messages of violence, misogyny, and homophobia ring throughout (the latter 2 being whacker, but also potentially representative of N.W.A.’s experiences). There are a range in beats showing Dre getting started - some are pretty basic with a little funk in there while some are stone-cold classics (Express Yourself) and both they fit the sound well and are likely a step up from what else was happening at the time. A picture into a culture that has faced inequity and injustice, are pissed at the world, and will take it out in anyone in their way. The albums comes out blazing but doesn’t quite maintain those highs, but still a solid listen that provides an interesting snapshot of LA street life.
Album so good they made a movie about it. Singlehandedly made west coast hip hop huge and defined gangsta rap up untill this day. 5/5
Albums get 1 star per song on the album i liked. so an unrated album i didn't like any songs on
Could not get through two songs. Absolutely awful.
Archetypal screaming gangster rap. There is some political content about racism, but it's delivered with the subtlety of a power drill. The rest is repetitive and irritating self-praise and threats of violence, mostly against the police, women. There's not much interesting going in the instrumentation either - just a lot of heavy 808 kick drum and some scratching, gun sounds, police sirens etc. I normally listen to all albums all the way through even if I don't like them, but the first four tracks are enough to tell me this is my first 1 on this site.
I'm not a fan of the genre at all, but some of the songs were surprisingly funky and fun to listen to (especially the first three tracks). At the same time, I can't get behind the things they're rapping about. This album did not age well. 2.5 stars for me 'cause I recognise that this is a classic for the genre, and although it (lyrically) doesn't hold up today, it must have been groundbreaking when it came out.
Loved it.
Belligerent, tough as nails, with flashes of brilliance. Lyrically a bit hard to take. Fave Songs: Express Yourself, Straight Outta Compton
Strangely fun and aggressive. Enjoyable.
I don't like rap. The language is awful. But I really like the sound and stories of the songs.
Some of the lyrical content has not changed well, but such a classic. Re-defined the genre
Classic tbh
while not exactly my type of music, solid beats, fun samples weaved in, etc. Obvious seismic impact on the music scene, solid entry on the list
HORRIBLE
I was going to say Straight Outta Compton is a world changing album but unfortunately that’s not true, sadly it’s at least as relevant today as it was in 1988. The aggression, anger and energy of the opening few tracks most have been shocking in 1988. Fuck Tha Police is one of the most iconic songs ever written. The album drags on however, once again, a hip hop records that’s too damn long 7.7/10
After listening to Straight Outta Compton, I have found it is pretty groovy and fun. In some ways, it kinda feels like an early version of Cypress Hill, another hip hop album i quite like. The lyrics still give the idea that the group doesn't really have a good relationship with the cops and that's the kind of lyrics i like most of this album. The album was also rather well produced with all the samples coming together quite well. It is a rather good hip hop album that i think is perfect for all the gangsters still out there. Best Song: Straight Outta Compton Worst Song: Express Yourself
Obviously a classic but not my kind of hip hop really. Bit too aggressive, not enough smooth samples etc. Quite a tough listen all in.
One of those albums that's innately part of the story of a genre that it's innate quality can get lost in discussion. Huge tracks and huge production. Changed music.
Quite enjoyable 7/10
And definitely one of the best hip-hop albums of that time.. One thing is that it definitely age poorly regarding some of the words and waves women and others were talked about. This album is very violent. I love the beats the time and some songs are still awesome but have to give this only a 3.5/5 because of the violence etc.
first listen i can't relate to the contents of this album BUT as someone who values authenticity i appreciate the brashness and Cube's beats and bars are timeless
A classic! Hard rhymes and great samples. My friend Bubba got this album when we were in high school, and when he played it for me, my mind was blown. So much "language," but at the same time, I knew we were listening to something special.
Awesome! Great beats and loads of samples. Dr. Dre was ahead of his time and shows why he has been so successful up to today.
If you can get past the slurs, the album is great.
Good album with some excellent lyrics.
Although this album has three absolute bangers, the rest of the album just isn't as good. Some of it has aged badly, some of it always felt like filler. It's a very strong 4 star album, but it's not quite good enough for 5 stars. Efil4zaggin is a similar story and I often though that taking the best tracks from each album, putting them together, ditching all the rest of the material, would produce a killer 45 minute beast of an album.
Great music, points out inequality, but I am not a huge fan of the promotion of violence especially disrespect of women. I am torn on rating
Album 399 of 1001 N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton Rating : 1 / 5 A bunch of clowns contributing to the ruination of a large swath of society. Hate to sound like an old man yelling at clouds, but there is nothing redeemable about this crap. Any bit of talent or production is overshadowed by the overall end product. Their so-called "message" could have been delivered without encouraging so much of the youth to be total trash.
Good and influential rap and beats that aged very poorly in some parts (see ‘I Ain’t Tha 1’). End of review
Listened
So gritty and raw
It’s a classic
This is an amazing, iconic album by a similarly iconic rap group. NWA really left their mark on hip hop in a big way. Are some of the lyrics problematic? Sure, but that can be said about so many albums on this list in all genres. It’s not exclusive to rap, though I see it levied as a criticism almost exclusively to rap albums on this list. But I digress. One thing about NWA that I find different from a lot of other groups is that all of their rappers are insanely talented, but also so different. Even in other groups with multiple artists, there are usually weaker members, but not in NWA. Everyone is a talented lyricist and rapper. The first 3 songs come out the gate hot and set the tone for the album. While I don’t love every song here, the good ones are so good, and it’s a solid album top to bottom.
A classic
Was considering a 4 but too much explicit language…
All around top album!! A song I havent heard before that I enjoyed on this album was "I Ain't Tha 1".
4 because I don’t like the lyrics although I understand the impact. Otherwise it would have been a 5
I get that it's a classic, I hear the talent, I enjoy the listen, but I can't get past the lyrics, too much misogyny.
I oscillated between 2 and 4 several times while listening to this. I mean within the genre, this was no Arrested Development where everything was top notch. Some great tracks. Some historic tracks. Some duds. Some offensive world views that shouldn't be perpetuated and applauded. Let's average to a conflicted 3.
Top shit
I respect this album because of its influence on Hip-Hop and music as a whole. Additionally, it certainly has some incredible songs. I give it props for this. However, the album is just so jarringly sexist that I can't really get into it.
Tough one. Some good tracks and great lyrics, but also pretty misogynistic, crime and violence celebrating, young man bravado. Obvs hugely important, and often a lot of fun. I liked, but didn't love.
Gangsta rap gold. Here is the turning point of rap/hip hop. This was straight up shocking and controversial creating a benchmark for the genre. Dr. Dre made it so damn catchy while spitting along to the lyrical assault and battery.
Great
Musically important and lot of absolute bangers.
I reviewed the original album, not the 2002 remaster, I get a bit tired of the bonus mixes and tracks. This is a landmark album. Its social commentary on the realities of life in Compton is powerful. Its lyrics and performance is timeless, and although misogynistic, homophobic and violent, it needs these elements to convey the experiences of the band in that time and place. It's not woke, but to devalue it for that would be a dick move.
While I'm not a huge fan of gangsta rap or the messages it sends - this album is incredibly important in both the musical and historical landscapes of the time. Angry, raw and brave. I can't understand what its like to have grown up and lived in Compton, and while I find a lot of the lyrics challenging there is no denying how impactful and influential this album is sharing for an hour what it might be like to walk in the shoes of Dr Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube. It was groundbreaking at the time it came out, and as a big Beastie Boys fan I loved hearing all the samples in the NWA tracks. Probably not something I will revisit, but worth a listen!
This is a seminal album. Late-80s hip-hop was exploding into a fragmented place that would birth a universe. Public Enemy, Run D.M.C., De La Soul?, Tribe Called Quest, and N.W.A. all took direction to make that reality. N.W.A. took the hyper-masculine reality state to the stratosphere on this album. Every member of the group has their skill set on full display at full volume in support of some of the most violent and virulent lyrics imaginable. This is what it meant to be young, angry, and powerless as a black man in 1988. None of it is real, but it comes from the place of distorted realism in a young man's mind. Messages may not have aged well, they may ruffle feathers, but this was the world.
Once again with an ironclad CANON album. This is not only a must hear, but it is also socially very relevant, perhaps even moreso today than it was originally. It was brave then, now I don't even think anyone would dare be brave enough to put the truth out there quite like this... It is a shame really, and they did it with an extreme presence of mind that makes it as humorous as it is honest. This album was brilliant the day it came out and it still is. Hell yeah!
NWA is in tha house!!
Easy 5! I know I know it really doesn't hold up at all but for better or for worse it's a game changer.
This is the invention of gangsta rap and the launch of some pretty iconic individual artists (dare I say, icons). Definitely worthy of the list.
Could not stop bopping to this beat. No wonder why this album had the impact it had. Enjoyed every song.
Never get between someone and how much they wanna say the fuck word.
Great album. One of the first controversial albums I have ever owned.
In a world where “Straight outta…” is slapped on everything it’s easy to forget the cultural influence this album had. The title track followed by “F-the Police” were so hard hitting and revolutionary. Many people associate them with gangster rap but the lyrics show more of the statement about life in the late ‘80s LA. Though some tracks feel dated, others feel as relevant today as 1989. My favorite track is actually Express Yourself, in which Dr. Dre in a profanity-free, Staples Singers-Inspired track talks about everything from drug use to gun culture. His classic, slow flow turns the future superstar producer into a storyteller. This album is a relic, and as fresh as ever. Not something to play at a family BBQ but a classic none-the-less.
This album is legendary. Do I like it a bunch or want to listen to it often? Not really. It basically invented gangsta rap (apologies to Ice-T) and introduced the world to Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E. I had an uneasy relationship with the lyrics as a young man and my uneasy relationship with the lyrics and misogyny has only gotten more strained as a middle-aged man. "Straight Outta Compton" and "Express Yourself" are the standout tracks for me.
It is sad that they have a good anti-drug message in some songs, but then have such other trashy songs and language.
I for one am not from Compton. I do see its impact on today’s rap/hip-hop
This is the stuff that ruined hip-hop/rap for years. There is no justifying this, and definitely no justifying this being on this list. It's just violence, misogyny, and drugs. All this album does is glorify the depravity of humanity. There is nothing redeemable about this album. Stuff like this is the reason I stayed away from rap for so long. Gangsta rap is up there for me as a contender for one of the worst genres of music of all time.
was really surprised at the number of Beastie Boys samples on this album. lot of anger and frustration toward police, very low opinion of women.
Hiphop full of energy and nice beat to get you going=)
I can respect the cultural significance and production of this album, some unnecessary misogynistic songs knock it down to 4 stars, but it ain't my scene
As advertised
Iconic but aged. Standouts include Straight Outta Compton, Fuck The Police, and Express Yourself.
Let's get one thing out of the way: this album is incredibly dated. The flows are legitimately primitive. Rightly so as this is still early days for the genre, but, to a modern ear, it feels very basic in a lot of ways. That said, the social commentary that can be found in this is still very relevant. It would probably hit harder if it wasn't balanced by bragging about crimes, though. I mean, yes, the police shouldn't be treating you like that just because you're young and black. But also maybe don't pull a gun on a shop owner because he's asked if you're drunk, you know?
Cool
The beats are funky, the raps flow, the lyrics make it clear. They even give you something to dance to! I’m a 60 year old white woman here to tell you that shit was dope! Straight up 5 stars.
Important album for the foundation of Gangster Rap. Some catchy songs and beats!
So inapropro
Inaguantable, envejeció mal o no me gusta el hip hop, duré 2 temas
Okay, I know that 30 years ago this was revolutionary because they were direct, they sounded cool, but... I don't know, I prefer the more rhythmic type of rap, so if I had to rate how annoyed I was because of how monotonous this album was, listening to the whole thing, I would give it 1 star. The only reason why I don't feel so bad about it is because Spotify played "Sorry Ms Jackson" when the album was over and I jammed to it, so it distracted me a little bit. I know that this was an important album in the history of rap music, but it's not really my thing.
I know this had a huge impact on many genres and hip-hop/rap as social commentary. It's just a lot all in a row!
Ein sehr gutes Gangsta Rap Album. Hervorragend produziert. Die Texte sind sehr fragwürdig.
I found myself really enjoying a large potion of this album. There are some really tasty bass licks and the tracks have a lot of energy and movement.
N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton is extremely controversial after almost 40 years. Lots of the themes the album tackles can be seen as dated: racism, misogyny, and homophobia. However, it is impossible to note how influential this album was for the rap scene. It was a turn to the hard hitting gangsta rap that took over in the 90’s, and reflects the frustration and anger of young African Americans living in a period of mass discrimination and brutality. Tracks like F**k tha Police are daring, and despite receiving real warnings from the FBI, N.W.A continued to stick to their approach to the game: rough, funky, and fuck the world shit. My favorites are Straight Outta Compton, F**k tha Police, and Express Yourself. All in all, Straight Outta Compton Best Song: Straight Outta Compton Worst Song: 8 Ball (Remix)
I don't know if I like Ice Cube better as a rapper or as an actor, he's pretty good in both
“Express Yourself” IS the most catchy, singable lyrical…and that kinda makes me miss the whole point of a rap album I know.
Not my kind of music
I’ve gotten a lot of Hip-Hop recently and I’m disappointed in myself for not experiencing it until now
Not my favorite rap album 6/10
There are two things you will learn from the album: 1. N.W.A. hates the police. 2. N.W.A. hates women. Front loaded album with the first two tracks being the most well know, the middle being not great to straight up bad, with the end being ok. It was strange hearing so many Beastie Boys samples in this album to the point where it made me think they produced it but after a google search found N.W.A. was heavily influenced by them. 6/10
I don’t think I knew anybody back in grade school who actually had the real cassette tape of this album that was sold in stores. Someone got it from somebody somewhere, but really, it was just an endless stream of bootleg tapes that circulated … something you never wanted your mom to find and that you only listened to on your headphones … or with the volume turned down real low on your boombox at night. “Straight Outta Compton” was basically the same thing as some XXX tape that got passed around. It was raw and hardcore. And, man, the first time you heard it, Damn that shit was dope.
A classic, of course.
Favourite tracks: straight outta Compton; fuck tha police; gangsta gangsta; if it ain't ruff; parental discretion is advised; express yourself
Didn't get into it. 1/5
Fun and can imagine pretty groundbreaking at the time, some amazing iconic songs on there and ages more gracefully than other hip hope from that sort of time. Highlights were gangsta gangsta, straight outta Compton and fuck that police
-1 for misogyny. Otherwise a 5!!!
Gangsta Rap! A lot of people think that's pretty cool, but I could never get behind the "message" even ironically like many of my peers back in the day. I'll take artists like PE, Blackalicious, J5 & Tribe for my hip-hops.
Like an American sociology case study to a funky soundtrack. It's easy to criticise the content with a modern lens, but that really misses the point as to what makes this album so important. Add onto that the ground-breaking music and production and this is an easy 5 stars.
Great album
One of those rare albums that changed music in some way. Amazingly it's still relevant today, maybe more so that when it was originally released, which is amazing but also quite sad! I still have my vinyl copy of the original release, and it's a treasured possession. My 25 year-old son has his eyes on it, along with a lot of my other vinyl from around the same time - but no chance while I'm still breathing.
Great start, tailed off at the end though. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
Straight Outta Compton is one of those Starter Pack™️ CDs you buy when you’re first getting into hip-hop. You latch onto the edge and power of the first two tracks, and you continue to spin it based on name and influence alone until you’re “ready” for actual deep cuts. It’s been almost 20 years since I listened to this in full, and I was worried. My memory told me that I never really loved this the way I loved other Starter Pack™️ albums, so I was expecting to hate it now that I’m older and know a lot more about the genre overall. And honestly? It held up!! It comes out guns blazing with “Straight Outta Compton” and “Fuck Tha Police,” but it continues to hold its own as it goes. The production is an important factor here; even when a song bleeds into verse 4 or 5, the sample-heavy turntablism is ear candy, always keeping a steady groove that’s never chaotic or overwhelming, unlike Public Enemy or The Beastie Boys. The other key factor is Ice Cube, both on the mic and behind the pen. It’s insane how good he is, even by the standards of rap post-1992. His pen game is strong and helps create a lot of the group’s chemistry, although The D.O.C. is no slouch, and MC Ren holds his own just fine. Once Cube’s on the mic, though, it’s over. Honestly, he’s so good, it’s more annoying when he’s *not* on a song. Is it flawless? Not at all. I think the middle is a little weak, where the beats are slow and the rhymes are particularly corny [e.g. “wacky wack,” the entirety of “Express Yourself,” especially given historical context]. It also suffers from way too many verses, awkward skit-like talk, and some dated mixing. But the final leg wins me back, thanks to “I Ain’t Tha 1” and, again, Cube being an incredible rapper, and that energy stays through to the end. Obviously, this is essential listening on historical importance alone. Seeing some reviews about the “violent” lyrics conjures up images of Tipper Gore, and could not miss the point more. Sure, the misogyny/homophobia are what they are, but people rarely lobby those same critiques at ‘80s rock, do they? So I’m glad these lames had to be exposed to this important piece of history. But music is also more than history, and while some of Straight Outta Compton does sound dated, none of it sounds as dated as I initially feared it would. In fact, a lot of it still feels very fresh. Not that anyone under the age of 40 would claim this as their favorite album. Sure, technically speaking, I’d prefer Death Certificate, 2001, No One Can Do It Better, or even Eazy-Duz-It, but none of those make sense without this. Plus, Straight Outta Compton is still a great listen beyond its history lesson, with a lot more hits than misses. I’m won over all over again.
not mine
You gotta boil it down to the essentials. It's like Cube says, "Life ain't nothin' but bitches and money."
In terms of a rap album, this wasn't too bad. Not a fan of rap, but I could make it through this album and didn't completely mind it started again. Express Yourself is probably the best on this album. 3/5
First time listening to this in its entirety and my take away is that there was more cultural significance to this album than actual greatness of the music. The album does not stand up to the first two tracks, other than express yourself. I found myself ready to skip most of the songs after the first minute or so. The misogyny gets impossible to overlook the further you get into this.
"You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge..." has to be in top 10 best album openings ever. Perfection, genre defining, raw, it's all been said. When you experience Dre and Yella's mixing and production, Cube's lyrics, Eazy's swag you see it is all true. They caught lighting in a bottle here. I can still recall when I heard Gangsta, Gangsta for the 1st time at a house party in 1988. Changed my life and that is not hyperbole. That is my review, I would be different if I had never heard this music.
Classic hip hop album that changed everything. Just never been a top album for my taste though.
I didn’t listen to the whole thing but it was really good.
Pas mon délire mais c'était correct.
Pretty good, can see where J5 got some influence
I don't think I have listened to this record all the way through before. It is pretty great and about what I expected. I don't know that it's my favorite, but it's good and I can appreciate that it's important.
The album is great. I really love 90s hip hop. When there was substance and variety in the music and lyrics. Highly recommended
Such a Classic!
It’s not really what I normally listen to but you can see why it was so big at the time. Still love Express Yourself.
A landmark album that has aged well musically but not aged well at all lyrically. It has one of the all time great hip hop openers.
Great album. So raw and aggressive. I like the frequent use of the n word but sometimes it’s used too many times, maybe should’ve widened their vocabulary.
An absolute classic, old skwl rap at its best Of course reading through the comments some people are offended by the lyrics, bore off
Some classics on this. More N-Words being said than a night out at the Beehive Wish I gave Paul’s Boutique a 5 :(
Classic! 3.5/5
Aside from the profanity, obscenity, glorification of drug use, etc. it wasn't horrible. I mean it's a solid 2 and I didn't think it was even going to be a 1.
Much better than I expected
It's not my thing. But really brave and genius.
So much of this is so musically exciting, but with age and context it’s so hard to get past a lot of the content. Same thing happened with a previous Ice Cube solo record. I’m very familiar with this one, my young self listened a lot. I know the merit, I’m just not sure it’s worth it to me any more.
You can brand this a classic, even if it's not your cup of tea. The first two tracks alone have become Rap Standards, songs that are known even to those who have never listened to rap.
Incredible album with lyrics that are still disappointingly relevant today. 1312
You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge. 5/5
Loved it when I was a teenager. Great for nostalgia, but I’m not in any hurry to listen to the entire album
Whereas Guns ‘N’ Roses and Public Enemy were the late 80’s/early 90’s go to for young white makes wanting vicarious thrills, these guys actually walked it like they talked it. Or rapped it. While the constant unrelenting misogyny and hate gets old by the end of the album, the first three songs alone are a cleansing blast, and what they should be remembered for.
“Moving like a tortoise full of rigor mortis”
The influence of this album (and group at large) on subsequent rappers is undeniable, however, besides the big hits there isn't much to discern most of the songs from each other
"You're about to witness the strength of street knowledge..." Noem een meer legendarische opener dan Straight Outta Compton? Kei en keiharde straatrap dit. Klassieker, maar wel echt gedateerd nu zeg jezus. Gaat wel nog steeds fucking hard though. De highs op dit album zijn zo ontzettend hoog, maar er zitten ook best wat mindere nummers tussen. Toch is dit een absolute klassieker, ook weinig albums die zo ontzettend veel impact gehad hebben op cultuur als dit album. Classic, luister dit album als je het nog nooit hebt gehoord. FAVO: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Parental Discretion iz advisec, Express Yourself, I ain't tha 1, Quiet On Tha set
A classic of the genre, and an album I listened to extensively when it came out. 3/5
Yes I'ma climb, but you know you need this And the knowledge is growing just like a fetus Or a tumor, but here is the rumor
Funky. Nice funk/soul instrumentals. Shallow lyrics. Audio quality is poor on certain songs.
It’s wild that music about killing, bitches, and drugs can eventually turn into corny mixes and versus, but that is understand with how far hip hop has come in the decades since. It’s apparent how well mixed and produced this is, but it is most certainly a period piece with some classics, and some songs that have served their purpose.
I basically only listened to rap in high school. This was the fourth rap album I bought and it certainly widened my world view as a white suburban 14-year-old. I wore this tape out. Dre brings some great beats to the album. Cube and Ren are great MCs. I’m not an ignorant teen any more though. And the level of misogyny here is through the roof, so I’m going to knock it down a few stars for stupidity.
I read something about how when NWA came out with Fuck the Police hip hop took over being the music of rebellion from rock. It’s certainly an interesting take that I don’t really disagree with. So I get the significance of this album and the rhymes and beats are really good. However the misogyny and homophobia so common in that area of hip hop is kind of jarring in 2024.
One of if not the best hip hop albums ever. Serious business. Best track- express yourself
Not my rap jam but I do love Ice Cube’s voice so that’s why it got a two.
Another really strong entry in the hip hop genre and one that is just classic after classic. Amazing to think this happened in 1988, which is 36 years ago now, and the influence it spread across the decades that followed.
You already know
I am a fan of aggressive music and clearly this album fits the bill. I liked it enough. To deny its power and influence would be silly but it just doesn’t land the same today. I mean a movie was made about it so it was clearly popular. However, it just doesn’t hit the same as it would have back then. I felt a lot of the lyrics were focused on the same 3 topics and it got pretty stale outside of the main singles that everyone knows this album for. A landmark album that I can appreciate for laying the land for what comes after but one that misses the mark for me personally.
Love, love, love this and I am not even a massive hip hop fan. Straight Outta Compton is explosive from the very first seconds. The opening track sets the scene perfectly. Bold, confrontational and completely unapologetic. Moving straight into the next run of tracks keeps that momentum going and makes for an incredibly strong start. The production hits hard and the energy never really dips. It feels raw and important, even now. There is anger, confidence and a real sense that this album changed the direction of hip hop. Straight Outta Compton and Fuck tha Police are obvious standouts. Both are powerful, direct and impossible to ignore. If I had to pick a weaker moment, 8 Ball would be it, but even that fits the overall mood. Favourite songs: Straight Outta Compton and Fuck tha Police Least favourite song: 8 Ball Album artwork: Awesome and iconic. One of the most recognisable covers in music
This album hit like a nuclear bomb, became popular purely by word of mouth and kick started a whole new genre of music. It's easy to see why. It comes out swinging with the one two punch of Straight Outta Compton and Fuck Tha Police. Such a strong messages lyrically, wrapped in a unique sound. Unfortunately the record loses steam a bit in the middle, but it's still a strong album as well as being hugely influential.
The first three songs are truly amazing. The singles were the best songs on this album for sure. Strong performances from all. The back half or so is pretty transitional between where rap was and where NWA was taking it, but aside from a few quips and bars here and there, as the album went on I wasn't as big a fan of the more old-school tracks. The strong songs far outweigh any negative feelings.
- I know this album was incredibly important, specifically in bringing gangsta rap into legitimate mainstream consumption, and I have a lot of respect for that...but I do feel like it becomes repetitive after awhile. One of those artistic achievements wherein I believe being "the first" is a more important piece than the actual quality of the product. - The first four tracks are solid. But, I think diminishing returns are found almost immediately. The opening track ("Straight Outta Compton") is so goddamn electric. And even if "Fuck Tha Police" is not quite as kinetic, the thematic material boosts it. But, I find myself wanting to tap out about halfway through it all.
First time hearing this album, I remember this being controversial on it's release. Some great music but the lyrics are stuck in the past
good album, but gets a bit repetitive
The backing tracks are actually really awesome. The lyricism is really great, but the content is often too violent or misogynistic for me to really get behind it.
It's always a little cheesy when people tell you how cool they are. Even if these guys were as hard as Nas in NYC, they come across as posers a little bit because how much they feel the need to tell you how hard they are. Nas actually came across as hard because the music portrayed that very well. I didn't hate this record but I also didn't love it. Dr Dre and Ice Cube can flow pretty well. I don't care as much for the Easy E sections though.
The source code of all gangsta rap. I like how similar this is to punk music at the time. It gives no shits, they say it how they feel. Its angry, but also angsty. There are dozens of things that "don't age well," and things that just generally feel old. However, I think that's ultimately unimportant when it comes to the legacy of this record. They take the flowy but often somber nature of East Coast rap and make it more upbeat and more lively. The angst, crass, visceral (and often juvenile) lyrics and attitude fit right in. This feels like it belongs at the Venice Beach Skatepark as much as it feels like it belongs in the projects of Compton.
Not normally into rap but did enjoy it. Can see how the lyrics caused a stir at the time
As far as hip-hop albums go, this wasn’t too bad. I still don’t really love this genre, but this wasn’t an excruciating listening experience. I wasn’t wishing it to be over half way through. Was surprised to hear some Beastie Boys samples on here too. Love those guys. 8/10 Top 4: 1. Fuck Tha Police 2. Straight Outta Compton 3. Gangsta Gangsta 4. 8 Ball - Remix
I hadn't listened to this one in maybe more than 20 years... and it really is a great 1980s Hip-Hop album, from the days when you could sample freely. The misogyny quickly get tiresome however.
Klassiker. Manche Songs besser als andere. Wär mir zu anstrengend am Stück, aber auszugsweise ganz nice.
Iconic. Incredibly influential. Institutional. Some of the lyrics are still cringe but this one has really stood the test of time. At least it’s not full of skits. Parental Discretion Iz Advised is the biggest surprise. You never hear about it, but that’s a great track! First three tracks are all classics, also Express Yourself and Dopeman. This thing is dense with hits, and very important to music and pop culture.
Boo hoo, there's swear words in my gangsta rap. - Every fucking 1 star review While I see how spamming the word 'fucking' every time you need two extra syllables is lazy, that's not really what they're saying. Fucking fucks, fuck 'em. As always with rap albums for me, it felt too long. And for no good reason either, there are songs that just sound like freestyle near the end, could've ditched them. Despite that, a solid album, I enjoyed the first half.
really couldnt care less not necessarily bad, just boring out of my mind
AWESOME!
A super group of great rappers. Performance wise, very excellent. Content, well, not my favorite. Amazing how those angry young men became wealthy and then less angry
first in entirety listen. very cool and funky. the late 80s/early 90s old school hip-hop is my favourite.
Classic
Of course I’m aware of this album, but this is the first time I’ve listened. I like it, but honestly don’t understand the hype around Eazy-E.
A historical landmark but a lot of it hasn't aged well. Recognize what it did for/to hip hop and rap but not my thing.
Witness the strenth of street knowledge
Vulgar plus promotes racial and sexual violence
2/5. There are a few great songs here, but the style has not aged well.
The strength of street knowledge should never be underestimated. N.W.A. changed the entire culture of hardcore hip-hop with this album, with their honest reflections of life full of crime, discrimination, and ruthless violence. Further, it was all done while maintaining a hard-as-nails image. The result is a hot and controversial album on release that resulted in bans, media coverage, and even a warning from the FBI. In retrospect, it was pretty disproportional response. Musically, the strengths of N.W.A. rely on the dynamic deliver of the various MCs over Dr. Dre's timeless production. Songs like Fuck tha Police, Express Yourself, and the title track are instantly memorable with iconic rap verses and inspired sample flips. These songs alone make up some of the greatest songs of the '80s and can immortalize hip hop. The problem is many of the other songs on this album are distinctly bad. Compton's n the House, for example, is noticeably phoned-in should've been cut. Dopeman relies heavily on the strength of it's beat, lacking any sort of additional production. It's just disappointing. What could've been an easy 5 has to be bumped down to a hesitant 4. I think highly of this album's legacy and strongest tracks, but it is ultimately bogged down by the weaker songs. Still legendary in it's own right.
It might be historic, but that doesn't always make it good
Not my genre. Had seen the movie but never listened to the music/album. Movie gives it context that a suburban white dude would never know otherwise.
I can see how it was influenced by a lot of music before with the references and utilization of samples and how it influenced music afterward. I do think the overall messages revolting against police violence and racism are important and I like them owning the idea of the truth being rough, however, I do think the heavy handed inclusion of homophobia and sexism undercuts that message. While it did have it's moments of feeling a little too cartoonish, it was cool to listen to something I normally wouldn't.
Straight Outta Compton - 10/10 Fuck tha Police - 9.5/10 Gangsta Gangsta - 8/10 If It Ain't Ruff - 7.5/10 Parental Discretion Iz Advised - 7.5/10 Express Yourself - 9/10 Compton's n the House (remix) - 7.5/10 I Ain't tha 1 - 7.5/10 Dopeman (remix) - 7.5/10 Quiet on tha Set - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 81.5/100
Lyrics are awful but beats are good
There are some pretty solid tracks on here - the title track, Fuck Tha Police, Express Yourself. But I didn't like it quite as much as the Public Enemy album we got a while back.
One of my faves!
1. 4 2. 4.7 3. 4.2 4. 4 5. 4.3 6. 3.6 7. 3.8 8. 4.4 9. 3.4 10. 4 11. 4.5 12. 3.8 13. 3.6
Seminal and ground-breaking
Just another perfectly okay album. A lot of probably unintentional humor in the young macho puffery, and a lot of political commentary that induces little but eye-rolls. Rhythmically kind of simplistic, but some good rhymes once in a while.
Solid American classic, up there with The Chronic. 5 stars.
funny lyrics 😂😂
Surprised that I liked it so much. Used to think early rap was much more basic but this has great production by dre and killer performances. In a few more listens it might turn into a five
Certified hip hop classic. The production, the flow, the message, this album is a pivotal moment in not only rap but the societal message it stood for at the time. Only thing holding this back from a true 5/5 is the somewhat dated lyrics on some of these songs.
Enjoyable to an extent - was good to give this album a full listen
They really did have it bad cause they're brown. 4/5
Very solid album. Would give it 4.5 if that was an option. Will listen again.
#146. This album is pretty great, with with one glaring weakness, that being Eazy E. If he was missing from the album, surely no one would miss him. I find him kind of annoying and his rhymes kind of wack. The rest is good though. 4/5: yes. *this is the fifteenth album i purchased from this list Song added to playlist: Straight Outta Compton I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Overall good listen. Clean production, punchy and raw lyrics, distinctive voices throughout. Express yourself is a classic
Really enjoyed this. Dre’s production on point and the MCs all distinct, only a few bits of filler.
Technically great. Hard to get behind most of the lyrics. Ice Cube especially sounded great. His best work until Are We There Yet?
This review is a MC REN appreciation review. Quiet on tha set is an onslaught of fly rapping, dope ass flow and a bomb ass beat. I really think he’s underrated and I think he needs his flowers, that is all. Classic album indeed!
Listened 2/27/24. Jammin to this one for years. Sadly topics are still relevant
It's fine. But repetitive. All songs blended into each other. Not my favorite lyrics. Understand the historical significance though