Reviews (page 3 of 13)
At one point in my life I knew all the lyrics for this album
Classic rap, pretty good
Groundbreaking album, still know 80% of fuck tha police I’ve already listened to this album 100 times
Good
Listened to this 30 years ago & still sounds good 👍
one of the best of the history
Very good 👍
A legendary album that defined a genre.
Really solid album, I could definitely appreciate this one for the time and place. What I understand it’s very influential, first if it’s kind of the time, the beats in the grooves are really catchy. Strong political message, pretty easy to digest, a few small dips. I would say a 4.75 out of five, but I’ll round up.
9/1001 Being very familiar with this album and can basically recite pretty every lyric, this album is more about influence, impact and how it shaped hip-hop, rap, and the music industry then it is about great timeless music. The whole crew from NWA bring something to the table but the raw talent of Cube, Dre and E is one of the great moments where 3 people lives cross at the perfect timing. Production quality and technologies have improved so much over the decades that a lot of rap songs from the 80s just don’t stand the test of time (37 years), and several tracks on this album are no different. Simplistic rhyme patterns and lyrics age poorly as well. All that said, Straight Outta Compton has so many great moments and tracks that will still make my head bob. Ice Cube’s overall weight on this album alone is worth 3 stars. But there’s so much more here too. The controversy that was this album bad it known from Compton to Connecticut and beyond. It sprung a whole new sub genre of rap, in gangsta rap, and that would arguably be the sub genre to dominate the genre as a whole (at least as it became the most marketed) even to this day in 2025. SOC is probably one of the 10 or so most influential albums in American music history. If SOC didn’t have the influence is did/does and was just a stand alone late 80s rap album, I would give it 3.5/5. But every hip hop and rap song from 1988 on owes a lot to SOC. Even if the artist never heard if NWA. Scale of 100, this album gets the hindsight review of 90/100. If this were in a vacuum 70/100. In a 5 star review, it gets 5 stars.
Stone cold classic.
Incindiary.
Top 10
Great album. Classic
Det är jävligt bra hip hop alltså.
Another classic. My dad gave me this on tape when I got my first car. It means alot to me that's for sure. It's full of top tier west coast production from greats. In my mind they wrote the book on west coast sound. Great bars on great bars from the whole crew. It's great that ice cube and Dre became pop culture icons. I wish the same could have been said for Ren yella prince and especially E. I'm sure they all did well enough but damn is nwa packed with some greats. Love it. Simple
beautiful
The first song starts off very strong with "Straight Outta Compton" Ice Cube and the crew are just delightful. While this might seem very basic to me in 2025, I can see how revolutionary it was when it came out. I know that this album influenced a lot of the artists that I would go on to later enjoy. It's fun and interesting to see where the influence came from. Gosh Easy-E and Ice Cube? Insanity. I always thought that I didn't/wouldn't like this old 90's rap but this seems different from Biggie and 2Pac from the 90s. I notice this is slightly older, 1988. They just do a great job with the lyrics, the beats, and laying in other musical elements. It's not as elementary as I would have expected. Again, it just predates a lot of the rap I'm familiar with but I was thoroughly impressed with this album. Also, the amount of speaking was tasteful versus like the Nellyville album where there are a lot of skit tracks. It also has a full track list (17 songs) for a total run time of 1 hour and 16 minutes. Again, I am impressed ath the length, the quality of this album. It truly is a masterpiece. The energy really flows and maintains throughout the album.
It’s almost a futile endeavour to attempt to write anything that hasn’t already been said about this album. I would have a difficult time arguing with anyone claiming this to be the best hip-hop album of all time. There’s certainly rap records that I personally enjoy more, but “Straight Outta Compton” is so influential and objectively great, it’s hard to deny it. I’ll leave the technical and musical analysis of this record to those more knowledgeable about hip-hop than me, all I’ll say is this is an easy 10/10.
Explicit, but for all the right reasons. If Eazy-E was still alive, he would probably be doing Medicaid commercials. I owned this album! Still a classic.
A great album. Folk country soul and with an outsider point of view
Oh, this one. I vividly remember my brother playing this cassette for the first time. I had no business listening to this, being an 8 year old white kid in the boonies of middle Georgia. I thought it was awesome! Not only the harsh language and raw imagery, but the beats were so cool. I used to dance around and say every word (when my parents weren't around). It gave my ignorant self a glimpse into what it was like being a black youth in Compton in the 80's. It certainly was an introduction to how state agents actually treated people, contrary to the "protect and serve" public relations scam. I always attributed my "hatred of the state" starting point to Rage Against the Machine, but maybe it was this one. So much talent in this group. Dre is an all time legend. This album is a 5 in my book.
Scranton! What!? The electric city Scranton! What!? The electric city
Wu Tang and NWA back to back? The generator is cooking rn.
Institucija
This album is incredible. I'm pretty demographically and temporally distanced from the cultural effect this album had but I know it changed the game overnight. I enjoyed every song. The beats keep you moving. The bars are relentless. "It Ain't Ruff" actually made me take off my headphones, the bass was so intense it was hurting my ears. I am not a gangster. "Straight Outta Compton" and "Fuck Tha Police" are my favorite songs as well as, presumably, almost everyone else's. 9/10
I really enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. The sampling is good and the beats are funky and fun. It has a lot of variety too. The opening title track and 'Fuck Tha Police' go hard. The radio friendly 'Express Yourself' is surprisingly upbeat and uplifting and 'Something 2 Dance 2' does exactly what it says on the tin. Eazy-E has the best flow but the worst voice, whereas Ice Cube is the opposite, he flows slightly more basic but has a loud in your face voice which suits the music better. MC Ren is a happy medium. Overall the flow is a little bit simpler than other rap music but it doesn't really matter when the words which transport you into their world are said with such aggressiveness and venom. There's a lively energy about them. I was tempted to give this a four, but there weren't many dud tracks here and it's a hip hop album under an hour! A damn shame they only did the two albums (and their follow up doesn't even feature Ice Cube) because I'd have liked more from N.W.A.
Good rap
Immediately iconic My brother loved some of these songs Good production and rapping, good group synergy Lyrics with shock value that wouldn't fly in modern times. Creates catchy and memorable lines.
Straight outta leksikonet for hiphop. Sinna, uredd og ukorrekt rap.
That's why they are the goat
Classic. Still goes hard
I had never listened to N.W.A. besides F*** the Police, and I gotta say it was pretty good. The origins of gangsta rap, you can't deny the beats, funk, sampling, and chemistry of the group. Anger was boiling over out west and this album captures a lot of that in different ways than Public Enemy, ATCQ, and Roots, all of who Ive had in this list before this. The flow is simple by today's standards, but it still works very well. And the lyrics also don't age super well, but it doesn't bother me nearly as much as Eminem's debut or even Dre's own Chronic a couple years later. My favorites here are probably Straight Outta Compton, Express Yourself, 8 Ball (Brooklyn Boys seem to have left a huge impressoon on these guys), Dopeman, and Quiet on the Set. Easy to see how this became a landmark in music.
Amazing west coast gangster rap albun
Not a single bad track on this album. The beats and samples are excellent and the lyrics carry a lot of weight. This album has all the pieces of early G-Funk. Every song compliments the one before.
You gotta listen to it keeping in mind the time it was released, but I always forget how fun this album is. It's over the top, ridiculous, and complete nonsense. The whole thing feels a bit confused, but that somehow adds to it. Not much to say. I love this one. 5/5
great
5 all the way - although some of the members might be a bit sketchy now - music still stands up
flawless
Straight anger. Are the lyrics misogynistic? Sure! But, it is what it is.
Landmark album and set the template for a lot of gangster rap to come. Also launched Dr Dre into the mainstream, surely one of hip hops most important figures. It's a classic: hard hitting lyrics, funky beats and rhymes that hit every time.
Classic gangsta rap album. The aggressiveness and confidence of their delivery for their rhymes is top notch and set the bar for all rappers to follow. They also highlight social issues that they face and couldn’t care less how it makes you feel so it makes you think about the lyrics. The funk influence on the album really shines through and adds to each song.
Wing-ding-a-ling. Is this album considered an oldie now? 36 years young. 6/5
It’s Straight Outta Compton. What else can I say other than masterpiece.
Einfach starkes Album. Kein einziger Skip.
I’ve heard some of the songs before and I’ve already had the title track in my playlist for a while. I also watched the documentary and of course rap is my favorite genre so in all this album wasn’t as new to me as the other ones, but there were still a number of songs I hadn’t heard before. Definitely a great album I enjoyed most of the tracks and my favorite was probably 8 Ball or the title track.
Equal parts brilliant and crude
This is a great album Will I listen to again: 100%
The flow on this album is so sick, and the angst is so palpable, that I honestly see right past the misogyny. I really enjoyed this. I wish more artists still rapped at the top of their lungs like this.
Straight bangers
Hyped up explosive Dropping truth bombs with mad style Tight raps, tighter beats
Still. Fuck the police
Birth of the West Coast sound, birth of a whole new era, and it still sounds pretty fresh today!
Whatever genre this is, I like it
First Gangstar Rap Album. VERY GOOD!
Squeezing so many straight-up hip-hop bangers onto one album must've been exhausting.
Extremely influential rap album featuring some of the greatest of the golden era of hip hop. I've heard it many times and since I have some extra free time today I'm going to watch Straight Outta Compton to complement this listen.
Iconic! A genuine classic album, not just in hip-hop, but in music history. 5/5 ⭐️
Absolute classic! FTP!
A classic that I’ve listened to many years ago
One of the best albums of its decade!!
"Straight Outta Compton," the debut studio album by N.W.A., released in 1988, stands as a cornerstone of hip-hop and a defining moment in the genre's history. It brought gangsta rap into the mainstream and laid the foundation for West Coast hip-hop. The album is noted for its raw depiction of urban life, unflinching social commentary, and pioneering production techniques. Below is an in-depth review, focusing on the lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence of the album, along with an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics Lyrically, "Straight Outta Compton" is intense and unapologetic. The members of N.W.A.—Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella—delivered verses that painted a vivid, often controversial picture of life in Compton, California. The album’s lyrics are laced with aggressive language, violent imagery, and social commentary, reflecting the harsh realities of the streets. Tracks like the titular "Straight Outta Compton," "Gangsta Gangsta," and "Fuck tha Police" are emblematic of this style. 1. **"Straight Outta Compton"**: This opening track serves as a manifesto for the group. Ice Cube’s commanding voice introduces the listener to a world of violence and defiance. The track establishes the group’s identity and sets the tone for the rest of the album. The lyrics are powerful, with lines like “When I'm called off, I got a sawed off / Squeeze the trigger, and bodies are hauled off” demonstrating the unapologetically aggressive style that N.W.A. became known for. 2. **"Fuck tha Police"**: Perhaps the most controversial track on the album, "Fuck tha Police" is a scathing critique of police brutality and racial profiling. The song’s narrative structure, set up as a mock courtroom trial, indicts the police for systemic racism. Ice Cube and MC Ren's verses vividly describe encounters with law enforcement, and the hook, with its blunt and confrontational message, became a rallying cry against police misconduct. 3. **"Gangsta Gangsta"**: This track highlights the allure and dangers of the gangsta lifestyle. Ice Cube’s storytelling ability shines as he describes the adrenaline-fueled life of a gangsta, juxtaposing the excitement with the inevitable consequences. The lyrics capture the duality of living on the edge—thrilling yet perilous. Overall, the lyrical content is both a strength and a criticism point for the album. It’s lauded for its authenticity and raw power but criticized for glorifying violence and misogyny. ### Music and Production Dr. Dre’s production on "Straight Outta Compton" was groundbreaking. He utilized funk, soul, and R&B samples to create a hard-hitting, bass-heavy sound that became the blueprint for West Coast hip-hop. The beats are aggressive, complementing the intensity of the lyrics. 1. **Sampling**: Dre’s use of samples from artists like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic provided a gritty yet funky backdrop for the group’s hard-hitting lyrics. The use of breakbeats and looping techniques were innovative at the time, creating a raw, relentless sound that mirrored the harsh realities described in the lyrics. 2. **Instrumentation**: The production is characterized by heavy drum machines, booming 808s, and sharp snare hits. Tracks like "Dopeman" and "Express Yourself" showcase Dre’s ability to blend musicality with raw energy. “Express Yourself” is notable for its use of a clean beat and funk-influenced melody, contrasting with the rest of the album’s darker, more abrasive sound. 3. **Vocals**: Each member of N.W.A. brought a unique vocal style to the album. Ice Cube’s sharp delivery, MC Ren’s laid-back but forceful flow, and Eazy-E’s high-pitched, almost nasally voice provided a dynamic range of sounds. This vocal diversity contributed to the album's distinct identity. ### Themes The album explores several key themes, including racial injustice, police brutality, gang culture, and socio-economic struggles. These themes were not new to hip-hop, but N.W.A.’s unfiltered, confrontational approach was unprecedented. 1. **Police Brutality and Racial Profiling**: "Fuck tha Police" is the centerpiece in this regard, articulating a deep-seated anger and frustration towards law enforcement. This theme resonates throughout the album, reflecting the fraught relationship between the African American community and the police. 2. **Poverty and Desperation**: Songs like "Dopeman" and "8 Ball" delve into the world of drug dealing, portraying it as both a means of survival and a trap. The lyrics do not shy away from the consequences of this lifestyle, providing a grim view of the options available to young men in impoverished neighborhoods. 3. **Rebellion and Defiance**: The album’s tone is one of rebellion—against the police, societal norms, and even the music industry itself. This defiance is articulated through the explicit language and provocative content, challenging the listener to confront uncomfortable truths. 4. **Misogyny**: A significant criticism of the album is its portrayal of women. Tracks like “I Ain't tha 1” and “She Swallowed It” contain misogynistic lyrics that reflect a broader issue within the genre at the time. This aspect has been heavily criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and degrading women. ### Influence "Straight Outta Compton" had a profound impact on hip-hop and popular culture. It brought the realities of inner-city life to mainstream audiences and sparked a national conversation about freedom of expression and censorship in music. 1. **Pioneering Gangsta Rap**: The album is often credited with popularizing gangsta rap, influencing countless artists in the genre. It opened the door for other West Coast rappers and introduced a new sound and lyrical style that would dominate the 1990s. 2. **Social and Political Impact**: The album forced America to confront issues of police brutality and racial inequality. "Fuck tha Police" became an anthem for protest movements, and the FBI even sent a warning letter to the group, which only heightened their notoriety and influence. 3. **Censorship and Freedom of Speech**: The controversy surrounding the album led to debates over censorship and the limits of free speech in music. N.W.A.’s refusal to censor their lyrics set a precedent for artists to push boundaries and speak their truth, regardless of the consequences. 4. **Legacy and Longevity**: Decades after its release, "Straight Outta Compton" remains a seminal work in hip-hop. It has been reissued, sampled, and referenced in countless works. The 2015 biographical film of the same name further cemented its status as a cultural landmark. ### Pros 1. **Lyrical Authenticity**: The album’s lyrics are powerful and raw, providing an unfiltered look at the struggles and violence of inner-city life. The honesty and intensity of the lyrics have resonated with listeners across generations. 2. **Innovative Production**: Dr. Dre’s production laid the groundwork for the West Coast sound. His innovative use of samples, drum machines, and bass lines created a distinct musical identity that influenced the genre for years to come. 3. **Cultural Impact**: The album transcended music, impacting social and political discourse. It challenged censorship laws and brought attention to issues of police brutality and systemic racism. 4. **Diverse Voices**: Each member of N.W.A. brought a unique perspective and style, creating a dynamic and engaging listening experience. ### Cons 1. **Misogyny**: The album’s portrayal of women is problematic, with several tracks featuring lyrics that are overtly misogynistic. This has been a longstanding criticism of the album and detracts from its overall message. 2. **Glorification of Violence**: While the album is praised for its raw depiction of life in Compton, it has also been criticized for glorifying violence and criminal behavior. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on impressionable listeners. 3. **Lack of Musical Diversity**: While the production is groundbreaking, some critics argue that the album lacks musical diversity. The heavy reliance on similar beats and samples can make some tracks feel repetitive. 4. **Controversial Language and Content**: The explicit language and violent imagery may be off-putting to some listeners. While this is part of the album’s appeal to many, it also limits its accessibility and can overshadow its more meaningful messages. ### Conclusion "Straight Outta Compton" is a landmark album in hip-hop history. Its raw, unapologetic lyrics and groundbreaking production challenged the music industry and forced America to confront uncomfortable truths about race, violence, and systemic oppression. While it is not without its flaws—most notably its problematic portrayal of women and the potential glorification of violence—its cultural and musical impact is undeniable. The album remains a powerful testament to the power of music as a form of resistance and expression.
Stone cold classic with incredible raps and inventive production featuring nifty samples. Bags of humour too. Mandatory listening.
++: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, If It Ain't Ruff, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, 8 Ball (Remix), Something Like That, Express Yourself, I Ain't Tha 1, Quiet on tha Set, Something 2 Dance 2 +: Compton's N the House (Remix), Dopeman (Remix) 9,7/10
Holds up. Nothing better. No notes.
5 - happy that I finally got to listen to this. There’s obviously the well known tracks, but it was a no skip album.
Brilliant use of swearing.
Another classic - nothing to add.
It’s always nice to be generated an album that I’m already very familiar with. Admittedly, it doesn’t happen often, but today is a good day. NWA are fantastic at mixing funk into hip hop, and it feels such a shame to me that this rarely seems to happen any more (shout out to LNDN DRGS who do mix in funk with hip hop - a band I was only recently introduced to). My favourite here would have to be Express Yourself, but everything on this album absolutely slaps.
A classic, the lyrical content still holds up after all this time, the beats are defo from the old school vibe. Would be interesting to hear what it would be like today if Dre re-produced it
No wonder Dr. Dre became a billionaire.
I saw the film on a plane and bought the CD soon after. People say a lot about political (in)correctness of the Gangsta Rap album (first of its kind?) but I think that's missing the point. This is definitely an album where it's not just about the tunes, but also about the context. I find this a very authentic album and culturally very important. Just for that it is definitely a Must Hear album. Does it sound good too? To me, yes (and I'm not a real rap fan).
It’s a classic. Dips a tiny bit in the middle but it’s good, it was groundbreaking, and it still hit hard.
Meaningful lyrics, good beats, and a good vibe. I can see why this is considered a GOAT.
Legendary!!
BLESS UP I’ve been tired by some of the album picks and this is just solid slay show stopping amazing.
Gangsta Rap in all of its glory I wasn't aware of them when this came out I was hooked on something else, but it's an amazing record, witness of its time and the struggles of the race. A must listen for everyone
Classic
Classic
I knew this album was good, but had never done a deep dive on it. Not a sleeper on the entire thing. Crazy good.
Damn that shit was dope!
Classic gangsta rap. Good beats, clever lyrics, good from beginning to end.
Fuck da police
Real old school hip hop style album. So so easy to listen, and with cool vibes.
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
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!
Easy 5 stars. So impactful and fill with amazing talent.
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
5 star classic gangsta rap album. Fire from start to finish.
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.
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.
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.
Ground breaking.
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 fantastic album. A political or social piece perhaps but with some great beats and lyrics.
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?
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
Loved it.
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.
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.
All around top album!! A song I havent heard before that I enjoyed on this album was "I Ain't Tha 1".
Top shit
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.
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.
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.
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.
As advertised
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.
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 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.
Favourite tracks: straight outta Compton; fuck tha police; gangsta gangsta; if it ain't ruff; parental discretion is advised; express yourself
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.
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.
"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.
The album is great. I really love 90s hip hop. When there was substance and variety in the music and lyrics. Highly recommended
It's not my thing. But really brave and genius.
Incredible album with lyrics that are still disappointingly relevant today. 1312
You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge. 5/5
“Moving like a tortoise full of rigor mortis”
One of if not the best hip hop albums ever. Serious business. Best track- express yourself
You already know
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.
AWESOME!
Classic
One of my faves!
Seminal and ground-breaking
Solid American classic, up there with The Chronic. 5 stars.
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
I knew of this album but had never really listened to it before. Being a white not from Kentucky I can’t really say I can relate to a lot of what they are singing but man is the music powerful. Especially thinking back to this coming out almost 40 years ago. And many of the things they are singing about are still going on today.
I do love this album. I have listened to it so many times over my lifetime and it's a landmark album because of the content and the overall tone. "Straight Outta Compton" is a very uncomfortable album though. The threats of violence, the anger towards/dismissal of women and reality of the lives the group lived are all cringeworthy at the time and even now. The misogyny isn't forgiven or forgotten, of course. I think this was an uncomfortable album because it made no excuses nor asked to be pardoned for the content. This is one of the first (if not the first) rap albums that threw the listener into West Coast gang culture and refused to sanitize reality so the listener doesn't have to think about what's being said too much. There is no redeeming social message provided and the best way to look at this album is view N.W.A. as anti-heroes. The lyrics are awful and awkward, but they are also truthful and still relevant today.
as a white kid growing up in the burbs when this came out....boy did it open my eyes and share with me a world I DID not know existed. This album was and will continue to be a bright light that shone on my lack of perspective.
This is a 5-star album but minus 1 star for naughty language. + 1 star for Express Yourself - tune!
Where did it all go wrong? Such a great album.
There’s one funny lyric containing several slurs in a row (about girls being lesbians because they’re not interested and then seeing some people he’s not a fan of) that has me guffawing every listen. Otherwise goes hard love it
Ground breaking and controversial album.
What a classic legendary album. Obviously have listened to all the classics, F the Police and title track. Stoked to listen to the whole record.
Class all the way through. Fire beats, mad bars, good production. It's actually insane how influential this album is when you think about it, practically all of modern rap descends from this one album.
Half of the songs are straight up bangers, the cultural influence is over the top, and it's just all around a classic masterpiece. The story, the characters, the beats, the lyrics. They all check out. I particularly enjoyed how diverse this album was, especially with some of the more unique instant banger beats like in 'If It Ain't Ruff' and 'I Ain't Tha 1'. About the 'aging badly' aspect that some people are writing: you simply must ignore it, if you want to appreciate a gangsta rap album from the '80s. Like seriously, you are doing this whole 1001 albums thing wrong, if you care about this that deeply.
PERFECT
Attitude. Anger. Identification. These voices and this style are created/invented out of a real world that is broken. It is PTSD used to make art and protest. Politics in action. There is no simple way to tell what is bravado, what is the mask, and where the real people begin and end. This is an amazing album for what it creates, what it accentuates, the rage it contains within it. You can perhaps imagine this as a dystopia, but it is not just imagined. It ties with reality by making it if it doesn't pre-exist. Musically, this brings rhythm to the front where the voice is an active beat in conjunction with other rhythms. Electronic sounds and repetitions are core building blocks; any voice and sound fragment can be a beat. Trashtalk reaches a new all-time high since Shakespeare's time.
Always fun revisiting a classic
First time listening front to back - it was banger after banger. This album made me want to listen to nothing but rap all day.
What is there to say? Cube was hard. E was alive. Gangster rap should have stopped right here.
For its cultural significance, not that I’ll go back and listen again.
Fantastic album all around!
I had so much fun listening to this album. This is real rap talent. I often forget the actual artistry and talent it takes to make hip hop music. Before the synth, before the autotune, before the Soundcloud. I can see how this album prominently represents this period.
crucial record
Even better after seeing docs about them
A few years ago, I wanted to get more exposure to rap music, so I searched for a list of the best rap albums of the eighties and nineties. Straight Outta Compton was one of the albums that was recommended, so I gave it a listen. Among all the eighties and nineties rap albums that I listened to, Straight Outta Compton was one of my favorites, and it’s an album that I’ll listen to somewhat regularly during my workouts. Going back through it today, I still count it among my favorite rap albums. I’m usually not a fan of gangsta rap, but I do enjoy militant hip hop, like Public Enemy, and N.W.A. blends a lot of those militant elements into their brand of gangsta rap. Being a west coast group gives N.W.A. a unique sound and a different perspective to add to their music. Ice Cube’s rapping is my favorite out of everyone in the group, but I still enjoy MC Ren and Eazy-E’s rapping too. There’s just something about the anger and hostility in Ice Cube’s voice that I think makes him my favorite. I enjoy N.W.A.’s lyrics on this album too. While a lot of their lyrics are dark and violent (and of course xenophobic and sexist), those lyrics help paint the hyperbolic picture of street life that N.W.A. is trying to convey. But even among those dark lyrics, there’s still some lines that are so outrageous that they’re funny. A couple of my favorite examples are “Forty ounce in my lap and it's freezin' my balls” and “Like a tortoise full of rigor mortis.” It’s incredibly jarring to hear lyrics like that and start laughing during one of these serious songs. As I mentioned earlier, there are some lyrics that are xenophobic and sexist throughout this album. However, I think those lyrics are just one of the tools that N.W.A. uses to create the exaggerated tone of the album. I don’t doubt that talk like that is present in street life, but I don’t think that using lyrics like that is N.W.A. condoning it. I could be wrong (and Dr. Dre’s behavior seems to disprove my point), but that’s just how I see this album. Musically, I love the use of samples on this album. N.W.A. managed to build their sound. Even though they use a lot of popular songs for samples, it never detracts from the dark and serious tone of the album. The drum machines, turntables, and other instruments used help to shape that tone as well. Overall, I think this a fantastic album, and an incredibly important one in the scope of popular music. This album gave west coast hip hop a front row seat at a show that had been dominated by the New York scene, and it sent gangsta rap out to the masses, opening up a new avenue to the world of rap and hip hop.
Love this, straight out of the suburbs...but I love it.
It's unreal how timeless this is, even when it extensively samples the Steve Miller Band. MC Ren and DJ Yella are two of the most underrated figures in the history of rap.
Incredible. Just such an awesome kick ass push against authority.
Excellent album all around!
Use to say not my type of music until I watched the movie, gave me a whole new respect and understanding for NWA and their music.
Dre’s beats are genius. Lyrics aren’t overly sophisticated just the rawest, realest 💩in 3 decades. You’d have to be a sucka MC to give this album anything other than five stars.
Very familiar with this one. An all time great for hip hop.
Maybe gangsta rap and west coast rap would exist without these guys, but also maybe not.
Express yourself in contention for best rap song ever
Fittingly I bought this album on a bootleg cassette in the States. Now have it on CD. As electric as ever, 35 years on.
I loved this album when I was a kid and I love it still.
The OG. Really good rap/hip-hop album, with Dr. Dre and Ice cube. Even if you don't like rap just listen to the marvolous production and the beats. It's awesome
FIRE!!!!!!!!!!
5/5
Top notch hip hop. Sets the bar really high and something rappers and hip hop producers today should strive to reach. I think I wrote something similar in another review and I do think there's good hip hop today it's just that there's so much that doesn't even come close to this and this album is from 1988. Great rhymes, stellar beats and sick flow. It starts so strong with the first two tracks which are classics and just keeps going strong.
Banger
Iconic and era-building
Man, what an absolute banger. Some cheesy lyrics here and there, but the rhymes and respective structure are beyond anything most in the rap game have ever come up with. So much talent oozing out of the raps and musical production. The quality of this album on the beat/musical front is first class. Unreal how far things have regressed in the rap scene. Fav tracks: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, If It Ain't Ruff
Very much of its era, but full of absolute classics. Dre came into his own as a producer, Ice Cube's lyrics are amazing and Eazy E attitude and bravado is simply class.
Still holds up and the amount of n words is still shocking.
Gangsta rap at its very peak, a masterpiece in the hip hop world.
So raw and perfect.
The greatest rap album of all time. Favorite track: Straight Outta Compton
5 out of 5 for the swag but obviously not all the songs hold up as well as the hits. but Gangsta Gangsta makes this perfect on its own
banger. like that deep purple - in rock. archetype shit
Nice!
Revolutionary
Gold
Fun times
Most accessible Hip-Hop of all time.
Boom goes the Dynamite ! This album doesn't give a fuck about my review. The beginning of Gangster Rap. And in alot of ways also the epitome. Too bad it was born out of such real violence that the entire industry popped each other over the next 8 years. And even too badder is that now the genre its complete bullshit with the likes of Michael Irving's multi-millionaire inheriting son fronting his fake ass gangster creds.
This is an automatic 5 from me. This album fully encapsulates 90's hardcore rap and changed the scene forever. I have a friend who played this album almost exclusively throughout the entirety of high school. It's hilarious to read the reviews of this album on this site, you can tell who's a middle aged white man who has never had to deal with any conflict in their life. They all believe that this album is what causes violence in the streets without even beginning to understand that it was created from the ashes of the rappers lives and not the other way around lmao. The best part about this music is that it is emotional, it is built out of real life experience; they aren't trying to sell you anything, they aren't trying to change the world, they're just telling you their story. Though I will say, the second half of this album is not as hype as the first half.
Really isn't much bad to say about this album. It's hard, it's raw, the production is top notch. I hope someone still has the FBI warning letter they got.
Also a good movie
never listened to it before and glad I took the chance to listen to it. fantastic album.
The best
Gangster, gangster!!
4.8/5
i know some people claimed they couldnt give this a higher rating necause of the misogyny in the lyrics and i get it but this is definitely a genre defining album and i think a stone cold classic.
Compton's in the house! I think many of today's listeners maybe forget that it's supposed to be offensive. This is music to make your parents furious.
Hell yeah, a true gangsta classic.
Instant classic
Certified hood classic
Instant 5/5
Interesting storyline of the violence experienced and perpetrated
Not a rap guy myself but this is really really good gansta rap
Classic old school hip hop album. Enough great songs to ignore the few meh ones.
Just a great album
Still as badass as it was the day it was unleashed.
straight fire! raw and unfiltered!
The great grandfather of gangster rap. These lyrics put a spotlight on the reality of urban street violence and the dangers of living while black.
lol I already bought this album
Ground breaking
All time classic, love Dre’s beats even if the verses haven’t aged the best. That being said “do I look like a motherfuckin role model? To a kid lookin up to me, life ain’t nothing but bitches and money” is all time hard (4.5/5)
Important Record for the Genre! The Beginning of Gangsta-Rap. And Songs that were explicit. Its great and rip eazy-e
Serious beats serious lyrics and righteous anger from NWA, with wit and style. And album by the OGs for the OGs.
Takes me right back to high school. This is definitely my favorite rap crew and my favorite rapper, Ice Cube. Dr. Dre has the most ridiculous beats and samples and drops. DJ Yella makes some tasty jams. I love the bravado and rebellious attitude. It’s so interesting to see how taboo this record was when it came out and now there’s a movie all about it. It’s a momentous album that out gangster rap on the map.
Classic gangsta rap, still as good today
Express yourself - Remember the Titan's film comes to mind. Great cast and movie about overcoming one's prejudices and working toward a common goal. Great album all around, head bopping to the solid beats this exudes.
Five stars, an absolute classic.
an all timer
A great album that shook up the music industry and American culture.
Classsssic
Iconic.
Fuck the police.
Yes, it is troublesome in 2023, but the beats and energy cannot be denied.
absolutely classic hip hop album. this whole project is peak west coast hip hop as the trio has undeniable chemistry absolutely delivering on every track. rip eazy-e
Closer to - 9/10 closer to 10/10 than 8/10
Classic af 9+/10
A perfect Lightning in a bottle moment
This album is so so good. Forever changed hip-hop. It's a melodic thrill ride, completely bombastic and hard hitting. Love it and an absolute classic.
Sounds exciting and fresh to me
The album's title track, "Straight Outta Compton," drops like a bomb with its gritty lyrics and driving beat. The song was a response to the police brutality and racial injustice that the group experienced in their hometown of Compton, California. Other standout tracks on the album include "F*** tha Police," a scathing critique of police brutality and racial profiling that remains relevant to this day, and "Gangsta Gangsta," which celebrates the gangsta lifestyle that was prevalent in Compton at the time. In addition to its hard-hitting lyrics, "Straight Outta Compton" also showcased the production skills of Dr. Dre, who of course went on to become one of the most successful producers in hip-hop history. The album's production is characterized by its heavy use of samples, hard-hitting beats, and minimalist instrumentation. Despite the controversy surrounding the album's explicit lyrics and subject matter, it has became a cultural touchstone for a whole generation of rap fans. Its influence can be seen in the work of countless hip-hop artists who followed in N.W.A.'s footsteps, including Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. It’s a landmark album in the history of hip-hop with it’s raw energy and innovative production. One of the greatest rap releases of all time.
Straight Outta Compton, straight into my veins.
Dre's funky verging on playful production juxtaposed with the abhorrently violent, at points hilarious, tighter than two coats of paint lyricism makes for one outrageously entertaining listen. I feel the fact that the National Library of Congress have deemed it culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant gives me brief licence to eschew (bless you) any misgivings regarding the violent sexism common of (almost) all hip hop of the day and fully appreciate it as probably one of the most entertaining hip hop albums of all time.
Amazing. Classic. Legendary. Express Yourself!
Fuck tha polica
"Damn that shit was dope!"
A landmark album in hip hop, a political statement that focuses on people instead of politics. It's rough edges are a bit in poor taste today but also a critical historical document.
I’ve already heard this record and I love it
I loved this album back in high school. Fast forward almost 30 years and I still really like it. The lack of auto tune is refreshing.
This was eye opening for me. This was something special. This was the prototype. This sounded amazing from beginning to end. It tells a story that needed to be told. Lots of imitators never quite hit this sweet spot.
It was sooo good. I enjoyed every second.
Arguably the beginning of west coast hip hop getting a true foothold in tandem with Ice-T paving the way. Also just a massive open set of tracks.
NWA 4 life!
Obviously a hugely important album that will get a 5 from me. There’s a lot of misogyny and some homophobia which is not super cool, but I’m going to set that aside for the purposes of this rating
Hiphop at its edgiest, cringiest, and most provocative. To be fair, the beats slaps hard despite the surprisingly shallow lyrics. Some claim that they portray the raw "reality" of living in such a place, and some would claim that they are tapping on the real societal issues. In reality, it's just a series of raps marketed for edgy teenagers of their time. Again, the beats and the production is quite stellar despite all that. Basically Public Enemy but edgier. Still, I would lie if I say I didn't enjoy it. It's no surprise they brought gangster rap to attention with this album. This isn't the first time I very much enjoyed an album which I know has flaws so why withdraw a star right?
Ground breaking record. Always been one of my all time favorite rap records.
Iconic
"Straight Outta Compton" is the debut album by Compton, California rap band N.W.A. The album is credited as triggering rap towards hardcore and gansta rap with lyrics depicting street violence and attacking police and just about anyone else getting in their way. It was produced by N.W.A. members' Dr. Dre, DJ Yella and the Arabian Prince with music incorporating horn blasts, funk guitar riffs, sampled vocals, turntable scratching and a Roland TR-808 drum machine. Other N.W.A. members included Ice Cube, Easy-E and MC Ren. One thing that I do like is the uniqueness to each rapper's style. This album was added to the National Recording Registry for its artistic significance by the Library of Congress. "You are about to witness the strength of street knowledge" and we're off with "Straight Outta Compton." The scratching, the sampling (six songs). Each rapper's takes turn introducing themselves in the N.W.A. gang. When I first heard Ice Cube rap "So when I'm in your neighborhood you better duck cause Ice Cube is crazy as fuck" I fell out of my chair. Great line! "Fuck tha Police" drew an actual FBI warning. The song is about police harassment and their retaliation. Scratching and Dr. Dre begins the court trial parody. Ice Cube, Easy-E and MC Ren take the stand and tell the story. "Gansta Gansta" is more groovy with the sampling. Again nice scratching. Lookout they're shooting at anyone and everyone. "If It Ain't Ruff" continues the funk and groove going. MC Ren delivering the rap with great rhythm. "Express Yourself" is a little lighter, more poppier. Dre at the mic. Be who you are. Great sampling of "Express Yourself" by Charles Wright & the Watts 103 Street Rhythm Band. The album ends with a fun, upbeat "Something 2 Dance 2." The band is having fun...dancing, talking about girls. Great sampling a of a few dance songs. I always thought this album was fun; I guess I never took some of the lyrics as serious as others. It does go after police brutality which is a serious subject. And, yeah, it does probably go too far in some areas for today (misogynistic). The gansta rap genre would get a lot, lot more serious in the near future. This album does sound of its time ( the 80's) but a lot of the samples still sound great (P-Funk, Beastie Boys, Marvin Gaye, James Brown) and I enjoyed listening to it again today.
The first 3 tracks are the classics (along with Express Yourself) but the album as a whole is very strong too.
Eerder mochten we al naar een album van Ice Cube zelf luisteren. Dan maakt een collectief het toch veel beter. Er is veel meer afwisseling in de muziek, stem en emotie. Dat maakt wel het verschil. Verder een feest van herkenning. De mannen hebben heel wat samples gejat, maar eerlijk is eerlijk. Ze geven nog veel meer samples terug aan de muziekwereld. Zo'n balans wijst dan vooral op de creativiteit. Ik verheug mij op de notes van Leo R. over deze agressieve muziek/teksten. En een klein beetje gelijk moet ik hem op voorhand wel geven. Ik begrijp dat de agressiviteit ook als middel wordt gebruikt. Ze hebben er een enorm bereik voor hun boodschap mee behaald. Maar een nummer als 'Express Yourself' springt er uit en toont maar aan dat ze het muzikaal niet nodig hebben. 4,5 ster
Good
Crazy that this album is 22 years old. Some great tracks on here.
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Straight outta Compton, Fuck the police, Gangsta gangsta, 8 ball, Express yourself, I aint the one
One of the greatest hip-hop albums ever made, and its influence is still strong today.
Excellent debut album by rap legends. I wasn't much into this album when it came out (mostly because I was into rock & didn't like that some of the lyrics were misogynistic) but listening to the album at this age give me a fresh take. It's a big F'U to the powers that be along with being prideful of where these guys came from. Glad I got a give it another chance. 5 outta 5.
Growing up in a pretty isolated part of Canada, not a whole lot of rap made it through. But this one did. It was a real eye opener to see how Black youth are treated by police while I lived in a really really tame town. I always preferred rap and hip hop that stuck their middle finger up the nose of authority.
Required listening to have an understanding of the Genre, heralded the huge shift towards Gangsta Rap and still slaps 34 years later, even if some of the exact language is dated/cringe now, the raw energy is there and showcases the attitude and lifestyle growing up in Compton at the time. || Nothing is as strong as the opening two tracks, but I still gotta give 5 stars.
Rough and gritty, but I heard a lot of the Beastie Boys beats in some of those bars. Nevertheless, it’s a classic.
The album ever!
Ninguna
One of those albums that 100% deserves every bit of praise it's gotten. Catchy, bombastic beats. Socially conscious and powerful lyrics. Incredibly flow and lyricism. Fuck tha police.
GOAT
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
Loved it! Great instrumentals, great lyrics and a lot of energy
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
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.
-classic -used to listen to this in middle school on my walk to the bus stop in the mornings loll :))
Great classic
Love the whole damn thing
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.
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.
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
Good album.
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
An album that launched a genre. And every track is outstanding without that context. Easy rating here.
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"
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.
Angry, authentic and exciting. Don't just sing in public Brit chaps.
Amazing album. Just the funk and soul combined with the raw power. Perfecto!
Who am I to give less than 5 stars to this?
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?
Brutal!
Re-listen. I actually like earliest forms of rap.
Classic
Gangsta rap never sounded as good or as thrilling as this. Angry in all the right ways and with crate digging samples used, this is the perfect album to get people riled up on any side of the political spectrum. Still sounds fresh today as it did when it came out. Unfortunately the topics rapped about here are still as fresh as those wounds that first appeared - this seems to be a running problem. People are dicks. Best Tracks: Straight Outta Compton; Fuck Tha Police; Express Yourself
5. 2 weak tracks but seminal, raw as fuck, and just a fuckin blast
A wonderful album. I have heard it many times before and I will listen to it again. The songs are great and fun. This album changed hip-hop/rap completely.
Great stuff. I can see how this is a classic of the genre. Not normally a big rap fan but these guys stand out.
I first heard Straight Outta Compton when I was 16 and it did what it needed to do. Shining a light on the situation in South Central Los Angeles and introducing a bold new genre of music. I actually feel that this could be edited down to an EP's worth of really strong tracks - some of the songs later in the album feel like filler. But this was the 80s/90s, a time when album sales were key and "thank u for all ur money". The title track alone is worth the price.
Straight banger of an album 🔥🔥🔥
Classic
* Great
The most honorable mediator of hip hop when it turned from experimental genre in the 80s into an angry political powerhouse! Love the album to the bones and every single legend that is featured on it
One of the best album
Just an excellent album that's hard hitting and peak west coast rap of the era. Obviously there's a bunch of known songs but "Ain't it Ruff" is very underrated. 10/10.