Straight Outta Compton

wow. Some of the content may be misogynistic, but it is fresh, lively, musical...

Exceptional album. In the context of its time, this was a very shocking, hardcore statement. One of the most essential hip hop records.

amazing album, tackles issues that are still around 33 years later, every single member delivers a powerful performance

One of the greatest collabs ever

I really thought the lyrics were outstanding.

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

Amazing Album

The OG rap album

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

Good start

Straight heard this years ago

Hard to think how this wouldbt be a 5 just cos it's so damn influential to all the artists I love. Surprised if I rate this less than a 5. Yeh 5.

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

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

CLASSIC

You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge...

Q. What does Shack eat for lunch? A. Lamb Chops!

One of the greatest ever

10/10

Adorei, deveria ter ouvido antes.

Instructive and an important album.

Aside from the misogyny, this album is just about perfect

Tricky tricky tricky. tails off at the end. 4 stars. but the start is ace, changed music etc etc. 5 stars. Express yourself get it the 5

BEST ALBUM YET

Love it. A lot of the beats sound similar but the lyrics are amazing.

Still slaps.

You know what, for 1988 this is pretty great stuff. Think I might like Public Enemy a little more, but the beats from Dre and Yella are all great, the flows are really great, some pretty corny bars though. Wish there were some more hooks though

It slaps.

2 songs are arguably the best rap songs ever

I think this is the first run I've had of back to back hip hop albums and both are certified classics (got The Slim Shady LP prior). I love this old school hip hop built around building beats from almost exclusively pulling samples of other songs. As a white guy in his 40s though, I'm only blasting this with headphones in, lol

Kyllähän puluniska tän lätyn tahdissa liikku alusta loppuun. Paljon rumia sanoja mut hyviä riimejä. Jee!

Acab! Tosi tiukkoja biittejä, kivoja sämplejä ja soundeja. Räpissä on miellyttävä monipuolinen flow ja tykkään heidän äänestään ja meiningistään kovasti. Harmi vaan että naisia alentavaa settiä on about joka biisissä xd Nopeesti meni maku siihen hommaan, ja jättää sellasen ikävän karvaan maun suuhun levyyn, josta muuten tykkään kovasti.

Strength of street knowledge witnessed ja god damn noi Dren biitit bängää kovaa!! 🔥 Oon verrattain myöhään löytäny tän kulmakiven pariin ja onhan tää nyt tiukka lätty. Toki valitettavasti tääkin heti valamassa jalansijaa räpin misogynistisille traditioille ja kilvoittelevalle uhoomiselle, mut pää nyökkää kyl hiton kovaa messissä iloisesti epäkohdat sivuuttaen 🫣🙂‍↕️

Good

The day after I leave LA…

huge banger, but couldve gone without all the misogyny and other vile lyrics. product of its time but still

Banger!

Єба це прикольно. Жоский реп жоских ґенґста на А-сайді, і прикольний танцювальний хіп-хап на Б-сайді. Мені зайшло. Оцінка: висока 7/низька 8

4:5

This was my actual first time listening to the whole album all the way through. When I was a kid I was familiar with all the singles that were released like dopeman, gangsta gangsta, express yourself, eight ball and a few others. My brother had a friend who would but 12in singles so I heard all of them before they were released as an album. The clean and dirty versions. The clean versions were actually versions with different lyrics not just bleeped out words. Eazy E was a great marketer of the music because he knew it needed to get played on the radio. So as I listened I was excited to hear the rest. It’s a good album and it’s good to hear the D.O.C. On a track. I also enjoyed the electro funk from Arabian Prince. This is what the west coast was originally known for before gangster rap took over. The beats are of the time. I hear a lot of people saying they sampled the beasties boys. I think it was a diss if I heard it correctly in a subliminal way talking about I don’t drink brass monkey and drinking eight ball or olde English 800. But it’s just a bit over people’s heads. Probably them having fun. I enjoyed the album and know the rhymes aren’t the best but this album is definitely important and was necessary at that time.

Non sono riuscito a star fermo un secondo.

Not what I expected from them but man this was a lot of fun

4+

Album encapsulated the voice of generations of people who endured inhumane oppression, who gave themselves the right to fight and stand up and stick to the man. They transposed this rebel fist into the nastiest illest beats and grooves. Love it NWA.

Really strong overall but as a whole the songs tend to blend together

Fantastic and all the better because it's so over the top on purpose! I feel like I should buy a gun in case I need to start poppin caps 4/5

Catchy beats, original production, decent songs throughout, with only a few exceptions. Some of the lyrics have not aged too well and it is very aggressive and hostile at some points. I had fun listening to it. The first track is one of the best album openers I have heard in a long time. Well worth a listen.

It's a classic - yes, it has a lot of lyrics that didn't age well but the flow and creativity is still great. Definitely worth listening to again but I do feel like this is maybe could be cut down a bit more to be more focused.

An absolute classic bedrock piece of the genre. People who don't like hiphop or rap should still listen to this album so bare minimum they can be educated in their opinions.

Classic! It was less aggressive and more funky than I originally thought

Has any other album aged poorly and also incredibly at this same time?

A pretty iconic rap album

Amazing production, great lyrics from cube and ren but I just can’t stand e

Dope rhymes but the backing tracks aren't anything special and the vocabulary is limited at best. Can be pretty funny at times, and these guys are authentic af.

This one shouts out to you start to finish.

extremely strong opening, doesn't drop off too hard.

It's just a good album your honor

this genuinely got me bobbing my head but yeah completely different reality..

I don't ordinarily listen to rap anymore, but this was very entertaining. I would need more time to gauge if I like what the lyrics have to say on a more personal level, but my first impressions were pretty good.

Liricistas de otro nivel Honestamente me gustan más las underrated que las más conocidas del álbum, mucho fuego ahí! Gran uso de sonidos de la escena funk y hiphop del momento, innovadores en su forma de combinarlo No me había cuestionado mucho el tema de costa este y oeste, pero esta gente es una digna representante del Oeste, gran referente para muchos de los que continuaron y continúan en el juego Parental Discretion Iz Advised está brutal Express Yourself también se recomienda Gran viaje que termina con una rola tecno

Fun album, interesting to hear how much hip hop has changed since this. Samples, the interplay of the group and overall energy made this an enjoyable listen

Would be a 5 if there was less misogyny

Hard stuff yo. This a probably the most fun you can have with gangsta rap. The beats go hard. Top tracks: "Straight Outta Compton," "Fuck tha Police," "Express Yourself"

the misogyny is beyond dated at this point, but the beats and the overall ACAB message are relevant as ever

Problematic due to misogynistic and potentially homophobic language, but actually more tame than I would have guessed. Plus one for ACAB.

Good stuff. But its a lot of violence

I remember back in the day this was lumped in with 2 Live Crew as the "gangsta rap" that terrified parents. For some reason I listened to 2 Live more back then than I listened to this. 2 Live's juvenile sexual content probably spoke to me more as a teenager than this subject matter. It's amazing how well this still holds up musically. Not so much lyrically, of course...

First album and I wanted to expand my horizons, and this is definitely something I wouldn't normally listen to. Beyond the historical impact, I really have to wonder what Ice Cube from 1989 would think of Ice Cube from 2026's Amazon Prime movie War of the Worlds. I actually don't mind this style of rapping. I can understand what they're saying, and there's a comradery and appreciation for each other's skills that I enjoyed. I know this was a very influential album, but a lot of what I heard especially towards the end, was just scared, overwhelmed kids stuck in a system that was designed for them to fail, and I'm guessing that's what resonated so much with teenagers back then.

Feels so familiar yet I don’t think I’ve ever listened to the album. There are a lot of samples that are well put together - the album is in your face and feels real - there’s a lot of old school hip hop style tracks that I didn’t expect towards the end of the album, one in particular made me think of early Beastie Boys.

Got this the day after Enter the Wu Tang. This, I love. Creative, young group of guys creating art.

OK then, wow. The drum and bass and rapping on this are absolutely relentless and irresistible on this album. The “bitches” stuff is a bit much and is why I bumped this back to 4 stars from the 5 I was considering after the first couple tracks. But then there are other moments that are incredibly funny, and a lot of anger that is real. I am amused that this m-f'ing record has been enshrined in the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. I started off saying "ok we'll just listen to the first 3 tracks of this for now," but ha no I just played the whole thing through. A record quite deserving of its accolades. 4 stars

Absolute classic of Compton rap and has a lot of funky beats with witty text. But still inferior to solo projects of the members (especially Dr. Dre and Ice Cube).

Liked the beats and the flow. Some funny lyrics too

Not too familiar with NWA other than the few hit songs would’ve heard over the years. Been a while since listened to this type of rap, old school gangster rap. You can hear how influential this is to so much of the rap that came later in the 90s. It’s harder than anything on a lot of other 80s east coast based hip hop that I’ve re-encountered here. It’s all simple beats and rhymes and they’re great. There’s also some fun old school hip hop that’s less “gangsta rap” that’s jazzy and funky like Express Yourself, which is a great track. A bit of a change from a lot of the rest, but it’s one of the best songs on the album. Overall this is good. A bit on the long side, and loses a little bit toward the end. Feels like a 3 or 4. Not sure I would choose to listen to it much, but there’s a sound here I like a lot and would add some to an old school hip hop playlist. Going up to 4, because feels like essential listening.

In hindsight sight as a 40 year old the lyrical content on many of the tracks seems somewhat immature, gratuitously violent and misogynistic….. but the beats are strong, the samples groovy and you have to appreciate how influential this album was 4

Stunningly good. 4.2/5.

I like it. I love the aggression and the authenticity. Its a bit long and some of the misogynistic lyrics have not aged well. But it's such a culturally important record and I get why it's on the list.

Hugely influential and from the era of rap that I first listened to. Still my favorite style of rap/hip hop, though not something I ever choose to listen to.

Great album, lyrics aged horribly.

1. Hella viel gerede, chli zu viel szene wo nöd musik sind 2. Gitt genau de vibe wo’s sötti, gangsta’s wo rapped über ihres lebe 3. Geili beats 4. Easy zum lose nebed bi aber au zum vibe 5. Wie so e story, checke actually über was sie reded

Oh this’ll be fun… And it was… and painful, actually. My brother had this album when we were kids. I remember recognizing the Beastie Boys samples then. We had arguments. I remember when Eazy-e died of AIDS. I remember loving the funk, hating the life style it was promoting, even then. I still love the funk. I love the sampling. I love the wit and musical acumen. Yeah, that lifestyle kills. They knew it then. Nothing has changed. 4 Boolean: YES, even so

Pretty good album and obviously a classic. However, it lacked cohesiveness in my opinion and the tracks seemed to just be randomly strewn together. Furthermore, some of the lines were a bit wack like “I’ll shove my foot up your ass” from Gangsta Gansta and “I ain’t the one to get played like a pooh butt” the latter being a pretty bizarre lyric for a ‘tough’, gangster rap album. Overall, it’s a decent album and I would certainly relisten to several songs on this which is a pretty good hallmark of it being a classic.

From a technical standpoint, this album is fucking remarkable. The instrumentals hold up really well and the fact that a bunch of guys from a deprived area made something that sounds this good is insane. The misogyny is INSANE on this album though Jesus fucking Christ.

This album is such an iconic. Couldn’t stop popping my head the entire time listening to it. Cube’s voice and G’s bars were unbeatable. The group going back and forth in every track is so good. Thr chemistry of this group is top. However, some tracks are so long I kinda get bored waiting for them to end. Overall, great album.

N.W.A.'s message of black struggle and systematic racism within the US still hits like a ton of bricks nearly 40 years later. While the homophobia and misogyny may be an unfortunate product of its time, I'd still recommend any music fan to give this thing a try. I gave this album my first full listen today and I enjoyed the hour I spent with it and I didn't think it dragged at all. The beats can be funky and serve as a suitable background for the rhymes that always delivered with swagger and gusto. There are rare occasions where the beats sound dated, but these moments don't detract from the highs this landmark record has.

My takeaways: -Ice Cube was clearly the standout member here; sucks that he split from the group after this one -It's wild how much better Dr. Dre's beats were by the time he made 'The Chronic' -Eazy E always sucked -I never realized until just now that N.W.A.'s logo is missing the period after the A. I refuse to believe that this was done on purpose

i don't have many positive things to say about this album, but somehow i'm giving it a 4/5

Incredibly influential album. Some of the best rap songs of all time are on here. But it falls short of perfection due to some songs aging poorly with goofy lyrics.

This is one of those albums that changed rap forever. It wasn't the first gangster rap group. Schoolly D's PSK and Ice T's 6 in the Morning were likely the first gangster rap tracks. And then there was the cover of BDP's first album, Criminal Minded, with KRS sporting an Uzi. But this is definitely the album that blasted gangster rap into the stratosphere as the predominant type of rap for years to come. Unlike many of the albums it inspired in the 90s, this album isn't just about bragging about guns and drug dealing, though. NWA has some serious political and social commentary. Songs like Fuck the Police are just as true today in its scathing of racist police policies and practices as it was in the 80s. Ice Cube's Gangsta Gangsta is my personal favourite on the album, both funky and rebellious. The first three tracks on this album, in fact, are about as hard as any rap album ever has kicked off. And as for the people offended by this album, well that's mostly the point of all the swearing and cartoonish violence. "Do I look like a mf role model?" This is from the 20th century, where being more offensive than the previous generation was a requirement of music. These guys just basically checkmated punk, metal and everything acid rock and Elvis did before them. It didn't get any worse than this, and for the teenager I was when I first heard this in the 90s, that was part of its selling point. Ok, so now, I'm going to go against conventional rap lore and say, purely as an album, this ain't really that great. It's really just the power of those first three songs, and Express Yourself, that made this album so influential. But there is a whole lot of filler here. If it Ain't Ruff is a solid Ren track. Outside of this, most of the rest of the tracks are either remixes or just not that interesting. The production, as Dre has stated himself, is pretty rough around the edges and the samples are pretty standard James Brown samples for this period, with a few Rick Rubin-like rock guitar samples thrown in. I listen to tracks from this album all the time, but I rarely listen to the full album. It's just not that great a listening experience. So for overall impact on rap and music in general, 5/5. For listenability, 3/5. So as much as I feel as a hiphop head that I should go full 5, I just can't.

Better than I was expecting. It goes hard, so much attitude. Had a few good tracks in the middle, but gotta go with Express Yourself! 4.25/5

Needs to be evaluated given the time it was released.

Indefensible but hilarious. Their reputation is built on the first two fantastic tracks but the rest of the album also has fun, if diminishing, returns: Gangsta Gangsta and Dopeman are a hoot. The whole band turned out to be assholes, but they earned their place in history. And fuck tha police.

Bra! Stilbildande förstås. Det är ju några låtar där texterna är någorlunda problematiska, till exempel I ain't that 1. Kvinnosynen här är ju bra mossig. Fuck Tha Police (högst aktuell) och Straight Outta Compton är jättebra, även Something like that. Flera andra låtar också förstås. Ice Cube är min favorit i gruppen, rappar bäst i mitt tycke.

this is the followup to "licensed to ill" everyone wanted The Beastie Boys to make. glad they didn't and NWA did.

Deserves its iconic status but there’s no denying how poorly some of the lyrical content has aged. Makes for a slightly tough listen at times. That being said, the production, energy, flows stand the test of time. RYM: N Saved a song: N

One of those album that has been so discussed since it's release it's really pointless to even try and talk about about it. Absolutely revolutionary from its talk on police and race relations in America, but completely aged horribly in a lot of other ways. 7/10

Pioneering. Express Yourself has always been my fav

For most of this album I thought it was gonna be a definite 5 star. Up until Express Yourself I was loving it. Unfortunately it dropped off a good bit after that. Dopeman in particular I really didn’t care for. Top Track - Something Like That

Great album. Not one for family listening.

Undeniable beats, undeniable influence. Sometimes shitty lyrics that I hated more then than I do now even though they may broadly be less acceptable now. I wish I could hate the music for some of its ugly content, but it’s just too good.

Šiaip patiko, galėjo mažiau apie moterų žudymą :Dd

tja

It is the late 80s. I'm seventeen. Living in rural Canada. I have heard some rap in passed around cassettes and the occasional track on Good Rockin' Tonight or Coast to Coast on CBC. No black person around that hasn't been seen on tv or VHS movie. There is no hip hop culture here; just artifacts and flotsam and jetsam that get tossed onto the beach of a fairly homogenous culture that is different from the mainstream that is portrayed in the media at the time. We are in a protected bubble. Roseanne or any working class comedy hadn't even made it to our consciousness. Only a few channels with no real American exposure in terms of news. Something big was coming. Tv shows were changing and rage seems to be on the menu. AIDS has already told us to stop having sex. Ronnie and Maggie made austerity a thing. The War on Drugs had a new target that felt a little stilted by the D.A.R.E. program. The hype war was starting to fail. Then comes Gangsta Rap. Fuck the Police was the song we all heard about but for a while had a hard time finding. A friend got a cassette and we listened to it. Already, we were wary of the police. Not ACAB but not friends. In a small town, we knew the kids and the families of the police. Still, this song seemed to get at some truth. Something that seemed more real than being told that we were the problem and that maybe it was the leaders and the people under their control. Heady stuff for a teenager to realize that maybe we are being lied to. This seemed like someone's real life and not the sanitized versions of tv life. I still have a hard time with gangsta rap as it became the dominant genre in hip hop that I could hear without having to look too hard. It is really hard to argue with how good this album is. It is definitely a groundbreaking album, in spite of not being the first. The furor around Fuck tha Police drove this record into relevance and the folks all went on to have impactful careers. Yeah, homophobia, sexism and whatever else is part of everyday life is here. Just reality out here. And maybe some attempts at comedy. Some of the casual misogyny is more neighbourhood sniping at the girls and reflects as posturing by the guys. Other times, it seems like a warning against drug use, materialism, and just fucking around. Some standouts. 'Express Yourself' 'Fuck Tha Police' of course 'I Ain't tha 1' ...and what is that last track? Something 2 Dance 2. On another album, this would be unremarkable. On this, it just reminds me of the roots and stuff for hip hop and rap. Straight up a 4. I haven't listened to this for more than 30 years. I won't be waiting for another 30 to give it a listen again. Hell, it may have given me a chance to revisit the genre.

Strong album!!! Maybe never got past the first 3 songs in the past - I should have. Gotta play this one alone if I want to sing along tho :)

Peknej hiphop

Some really great tracks on this album.

Pues me ha gustado para ser hiphop 80s

Thos is far brom being the best West Coast album, and imo it isn't even the best N.W.A album, but it is an undeniable classic anyway.

I’ll always love NWA because I’ll always hate cops. That being said, Ice Cube is clearly the weakest of the bunch.

A lot funkier/jazzier than I expected. Really great

Sympa!

good tunes

Lil Wayne reference

Rap royalty. This one kicked the doors open. Some of it hasn't aged well but this one set the bar.

Interesting turning point in rap. Can't deny the greatness. Didn't expect as much Beastie Boys influence

Lembrei muito de Jet set radio, muito legal conhecer a sonoridade original de muitas remixagens e claro não posso esquecer de "Fuck tha police"

Fantastic. Raw, aggressive, passionate

daring, biting, truthful and fun. love the samples they use. an album that had a real cultural impact that's lasting

Tough

Incredible. Such a great album.

Finally a good one

Don’t know what all the fuss is about. Must have been a different context.

A Canadian white man riding his bike to work in Toro to while blasting this on his speaker garnered numerous white men in their 50s spontaneously singing along with the lyrics... Nostaaaaalgia

This was my first time hearing this. Not sure why i avoided it for so long. It holds up. I don't love it as much as PE's "It Takes a Nation of Millions..." but it's still pretty great. And damn, I remember the controversy around Fuck Tha Police. Talk about drawing a line in the sand. Definitely belongs on this list. The misogyny not so much.

Before this project, I didn't care for rap. That said, I've listened to this album before and I'm always surprised how much I like it. Yeah, this old white suburban lady rolled up to the Wawa yesterday with the windows rolled down, sunroof wide open, and Fuck Tha Police blaring out of my Civic. I felt so full of jive and gangsta... NWA told it like it really is...decades before the white suburban ladies really heard it.

I don't listen to rap usually, but this is pretty good. I don't understand why people are making a fuss over its themes. It's a reality that exists whether you like it or not. Might as well make fun music out of it.

Yeaa nostogic

It’s soooo good the sexism just hasn’t aged well at all and it’s really hard to ignore in 2026. I do think art should be considered in the context of which I was created and it’s not always helpful to judge it with a modern perspective (although it also is at times). Either way sexism and homophobia wasn’t ok in the 80s and it certainly isn’t now. Tis a moral dilemma !!

Heard Before? Yes, but not for many years. Notes: - drum programming, sample selection and turntable work among the most interesting of the era. lots of variety between and inside every track. every song has a hook, which is a feature for us non-heads. - posse cuts are intrinsically more exciting for me than solo raps. bring it on. - wordplay is minimal, but the rhymes are tight. flows are innovative for the era - at least things are always changing up. - lyrics are too much for me. unpleasant, not entertaining. but THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT. they do exactly what they set out to do. "we make hardcore jams / so fuck respect". mission accomplished. Verdict: The iconic gangsta rap album, repulsive and fascinating in equal measure. Listen Again? Maybe. It's not my jam but it's awfully effective.

Angry, angry, angry, in your face protest raps wrapped up in a F bomb box with a AK 47 bow.

un classique du rap à l'ancienne. Ca s'écoute tout seul et ça a pas trop mal vieilli

7/10 Great. Apart from the casual homophobia and misogyny, which brings the score down.

Wowzers. I see why Dionne Warwick called that meeting. Shit bumps tho 🤷🏾

very colorful storytelling as usual...the beats don't hook me as much as 90s hip hop because the beats and rhythm are still a little too militant in that 80s hip hop way that I don't find as catchy as the more laid-back style in the 90s influenced by more alternative hip hop, but I liked it more than other rap from this era! Fav tracks: Straight Outta Compton; Gangsta Gangsta; Quiet On Tha Set

What a flow

Ik vertaal graag band/groepsnamen naar het Nederlands zodat alle kaaskoppen op deze site kunnen beseffen hoe belachelijk sommige namen eigenlijk zijn. Vandaag moet ik even goed nadenken hoe ik dit het beste kan aanpakken. Dit album van [Geuzennaam] Met Houding is, om het woord maar weer eens te gebruiken, iconisch. Toch staan er geen nummers op die ik in m'n playlists heb staan, want ik vind het over het algemeen geen hele relaxte muziek om naar te luisteren. Het is allemaal iets te typisch. Als album in deze lijst kan ik het een keer wel waarderen. Het is inmiddels wel ietsjes gedateerd (dat 808 cowbell geluid verraad de leeftijd van dit album zoals handen dat doen bij beroemdheden met strakgetrokken smoeltjes). Ik geef 4 sterren. Het is wel een wat lange zit ook.

Some absolute classics on here like "Fuck Tha Police" and "Express Yourself". I also enjoyed "If It Ain't Ruff" and "Quiet On Tha Set". The beats are great, and you can see how influential this album was on rap for the next couple decades.

قوتد ✌🏻مع السلامة ايزي إ

Hard to rate this one. Would be a 3, but extra point for historical relevance.

Straight Outta Compton charted on Billboard, introduced gangsta rap to the masses, and would change the course of music. It's one of my favorite rap albums ever, though side A outperforms side B by a decent amount.

Uhhh, what i can say - this album, at least for now, is not for me, i understand that people say that this is on of the greatest rap albums of all time, but now it's not my cup of tea

It's Straight Outta Compton so you know what you're getting. Birthed a whole genre for better or worse. Still some great stuff on here and some of the members went on to have amazing careers as well. Interesting looking back about how much was made of the lyrics at the time. I wonder how that would go over now?

En Tidal falta la canción 2: Fuck tha police.1. Me encanta como suena el rap de esta época. Me he guardado: «Straight Outta Compton», «Fuck tha Police», «Gangsta Gangsta», «Parental Discretion Iz Advised» y «Dopeman», pero podrían ser más. Me han entrado ganas de ver la película.

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/n_w_a/straight-outta-compton/ Look, of course it’s a hiphop classic. But after the two opening songs, it loses steam quite quickly. Add to that the somewhat problematic lyrics and you gotta conclude it just didn’t age too well. Still, however, it’s quite a fun listen with a few highlights.

One of the most iconic opening rap tracks from anywhere in the 80s and 90s (and perhaps into the 2000s). I can't think of a more powerful introduction to a more legendary group. It oozes cool and attitude, two things this album never gives up in its runtime. i learned this album has been preserved in the library of congress! neat. obviously "Fuck Tha Police" is fucking incredible. even contemporary versions of this song ("Close Your Eyes [And Count to Fuck]" from Run the Jewels comes to mind) don't quite reach this song's heights. Always enjoyable, always righteously angry, I'll revisit this album every handful of months or so and be moved.

i can't believe parents didn't want their kids listening to this back in the day

13/1001 Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A. (1988) An album whose influence is still heard 38 (!) years later. How would it be possible to rate an album with the title track, "Fuck Tha Police", and "Express Yourself" below four stars? That said, I think that's about the highest it can get. There are several iconic tracks that had an enormous impact on Hip-Hop but, just as with other 80s Hip-Hop, it's impossible to not hear its age. The "Remix" tracks really just do not do it for me, and in general the second half is full of very forgettable early Hip-Hop. And, as much as I hate to say it, I think a lot of Eazy-E's writing and rapping just isn't for me, at least on this album. A very enjoyable album but limited but remembered primarily for its standout tracks. ★★★★

the final phase of the transition from old school to new school. super neat to hear more complex 90s style verses over late 80s production. kinda wish theyd lay off the misogyny but whatever.

3.5

База

Loved the beats on this.

Looking back it’s so funny how the 808s contrasted the subject manner. This album really set the popular blueprint for the next two decades. (4-4.5)

It's a big album but feels a bit dated now. Lots of big important tracks, but it feels very 80s compared to a lot of stuff from a similar time. Dr Dre really is a fucking genius though. Bes Track: Fuck Tha Police

Great album, brings back memories

There are so many sexist, homophobic, violent, toxic masculinity and overall extreme themes and lyrics that it'll make your head spin. So that'll earn them an extra point for the rating

Crazy, they really marked a before and after in the genre, it's true that you want to pass by anarchy but if you listen to it objectively you see a universal reality, a fucking madness

Never really realized how much Beastie Boys there is on this album, both in terms of influence and in literal sampling (see: 8 Ball). Lyrically clever, if you can ignore the often pretty despicable attitude (relevant, I suppose) and there's some really, really great production on the album. You can see how this was a must-listen in its era. It feels raw and honest all over. Fav tracks: Straight Outta Compton, Fuk Da Police, Quiet on Tha Set

a brother that will smother your mother

Classic!

I’ve heard this one before. First time i heard it was 4th or 5th grade, a friends older brother had the tape and we passed around a walkman listening to it at recess and being like “wow they said swears!” Anyway it goes way harder than how i understood it back then. I love the samples with the 808 layered over it that kind of went away in the 90s. Like any gangsta rap from this era I can’t stand the misogyny in the lyrics, so gotta drop a point for that on an otherwise perfect album.

For me it’s a brilliant album I’ve listen to it in the past and I’ve always enjoyed relistening would highly recommend to anyone who’s tryna get into rap

now this is something 2 dance 2 xxxxx

The opening three tracks of "Straight Outta Compton" are great. It's a high quality, cohesive album from start to finish. The production by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella remains impressive for the era. It's an album that has funk running right through it - I'm guessing this is why this album has landed so well with me. To date, whilst working through these 1001 albums, this is the most enjoyable, end to end, hip-hop album that I have heard. Four stars. 1 "Straight Outta Compton" (5/5) 2 "Fuck tha Police" (5/5) 3 "Gangsta Gangsta" (5/5) 4 "If It Ain't Ruff" (4/5) 5 "Parental Discretion Iz Advised" (4/5) 6 "8 Ball (Remix)" (4/5) 7 "Something Like That" (4/5) 8 "Express Yourself" (5/5) 9 "Compton's N the House (Remix)" (4/5) 10 "I Ain't Tha 1" (4/5) 11 "Dopeman (Remix)" (4/5) 12 "Quiet on tha Set" (4/5) 13 "Something 2 Dance 2" (4/5) Total - 56 Average - 4.31 295/1001 158/295 albums reviewed were new to me

Funky and smooth, roughly not too smotoh.Good rap

gran album para el genero

Some stuff is a bit dated but the daaaaaaamn the funky stuff is so good. Express Yourself is 5

Them some angry utes

Legendary debut, gangsta rap begginigs with sool samples and lyrics that hit hard. No notes.

fun listen of one of the first big rap albums

classic

Fucking depressing how relevant this album still is. Fuck the police

Myy buenoooo

Awesome fucking album. I've discovered a love for Ice Cube going through this list. His flow and rhymes are right up my ally. It's funny that Easy-E is the poster child for N.W.A. when I think he's the weakest member. There are some all time songs on hear and some great samples. I think the second half of the album is a little weak, but it's not bad. Another 9/10 album.

classic

had it playing in the background only because i'm not a huge fan of 80s rap, even being towards the later half of the 80s, borderline 90s rap. the production from dr. dre is great tho. shout out eazy e.

This album is iconic. N.W.A. is rowdy, controversial, and the voice of the voiceless. I gave 4 stars because of the heavy misogynist lyrics, but the rest of the album was very solid.

Fun!

Gotta stop browsing the user reviews on this site.

It really enjoyed this unexpectedly. Fun & upbeat but clear messages throughout. A good album!

Loved it more than I thought I would wow

Gets bonus points for it's influence

Was the almost complete commercial victory of Gangsta Rap over the alternatives just because this album sounds so much better than 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (which came out the same year). I don't know either.

Solid

Straight Outta Compton arrived in 1988 like a document from a world mainstream America preferred not to acknowledge, and the themes of systemic racism, police brutality, and black oppression it put on record remain painfully relevant today. That’s not a comfortable observation, but it’s an honest one — and honesty is exactly what this record was built on. The production deserves its own recognition. Dr. Dre’s ear for texture, rhythm, and physical impact was already fully formed here, and the stark, hard-hitting beats have a presence that still commands attention. The sonic palette is deliberately aggressive rather than celebratory, and that choice feels as intentional now as it did then. There are cringe moments — places where the provocation overshoots its purpose and the content becomes harder to defend than the record’s defenders sometimes acknowledge. Those moments are real and worth naming. But they don’t define the album, and they don’t erase what NWA accomplished. What really seals it is the generational reach. Growing up alongside this record — alongside Ice-T, the Beastie Boys, Digital Underground, and Rob Base — gives it a personal weight that pure critical evaluation can’t fully account for. And watching a teenage son connect to the same themes across thirty-five years says something about the record’s staying power that no review can manufacture.

Yea man I dig the late 80s hip hop stuff. This is right there with it.

Good and catchy

Pillar of rap music. Great album.

GFunk royalty. One of the first groups to craft a hardcore and edgey concious message. Mixed inbetween boom bap style late 80s rap with a heavy inspo from 70s disco funk. A little slow at times with most tracks having one or two many verses. But the hits are important and undeniable

Solid influential album. Yes.

What stands out is the sheer force of it. It hits with a kind of aggression that feels comparable to heavier genres, even if it’s built differently. The production is raw and direct, and the intensity carries the whole thing. It’s not about complexity, it’s about impact, and it works.

HELL YEAH

A lot of the lyrics in the back half of the album are very problematic, especially by today's standards but the power of this album is undeniable.

Raw hip-hop

This album was groundbreaking. None of the songs could be played on the radio but it still sold because it tapped into the simmering anger at a system that viewed young Black men as a problem to be aggressively managed. This album also fueled the debate about who is allowed to say the N-word - to this day mediocre racist white people WANT to say it because "rappers say it all the time." Sure, some of the lyrics are misogynistic and homophobic, but rap goes in a different direction without this record.

Première moitié énormissime, on se prend pour Franklin dans la rue. Rentre dans le rang ensuite.

Compton, speaking ill on the late 80’s disenfranchise going on there. Calling it out as matter of fact way. Love it!

Muy bueno, muchas actitud

Nice

A top 10 most important album of all time. This fundamentally changed how people think and sparked gangster rap. Before this most people had no idea that maybe a third of the US population had a justifiably terrible relationship with police. The president was terrified of these guys. This record was a wake-up call that changed the world. Having said all that, the second half is just okay, and it’s not really a five-star listen today. All the respect in the world though.

I don’t like the genre that Straight Outta Compton spawned, but I can’t deny that there’s an incredible energy behind this album and it actually feels important. I do have a lot of the same complaints about this one as I do with the rest of the gangsta rap albums I’ve had generated so far, but I enjoyed this one.

I still remember the first time I heard this album. The funk samples alway hit. Great album!

I was excited for this one, I love everything I’ve heard from N.W.A. !! So groovy. Fav song is ‘A Bitch Iz A Bitch’.

there’s no denying this is a great album, regardless of whether you’re into this genre or not

two hits at the beginning then consistently good to the end

Essential listening if you live in LA county.

This is really close to a 5 for me, but I do have a couple of problems with it. First off, the second half does fall a little flat, and secondly all of the individual songs feel a tad too long. I think this album would be a lot better if every song cut 1 or 2 verses and aimed for each song to be around 3:30 - 4:00 rather than 5:00 - 5:30. But still this is a very influential and important album and I had a good time listening to it. High 4.

Could’ve sworn this was about Compton, Rhode Island. Likes: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, It Aint Rough, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, Express Yourself, Quiet on tha Set

A lot of the messaging of this album hasn't aged well. Not every song is a banger, but the life of this album has prolonged through hip-hop/rap. I think the enduring nature of this album lifts it up, even if not every song is the greatest of all time. Straight Outta Compton is still a blueprint for music today.

I actually quite enjoyed that. Not my normal cup of tea, but it wasn't bad. It's rather dated and its subversion is long gone, but of its time, it's a good album.

Nanaa este de hip hop si que me encantó. Muy muy bueno, voy a investigar más del grupo, estaba ice cube. NONO ME GUSTÓ 9/10

4/5

3.5

Fun throw back to my high school years, never listened to it straight thru …NWA FTW

So good!! 4.75.

Kunno niga niga gänkstä räptii :happypeepo: Mutta vähä turhan pitkä lätty, alkaa tulemaan matofaking fuck vähä korvista ulos loppua kohden.

Klassikko tämäkin, satunnaisessa pyörityksessä jo, niin tuttu lätty.

excelente 4.5

Great beats. I'm not someone who usually listens to Rap/Hip-hop, this was much nicer than expected. Express yourself is a masterpiece. Second half of album tapers of a bit, and i don't like how they talk about women. I get being angry at the police and saying all kinds of things about them. That's kicking up at those who are oppressing you. But calling women in your own community whores and bitches and going on and on about them riding/sucking your dick and then discarding them just puts me off.

Some good songs, some too out there for us.

Aged poorly in some respects, the misogyny and homophobia present in groundbreaking hip hop classics really gets me down sometimes

Me gusto pero no lo escuche completo porque me distraje.

A legendary album in the hip hop sphere. Not all of it's themes and lyrics have aged well, but the theme of speaking out against injustice from police still resonates decades later.

Fav Songs: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Parental Discretion Iz Advised Least Fav: Compton's N The House - Remix 7.2/10

So ahead of its time, but still a little dated due to that early hip hop production. Contains three absolute classics, but I can’t help but wonder how great this would have been five years later.

Genre-defining album. Incredible stuff.

It's been years since I listened to this - it's better than I remember it being. It starts out so strong and carries through - it's an hour of such solid, catchy, angry songs. One of my favorite hip hop albums from this era.

First rap group I heard. It was like having a secret portal to a community I would never belong to--though the casual misogyny bothered me I loved the experience.

Gets somewhat repetitive, but a classic.

Aight bet

I think this album has grown on me since I first listened to it. The first time I heard it I didn't think it was much past the two big singles. Now returning to it years later I find that while the rest of the album isn't as great as the first two tracks, they don't bring the record down as is so often the case. A dated album at times, while at the same time being, unfortunately, still poignant. Solid 4/5

A gangsta rap classic. Though not perfect, it is essential listening for any rap fan. 4.25/5.

You could easily argue that this is a five-star album. It’s infectiously energetic, has nothing but bangers, and remains massively influential to this day. I’m just not as hot on classic West Coast hip-hop as others are. Fuck the police, though.

again, i love old skool hiphop :)

7/10

A crazy mother

Takes me right back to the day I watched that beautiful Bryan Singer film, and we all fell in love with NWA for the first time.

This album is sure to divide opinion. Yes, it contains messages of misogyny, homophobia, and violence against women—things I don’t condone, and that honestly, have not aged well. That said, regardless of how you feel about it, this album absolutely deserves a place in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear. It didn’t just help define gangster rap, it shattered socioeconomic and racial barriers, engaging both suburban and inner-city youth, helping the genre explode over the following decade. Without this album, the genre may never have been elevated to the heights it reached, nor would it have opened the door to the solo careers of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. It is also essentially responsible for the birth of Death Row Records and Aftermath Entertainment, labels that went on to give us Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Tupac, Kendrick Lamar, and countless others. Is it controversial? Yes. Is it part of my daily musical rotation now? No. Did it have a monumental impact on the genre and directly spawn several of the biggest names in hip-hop history? Fuck yes. And maybe most importantly, it gave us Snoop D.O. Double G providing colour commentary at the Olympics. For that alone it deserves a 5, however I am docking it 1 and giving it a 4 as it simply hasn’t aged well.

I first listened to this record as a 16-year-old white farm kid living in Iowa. Needless to say, I was slapped in the face with 12 inches of street life. But man, what a ride! From raw & real to straight up silly and romantic (in a dude sorta way), this record is as infectious as the herps without the embarrassing dinner date where you have to explain everything. The funk, the flow, the aggression, the mischief: all with an apparent appreciation for music of the culture and an innovative approach to telling their story. Lyrics like, "sweating all the bitches in the biker shorts," left this young man pondering, "maybe we're all not so different after all?"

If there was a list of the greatest hip hop songs of all time, Straight Outta Compton would have to be on it. Props to Ice Cube and MC Ren for it and the rest of this album. Groundbreaking when it came out, it was also very, very controversial. One would probably not be able to count all the pearls that were clutched just from the name of the group alone, much less for F*** the Police. Overall, it is a little uneven, but mostly good and the good parts hit really hard. Without a doubt this is an album that deserves to be on this list.

8/10 Favourite: Fuck Tha Police Least Favourite: I Aint tha 1

Cheesy at parts, definitely too much cursing, and overall lyrically doesn’t really hold up. But still this is an absolute banger.

3 songs in and loving it currently

So much to say. Some songs on here are eternal, some are totally forgettable. The group energy is high, but there’s a lot of misogyny. It was and is incredibly influential.

Wrote some stuff down I got so into it.

Parental discretion advised.

they made an album about the 2015 crime/musica?! :o

I'm a stupid white man and rap does not do it for me. However, I cannot deny how impactful listening to this album was. It has some much anger and resentment when talks about the black experience of that time in America. I don't care about the gangsterism and misogyny of some the lyrics but I can surely understand where they are coming from. Dre, Ice Cube and Eazy E delivery is intense and powerful. I still don't care about NWA and rap in general, but I can still appreciate what this album meant.

Based on nostalgia this is a 5x2 my buddy Glen used to rock this in his PoS car all the time and knew every lyric. RIP bud.

4.85

I don't know how I hadn't listened to this album yet. It's definitely a classic hip hop album for good reason.

wait i've heard this song before! a couple of them actually

Definitely one of the original and seminal works of gangster rap, undoubtedly. One of the things I enjoy most about the west coast groups is that each rapper has their own identity, style, and flow. Dre, Cube, Easy E, all have distinctive voices that add to the mosaic of the album. Theme-wise, it is rough to listen to because of my different upbringing. They are obviously coming from a place of strife and turmoil, leaving me unable to relate, but not unable to appreciate. They are fighting against something that has actively worked to oppress them, and it seems that this album is a sort of release to permit people to talk about those things that a collective people were experiencing at the time (and still do). This album did not create a movement, but gave voice to a movement. The opinion on the outcome of that varies, but regardless it has added fuel. Stylistically it's good, albeit dated. It feels very much like a hip hop album from the 80s. It does not feel revolutionary in that regard, but it is extremely well done. I'd listen to it again, for sure.

yesss this shit rules (haha im old) 4/5

One of the most important albums of the last 40 years. For the type of hip-hop it is, it is a masterclass. It's not my favorite type of hip-hop, but it is undeniable in it's execution.

Flour 3/5 Ellie 2/5 Rads 4/5 I think it was pretty good. I liked the beat and all that but i think i would not listen to it again. 4/5

nice ! but misogynist, good beats tho

Always forget how many Steve miller samples are on this

Strong but the big tracks are the standout.

Liked it.

This album will never not hit. This era of gangsta rap is defined by its beats, and Straight Outta Compton is no different. Dr. Dre is one of the best producers to ever grace the scene, and it shows here. Many of the tracks contain multiple beat switches, setting each individual member up to let their flow and style of rapping shine. The title track is a prime example of this. As for the other members, some shine more brightly than others on this album. Ice Cube is front and centre, and Eazy E's unique style stands out as well. Something I hadn't noticed before is how much airtime Ren actually gets on this project—which I am definitely a fan of. The reason this album gets 4 stars from me, rather than 5, is because I think the second half drops off in quality just a little bit. The album peaks early, and the peaks are incredibly high, but it makes for a slightly lob-sided project.

god wat een album. zou dit een 5 sterren recensie moeten zijn? misschien. ik zou graag voor de 4,5 zijn gegaan denk ik. toch saaie puntjes aftrek voor een traditionele misogynie kritiek en een "ik heb emotioneel niks met dit album"

fuck da police

Chill, misogynistic, corny and cool Just right for Minecraft

💯💯💯

Pioneers of gangster rap. Really revolutionized the genre and inspired a lot of people

I'm finding it hard to rate this album. On one hand, the beats are awesome and the flows are great. On the other hand many of the lyrics didn't age well, although I think some of the songs have important messages. I did enjoy listening to it though. Favorite Songs: Express Yourself, Straight Outta Compton, Quiet On Tha Set, Compton's N the House (remix).

It’s true, they are some funky ass beats

The album that changed the game in rap music. It's influence is still heard today. Funny how these guys were complaining about the police in the late 80's and we're still doing it today in 2026. 4/5 I can't give this a 5 star because this album comes out HAAAAARD and then mellows out as it goes on. I kind of wish they had merged Eazy E's debut album with this one and made a super album. Alas, I'm just nitpicking. It's a good album, listen to it.

Hella good, first time listened to it in full length

It's not about a salary it's all about reality. - Gangsta, Gangsta Pure storytelling. So consistent too. The beats are consistent and not as flashy I guess to allow the rap to stand out. Gives a real MC vibe. Really liked that. Feels almost theatrical in some of the songs especially - Fuck Tha Police and I Aint Tha 1. The undercurrent of the black experience in Compton is not unnoticed to me...it's such a poignant way so communicate such struggles with police brutality, identity and personhood. From a personal standpoint it isn't something I would jump to listen to but appreciating it in this context makes me have no choice but to enjoy it. Fav songs - Straight Outta Compton, Express Yourself Overall - 7/10

This album starts with two very strong bangers, and then continues with some quite solid songs. However, some songs don't hit nearly as well. Still, overall pretty solid album that's definitely very influential and deserves to be on this list.

Man, this was in the sweet spot between hip hop and gangsta rap that still had great samples and pass off vocals with great flow. As always, not a big fan of the misogyny and violence, but if you tune out the words and just absorb the music, with vocals as another instrument, this is pretty great.

"Fuck the Police" hit extra hard today as Ice is currently raiding my home state... While a lot of this album has admittedly aged poorly, it's still an essential hip hop album and has its share of bangers. That being said, there's no defending "I Ain't Tha 1". I don't understand why so many rappers from the 80s and 90s were so persistent on making songs about how they hate women who only date for money when all they care about is getting laid. I don't care about that shit. It's pathetic. Favorite track: Fuck the Police

I'm by no means an expert on hip hop / rap music. I enjoy my occasional Dälek, I've known Eminem and loved the Beastie Boys music videos on MTV when I grew up. As a rock kid, most rap was too bland for me - too much talking, too much rhythm, not enough tunes. Now I know how wrong I was. The Gorillaz helped my introduce me to De La Soul, who I love. DJ Shadow, Nas and the likes I just re-discovered, as I did Mac Miller, Lil Yachty and many more over the years. That being said, hip hop will never become my favorite genre. Here's the big BUT: I may not actively *like* the kind of music, but I can recognize a classic album when I hear one. "Straight Outta Compton" definitely *is* a classic album, with lots of bangers. I was blown away by Ice Cube's verses on the title track, and I really appreciated Dre's production, as in "Something 2 Dance 2", for example. This is not something I'll revisit a whole lot. But when I do, I know I'll enjoy it for what it is. One of the best albums of its genre.

I was wary about it, but I really enjoyed it. Yes, some of the lyrics aren't great. They seem to be fixated on penises, but nevertheless the music rules.

Fun samples and lyrics

Very good, iconic Hip Hop/Rap.

Very good album overall 8.8/10

Funky beats, shocking lyrics. The content aged poorly, but the talent is undeniable. This album changed hip-hop forever.

I was in the right mood to listen. I like the social commentary but I really struggle with the sexism.

I was much more enjoying the softer side of Hip Hop with the likes of De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers in the late 80's. However, this album shouts loud and angry about communities like Compton, and all across the world where there was struggle, poverty and an authority neglect to the people. Yes there is far too much misogyny & homophobia in the lyrics but there were many other artists at the time and previous decades where lyrics could be seriously questioned. Dre and Ice Cube going onto global success was no fluke. Express Yourself is a great track. Listening to this in full for the first time in many many years there are good beats in this, great sampling- overall ground-breaking.

Gotta hear before you die? Definitely.

Favorite track(s): Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Express Yourself

Part of the fabric of my youth, although I don't think I ever listened to this one all the way through. I dig it.

masterpiece

i bin no ndso krass in do rap szene drinne obo i hon des album voll enjoyed

It’s just so good, Ice cube was so ferocious and the production is really good

Some amazing tracks and some dated ones. Still, undeniable classic that was important to me in high school and important for music in general.

Abzug für Sexismus.

Kann ich nicht ohne den Meilenstein-Charakter bewerten. Und für 88 eine extrem starke Produktion mit hotten Samples. Sehr gut gelaunt dafür dass es zu nem großen Teil um Polizeigewalt geht.

Will be returning.

Didn't like it at first but I was buggin like fuck. It grew on me as by the 3rd song. Yeah Im bout to watch the movie.

I hadn’t listened to much rap before doing this challenge, but I have now and I enjoy it quite a bit. The beats and rapping are very good on here. I do think that N.W.A. presenting themselves as criminals and gangsters when on only Eazy-E was the only one with a criminal record kind of undercuts their criticism of the police. I’m not saying what they say about the police isn’t true, because it definitely is, I just think that them criticizing the police for racially profiling them for crimes they didn’t commit but elsewhere on the record they claim they commit those crimes feels a bit contradictory. As many have mentioned already, a good amount of lyrical content hasn’t aged great. It does feel a bit long at times, but it’s a great record anyway. 4/5

Really strong start but it slowly declines Powerful debut, groundbreaking album

I can’t believe this is the first time I listened to this whole album.

Cool

i like this album!

Very nice

Bases pegadizas

Genial, agresivo, con grandes arreglos y ritmos para volverse loco, y unas letras y voces que hacen sentir gangsta hasta al menos gangsta. En general me cuestan trabajo los discos de rap, pero este se me fue volando y me dejó con ganas de escucharlo varias veces más. Seguro con un par de escuchas más le subo ese último punto que me faltó, pero en general me pareció un gran álbum.