Reviews (page 5 of 14)
classic gangsta shiiiii
Cheesy at parts, definitely too much cursing, and overall lyrically doesn’t really hold up. But still this is an absolute banger.
A classic for a reason. The beats are completely timeless and some of the best in the entirety of hip hop history. Their attitude towards women is exhaustingly juvenile, but also tongue in cheek and a product of their times. I’ve loved this group ever since I heard the censored version of “Gangsta Gangsta” on a “Rapmasters 9: Best of the Hardcore” cassette I got from Walmart in 2nd grade. I was SHOCKED to find out they swore so much when I first heard the real thing🤣. What a great, nostalgic, and super fun listen!
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.
Just No!!!
Je sais que l'album marque un tournant majeur pour le rap, avnèenement du gangsta rap, messages politiques ultra fort pour l'époque et débuts de légendes mais je trouve que musicalement ça a pas si bien vieilli. Malgré des classiques de fou, (Straight outta campton, Fuck tha police), je trouve l'album long à écouter, avec vraiment des sons qui ont pris un peu trop de rides.
Wrote some stuff down I got so into it.
ageless
This might be the most radically different week of music day to day I’ve had on the site since I started. I’ve jumped from Taylor Swift, to Jimi Hendrix, to N.W.A. And the ladder 2 of those are both absolutely deserving of 5 stars, and are pivotal, important albums that still kick ass today. Can’t wait to see what I get tomorrow, it’s either going to be something really good or notably bad, I almost guarantee it. No in between, those are the only options. Straight Outta Compton is a pivotally important album not just for rap, but for music in general. There’s a good reason why it was put into the National Recording Registry. Among the cavalcade of positive things it accomplished, some of the many notable feats include launching the careers of multiple now famous rappers including the wildly successful Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, became the first gangsta rap album to sell over a million copies thanks to breakthrough and important songs like “Fuck Tha Police”, “Straight Outta Compton”, “Gangsta Gangsta”, and “Express Yourself”, had an entire documentary made about it, drew attention to many cultural issues by the sheer power of spoken word alone enough to get the entire crew targeted by the US government, and most importantly it’s just actually catchy as shit. I don’t personally believe any of the rappers here miss a single beat throughout the length of the album. Another really cool aspect about this album is just how diverse the track listing is. It helps of course to have like 8 different rappers available at any given moment, but each song really feels different. The difference for instance between “Fuck Tha Police” and “Express Yourself” is almost staggering, both lyrically and tonally. Where some rap albums suffer with annoying skits that never impress me, this one doesn’t have a single one, which is so relieving to hear. I’ve never cared for them, and I never will. They ruin the flow of most albums they appear in. It’s also never repetitive, and looking at each song by name is easy to remember which one is which, a rarity with album like this. Notably, that’s due to having a lot of people contributing, which I previously mentioned, but that’s still obviously a good thing. A lot of the comments mention how vulgar and offensive this album is as if that’s even remotely an issue, or something inherently wrong with the album itself. You have to think of the context here though. These guys were young, Black teenagers from Compton in the 80’s, so of fucking course it’s going to be vulgar. Sure, the subject matter in some of the songs, notably “I Ain’t Tha 1” aren’t great, but again, these guys were young, inexperienced, and pissed off at the world. Rightfully so, and at the bare minimum that song still at least slaps, lyrics aside. This album rocks. It’s probably the most important rap album ever released, and sadly a lot of the greater themes addressed in it are still relevant today. Is “Fuck Tha Police” the best song on the album?? Yeah, probably. It’s my favorite at least.
Parental discretion advised.
Classic rap album from the late 80s. The beats and rhythms are great and the production doesn't sound too dated. The message is still there today, though the lyrics are violent, mysogynistic, etc. I can feel the frustration of life in Compton from every song. I also find the profanity just too much. Because of the violence and profanity it's 3 stars, otherwise I would give it more.
Banger
they made an album about the 2015 crime/musica?! :o
fuck the police fr
fave: express yourself ahead of its time for sure! i think it really paved the way for the future of hiphop and did some things that hadn't been done before in the genre at that time. very violent and aggressive but also silly at times. i can see where future groups, such as jvb, have taken inspiration from the group. some serious classics on this one
Essential listening Best Song: Gangsta Gangsta Rating: 9/10 Stars: 5
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.
loved the flow, even if it was a little simplistic
I'll listen closely more but it's a 3 at minimum
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.
I think I first found this album when I was about 10 years old. As a kid in suburban Australia I'm not sure how exactly, but I remember we were allowed to bring tapes in to class in sixth grade to play and I accidentally brought this in. It still sounds amazing now.
wait i've heard this song before! a couple of them actually
bro all of my listening notes didn’t save… very influential bunch!!! my dad deffo listened to this. i really like express yourself!! crazy to hear from a completely different walk of life not a fan of the misogyny and homophobia + toxic masculinity…. not particularly my style of music, but i can appreciate the artistry behind it, i might listen to a few of these songs on my own, but it’s very hit or miss for me something 2 dance 2 is nice, run dmc-ish also kind of i wanna dance with somebody
Classic
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
Classic og
Funny, I mentioned this album when reviewing Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" two weeks ago, which I really disliked because of the bigotry and the homophobic and misogynistic lyrics, disguised by presenting them as his alter ego "Slim Shady". That, at least, can't be said of N.W.A - they didn't need an alter ego, because, well, they came "Straight Outta Compton" and these opinions were, well, just their opinions. When this came out in 1988, I was immersed in metal and punk, and had started to explore (anarcho-)punk music too. What was ultimately refreshing about this album (to me) was that it was just as controversial as many of the (anarcho-)punk bands I listened to, but completely free from political correctness. I mean, was this even meant for 14-year-olds? But it did open my eyes to the injustice served to many African Americans at that time and (unfortunately) today. So, apart from the homophobic and misogynistic lyrics ("I Ain't Tha' 1"), it became a staple and opened doors to Public Enemy and KRS-One. Apart from that, the whole hip-hop scene left me cold, but this album was, and is, legendary. 5/5
wait cause i dont play aboyt old school hip hop put this on at the function while im coked out hitting the milly rock with a bottle of jack in my hand
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.
You couldn't be alive in the late '80s without watching the rise of rap and hearing N.W.A. The first couple of songs were great and engaging - maybe because I already knew them - but the album tapered off for me. I like rap, but I like artists that bring more to their songs than just catchy lyrics. Even the rhythm patterns got a little repetitive. I appreciate the role this group and album played in music history, and I'm glad I heard it, but I won't be listening again. - Heard before? Not in its entirety, but I knew a number of songs well. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No.
Awwww yeeeah Influential gangsta rap record. This is front-loaded with 3 classic memorable tracks - Gangsta Gangsta, Straight Outta Compton, and Fuck Tha Police. These tracks and Express Yourself showcase the production and raps that dominated hip hop in the late 80s and early 90s. The rest of the album is mostly filler and not as good. Was it a trailblazer or a calculated cash-in created by savvy posers? Probably some of both. Ice Cube makes movies and TV now, just like Snoop and Ice-T. Would Eazy-E be doing the same if he was alive today? Would rap be as big as it is without NWA and Public Enemy?
Il rap non è cosa mia, ma meglio di tom waits
Sorprendentemente sí me gustó. Me gusta el ritmo y se porque es ta reconocido. No voy a decir que entiendo al 100% la temática pero entiendo la forma en la que lo abordaron y porque fue un bum. Me gusta el ritmo pero no mucho las letras, pero así es el género. Pero está cool.
peak
strong start but got pretty samey pretty quick. was funnily motivating to listen to on my morning run as a white woman
The good: The samples, the flow, the general feel. Top quality. The ugly: The lyrics. The misogyny, the violence, the homophobia. Unacceptable. I don't care if this was autobiographical or whatever, I fucking hate this shit. And yes, my opinion would be the same if they were white before you condescendingly call me racist.
This is really not for me. I appreciate that it's one of the most important albums of all time but I cannot get away from the fact that listening to it is actively unpleasant. This is a 2 just as a token.
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
Two things can be true: A) This album contains a few iconic tracks that speak to power and discuss race relations in America, just as relevant today as when it was released. B) Lin Manuel Miranda was directly and heavily inspired by this album while writing his smash musical production, "Hamilton". That's my truth and I'm sticking to it. Favorite song: Fuck Tha Police.
nice ! but misogynist, good beats tho
Wasn’t a fan of the language used.. not for me
Always forget how many Steve miller samples are on this
This album is still super relevant in 2026. I think this album deserves all the praise it can, it's not for me but objectively great.
Best westside gangsta album. I didn’t expect it to be such a vibe.
Good production, good lyrics, the official start of hip hop.
Strong but the big tracks are the standout.
Liked it.
Ik heb eindelijk m’n luidsprekers goed afgesteld en ahh wat klinkt dit toch goed!!!!! Ik ben niet echt een lyrics luister maar vond het wel lastiger hier om de misogynie te negeren, omdat het toch wel erg expliciet is (maar ik laat me niet afleiden). Dit is echt een van de eerste hip hop albums die niet onhandig klinkt (behalve misschien paid in full van Erik B. And Rakim). Het is zo volkomen logisch dat men helemaal gek werd toen dit uit kwam! We kunnen heel veel zeggen over gangsta rap en problematische aspecten van het genre (heb er papers over geschreven), maar omdat dit ergens hèt gangsta rap album is, maakt dat me even niet uit. Iconisch album met een van de beste binnenkomers ooit. De lage synth aan het begin van de title track is zoooo effectief in de ernst en de zwaarte van gangsta rap te laten horen. Fuck tha police is een perfect nummer. Ice Cube’s verse is m’n favoriete, wat een stem! Liefde naar de typische 808 geluidjes in gangsta gangsta (maar dan op een interessante manier, in plaats van de clichés die we toch vaak associëren met een 808) De synth bass in parental discretion iz advised doet iets in m’n brein. Express yourself vind ik het meest sympathieke liedje! Gewoon zo’n goed album!!!
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"
I'm glad I listened to this - I'd never listened to the whole thing! I can hear so maybe elements of music that I love that came after this. It was cool to experience, but there's not a ton that I'm likely to come back to again and again.
Fuck da police.
Not everything on here has aged well. It is quite the time capsule. Express Yourself is still 🔥 tho
My initial impression: the lyrics are kinda goofy/cheesy. I like the music and beats though. As the album progressed it started growing on me.
I get that it's an album with great importance, and the rithms of the songs are catchy, but the lyrics are definitely not for me. I couldn't really connect to it, but it didn't hurt to listen either.
some crazy homophobia and misogyny in the lyrics but it’s a fun album!! sounds slightly corny now just with how the genre has progressed since, but you can understand the tensions in compton in the 90s through this album and it’s still relevant today. maybe not a personally relevant album to me but enjoyed none the less - 3.5
fuck da police
Chill, misogynistic, corny and cool Just right for Minecraft
An absolute classic in the hip-hop genre. I've never to N.W.A. myself, but I instantly recognized so many classic tracks. "Express Yourself" was a really fun surprise!
Some strong lyrics, funky beats and real attitude. Surprisingly, I quite enjoyed this.
“Straight Outta Compton” and “Fuck The Police” are classic tracks. It’s just too bad that I didn’t like the rest of the album.
Peppered with humor, this gritty and hard hitting album delivers. With its misogynistic, controversial and perhaps a bit dated content, NWA successfully blurred the lines between what is real and what is entertainment. Oh Tipper Gore, how do you sleep at night knowing the Library of Congress preserved this album?
💯💯💯
Pretty solid as fun as gangsta rap goes. The first 3 tracks are solid, lots of energy and a fun listen.
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
Probably the only hip-hop/rap album you need to hear even though it was released back in '88 because nothing has really changed since.
Fuck the police and all..... but whoooooo do they hate women (sigh)
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.
I think I just don't realllllly love this era of rap. It feels like, to me, that a lot of the listening pleasure/appeal would come from nostalgia of the time when this was popular, which I don't have because I wasn't alive. Not what I reach for ever, but maybe that will be different when I'm living in NYC. I feel like walking down the street to this would put you in a vibe for sure. Or maybe at an outdoor party/cookout in the summer. I don't imagine myself reaching for it to listen to alone anytime really. I do love how political it is. Love the piano in Parental Discretion Iz Advised. Can appreciate it for historical significance, but I don't think I personally enjoy it that much. fav track: something 2 dace 2 OR fuck tha police
Hella good, first time listened to it in full length
Not my thing. It was super cool to listen in terms of rap history but was not a fan of how much misogyny there was. Glad I listened through it though.
The famous iconic songs are indeed famous and iconic. There are some other great tracks here too. There’s also some very ugly misogyny. I could happily go without ever listening to ‘If I ain’t tha 1’ again.
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
I found some cool songs for my playlist.
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.
One of the foundational albums of90s hip hop. Perfect combination of anger and flow. Love it.
"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
Found it a bit corny
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.
good songs but really repetitive
Love me some West Coast gangsta rap. And this did not disappoint. TItle track was a blast. Fuck The Police is the only one I've heard before, love this one. Gangsta Gangsta is great, I've heard the line "not about the salary, it's all about reality" before from a different song, didn't know it was on this album. If It Ain't Ruff, 8 Ball, Express Yourself, Compton's N The House, and I Ain't Tha 1 are all really fun. Every track hits right. Love it! Best song: Fuck Tha Police
Fun samples and lyrics
It’s a solid album. Not my taste, but it has good lyrics, fun instrumentals and good subjects. I think I will not be listening to it again, though.
Not really sure gangsta rap is my thing, but the production is classic.
Absolutely iconic album. So many samples I did not know and the production is so so good - Dre and Arabian Prince involved. I love this album, love the lyrics. I didn't know the FBI wrote a warning letter about Fuck Tha Police. The beats on Something 2 Dance 2 are insane.
This isn’t even close to what can be call “music” 🤬
Very good, iconic Hip Hop/Rap.
Very good album overall 8.8/10
13пісень боже перша пісня це хіпхоп фак поліс ну це жоска капіц чесна навіть не слухаючи до кінця альбом це буквальна альтернативна музика як злий рєпєр зєнік але для омерікі
This was such an influential album and group in hip hop history. Yo, what the fuck are they yellin?!
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.
A stone cold classic, a bedrock for hip hop. Enjoyed this immensely. I have it on vinyl, and it took me a while to get into. Comments about misogyny and violence are ridiculous, just listen to stupid bands like Aerosmith and Rolling Stones and you'll find that these guys have been doing it for much longer!¬
heat
Rough start of something new. More or less the birth of g-funk, one of my favorite genres in hiphop. While this album was a little on the long side and a little sloppy here and there, it's easily forgiven for the impact it made on the music I love.
Big beats, big attitude and not much else. The pulsing rhythms initially sound really funky but the sparse, simple mixes lack variety and get repetitive by the end of each track. There's no denying the huge impact of this record but it's later followers put a sinister spin on the sampling that suits the subjects of the rap: however authentic, the violence and sexism on display here is not only unpleasant but jars badly with the cheery tone of the backing tracks.
Very repetitive and lyrically uninteresting; not surprisingly extremely misogynistic
fantastic start to finish
Not my thing.
classic of course. all star lineup including Ice Cube. game changer
Yo! Tätä ei ollutkaan ennen levyllistä putkeen kuunneltua. Ihan ok. Vähän liikaa uhoa ja kiroilua, mutta tulipahan kuunneltua...
Gotta hear before you die? Definitely.
Meh
N.W.A. delivers only the freshest of gangsta rap beats, which masterfully support the clever lyricism and deeply political themes of this album. An instant classic, even on first listen.
"Moving like a tortoise full of rigor mortis." The title track and Express Yourself are absolute bangers but halfway through you get the message and have been told enough times who they are. The yanks sure love their guns.
I'm very familiar with this album, and despite it's influence, it is a pretty mediocre rap album if you take it at face value. At least it paved the way for much better produced & composed records from Death Row Records.
The three first tracks are incredibly cool, then the whole album just collapses into this bizarre parade of poor beats with rampant misogyny, to the point of it being entertaining in a really bad way. "The title bitch don't apply to all women, but all women have a little bitch in 'em (yeah)" Best song: Fuck Tha Police Worst song: A Bitch Iz A Bitch
ABSOLUTE BANGERS!!! Haven’t listened to the full album in soooo long😋😋😋
I mean their flow was consistent and pretty good but aien't nothing to brag about assaulting ladies and call them bitches. It gets boring at one point, it is a one stand. But yeah fuck the police !!
Pour 88 ce devait être quelque chose, mais je me suis fait.e chier sur presque tous les morceaux. Leur rythme est plus lent que les rappeurs modernes et les paroles se répètent tellement que je n'y trouve aucun intérêt, sauf peut-être pour les violences policières. Vu la manière dont il se comportent dans leurs chansons et la fierté qu'ils en retirent, j'ai du mal à les trouver cool alors que c'est bien là dessus que se base toute leur esthétique.
The most street rap that ever street raped Eazy is sooo shit on god Parental Discretion deserved to be free jazz with that bass + piano Express Yourself was good Almost fell asleep man Oh and #SexismIsBad
3.0
like woah ok I know ice cube was not actually living the life he talks about so, chill, but liked a lot of the songs on the album. saved more than I thought I would to my liked songs and learned a lil bit about Compton
The OGs of gangsta rap. I forgot how funky this album can be too. TOP 3: Fuck Tha Police, Something 2 Dance 2, Straight Outta Compton
I get why this album is important but it’s got a little too much “gangsta” to be a regular in my rotation.
This was good. It's not my normal style, but I can hear how it's influenced music after.
Fuck the police for real. Hip hop is at its best when it is political and critical of the system and at its worst it’s misogynistic. This album has both.
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.
Nothing was cooler and edgier than blasting NWA in the suburbs.
Album #17 N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton I don’t listen to rap music; it’s not that I “don’t think it’s real music” or anything to do with cringeworthy political beliefs, I simply wasn’t raised with it, and it lacks a few things that I look for when listening to music. As dumb as it sounds, one of the main reasons I don’t go out of my way to listen to rap music is because, when I do listen to music, I like to sing along; and if I get in the habit of singing along to rap music, I might start letting the Hard-R’s fly like the Burger King guy. Which, as a white guy, would be less than ideal. In all seriousness, though, I have only heard one full rap album before this (Graduation obviously), which I did enjoy, so I haven’t written off the genre entirely, and one of the reasons for doing this list was to see if there was maybe a rap album that I would love. No better place to start than with one of the first breakthrough mainstream rap albums, “Straight Out of Compton. I have already heard a few tracks off this album as they are simply unavoidable; I also possessed some familiarity with Ice Cube as he was a favourite actor of mine growing up, especially in his career-defining role as Nick Persons in “Are We There Yet?”. I can’t criticize the lyrics too harshly because they are a product of their time, but I didn’t find myself blown away by the penmanship, though I’m sure that they weren’t trying to write Highway 61 or anything. I did, however, find the writing to be quite funny at times, specifically in the song “I Ain’t The One”, which, as simple as the premise for the song is, I did laugh at the Burger King line. Though there were some enjoyable tracks, I really can’t see myself returning to most of the album, but I can definitely see why it was influential and how it resonated deeply with people from Compton. Best Songs: Straight Out of Compton, Express Yourself, I Ain’t The One Worst Song: Dopeman Score out of 10: 5
didn’t totally finish, however fell asleep to it and drove to tom’s river listening to it and added at least two songs to my liked songs. SOLID start
Tem Dr. Dre, então estou surpresa de não ter gostado de nada desse álbum. É importante e tal mas é chato pra caralho. Se ao menos os instrumentais fossem interessantes, eu poderia dar uma nota média. Não ouviria de novo. É possível dar 0? 1/5
One of the most groundbreaking albums in hip hop and music history!!! Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the material itself. Ice Cube and Ren are masters of their craft when they write dor themselves and for Eazy E. Dre's and Yella's work on the sampling and beats is incredible and is only a telltale sign of what's to come. As for the songs, they speak for themselves. F the Police, title track, Gangsta Gangsta, Dopeman etc. All classics. A 5/5, if there ever was one.
A GOOD ONE
Rap is not my favourite genre of Music, especially american, or english in general. I just don't see the art of music in it. The art of words, yes. But the pure sound of music is not given in my eyes in rap-songs.
masterpiece
i bin no ndso krass in do rap szene drinne obo i hon des album voll enjoyed
son canciones divertidas de escuchar. letras bastante misóginas, entendible dentro del contexto supongo
Definitely a classic, so much misogyny though
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.
Ich weiß nicht was nervt: der Sexismus oder die Tatsache dass jeder Track zu lang ist. Debüt dass gleichzeitig nach indulgent late career Album klingt. Und sorry, aber Ice Cube ist kein besonderes guter Rapper. Enttäuschend!
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.
I was done with this hip-hop crap after just a few moments. What a bunch of pussies. Every time I hear messed-up albums from other genres on this list, I think maybe hip-hop isn't so bad after all. And then I get an album like this that confirms, yes, hip-hop really is shit. 1/5
Will be returning.
dated
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.
Didnt even finish the album, music like this set our people back 70 years single handedly. Unnecessarily violent and sexist. IMHO public enemy did a much better job touching this topic. The non-political songs are complete skips. Think they’re all weridos now as well.
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.
Well, I can hear the appeal and the raw energy in the music. It is a heavy album.
Vreselijk.
Iconic album with significant meaning. Reminds me of my childhood because my father liked this kind of music. It’s not a album I would go out of my way to listen to because it’s not quite my style, but if it randomly comes on, I wouldn’t necessarily skip it.
Great album. Sadly when you get to the end "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" ruins the vibe by being entirely too violently misogynistic for me to ignore.
not my style
Cool
No! Rap ist keine Musik!
I liked the beats and the energy, although the lyrics are kinda goofy sometimes, i guess that's part of the style. My favorite song is probably "Fuck the police"
Express Yourself
1/5 Look, I expected to like this a lot, given it's almost mythical status. After listening, I was confused, bored and tired. I guess it is not for me, huh. Fav: Straight Outta Compton Least Fav: Parental Discretion Iz Advised, Gangsta Gangsta, If It Ain't Ruff, Compton's in the House - Remix, I Aint' Tha 1, Dopeman - Remix
I can hear why this was a massive feat at the time. Funky beats, neat. The lyrics, mwah. Guess we need to separate the author from the character(s). Overall, a bit monotonous and too long. Foundational but not sensational
i like this album!
Stupid gangsta rap
Wait, so where are these guys from again? I didn’t quite catch it.
Very nice
Pretty solid album, I think most people who like rap, hip hop, etc would like this. But, I can’t get over the overly misogynistic and homophobic lyrics. Just trying to do way too much for me.
Bases pegadizas
2,5*
Sassy!
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.
I hadn't listened to this album in nearly 30 years. I have been missing out.
oh hell yeaah rap album thats exactly what i needed right now. Its sounds really good exactly how rap album should sound
Remember this one well, aggressiveness and power, MF wording, F The 👮♀️- good to hear it again.
This isn’t my genre, and I don’t think I will ever listen to it again. However, it’s a strong album, it has consistent flow, and it sounds honest. The beats are good and the rhymes are good in style, if not necessarily content. This is also a highly influential album, and is a very important debut.
It's a classic for a reason but I remember liking this a lot more in my late teens/early twenties.
Really funny, incredibly catchy, sick as fuck breakbeats. Pompous, raunchy, violent. Not nearly as concerned with political or social action as most of its contemporaries were - instead sneering and daring Authority to bear down on it. All that said, East Coast Beast Coast. Four Stars.
Standouts Straight Outta Compton Fuck the Police Parental Discretion iz Advised
good gritty dj sounds get it nice I get it
Their best stuff
A hip-hop classic. People may be quick to write off this album because of the profanity, violence, and misogyny, but it's important to realize how common these things are in places like Compton. It's interesting to hear how hip-hop was changing at this point - the rhymes and instrumentals are getting more complex in comparison to other albums that preceeded it.
Fuck the police my favorite song out the album makes me want to get a boom box and get caset taped
Classic hip hop
Great!!!
it's 3,75. pretty visionary for its time, good old hip hop
I appreciate it as an album but is not something I would ever reach for!
Not first listen; 4; Classic album that has a lot of exciting moments. Angry, aggressive, and with decades of hindsight, it sounds like a little bit of a parody of itself with some of the lyrics. Favorite track: Straight outta Compton
I’m familiar with this album. I liked some of the funkier songs & the samples used in the album. I know it’s from a different time but I didn’t enjoy the use of some slurs and the song where bro was pissed a girl didn’t wanna sleep with him. Still, fuck the police.
I admire the talent and respect the attitude and experience, and where the songs come from, emotionally. The beats and samples are also really fun. I just ended up skipping a lot of the tracks because of the lyrics and amount of swearing. I can absolutely see why it’s so well regarded though.
I really don’t like gangster rap, but there isn’t any doubt that the genre has been influential. Straight Outta Compton was among the first and given its place in music history, it was worth a listen. This is a high energy album with some cool, albeit dated, beats. Much like punk, this works and gives with the theme of the record. I found my head boppin’ while listening. The anger against the injustices created by the police do hold up, unfortunately. What I can’t get behind is the homophobia and misogyny on display here. Sure, it feeds the image they are trying to create, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is not okay. Beating down other groups of people is not tough, it is cowardly. From my perspective, that truth works against the image N.W.A. is trying to create, but I guess it worked for them. It is interesting to get this album the same day as a solicitation for the Southern Poverty Law Center decrying the rise of hate and extremism. I get the anger on display here, I really do. The ongoing injustices are real. However, as we suffer through the second Trump administration, with a MAGA movement fueled by hatred and anger, I question whether this approach to change is productive. Anger begets anger. I’m glad this project is giving me a greater appreciation for hip-hop, but not this one. I fully admit that its failure to resonate stems, in part, from me being pretty far removed from the world they describe.
Already listened to this earlier this year. It’s alright. 8/10
This is a classic album, that I had never listened to before. I'm glad this spurred me to take the time to give it a listen all the way through. I will say this was not my favorite album, as it is not the type of rap/hip hop I tend to listen to. However, I really enjoyed how you could tell the group was having a lot of fun making recording the album. It allowed me to feel a connection to it which was fun.
Good, WA
Thoughts before listening: I'm gonna be totally real rn, I'm not exactly looking forward to this. It's just so out of my normal listening atmosphere that I don't think I'm gonna like it much. I totally understand and respect it's influence and impact on hip hop and rap and culture, why it was needed and everything, but idk. At the end of the day I really am just a very basic person, very uncool person, who was sheltered and raised on 2000s country and christian music. I do hope I like it better than I expect to. After listening: I actually do like the production on a lot of this, I'm not musically literate really, but the instrumentals on a lot of the song are fun. I really like the production in "I ain't tha 1" but, since I am a girl, I just can't with the lyrics lol. sorry. The flow and the way they're able to weave rhymes I really do appreciate, I just am a really basic and uncool person at the end of the day. I'm sorry I can't give the Pixies album a 1 because I was grossed out by the misogyny on there and let this one fully slide. I'm gonna give this a 2 because of the cultural significance and it actually has something of importance to say, unlike the pixies album. (This is just my own personal rating, I'm sorry)
Uh, influential it may be but not in a good way. Preaching violence and misogyny hardly the way forward.
Lol. I loved this, but my dad is going to hate it.
One of the most influential albums of my lifetime. Generational bangers, talent and album. Easy to remember release date 8/8/88 - which goes well with the 808 beats! Recognizable faces and voices. Surprised to see this came out after Beastie Boys 'License to Ill' cause thought it was earlier. To me, this album signifies the end of elementary, early hip hop and ushered in gangsta rap as the dominant genre.
Listened to this over the past decades
Eazy-e is easily the hardest part to get through this album. I'm not really into hip-hop/rap so this is usually what I would listen to, but that's why we are here, to listen something that we usually wouldn't. I know this album is historic for the genre I couldn't bring me myself to like it
W miarę spoko, w starym stylu ale trochę monotonne, za długie piosenki, nie moje klimaty
Solid 3.5!
Raps super group. Changed the game.?
Good, but not my jam. 2.5
The music is great but the words drag it down for me. That reason I’ll only give it a two.
Definitely not.
This is definitely a gangster rap record. Though I enjoy this era of rap, the album's lyrical content(especially "I ain't the 1", assuming that wasn't seen as offensively sexist even when it came out)aged poorly. It's full of violent, sometimes sexist raps, albeit placed over excellent beats. NWA stands for N****z with Attitude, and they live up to their name on this record with attitude in spades. I can't deny that it's influential and well made, though; that would be an exercise in futility. The album also runs on a little too long; it could stand to lose a couple tracks.
I Ain't Tha 1 is the worst song I've ever heard.
No smoke and mirrors. ATCQ on the other coast Formative, Important, Dated
So many debut albums! I can't connect to this. Anger spills out of these tracks. This album is built just as much on hatred as it is on anger.
Not for me ig Much like Elvis in the late 50s and Led Zeppelin in the early 70s, NWA enters on that are of those "groundbreaking musical acts that undeniably reshaped society" and whoever denies that gotta have some racial bias bc this clearly served as a standpoint for modern rappers and if you can't see it then that's your problem Does this make the music good tho? I mean quality is subjective but not rly imo just like Led Zeppelin and Elvis and early Beatles the music here is alright at best compared to other styles within their genres I get why that'd be hype for some especially older hip-hopheads but honestly that was disappointing af not the hardest gangsta shit and some songs are plain dumb (I ain't tha 1) Maybe it was good for west coast folks? I'm not rly into that shit. Must've been a "you had to be there" thing and even if I were I definetely ain't the target audience While it's a rly interesting album to analyze retrospectively as a piece of musical history nothing rly caught my attention except for Fuck tha Police (that one was dope captured the nature I was looking for) and Parental Discretion Overall I'd rather be bumping to other stuff by public enemy, WTC and beastie boys that's more of my thing but at least NWA managed to put hip-hop on the mainstream
I can’t really empathise with gangsta rap (I know Ice Cube called it “reality rap”, but the reality it glorified was the violence and misogyny of life, never the may other parts of reality) however, the energy and the healthy disrespect of authority are something I would have loved more when I was a teenager. The album started stronger with the first three songs (Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta) but I felt a lot of the rest of the album was filler (with the exception of Express Yourself). Probably 2.5 stars.
Not what I usually listen to but I enjoyed exploring my taste it was fun to try something new.
it does set a standard....but do i like it?
I don’t feel like the target audience and that’s intimidating. I respect it for how important it was in the context of time and place, and “express yourself” is great. But so many of the lyrics are crude or misogynistic that it’s a bit hard to get past. If the lyrics of “I ain’t the 1” weren’t half as bad, I would’ve really liked it.
Hard to review. The misogyny is a big woah. But there's some great rhymes and beats on here.
Same song is still my favorite.
If music is supposed to take you to a different place...extraordinary..lots wrong with it (not least the lyrics)..but you can't deny the power
eh
This album has very strength and powerful energy. I can got confidence from their music. They are the legendary of the westside. That old school flow make me can't help moving.
Šis nedaudz labāks nekā Beaatie boys
Weirdly this album runs into the same problem of a lot of punk rock albums: some songs with great socio-political messages and a lot of songs about stuff that is wayyy less important (sex in particular). Production and flow is very strong though. A lot of this hasn't aged great. I will say that a lot of y'all's favorite rock/folk/country artists have said worse things about women in songs. Some of the pearl clutching in the reviews feels silly.
The tracks go so hard. My favorites were Parental Discretion is advised, Express Yourself, Great album, classic. LMAO "I ain't the one to get played like a pooh butt" these guys are goofballs.
Classic gangsta rap, revolutionary for its time, not for me
Liked this wat more than expected, some nice tunes behing the rappong
Epic rhymes, great beats, plenty of attitude, loses points for misogyny
Fire
There are almost enough bad tracks for me to mark this down to a 2 but it deserves at least a 3 for the better ones.
it's like a 5 and a 1 made an album together even if we ignore the misogyny and homophobia and so on: some real highs and some awful lows, sometimes even within the same song. probably 20 minutes longer than it needs to be. the good parts are so good though. call it a parabolic 3, on the low end.
It's a classic again, clearly see the influence in other albums, just not my taste
Straight outta Compton and right into the trash bin.
Do you know that I came up with the idea for Sesame Street? I came up with it before PBS. The white man stole it. That's right. I was gonna call it "N.W.P." - N!66@z With Puppets. Catchy, ain't it? -Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back
Classic and while not many agree, I think the sound hasnt aged poorly. The mic presence of so many rappers here is unmatched and makes tracks timeless.
Awesome album. Makes me think.
This is awful.
6/10
Best Track - "Express Yourself"
Classic hip hop and the birth of Gangsta Rap!
good album, wasn’t in the mood
3.5 - went back and forth on whether to round up or down, but I was really grooving to this so rounding up.
Thanks to Dr. Dre’s involvement on production and instrumentation, this ended up being easily my fave rap/hip-hop album we’ve had. Was worried the quality might drop off after the first three “hits”, but later tracks like Parental Discretion, Express Yourself and Something 2 Dance 2 held up quite well. Too much violence in the lyrics for me, but the music made up for it. Plus, no skits or interludes which I almost always dislike. A solid 4 for me.
All time gansta classic.
Listens: 2 (and more beyond today) Standout Tracks: Fuck Tha Police, Express Yourself, Dopeman Normally, West Coast hip-hop isn't my thing, but there are so many good tracks on this album. So many quotable lyrics. I don't know why you'd quote them, but I do it and it's amusing nonetheless. This is one of the Original Gangsta albums. Super aggressive lyrics criticizing the police, hyping the gangster and drug dealer lifestyle, a big focus on guns, painting various pictures of the culture and lifestyle of a young black American living in California in the eighties. This is a super important album and a huge influence on what is to come out of the 90s and 2000s.
Amazing album!
N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton still hits like a brick through a storefront window—blunt, unruly, and absolutely foundational, dealing in harder-edged funk loops and drum-machine shrapnel long before Dre’s smoother G-funk refinements. Some of the lyrical extremity feels engineered for shock alone, but the group’s chemistry and the tectonic shift they triggered remain undeniable: the title track serves as their mission statement, “Parental Discretion Iz Advised” slips some swing and sly piano stabs into the assault, “Express Yourself” offers a bright, radio-ready breather, and “I Ain’t tha 1” showcases Dre’s minimalist production even as Cube’s misogynistic lyrics age poorly. Meanwhile, “Gangsta Gangsta” blurs fantasy and menace, “8 Ball – Remix” channels crunchy Rick Rubin vibes through Compton grit, and “Dopeman” nods to Ice-T while previewing the high-pitched synth that would later define G-funk.
SO MANY F and MF bombs. This far exceeds my ratings limits... Pitchfork: 9.7 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #144 (2003, dropped in later revisions) Best Songs (that I can listen to...) If It Ain't Ruff Express Yourself
1 song added to my favorites. Woul listen again if asked to.
Pretty solid old school rap.
розкачує канешна знатно, просто сидіти розмахувати головою під біт. але ТЕКСТИ ЙОМАЙО. дуже однотипно, а через тексти починає надоїдати вже на другій пісні. закинув на 5 пісні бо мені стало скучно
Пошкодувала, що розумію англійську. Яким би важливим цей альбом не вважали, але він надто мізогінний та "показушний". Я розумію, чому для чорного населення Америки такі тексти та музика мають цінність, але точок дотику з українським контекстом gangsta rap майже не має, мені здається. Музично трохи качає, але швидко скочується в монотонність та перестає інтригувати. Ну але я все ж змогла дослухати цілий альбом до кінця, хоча й без задоволення.
Класіка, тут гарно все, якщо не намагатись вслуховуватись в тексти
Yes I know N.W.A. stands for Niggers With Attitude, and that is exactly how the album started. And constitutes all that is wrong with modern black 'music'. However if you could listen past the lyrics the actual music was done well and not bad at all. Also towards the end of the album, they did start to mellow. And as a consequence I feel they deserve a 2.
Ah, my least favourite sub-genre in one of my least favourite genres. So no surprise, it’s a 1 star. Any worthwhile message is lost on me by the aggression throughout.
I cannot think of anything complementary to say about this. Was this the album where U.S. Rap moved from politics to just scrappy shock tactics? It was the particular one which caught my attention back in the day, because of all the ink being spilled over it in the music press. Not for me, and fuck off back to Compton wherever the hell that is.
I recognize the cultural significance. I remember thinking whoa at the time. Credit for that but too angry to listen to regularly.
Classic
a bit lopsided, but obviously one of the most influential albums of all time. The first three tracks hold up so much. And Dr. Dre is probably my favorite rap artist of all time (less so as a rapper than as a producer, though)
Brings me back
Solo puedo decir: fac da polis
Raw, explosive, fierce, iconic. Aggressive beats with even more aggressive lyrics. Not exactly relatable for me lyrically but i enjoy the harsh breakbeats, the samples and the production in general. Favourite track - Fuck Tha Police. 7.5/10
Ah, yes. Part of the ammunition for the PMRC. It's not a bad album, but at points it sounds like kids trying to look tough and maintain cred. And Easy-E has horrible trigger discipline.
Where to start with this album. When this came out in the late 80’s, almost no one in mainstream hip hop/rap was talking about police brutality, street violence, living in the ghetto, with this level of intensity. N.W.A. came out swinging with their lyrics and their music, and kicked off the beginning of gangsta rap that dominated in the 90’s. F*** tha Police in particular was crazy….the police backlash, the FBI letter to the record label, the political debates. Tipper Gore thought Twisted Sister needed censorship? Oof, that was nothing compared to this. I wasn’t even a rap fan back then and I vividly remember when this record came out. The music itself is raw and intense with driving beats and incredible delivery from Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and MC Ren. This was an incredible album for its time and a real culture shift in the hip hop world. A solid record that definitely belongs on this list.
Straight Outta Compton was my introduction into the world of gangsta rap and I played my cassette tape so much and so often I wore it out. Typical white boy in the 90’s with his windows down and the volume up. Before this album I didn’t realize it was possible to publically and directly challenge the establishment. It also opened my eyes to what life was like outside of suburbia for a segment of the American society. Straight Outta Compton was extremely controversial (mostly because of the song F**k Tha Police) as it saw members of the group arrested mid-concert for performing their songs, which they saw as a direct violation of their freedom of speech rights. NWA gave the world Dr Dre and Ice Cube who went on to super-stardom in their own right but this where they got their start. I agree this is one of the 1001 must listen albums. Very nostalgic for me to listen to this album again.
Damn that shit was dope! This is the quintessential gangster rap album. In most respects, it is exactly what you’d expect, rife with misogyny, homophobia, degrading expletives and boasts about the size of their dicks and their guns. But there is also a much more complex element at work, with smart rhymes, great metaphors and wordplay, and an assaulting verbal delivery that will come to define this genre and shape all of rap for the future. It’s easy to pass over this on the basis of its crassness, its subject matter and a seemingly one note ideology. But as someone who still knows every word on this album from the days when I lived vicariously through it as a window into a world I’ll never know, I see it as a formative and important album that defined music more significantly than most of the others on this list. On a personal note, I’ll be pouring a little O.E. out of my 40 for the Dirty Bird, Nellie, the Countie Marlo, the Couch, the Piss Fence, the Elm Theater, Teddy Ted, Sheenu, R.A.D.A.R., Tom Toner, Penetrating, and those guys who stole Sousa’s stereo.
When Straight Outta Compton dropped in 1988 it was the CNN of the hood. Today it feels like a documentary. This is an important album, a glimpse into life on the streets of L.A in the late 80s. Raw, ugly, and unflinchingly honest. Shocking lyrics about cops mistteating black people proved accurate when the Rodney King video surfaced. A realization came over us that NWA wasn't making this stuff up, this was their world and when the riots occurred we better understood the rage that ignited the fires we watched burn from our living rooms. Most importantly, the music is damn good. The message was heard because the beats were dope, bass thumping, and Eazy Es delivery was on point. It's quite an accomplishment to create music that has you bopping your head while shouting Fuck Tha Police! I've seen some reviews turned off by the mysonogistic/homophobic lyrics, and they are right, a lot of ugly images painted. I'm not one to dismiss those feelings. I'll just say I think it's the cost of creating something honest. Sometimes the truth is ugly, and NWAs world was indeed ugly. To portray that world any differently would have been wrong.
Lots of personality in just about every song, hard not to like if you're even the slightest bit into hip-hop - maybe lacks a little but of the inventiveness that I appreciate with some later hiphop records
Flow got pretty repetitive, but did throw a few gang signs in the library
Never listened to the full album. Hard to beat Straight Outta Compton and Fuck Tha Police but still good overall. 4 stars for the influence this album had
Not bad at all just all too similar. Like a meter long cannoli couldn’t tell when one song finished and the next started just merged into one long album.
Awesome!
Finally, an album I can relate to.
Prayers have been answered, finally a good album, simply cannot argue with some great OG rap
These fellas clearly have rhythm but one hour of rap is simply too much for me. Good tunes tho
Sorry young people. Really not for me. Great beats, although very similar, gets it the 2. It’s angry street poetry - which works if you are a discrimated against West coast dude, but I’m not….
5 or 6/10 First time I’ve ever listened to the full album and honestly a bit disappointed. Some absolute bangers and some real let downs. ‘Compton N the House’ is a steaming pile of shit
Some absolute bangers
Such an influential group and album. I am glad I did not grow up in Compton.
Progenitor of G-Funk.
Alright, some interesting language used.
This album is important as it is divisive The themes of police violence and drug pushing and toxic masculinity are all still relevant today i think Serving as a way to express the anger they feel as Black American’s living in Compton under racism and police violence i think this album realizes that They state themselves that the N.W.A arent role models and this is a very bold first album in its tone Im of two minds about the album I think its both really important and hear and understand the message and anger and i also wouldn’t actively listen to this
An iconic album of course. An important and influential part of Hip Hop history. However, the rhymes and cadence are predictable - it reminds me of the game we played in the studio where the rhyme always lands on beat 4. Some of the songs have not aged well, particularly I Ain't Tha 1 and Quiet On Tha Set imo. I appreciate the cultural and musical significance of this album, but it's not for me. Something 2 Dance 2 is pretty cool.
Hell yeah this album huge for hip hop. This was definitely more than just music, a statement on police brutality, racism, perceptions, etc. Instrumentals have hints of late 80s sprinkled in but since they’re mostly samples, it’s just good sounds from the 60s-70s. Simple drum beats. Classic hip hop. There’s some huge names in rap on this album. Definitely wild to see the evolution from this to newer music they’ve made. Some of these songs are so good, straight outta Compton, gangsta gangsta, fuck the police, express yourself, I ain’t tha 1. Some are pretty mid but whatever. Prob should’ve listened on vinyl or headphones instead of my little bluetooth but whatever. This is more about the message than the hi fi.
Clearly one of the foundational texts of hip hop. The rap style, flow, beat construction and sample selection set the tone for the hip hop of today. It was the genesis of many individual careers and turned out arguably some the best producers, MCs and mix engineers in the business- went onto inspire an entire west coast movement and had a hand in influencing the hip hop landscape we see currently. Without this album we would be seeing a very different world both socio-politically and musically. That withstanding, I don't love this album. For me the strongest thing about the record is the MCs conviction and ingenuity. It set a musical standard and foundation for hip hop, which in its context was a phenom. And that template has been built on again and again- to the point of cliche. Props to this record for its impact and influence, but I find the rhyme schemes, flow and sample selection predictable. Subject matter is dated and out of pocket (Bravado was the point, but the misogyny I can live without), similarly with the production. The songwriting feels formulaic and repetitive. Hearing the same TR-808 on every track eventually gets boring. And the simple formula of funk/jazz guitar sample, with intermittent horn stabs and record scratches gets old after a while. That being said, these were hits at the time- and still are. 2-3 songs that still deserve to be in my rotation. Culturally this record gave a lot, and still continues to influence hip hop to this day. It deserves its flowers- but its not something I'd go back and listen to for enjoyment. MCs today stand on the shoulders of these giants and that shouldn't be understated. We give thanks to the old and grow into the new. 3.5
When this one popped up, my immediate reaction was “hell yeah.” You can’t go wrong with this much hip hop firepower in one place. Dre, Cube, Eazy… it is stacked. Even after all these years, it still goes harder than most modern rap. Favorite song: I Ain’t The One
"Damn! That shit was dope!..."
Too much filler to call this 5, but the best songs are absolute classics.
Classic!
Banger
A classic. Listened to this one hundreds of times. What more is there to say?
If - and this is a big if - you can get past the casual sexism and homophobia- this album is a masterclass. Filled with sick beats, flawlessly integrating four MCs whose voices combine and trade off, every one as strong as the other. It is filled with so much joy and life, while also getting heavy, including what is still the best musical call out of the systemic racism of the police system. But there’s that sexism and homophobia... I’m going to give this five stars, but with a big fucking asterisk.
An undeniable 1-2 punch in the first two songs, the rest is good but not quite as strong.
Classic
not my thing
Corny vulgarity
Pure classic old-school hip hop.
Not for mee
The famous songs from this album (f tha police, express yourself, straight outta compton) stand the test of time. The rest of this album is tiring to listen to. When compared to the best public enemy album of this era this collection of songs is not quite there.
Best Song: Straight Outta Compton The OG of gangster rap (see, I can learn terminology for music!) If you have any interest in rap whatsoever, this is a must listen and even if you don't like hip-hop - this is a time capsule as well as a rap album. 5/5.
This type I listen I don't know when but It's preety good from previous albums
The first half of this album is straight dope, every track is killer. Parental Distraction Iz Advised has a smooth, bumpin baseline. MC Ren on If it Ant Ruff is the highlight. Second half kinda dips, guess it's hard to live up to the first half. I Ant the 1 is the highlight. Had a blast listening to this, brought me back to my adolescents when I was skateboarding and throwing tags up in the town. This album is as serious as you want or need it to be depending on your current standing with the law.