Reviews (page 6 of 13)
If you can turn a blind eye to the absolutely rampant misogyny, this is a pretty great and undeniably important album.
rapping is insane from all members (even dr.dre) such variety and probably influential, as stuff still sounds like this today more than say public enemy (not necessarily a bad thing). Beats are also so good and the mix of 808 hihat and drum break works so well and I'm sad its not used now as much. some beats are a bit nothing (i aint tha 1). Some of the sexism is a bit jarring for me though (same thing with the ice cube album earlier). Favourite songs: straight outta Compton, fuck tha police, gangsta, gangsta, 8 ball-remix, something like that, express yourself, Compton's N the house-remix, something 2 dance 2. Overall around 8/10 (feels quite close to 9 but not quite)
Gutsy to be doing something so avant garde. Lotta respect for these guys. They shaped hip hop as we know it.
Hard to think just how big an impact this had. The 80’s??? Insane. Raw, unapologetic, defiant. This still has lasting impact on the hip hop genre these folks RAPPED. Admittedly not something I listen to often but the beats n lyrics are chaotic and it is undeniable.
Jag antar detta är bara ett upprepande av ting de hört från fulare typer runt dem, så ingen riktig återgivelse av berättelser och ingen substans kan hittas heller, men fan är mig om detta inte är fantastiskt utfört.
Aweaome
Legendary, turning point of hip hop. 8/10.
Oh no I thought not another hip hop album but I really enjoyed this one. Back in the day when they still made an effort with tunes and ryhmes. Good effort!
I'm beginning to get the feeling that police officers are not always on the up and up. I love the hard hitting production on this. Musically it's got quite an abrasive, aggressive tone that matches the lyrical vibe. There's definitely a lot of misogyny here, as well as other themes that would go against most people's modern sensibilities, but sometimes I was finding myself chuckling despite this (or because of it, of how unexpected it is to hear these days that it surprises you into laughter?), it's just so in your face and like, damn, okay. He really just said that. Ice Cube especially has this humorous undertone despite what he is saying ("I Ain't Tha 1").
Seminal. Always good to drive to.
The golden age of hip-hop. Loved it!
4.5/5
Despite the ham handed, offensive, stupid lyrics and silly rhymes, this thing is still a classic.
Front half is a 4.6 but back half is a 3.4. Quite entertaining overall! 4
This is great music, especially the groovy beats and funky guitar parts, which are so much fun to listen to. Of course, the lyrics are debatable, and it can be challenging to take in so much “street knowledge” in just one hour. I wish today’s hip-hop featured more real instruments instead of cheap electronic sounds all over the place.
still insane to me that this came out in the late 80s
very interesting sociologically and musically. great album!
Damn that shit was dope!
Some of the best potty mouth ever put on record. I think the world would be a better place if more people could simultaneously A) Respect the job that good cops do and B) Understand why young African American males would write a song entitled "Fuck the Police
Really enjoyed this. Trip down memory lane. Always a bias to the music of high school years.
epic powerful album.
the backing tracks feel kinda dated
Strong rap album.
More like 3.5. I knew I would probably like it but never gave it a chance. Starts out really strong. Insanely misogynistic and kinda racist.
Such a groundbreaking album. Loved it at the time but not all of the cuts have stood the test of time.
Fav: Straight Outta Compton Least Fav: I Ain’t Tha 1
Definitely NSFW, or to sing aloud - but damn catchy 🍉 🧑🌾
Very impactful album, I have mixed feelings on it - the vibes and sound of the songs varied quite a bit. Songs like the title track were too shouty for me with a choppy aggressive cadence. Songs with smooth rapping and a less raw production sound were more my vibe. Lyrics like “I ain’t the one to get played like a poop butt” really resonated with me while others felt too violent or misogynistic. Favorite songs were: Express Yourself Parental Discretion is Advised 7/10
Story time: Straight Outta Compton was is inextricably linked to my first car crash. Like all white 16 year olds, I had just gotten into NWA. I was driving up 15th St in my mom's slate blue Hyundai Santa Fe, listening to Straight Outta Compton too loudly and not paying enough attention. At the intersection of 15th and Church a car going the opposite way was turning left, and stopped in the middle of the intersection for an unexpected pedestrian before completing the turn. I was too busy singing along to notice and hit the guy's fender. Everyone was fine, but the cars were a bit dented. The guy was very cool about it, probably cause he saw I was a dumb 16 year old with the unmistakably wide eyes of "Ohhhhh my mom's gonna be so mad". She was indeed mad and said "You were probably listening to music too loud and not paying attention weren't you". How did she know? Anyway, the album. I felt mixed on it. The more albums we listen to, the more I realize Hip Hop is just not my genre. I still have a lot of Hip Hop I love, but there's less of it than other genres that I would choose to put on myself. I went in and out of really vibing with it, and then losing steam. Also I knew the first 2 songs the best, and expected the rest of the album to have that same energy. There were a lot more 80's Sugar Hill/Run DMC sounding beats and songs on there than I expected. I think of this album as being farther removed from that era than it is I guess. My surprise favorite was Express Yourself. And not to be too Tipper Gore about things, but man it was hard to listen any time they mentioned a woman. They get real gross and a lot of their lyrics have aged about as poorly as its possible to age. Not that what they were saying was at all ok at the time. In conclusion, I enjoyed it but its not a favorite. Album Cover: (A+) HARD. Also the parental advisory sticker makes it so much cooler. A prime example for how much that idea backfired and made anything it touched instantly more appealing.
o sea es god, no es un album q escucharía a diario pero lo reconozco. ademas te pones a pensar q salió en 1988 y decís que mierda
Great album 4/5
Songs: Straight Outta Compton
The kind of hip hop I like. Just fun banger after banger (casual sexism notwithstanding - putting this down to the era and genre). Anything over an hour is too long 95% of the time.
Hell yeah
Still holds up. This is like the public enemy album I got 2 days ago but so much better. I wasnt aware of the sampling and beats on this. I Aint Tha 1 is so good, Gangsta Gangsta, the list goes on I was pleasantly surprised.
A CRAZY MOTHERFUCKER CALLED ICE CUBE
There was a time when this was a 5 for me. It was so transgressive and thrilling when it came out. Now, the rhymes sound pretty elementary and the braggadocio comes off as silly. The production is still great though, with a lot of funk to it, soul samples, and left field elements, and Dre, Cube and E all sound great on the mic.
surprised - first three tracks are great 8 out of 10
solid album
Peak 90s hiphop and incredibly good
Now this, I like. This is an album I was familiar with before but had never listened to all the way through, and I didn’t ever piece together that a lot of these songs were from this album. It was a nice surprise today to get to listen to this. It’s just such a classic sound that’s so familiar but I can’t place where else I’ve ever heard it before. This album just feels like its own genre to me. I freaking love that record twist sound they use so much. It’s just so iconic and fun and it feels like something that’s only been done once, in my opinion. It’s pretty great, and I don’t want to loosely hand out 5 stars, so I’m going to give this one my first high 4-star for now. I think my only issue pertains to the fact I got tired of hearing “Motha-fucka!” and such every 2 seconds. Got kinda repetitive. Still though- W album. Favorite tracks are Fuck Tha Police, Straight Out of Compton, and Gangsta Gangsta.
FIRE . Also love the beastie boys shout out
What a classic! Yes, the misogyny and violence is through the motha fuckin' roof, but a great display of early West Coast gangsta rap and some of the most influential figures in music.
No doubt the groundbreakers for in yo face gangsta rap. I actually enjoyed this on more than the vast majority of the era, and strangely, more than many of the bands they influenced.
The true and first anti-establishment punk rockers of the rap world. That alone merits high(er) ratings here. The front end of the album is hardcore right outta the gate, but admittedly the backend gets pretty sleepy due to repetition and just not quite having as strong of songs. Still a classic.
Wait THATS what it stands for??
Had to be away from the kids to listen to this one! Can’t say I can relate to many of the lyrics and has me blushing at times, but there are so many great lines in this. And you can’t deny the impact this had on rap and music. Funny that the backlash was prob led to much of the mainstream success.
The definition of going hard out the gate. The first three tracks are certified bangers. So much that the rest of the album can’t keep up. It’s an undeniable classic but doesn’t reach 5 star status for me. And let’s be honest…some of the lyrics are straight up corny! 4/5
- not perfect but pretty good .... today it sounds more "old skool" than I expected ... and, of course, some of the lyrics don't age well ..... but who gives a fuck? -
This actually surprised me I thought the album would be more like the sound of Fuck the Police but it wasn’t it was more like early rap which I enjoy far more
Brabo
I’ve already heard this album but it was a nice refresher to listen to it once again. While some of the songs and lyrical content hasn’t aged the best for me, the production by dr Dre makes this album what it is. (10/10 production) I’m sort of feeling a 8.1 on this album
Overall: 8/10 This album is very obviously from the 80s but it honestly hasn't aged that terribly! The beats are fun and the lyrics were super edgy for the time. Eazy E was easily the most charismatic and fun rapper of the group, it's a shame he never got to have much more success before his death. Oh well, that's life! Fav Song: Fuck Tha Police Least Fav Song: Something Like That
this is the album that pretty much put the West Coast on the national stage of hip hop, and it has more or less earned that reputation. these beats are relatively barebones, but they often hit deeply hard. side A of the original tracklist contains some of mid-school hip hop's most iconic songs, with Ice Cube leading the charge as N.W.A's clear stand-out on the mic. it's well known that these guys weren't nearly as "gangsta" as they put on in their music, but their music still succeeds on the strength of their audible enthusiasm. when Cube or MC Ren say they'll bust your ass, you almost believe them. when Eazy-E tries the same, it's played more for humor, and yet he feels at home in the group regardless. the anger and calls to violence in these songs, the rhetoric which once shocked a nation, feels pretty toothless this many decades later, with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre being household names, but the misogyny present in a lot of these songs does genuinely make me bristle a little bit. I like Dre's counterbalance to the chaos which he offers listeners on his solo track, "Express Yourself". it's pretty funny to hear him talk about how he doesn't smoke cannabis considering that he'd drop The Chronic three years after this. despite the pretty severe drop in quality on the last four songs (the beats in particular get a lot worse out of nowhere), there's enough highly classic material on Straight Outta Compton that every hip hop enthusiast should make it a priority to experience at least a couple times. the title track, "Fuck tha Police" and "Express Yourself" are some of the first songs I think of when it comes to the West Coast. decent 7/10.
straight outta compton und fuck the police sind halt rieese banger aber i kenns au. schono achtzger hiphop aber glaub für sini ziit uuuuultra aggro und schockierend. gangsta gangsta kenni nöd und d gitarre slappt. chli viel bitches bitches für min gschmack. if it aint ruff isch au recht geil es trotted sochli daher aber slappt au. parental discretion izsch ebe echt advised. de dre het e ultra geili stimm, er isch kein poet aber s tönt guet. essy jazzy de schluss?? huere cool? 8ball mitem lets get it on sample letsgoo. beat goht ultra blöd. i ha spass. somethin like that isch sehr geil. express yourself seeeehr geili samples passt soo guet. comptons n the house afoch nur drums sehr beastie boys. yellaboy gettin dumb haha. i aint tha 1 uuuuultra geile beat inhalt uuultra sexistisch. weiss nöd. dopeman wieder afoch e 808 wo sache macht. hahahaah im putting in your culo a 38 slug?? ultra funny.
This was Something 2 Dance 2 for sure, however Parental Discretion Iz Advised.
Bangin
Some powerful statements in this album and a real insight into Compton. Another album that wasn’t for me as I’m not massively into rap but can understand it’s significance.
World Class Wrecking Cru Dr Dre will always be the best Dr Dre in my heart. But yeah, what that other guy said about this being important, zeitgeist etc.
Some solid old school bangers, some don't hold up so well.
A lot of personality
Some classics and some corny ones
An album I thought I was going to give a 5. After all, it was pretty groundbreaking, there's no doubt about it. But it kind of drags in the later half. Of course, I might have just got knocked out after track 3. Seriously, those first tracks come out guns blazing. Absolutely legendary. Fav tracks: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta
I commented on my last record how it just didn’t excite me. This one you can feel the passion from the first note through the last. Not a genre I listen to regularly and there are a lot of reasons why. But you can’t deny the power of this album.
Really front-loaded, and to Sameen’s point about the Ice Cube album, immature in some moments, but also incredibly mature in other ways, undeniably influential, the production is unbelievable… a hit!
its so impressive when you consider how young these guys were... and that comes across on some of the more immature tracks and lyrics on this album (mostly from easy-e who was kind of a dumbass i think) but its still just really something to behold.. i think ultimately it is a bit overrated which is to say that I think its very good but the lads sorta get in their own way a couple of times... should be shorter too !
Proper clever rap Dre is a master of samples, the beats are amazing. Lyricism on point if you can look past the gangsta content that puts off so many. If it Ain't Rough was my favourite, Mc Ren flows so nicely, loved those reversed sentence lines.
Four stars for being groundbreaking. Unfortunately the ground they broke wasn't that interesting and inspired a lot of rappers to drop a lot more n-bombs than the world probably needed.
Really enjoyed this, one of the best rap albums I've heard in a long time. Not quite 5-star worthy but definitely one I'll be listening to again.
fun!
I feel like I know this record well, and have previously thought that it might be a slight victim of its own hype and controversy, with the album as a whole not completely backing it up song wise. After this listen I’m not sure that is the case. It’s equally fun and funky as it is angry, with the only thing holding me back from giving it a 5 being that there are albums from this period and genre that I know I’ll want to score higher
Great album that was a staple of my youth. This really propelled hip hop into the massive genre it is now. This album was very controversial when it came out with many pearl clutchers freaking out over "Fuck the Police". I'm sure that I will listen to this again even though I probably won't seek it out it's still a great album and I think it's historic too.
Great album
Pretty good, not as good as rumours, but might listen to it more and form a better opinion, 7.5/10.
Kept from the 5 star because god damn be normal about women for fucks sake
Pretty cool. Maybe like a 4.5?
I hadn’t heard this full album for at least a decade, maybe 15+ years, and I really didn’t think it was going to hold up. But man was I wrong. I was spinning this in my late teens/early twenties and I really don’t think I appreciated what they were doing. The album is loaded with so many excellent samples, it blew me away. The lyrics aren’t bad, many still ring true to this day, and the flow isn’t as rudimentary as I expected. This album must have really spoke to people around the time of its release. I think MC Ren is my favorite now, and EZ might be my least favorite. His voice doesn’t do it for me anymore.
Good album and some of Eazy Es lines are funny cause he died of aids
So much funky drummer. Sometimes 80s hip-hop can feel like it works from a very similar template but save for a few homophobic lines, the template translates to present day. Solid listen and I hope more of this kind of hip-hop comes up on this list
Enough variation in styles and themes to keep it interesting, even if the pacing was pretty samey
Could be a 5 if it wasn’t so misogynist.
Enjoyed this well enough, although I thought it dragged out a bit too long. Incredibly influential and was the beginning of many successful careers. Heard a bunch of these before but never listened in its entirety. Album is a product of its time and circumstance. 3.5/5
This stuff is alright! Really good beats and lyrics.
19/10/24 Genuinely dislike this sort of music and would have listened to it were it not for this. I was actually surprised that I enjoyed this.
Heard before. Pretty good.
As a young metalhead I happened across a bootleg cassette of this album in the gutter while walking to school in 7th grade. I never listened to rap before this and hated any type of rap I heard on the radio. The cassette was not labeled and I took out my Slayer cassette and put this one in. Mind blown
а вот это уже конкретный рэп !
An important and seminal record that sounds just a bit too dated compared to what Dre would be producing 2-3 short years later.
im not a rap guy this shit slaps though
Classic album with two bangers right off the start. OH that's where the line from the Natalie Portman rap came from!
I felt the same way about almost all the gangsta rap I got on the 1001 list: I recognized its importance but felt that it was outdated. The same applies here, but for some reason that escapes my understanding, I'll give it one extra star due to some strange feeling. For some reason, their anger kicked better with mine.
Made me feel cool
Classic. Like rating water
This is a good listen. Nice, simple, clean beats.
Classic. Been in rotation for 20 years
Rap shizzle, wel lekker geluid, vrouwonvriendlijk tho. Goede muziek
A solid album, pretty enjoyable even though it's not my preferred genre. Not as good as 36 Chambers though.
Better than I remember, especially the title track. The misogyny really takes some of the shine off, though.
First time hearing this. Actually love it. The attitude, the beats.
Hits very hard roght out the gate. It immediately establishes the tone and energy that would become a staple to Ganster Rap. Lots of really catchy songs and some humorous skits too. Loved hearing the stylistic differences between the NWA artists. Overall- great rap album. I can see how it influenced the genre so much
classic album I haven’t heard in years. So many great tracks.
I was surprised that I actually liked it. It’s really good and obviously groundbreaking. I’ve heard people complain about the misogyny but it’s all round offensive in every way and it’s meant to be, So you can’t really single out the sexism as bad. It’s well produced, cleverly written. Obviously I’m not the intended audience, then again I get the feeling it was written in the hopes of pissing people like me off back in the time, it’s a provocative piece of art.
I had this cassette in high school, and like so many other suburban white boys listened to it all the time, thinking I was a bad ass. There’s real shock value, and 35+ years later I can do without some of the language and imagery. But damn, it’s still a fun listen! There are some bangers on here, they had a point of view, and the fact that I still remember a bunch of lyrics tells you how much of an impression it made. Also, the unsung hero of this album and of N.W.A. generally is the D.O.C. In an alternate timeline where he didn’t injure his vocal cords he could have been as big as Dr. Dre or Ice Cube… 4⭐️
i liked the beats on this album, flows were good, too. however, the offensive bars were kind of excessive, even for rap - coming from a hiphophead. that being said, this album was very influential and is a true classic. it's a fun album that i think everyone should know at least one song off of.
Day255 - not many albums had this kind of cultural impact, half the white boys i knew had raiders hats. listening now is rough cause it’s so of it’s time
Production is great, rapping is excellent, message is timeless, misogyny is dated af.
Some filler songs but we got a good one. The singles in particular really shine. This album is a bop, despite some of the lyrics/themes absolutely not aging well. I love West Coast rap
Straight fire, classic rap album, tiene sus temillas y luego es repetitivo
# Album Name: Straight outta compton # Artist: N.W.A # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Im definitely not one for hip hop / rap but this was a good album. Theyve incorporated some great samples into the album and lyrics were top notch. You can feel how raw this album is. Several great songs throughout the album. I'll come back to this one. # Top Tunes: Straight outta compton / Fuck tha police / Gangtsa Gansta / Express yourself # Would I listen to it again? Yup.
The singles were the highlight of the album for me but I can imagine this being such a huge game-changer in the 80s and a lot of the messaging still relates now. It is dated in some spots but it was a great stepping stone, especially for Dre and Cube cause we saw them get immensely better since this album.
Classic
Unfortunately couldn’t play this for my infant. This album meant a tonne to rap…at the time. Unfortunately it simply hasn’t aged very well. Still, its style and importance cannot be ignored. 4/5
Great album. Can't help but play this one loud.
I don't usually like rap that much but I really enjoyed this album. I liked Fuck Tha Police, Parental Discretion Iz Advised and Express Yourself.
one of those albums that's so massively influential and lives up to the hype but has also been answered and challenged and surpassed to such a degree i can never really love it like that 8/10
definitely a dated album in terms of production and lyrical content, but it’s impact on the genre cannot be understated.
Lyrically, this album has not aged well. Musically, it is still a masterpiece. Personal favourite is If It Ain’t Ruff It Ain’t Me 4/5
Ooh..It's NWA! I've seen the movie called "Straight Outta Compton" so, I get to pretend I know these songs and the group. Besides the album that's matched the movie, this is probably the second NWA (or would others class it as the first?) album i've heard. I like that this feel quite forward on what it wanted to convey. Not just teenagers with their push against authority but also the racism that happens to them. How their upbringing influenced their lyrics as well.
One of the best opening tracks for an album ever. All game changing classics for hip hop. Ice Cube is crazy good on this record. Would love to give this a 5 but I can't when the the rest of the songs outside the big 4 (track 1-3, Express Yourself) are just not very interesting nor memorable. A hugely influential album for sure though. Also, Ice Cube thought this album would be placed in the comedy section of the record store. Thought that was a fun fact to share
some of the best hip hop tracks of all time and changed the genre forever. that being said there are peltny of cheesy, poorly aged moments.
Can’t believe I liked this. Don’t tell anyone.
Dre is a genius! The opening three tracks on this is unmatched by anything in hip hop. However the album slowly fades into interesting samples but not as great raps. Still, it has to chart high on any hip hop list.
Rating: 8/10 Iconic album with incredible highlights. This album contains some of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time but a lot of the other songs feel redundant. The lyrical themes get pretty stale after a while as well as the production, definitely would have benefited from cutting some filler. Favorite songs: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, Express Yourself, Dopeman. Worst song: 8 Ball.
Enjoyed that more than expected. It’s probably been over 35 years since I listened to it. It was over some kid named marks house. His older brother had it.
Impressed by how many things nwa did that are still active in music.
classic
What do you get when you cross Eazy-E, Dr Dre, and Ice cube? Some fire bars and lines that absolutely did not age well 😎 Really though, it’s unbelievable how influential this record has been on modern rap, but it’s not perfect. It’s long and there are a lot of weird bars… Anyways, solid 4/5.
Blatant misogyny aside - which I have an issue with all genres of music - this album slaps!!! I had heard many singles from NWA over the years, but never a complete album. This is the rap that I grew up on and miss. Great album.
This one feels like it holds up better than other 80's and 90's rap albums on the list. I imagine this was a formative album for a ton of people. My mom is lucky I never heard this album as a kid as we probably would have entered into a cycle of me getting it and hiding it and her trying to throw it away like the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. 4.0
FUCK DA POLICE COMIN STRAIGHT FROM THE UNDERGROUND!!!
Some songs can get repetitive but otherwise this is a masterpiece
Not one of the greatest rap albums for me, and the relentless misogyny is hard to take, but it's musically influential, and endlessly culturally and politically relevant.
Gold school for a reason! Collection of still some of the most dark and cold gangsta rap songs. The sound is a bit dated but the lyrical content, at least some of it, could not be said on a song today (the misogyny is especially blunt). But it paints a portrait of the dregs and the hard way of living NWA was raised in. A lifestyle that scoops out vulnerability and humanity for struggle and violence in the name of survival.
Lots of classics and good production on one project. The energy is incredible.
Yeah this was very good. Considering it was released in ‘88 I presume it was pretty influential and rightfully so. Got some great tracks, 12 of which don’t contain a homophobic slur
4/5
Definitely a highly influential and important album, not only for lovers of rap and hip-hop, but through all the genres. I'm not usually a fan of this genre, but there is something appealing and pleasurable listening to Straight Outta Compton. I can't say I loved it, but I did enjoy it, especially when listening with mixed company. I recommend you turn it up loud and blare it and if you see a cop near by, crank it louder! Then run!
THIS is where that 'exprEss yourself' comes from?!?!?!! 'movin' like a tortoise full of rigor mortis' is the winner of the lyricism prize today!! ok so I know this turned heads. and I can see why! it starts off great and still relevant today (sad yet brilliant). most still hold up except I Ain't Tha 1 which felt sooo much longer than it was and wasn't quite the flex it may have been back then..? Nice that we got Something 2 dance 2 in the middle!
I'd give it an solid 8, it's everything I like about the OG rap scene, great samples, great story
One of the more iconic records of this genre. The problem I’ve got with this and others like it is they're just so one dimensional. Great music, great flow, but lyrically suspect. It just gets old, quickly.
I liked this album a lot, the only problem i had with it was the repetition of some words throughth the album, words like "Compton", "ruthless" etc. other than this great album
Solid. Do you think theyre real gangsters or government plants?
I’m not a huge fan of this type of hip hop typically but the beats are so good in these tracks. A lot of it is unnecessarily violent and then they seem to take the mask off at the end for the dance bop.
The original gangster rap album? At least one of the best!
a classic, pivotal for its time and music going forward
Some of the songs on this album have become undisputed classics in rap, and the record itself is an important moment in hip hop. The album pushed rap into new places. Dr. Dre’s production defines the west coast sound, and the flows are ahead of their time, but all that’s secondary to the point of the album. It’s a big fuck you to everyone who’s not young black kid from Compton. They're saying this is what I’m about. Everyone hates me for it, and I like it that way. It’s not that they don’t care if it offends you. They hope it does. 3.6
Catchy, funky, super aggressive and offensive but brilliant.
Very good. Intense. Occasional five star moments.
Now this one I did understand the words, and it’s an indisputable classic. I have to knock off a star, like I always seem to need to with these albums that are full of misogynistic lyrics. Otherwise a pretty perfect album.
Filled with hits, beats, samples, hooks. Some songs toward the back half of the album were a little samey, and I feel like there's maybe a much more concise 40 minute album in here (though I wouldn't drop the two tracks that were included on the CD but not the vinyl album, I liked those). Really great listen though.
This is a classic! Honestly I was a little disappointed that it didn't feel super different than a lot of the other hip hop albums from this era that we've listened to. But "Fuck Tha Police" is great.
I'm fully unequipped to evaluate this on its relevance or merit but what I can say is that it's full of bangers with beats and instrumental stings that still feel like they could be released new today.
Real cruisin’ album. Don’t really care about learning to drive but would great to be in a low top convertible pumping this album. Title track and “Express Yourself” are all timers but also really liked “Gangsta Gangsta” and “Parental Discretion Iz Advised”. Anti-role model music but the production should be appreciated by all. Samples go hard. Final song great energy. 4.2.
Normally, good albums can be described by words like “beautiful”, “fun”, or even “pleasant”. This album is none of those, but is still fascinating as a snapshot of life for those in Compton at that time, which makes the harshness and brutality of it an integral part. I’m not usually into rap, but this I was able to enjoy much more than usual. Still not a favorite of mine musically, but as a piece of protest art, this is extremely compelling
Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: 🔫📷😨 Production (2002 Remaster): 🫶🧊🎤 Music: 🔪⛓️🏎️ Rating: 💵💵💵💵(💵)/5
Low 4
in the sea of mostly 70-80 rock, which is this list, any hip hop album instantly catches attention. and this is a classic
Fuck fuck fuck the police
Title track and Fuck Tha Police epitomize classic rap, full of samples but with brutal lyrics that were ahead of their time. Really good 1-2 punch. Gangsta Gangsta isn't as good but If It Ain't Ruff is another strong one, Ren rapping solo over a simple beat. Then we have a couple of slower tracks with funky bass and interesting percussion. Something Like That and Express Yourself come close to hitting the heights again, but the second half is weaker and I'm torn over the final rating. Still a really great sounding album and undoubtedly a classic.
Way too long, but generally really good. Some complete bangers on the track list
Bangs, obviously, but so many of the tracks are never gonna get into my daily rotation because of how they are about women. Favourite song: Parental Discretion
Ice Cube and Dre were amazing. I remember having a bootleg tape of this in high school and still remember every line. Amazing that they put out songs that remain so iconic when they were so young. Taking away one star for Eazy-E’s horrible misogyny.
At first, I was like I don’t understand why people like this. Of course I know the history and the significance but it’s not generally my type of music. But after listening a SECOND time. I fell in love. I really enjoyed a lot of these songs.
Ngl its also a good album. The language is very very intense though, especially the openers.
3.8 probably one of the most important 80's rap albums faves: fuck da police, express yourself
great album. love this generation of rap. lots of bangers
This album is pretty interesting as some of it is amazing while other parts are just ok. I think I'm more of a fan of Dr. Dre's style as his parts of songs tend to be much more interesting. The other songs sound a little primitive by today's standard. I do like the attitude of this album as you can tell they don't care what anyone thinks about them. Overall I admire the album but it's just not a five for me as it isn't as consistent or good as albums like Illmatic.
Brilliant. Bad. Brutal. Unapologetically so. A great, challenging listen.
Though Dre disavowed this album in terms of production quality, the beats are working on just about every cut. Even "Something 2 Dance 2", which seems out of place but slaps in its own right. When Ice Cube is firing on all cylinders, he's a great lyricist. Five minutes of him talking about how he disrespects women ("I ain't the 1") is about five minutes too long. Everything else hangs together pretty well. Timeless.
Fuck tha police indeed. All timer. Don't think it quite gets to 5*. 87/100
Gonorrhea mentioned
Already rated this on rym (4/5). However, after a relisten, I dropped my rating to 3.5, but leaning towards a 4. A classic, but not really one to revisit as a whole. tracks straight outta compton, fuck tha police, gangsta gangsta, and express yourself are obvious highlights of the album. side a is a pretty good track run. side b (express yourself an exception) is pretty much full of duds and was a slog to get through. rated original track listing Personal favs: gangsta gangsta (eazy e verse goes crazy), express yourself
This record is oddly nostalgic for me, as a white boy who listened to this a ton throughout middle and high school. Not that I was trying to be "gangsta" per se, but I was consuming a lot of media at the time that included this era of hop-hop (The in-game radio for GTA: San Andreas was highly influential to me in that regard) and I fell in love with this "Golden Era" of hip-hop the more I was exposed to it. N.W.A. was a force, albeit a short lived one. They were clear and concise in their messages and opinions on the establishment and the police force (which makes you question how much has really changed nearly 36 years later). I think the first three tracks summarize this album and N.W.A. pretty well: displaying their gangster image and character ("Straight Outta Compton", "Gangsta Gangsta") and their aggressive, anti-law enforcement views that many know them for ("Fuck tha Police"). Complete with hard, yet clear, delivery from each of the MCs involved as well as some pretty iconic sampling and mixing scattered throughout. Listening with older ears though, makes me a little more aware on how poorly some of the lyrical content has aged. Misogyny, toxic masculinity, extreme violence, etc, these were all too common in hip-hop from this era and it's hard to block them out when you listen to these albums nowadays. This was a genre-shifting album and has a rightful place on this list. You can honestly hear this shift in real time as the album progresses, with a lot of the samples and beats you'd hear in early 80's hip-hop, combined with the hardcore lyrical delivery. This launched gangsta rap into the mainstream for a bit and in a more general sense, gave the west coast an even bigger seat in the hip-hop scene.
While I do listen to rap, I probably don't listen to enough to have truly thoughtful commentary on this album. But I understand its place in shaping the genre of gangsta rap. Obviously a lot of the lyrics haven't aged well - the blatant misogyny is hard to stomach, for one. But not so surprising for its time. What's also hard to stomach is how Fuck Tha Police still rings as true today as it did then. That track, Express Yourself, and Something to Dance To are the standouts for me every time I listen to this album.
OK, let's address the obvious. The lyrics can be.. no, they are, very hostile. However, this album (lyrics included) is pretty incredible. The influence can't be denied. Hearing a young Cube, Dre, and Eazy-E create the foundations of gangsta rap is pretty special, and they don't hold back dishing out their view (from that time period) on racial injustices.
bevat beste en meest iconische hip-hop songs ooit, maar het is veel te lang, begin is sterker dan tweede helft. Maar zeker een goed album: 3/5 of 3,5/5 beste tracks: Express Yourself, straight outta compton, fuck tha police en gangsta gangsta
When this came out, loved it. While the beats are stellar the rage is pure, and the sense of encapsulated history is accurate, a lot of slurs and denigrative language should remain in the past.
The beats were very groovy, but the lyrics were full of mysogyny, violence, and homophobia . At first I was gonna knock it down a point for that, but I decided I can enjoy the music even if I disagree with it. Mid to high 4. Favorite track: express yourself
A classic for a reason. This feels like the inflection point where mainstream hip-hop shifted in the direction it would take for the next 15 years. The beats are still really good. A little too long. Favorites were Straight Outta Compton, Fuck The Police, Express Yourself. And Gangsta Gangsta
I was ready with my standard criticisms of rap and hip-hop - skits I don't understand, over long, boring, bland and repetitive ... but this is really good. Yes, it is still a long album an hour on the original release, hour and a quarter on the re-issue with bonus tracjs), but the production and rapping is clear, Ice Cube and Eazy-E especially have great flow, and there are no skits to annoy me. Over all, I enjoyed this - easily one of the best rap albums I've heard.
Some interesting wresting stuff
Great production and synergy between the group. Perfect at the gym
Enjoyed it a lot - aged really well for a rap album from 1988
Classic gangster rap but misogynistic lyrics. Gritty portrait of 90s urban USA. Fuck the Police is a banger though.
I don’t listen to a lot of rap so I have been looking to expand this direction. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this album but I probably won’t go back to it very often because it’s a really angry album. Rightfully so but still.
N.W.A. = NSFW. That’s good. Harrison Butker would not approve. Also good. The pre-ACAB ACAB record. Cool samples, but the misogyny and homophobia loses it a star
I love how political some these lyrics are, and the samples and turns of phrase are so good. Don’t love the homophobia and misogyny. Fuck the police has never felt more relevant.
huge and majorly influential gangsta rap album. These dudes are pissed and let you know it. Some songs actually have a reasonable or even valuable points (Fuck Tha Police, Express Yourself), but messages of violence, misogyny, and homophobia ring throughout (the latter 2 being whacker, but also potentially representative of N.W.A.’s experiences). There are a range in beats showing Dre getting started - some are pretty basic with a little funk in there while some are stone-cold classics (Express Yourself) and both they fit the sound well and are likely a step up from what else was happening at the time. A picture into a culture that has faced inequity and injustice, are pissed at the world, and will take it out in anyone in their way. The albums comes out blazing but doesn’t quite maintain those highs, but still a solid listen that provides an interesting snapshot of LA street life.
Strangely fun and aggressive. Enjoyable.
Some of the lyrical content has not changed well, but such a classic. Re-defined the genre
Classic tbh
And definitely one of the best hip-hop albums of that time.. One thing is that it definitely age poorly regarding some of the words and waves women and others were talked about. This album is very violent. I love the beats the time and some songs are still awesome but have to give this only a 3.5/5 because of the violence etc.
first listen i can't relate to the contents of this album BUT as someone who values authenticity i appreciate the brashness and Cube's beats and bars are timeless
If you can get past the slurs, the album is great.
Although this album has three absolute bangers, the rest of the album just isn't as good. Some of it has aged badly, some of it always felt like filler. It's a very strong 4 star album, but it's not quite good enough for 5 stars. Efil4zaggin is a similar story and I often though that taking the best tracks from each album, putting them together, ditching all the rest of the material, would produce a killer 45 minute beast of an album.
Good and influential rap and beats that aged very poorly in some parts (see ‘I Ain’t Tha 1’). End of review
So gritty and raw
It’s a classic
This is an amazing, iconic album by a similarly iconic rap group. NWA really left their mark on hip hop in a big way. Are some of the lyrics problematic? Sure, but that can be said about so many albums on this list in all genres. It’s not exclusive to rap, though I see it levied as a criticism almost exclusively to rap albums on this list. But I digress. One thing about NWA that I find different from a lot of other groups is that all of their rappers are insanely talented, but also so different. Even in other groups with multiple artists, there are usually weaker members, but not in NWA. Everyone is a talented lyricist and rapper. The first 3 songs come out the gate hot and set the tone for the album. While I don’t love every song here, the good ones are so good, and it’s a solid album top to bottom.
A classic
4 because I don’t like the lyrics although I understand the impact. Otherwise it would have been a 5
Gangsta rap gold. Here is the turning point of rap/hip hop. This was straight up shocking and controversial creating a benchmark for the genre. Dr. Dre made it so damn catchy while spitting along to the lyrical assault and battery.
Great
Musically important and lot of absolute bangers.
This is the invention of gangsta rap and the launch of some pretty iconic individual artists (dare I say, icons). Definitely worthy of the list.
Great album. One of the first controversial albums I have ever owned.
Hiphop full of energy and nice beat to get you going=)
I can respect the cultural significance and production of this album, some unnecessary misogynistic songs knock it down to 4 stars, but it ain't my scene
Iconic but aged. Standouts include Straight Outta Compton, Fuck The Police, and Express Yourself.
I’ve gotten a lot of Hip-Hop recently and I’m disappointed in myself for not experiencing it until now
-1 for misogyny. Otherwise a 5!!!
Great album
Great start, tailed off at the end though. 3.5/5.0: Very Good
Straight Outta Compton is one of those Starter Pack™️ CDs you buy when you’re first getting into hip-hop. You latch onto the edge and power of the first two tracks, and you continue to spin it based on name and influence alone until you’re “ready” for actual deep cuts. It’s been almost 20 years since I listened to this in full, and I was worried. My memory told me that I never really loved this the way I loved other Starter Pack™️ albums, so I was expecting to hate it now that I’m older and know a lot more about the genre overall. And honestly? It held up!! It comes out guns blazing with “Straight Outta Compton” and “Fuck Tha Police,” but it continues to hold its own as it goes. The production is an important factor here; even when a song bleeds into verse 4 or 5, the sample-heavy turntablism is ear candy, always keeping a steady groove that’s never chaotic or overwhelming, unlike Public Enemy or The Beastie Boys. The other key factor is Ice Cube, both on the mic and behind the pen. It’s insane how good he is, even by the standards of rap post-1992. His pen game is strong and helps create a lot of the group’s chemistry, although The D.O.C. is no slouch, and MC Ren holds his own just fine. Once Cube’s on the mic, though, it’s over. Honestly, he’s so good, it’s more annoying when he’s *not* on a song. Is it flawless? Not at all. I think the middle is a little weak, where the beats are slow and the rhymes are particularly corny [e.g. “wacky wack,” the entirety of “Express Yourself,” especially given historical context]. It also suffers from way too many verses, awkward skit-like talk, and some dated mixing. But the final leg wins me back, thanks to “I Ain’t Tha 1” and, again, Cube being an incredible rapper, and that energy stays through to the end. Obviously, this is essential listening on historical importance alone. Seeing some reviews about the “violent” lyrics conjures up images of Tipper Gore, and could not miss the point more. Sure, the misogyny/homophobia are what they are, but people rarely lobby those same critiques at ‘80s rock, do they? So I’m glad these lames had to be exposed to this important piece of history. But music is also more than history, and while some of Straight Outta Compton does sound dated, none of it sounds as dated as I initially feared it would. In fact, a lot of it still feels very fresh. Not that anyone under the age of 40 would claim this as their favorite album. Sure, technically speaking, I’d prefer Death Certificate, 2001, No One Can Do It Better, or even Eazy-Duz-It, but none of those make sense without this. Plus, Straight Outta Compton is still a great listen beyond its history lesson, with a lot more hits than misses. I’m won over all over again.
You gotta boil it down to the essentials. It's like Cube says, "Life ain't nothin' but bitches and money."
Classic hip hop album that changed everything. Just never been a top album for my taste though.
I didn’t listen to the whole thing but it was really good.
Pretty good, can see where J5 got some influence
Such a Classic!
Great album. So raw and aggressive. I like the frequent use of the n word but sometimes it’s used too many times, maybe should’ve widened their vocabulary.
An absolute classic, old skwl rap at its best Of course reading through the comments some people are offended by the lyrics, bore off
Some classics on this. More N-Words being said than a night out at the Beehive Wish I gave Paul’s Boutique a 5 :(
Classic! 3.5/5
Whereas Guns ‘N’ Roses and Public Enemy were the late 80’s/early 90’s go to for young white makes wanting vicarious thrills, these guys actually walked it like they talked it. Or rapped it. While the constant unrelenting misogyny and hate gets old by the end of the album, the first three songs alone are a cleansing blast, and what they should be remembered for.
"You're about to witness the strength of street knowledge..." Noem een meer legendarische opener dan Straight Outta Compton? Kei en keiharde straatrap dit. Klassieker, maar wel echt gedateerd nu zeg jezus. Gaat wel nog steeds fucking hard though. De highs op dit album zijn zo ontzettend hoog, maar er zitten ook best wat mindere nummers tussen. Toch is dit een absolute klassieker, ook weinig albums die zo ontzettend veel impact gehad hebben op cultuur als dit album. Classic, luister dit album als je het nog nooit hebt gehoord. FAVO: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Parental Discretion iz advisec, Express Yourself, I ain't tha 1, Quiet On Tha set
A classic of the genre, and an album I listened to extensively when it came out. 3/5
Another really strong entry in the hip hop genre and one that is just classic after classic. Amazing to think this happened in 1988, which is 36 years ago now, and the influence it spread across the decades that followed.
Love, love, love this and I am not even a massive hip hop fan. Straight Outta Compton is explosive from the very first seconds. The opening track sets the scene perfectly. Bold, confrontational and completely unapologetic. Moving straight into the next run of tracks keeps that momentum going and makes for an incredibly strong start. The production hits hard and the energy never really dips. It feels raw and important, even now. There is anger, confidence and a real sense that this album changed the direction of hip hop. Straight Outta Compton and Fuck tha Police are obvious standouts. Both are powerful, direct and impossible to ignore. If I had to pick a weaker moment, 8 Ball would be it, but even that fits the overall mood. Favourite songs: Straight Outta Compton and Fuck tha Police Least favourite song: 8 Ball Album artwork: Awesome and iconic. One of the most recognisable covers in music
This album hit like a nuclear bomb, became popular purely by word of mouth and kick started a whole new genre of music. It's easy to see why. It comes out swinging with the one two punch of Straight Outta Compton and Fuck Tha Police. Such a strong messages lyrically, wrapped in a unique sound. Unfortunately the record loses steam a bit in the middle, but it's still a strong album as well as being hugely influential.
The first three songs are truly amazing. The singles were the best songs on this album for sure. Strong performances from all. The back half or so is pretty transitional between where rap was and where NWA was taking it, but aside from a few quips and bars here and there, as the album went on I wasn't as big a fan of the more old-school tracks. The strong songs far outweigh any negative feelings.
The backing tracks are actually really awesome. The lyricism is really great, but the content is often too violent or misogynistic for me to really get behind it.
Not normally into rap but did enjoy it. Can see how the lyrics caused a stir at the time
As far as hip-hop albums go, this wasn’t too bad. I still don’t really love this genre, but this wasn’t an excruciating listening experience. I wasn’t wishing it to be over half way through. Was surprised to hear some Beastie Boys samples on here too. Love those guys. 8/10 Top 4: 1. Fuck Tha Police 2. Straight Outta Compton 3. Gangsta Gangsta 4. 8 Ball - Remix
I hadn't listened to this one in maybe more than 20 years... and it really is a great 1980s Hip-Hop album, from the days when you could sample freely. The misogyny quickly get tiresome however.
first in entirety listen. very cool and funky. the late 80s/early 90s old school hip-hop is my favourite.
Witness the strenth of street knowledge
The strength of street knowledge should never be underestimated. N.W.A. changed the entire culture of hardcore hip-hop with this album, with their honest reflections of life full of crime, discrimination, and ruthless violence. Further, it was all done while maintaining a hard-as-nails image. The result is a hot and controversial album on release that resulted in bans, media coverage, and even a warning from the FBI. In retrospect, it was pretty disproportional response. Musically, the strengths of N.W.A. rely on the dynamic deliver of the various MCs over Dr. Dre's timeless production. Songs like Fuck tha Police, Express Yourself, and the title track are instantly memorable with iconic rap verses and inspired sample flips. These songs alone make up some of the greatest songs of the '80s and can immortalize hip hop. The problem is many of the other songs on this album are distinctly bad. Compton's n the House, for example, is noticeably phoned-in should've been cut. Dopeman relies heavily on the strength of it's beat, lacking any sort of additional production. It's just disappointing. What could've been an easy 5 has to be bumped down to a hesitant 4. I think highly of this album's legacy and strongest tracks, but it is ultimately bogged down by the weaker songs. Still legendary in it's own right.
Straight Outta Compton - 10/10 Fuck tha Police - 9.5/10 Gangsta Gangsta - 8/10 If It Ain't Ruff - 7.5/10 Parental Discretion Iz Advised - 7.5/10 Express Yourself - 9/10 Compton's n the House (remix) - 7.5/10 I Ain't tha 1 - 7.5/10 Dopeman (remix) - 7.5/10 Quiet on tha Set - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 81.5/100
1. 4 2. 4.7 3. 4.2 4. 4 5. 4.3 6. 3.6 7. 3.8 8. 4.4 9. 3.4 10. 4 11. 4.5 12. 3.8 13. 3.6
funny lyrics 😂😂
Surprised that I liked it so much. Used to think early rap was much more basic but this has great production by dre and killer performances. In a few more listens it might turn into a five
Certified hip hop classic. The production, the flow, the message, this album is a pivotal moment in not only rap but the societal message it stood for at the time. Only thing holding this back from a true 5/5 is the somewhat dated lyrics on some of these songs.
They really did have it bad cause they're brown. 4/5
Very solid album. Would give it 4.5 if that was an option. Will listen again.
#146. This album is pretty great, with with one glaring weakness, that being Eazy E. If he was missing from the album, surely no one would miss him. I find him kind of annoying and his rhymes kind of wack. The rest is good though. 4/5: yes.
Overall good listen. Clean production, punchy and raw lyrics, distinctive voices throughout. Express yourself is a classic
Really enjoyed this. Dre’s production on point and the MCs all distinct, only a few bits of filler.
oh hell yeahhh dude i think ive watched too many parodies of 80s rap so i have to suppress a laugh sometimes "damn that shit was dope" lol "we wanna fuck you eazy" "i wanna fuck you too" LMAO 8 ball hahahah i love eazy "but girls in biker shorts are so fly to me" hahahahah the disingenuous lines in express yourself are so great too "bitch iz a bitch" is so cringe lmao
Aggressive from the jump, opening with a classic posse cut that immediately establishes NWA as a crew of ruthless gangstas who are not to be messed with. Each member has a different vocal style and texture. There's Ice Cube's deep, shouted delivery, MC Ren's more laid back husky voice, and Easy E's high-pitched nasal snarl. All the while, Dr. Dre plays interlude and stays behind the boards. Fuck Tha Police is another hip-hop staple. In your face beat rooted around a little funky guitar line. Ice Cube's verse is so solid and singable. Amazing how well this song has held up over time. Gangsta Gangsta is one of my favorites on here. As with the first two, Ice Cube really carries the weight here (in my eyes). Internal reference to Beastie Boys and plenty of elements in here that get interpolated downstream by other rappers. If It Ain't Ruff has a hell of a hop to it. Lovely word play in the concept that MC Ren leads with here. No surprise given Dre's involvement, but this beat and sampling / production is on point. Parental Discretion is the first song where Dre comes out from behind the boards for a verse. Aggressive and certainly capable. I like how they just let hte beat breath at the end in a jazzy outro. 8 Ball picks a fight with Beastie Boys' Brass Monkey (which until I read their book, I didn't realize it was a song about a drink). This had to have been produced before sampling rights were enforced; number of high profile samples are crazy -- Marvin Gaye's Let's Get it On, several Beastie Boys songs, and Kool & The Gang on this song alone. This album lost a lot of steam in my eyes after Compton's N The House, but the first half is fire. Solid beats and rapping from days gone by. They don't make em like this anymore. 4 / 5
Great album. Classic shit with some great artists. Really enjoyed listening to it again
Good flow, great beats. Love the scratching. If It Aint Ruff is a real treat to listen to on headphones. Rap's not usually my game, but this is one of the better ones I have heard on this list so far.
Starts off with 3 of NWA’s classics. Gangsta rap at its finest. Parental Discretion rules. You can suck a wingdingdingaling! Thank you for that Eazy. This album has a bunch of classics and the others end up being consistent enough to warrant a 4 from me. Classic gangsta rap with insanely good production. Ice Cube rules.
Certified hood classic but some of the albums lulls quite a bit. Favourite tracks // Express Yourself Straight Outta Compton Gangsta Gangsta
This was a life changing album for a lot of people. Not me. I don’t like rap but I get it.
This was great, not something I would listen to normally, but I get why it was so ground breaking. Really good music!
Kindof potty-mouthed, but I liked the beat, the music was artful and the topics a deep comment on our society.
Good.
Some of the subject matter hasn't aged well at all, but you can't underestimate this album's impact on hip-hop. Absolute classic.
Revolutionary music, amazing sampling and lyrics. Gangsta rap at its best.
Killer.
This album wasn’t written for me, a white, middle/upper-class, woman from not-America
Killer record, albeit cheesy at times
OG classic, hugely influential
Daaaaaamnnnnn, that shit was dope!
A classic hip hop album that's groundbreaking and still kicks ass. But also way more problematic than you remember.
They really liked girls in biker shorts.
When you gotta hate
Didn’t age super well but a classic nonetheless
Loved the really DIY sounding production - everything was better when it wasn't clean.
Ouais ça passe pour bosser :)
Classic old school rap album. Little bit long and repetitive but a good time.
It's a classic for a reason
I've listened to a little bit of gangster rap in the past few months. When it was happening in the 90's I really didn't listen to it that much because it didn't speak to me in any meaningful way. And the young white guys that it did speak to were in love with the power that the music presented. There was no rules or regret for being a monster, in fact it was a badge to wear. I always found it interesting that most of the young white boys who listened to NWA had never been in a black neighborhood let alone Compton. So they took this music and made their own narratives far away from the desperation and fear that the album exudes. The lyrics are about doing things that people in most communities never have to deal with like the dope man eating up your community, a code of machismo that is as fragile as lake ice in may, and the constant threat of state sanctioned violence in the form of law enforcement.
First 3 tracks are absolute classics & pretty much started the "gangsta rap" genre (I didn't recognize "Gangsta Gangsta" by title but the "built to last" refrain is unforgettable). The rest kinda blur together, but are a neat time capsule of 808 beats & 70s/80s samples (including way more Beastie Boys clips than I'd have expected?). Can't really hang w/ the overall misogyny & glorification of violence/guns anymore, but at least it was a lot more... believable? authentic? coming from NWA in the 80s than from a certain white rapper over a decade later. Also: Fuck tha Police.
I went into it thinking I wouldn’t be that into it, but there were some bangers, for sure. There are a few songs that I could see myself listening to more often
It is striking how much of an 80s rap album this is and not a 90s one they didn't have the budget yet to do things they would do in the 90s. A pioneering album, but do be prepared for the subject matter to be mostly violence and misogyny.
Gangster rap began in the 80’s. And although artists like Ice-T started the movement, it wouldn’t become the gold mine that it was until groups like N.W.A came around. For me, when I think of the essence of the genre, I think of this group. They are hailed as one of the greatest rap groups of all time for a reason. And their existence is vital to the evolution of hip-hop. If you want to talk about an album that is deeply entwined with the home of its creators, there is no better example than this. This not only speaks on the violence that surrounded Compton at the time, but openly embraces it. They were ready to fight back, they were rowdy, and they were rebellious. And they openly challenged you to try them. Groups like this, or like Wu-Tang Clan, had an ever flowing dynamic between the members that creates boundless chemistry. Something consistent that I noticed about the instrumentals is just how uniquely funky they are. They are built with lots of guitars and pianos, and of course they have Dre’s iconic drum sound. This also definitely has a very 80’s flavor to it. I was actually surprised by how good this was though, because I often find that the further back you go, the more inconsistent rap gets. But as an iconic group, and a substantial piece of the history of one of rap’s biggest sub-genres, this is a solid album. Rating: 7/10
Not something I would typically seek out, but it's easy to listen to.
Great rap album!
Despite a few problematic lyrics, I kinda love this. Have been a semi-fan of Eazy E and Dr Dre for a long time but their N.W.A. work is mostly new to me. Lots of great moments, great raps, great samples, and important commentary on racial injustices in policing.
Always been a schizophrenic listen for me both now and back in the day. The beats and production were next level, and even the subject matter was important and relevant…but the misogyny is still hard to get past at times.
Listened to this while playing ISS Vanguard solo. I won, but 4 people died. Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Solid 4 stars.
Classic. The best.
Groundbreaking obviously - one of the greatest rap records from the 90s. Some lyrics didn't age well but still very enjoyable and sadly Fuck Tha Police is more relevant than ever. Eazy-E one of the best and Dre is unparalleled. Ice Cube wrote some great lyrics - shame he's such a chump nowadays.
Favourite song - express yourself
I kinda always had a suspicion that Straight Outta Compton was as acclaimed as it was because of the careers that it spawned, and that it would drag like a lot of late 80’s tap albums do, but this was fantastic. The production is great, and although some of the lyrics have really not aged well, if they weren’t considered bad at the time, each of the rappers have distinct presences. The hour I spent listening to it really flew by
Yeah, it's Straight Outta Compton. It revolutionized everything, and set a clear division between what came before and what came after. What else, really, am I going to write about? Eazy-E is a better rapper than Dr. Dre is.
ein klasse klassiker
was actually a really good album, very in your face, good beats, great flows, good lyrics - except the part of shotgunning the other gangs, im more of a pacifist type of guy, but i get it Significant 35/106 Liked 16/106 Added 4/106 YYM
Awesome album
Straight outta Amen, Brother samples..... We've come a long way from "I like hot butter on my breakfast toast..."
The beats, oh the beats. This may have been the beginning of gangsta rap but that genre was never as smooth as this album. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince lay down some incredible tracks. A sampling masterclass. And then there's Ice Cube. No disrespect to Eazy-E and MC Ren, but Ice Cube is absolutely ferocious. The lyrics can be cringe-worthy at times but they're also pretty damn witty/funny. Some of the songs drag a bit (8 Ball, despite all the cool samples) and F Tha Police isn't as good as everyone says (good yes, particularly the skit pieces, but lyrics are up and down and the beats are average). But the great ones shine - title track (those beats - best song on the album), Gangsta Gangsta (great lyrics, funny too), If It Ain't Ruff (those beats), Parental Discretion iz Advised (such a funky bassline), Express Yourself (sampling to a tee), and I Ain't tha 1 (hilarious lyrics and great poppy beat). At times I was reaching for a 5 but couldn't quite do it.
Ok, things I knew about this album: It's a seminal album in gangsta rap. It was controversial, especially for F**k the Police. It launched Ice Cube into superstardom. Things I didn't know about the album: It's freakin' hysterical. Seriously, I laughed out loud several times. Also, the grooves are smooth af. Downsides: Pretty harsh lyrics (but not as much as other albums we've heard). Misogynistic. Also, F*** the Police has a powerful message, but if they actually shoot and "jack" as many people as they claim, then they really, really, really should be in jail for a long time (I'm sure it's exaggerated for artistic reasons...I hope). If I ignored these downsides I'd call this a 5, but those downsides are pretty significant. Favorite tracks - the opening three tracks are unbeatable (Straight Outta Compton, F the Police, Gangsta Gangsta), but lots of good moments throughout.
True banger
heard fuck tha police and got instantly transported back to when i watched us in cinema and that lady asked alexa to call the police and this song started playing instead as she bled out. jordan peele you amaze me.
Some stuff hasn't aged well but a lot has! Will leave it to those smarter than me to unpack any Big Thoughts about it
the misogyny is honestly hilarious
Glad to see this album included on this list for the culture (*finally!*). NWA are still some of the realest and rawest to ever do it. Deducting a point for some themes not aging gracefully
Certainly a classic and maybe I’m getting old, but some of the lyrics just don’t do it for me.
Mix of hard beats and oddly chill raps