Straight Outta Compton

Right back to senior year in high school. Good stuff. 3.75

Brabo

Writing this review late because I skipped it earlier and I wish I hadn't considering the milquetoast albums that I got at approximately the same time. Funky grooves, scary lyrics, I'm not f****ing with NWA. Extreme, inventive. Not a gangster fan but this is... as serious as they are (Fuc the Police) there's still enough self-awareness about being entertaining it just works better. You don't have to pretend your lived experience was different from them to enjoy this. High 3.

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

solid - although not my style. The songs I knew were fun, but really, I started to trail off toward the end.

I don't like it so much.

The cover artwork of N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton is a striking visual representation of the group's raw energy and the gritty realities they depict in their music. The image features Eazy-E pointing a gun directly at the viewer, creating an intense and provocative perspective that commands attention. This powerful imagery encapsulates the essence of gangsta rap and reflects the album's themes of violence and rebellion. The bold typography, enhances its impact, making it one of the most iconic album covers in hip-hop history. Overall, it effectively conveys the album's message and cultural significance, earning a solid four-star rating. Album artworks rated: 20/1001 The music is pretty legendary.

Compared to most of the rap albums I have heard so far, this is one of the best. But for me that only means 2 stars or D+.

Classic rap album by one of the biggest groups of the genre.

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

I understand where the sentiment behind the album comes but most of the messaging is everything I hate in music. It paved the path for the disgusting stuff the industry promotes nowadays.

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.

Some solid songs, shame the two strongest weren't available on my streamer. Aware of its importance to Gangsta Rap!

Embodiment of everything wrong with gangsta rap and why I can never appreciate it as an art form. Completely negative and misogynistic drivel that maligns even the groups it attempts to represent. Offensive in every way. Deficient in musicianship and talent, it substitutes electronics and attitude in their place. I don’t care how “important” anyone thinks it is. I will never be a fan.

You gotta listen to it keeping in mind the time it was released, but I always forget how fun this album is. It's over the top, ridiculous, and complete nonsense. The whole thing feels a bit confused, but that somehow adds to it. Not much to say. I love this one. 5/5

BEATS GO HARD lyrics not so much, but isn’t that the whole point no one expects a gangster to promote positive vibes bit too long whilst some leeway must be given for birthing a whole new genre from this album you can still tell some of growing pains of the style and/or the respective artists also looked it up after listening but weird seeing beastie boys getting sampled when for me I know them for their smapling work P.S: fuck tha police

probably four of the most important hip-hop songs ever made, and a bunch of other stuff no one cares about. something 2 dance 2 is underrated.

Not sure I've got the right words to describe why I liked this one, but I liked it.

Straight Outta Compton is a classic rap album from the 80s that I knew of the popular songs from, but not the whole album. I discovered there were hidden gems on this album. There was unfortunately much misogyny however the raw lyrics put you in a place where these men were being oppressed and you can feel their frustration with the world and those around them. I enjoyed the background beats and authentic feel of the instruments used.

Definitely not one to listen to with kids around! Not usually my cup of tea. Some tracks were good, some not so….

Has some classics on the album but as a whole a little boring

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.

hahahah han nümme gwüsst dass sie soo aggressiv sind fuck tha police isch halt legendär bis jz ischs nachli sehr chaotisch findi aber d beats findi insane paremtal discretion isch de schluss seehr geil! express yourself mega geil! compton's n the house hends glaub versuecht, so vill bösi wörter wie möglich innezhaue hahaha something 2 dance 2 isch mega danceable ehm jo natürlich legendär und mega wichtig und s het au cooli sache gha aber vill isch nöd hängeblibe

This was Something 2 Dance 2 for sure, however Parental Discretion Iz Advised.

classic rap

Bangin

great

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.

5 all the way - although some of the members might be a bit sketchy now - music still stands up

flawless

Straight anger. Are the lyrics misogynistic? Sure! But, it is what it is.

The big songs hold up even 30 years later, the album tracks not so much

3 Sterne

Some solid old school bangers, some don't hold up so well.

A lot of personality

Landmark album and set the template for a lot of gangster rap to come. Also launched Dr Dre into the mainstream, surely one of hip hops most important figures. It's a classic: hard hitting lyrics, funky beats and rhymes that hit every time.

Straight Outta Compton probably blew minds in 1988, and deservedly so -- from what i can tell, it was basically the first West Coast rap record to actually matter. still, i think that even though it's got some highly influential tracks that i would be crazy to deny (basically the whole A side) it still often has that mid-gear mid-school cheese to it. are the lyrics them being badass gangsters who fuck bitches and kill people? yeah. does the production accurately display the level of hardness in the lyrics? ...sometimes? like, i dunno, sometimes beats like "Parental Discretion Iz Advised" and "I Aint tha 1" are too obvious and cornball to actually give me that impression. i still hear Dr. Dre's red jacket calling to him from the closet like the Green Goblin suit with every 808 "clunk clunk". i appreciate Compton a bit more as a piece of history and as a pioneering record than something you can really give repeated listens. also, making the back half of your album mostly remixes of the last one is always a bad idea.

Some classics and some corny ones

Man most of these songs are tough to listen through. Can’t deny it’s impact

Their views on violence, race relations, and women are at least questionable, and frequently just straight up problematic. So much of this album goes so hard, and given the political climate and their lived experience, few other albums can be as authentic as this album is. Nonetheless, I don't really feel good saying it's one of my favorites or even one of my highly rated albums.

Classic gangsta rap album. The aggressiveness and confidence of their delivery for their rhymes is top notch and set the bar for all rappers to follow. They also highlight social issues that they face and couldn’t care less how it makes you feel so it makes you think about the lyrics. The funk influence on the album really shines through and adds to each song.

Wing-ding-a-ling. Is this album considered an oldie now? 36 years young. 6/5

I get why this is on the list but it has not aged well and both Ice Cube and Dr. Dre went on to do better things between The Chronic and The Predator.

It’s Straight Outta Compton. What else can I say other than masterpiece.

Einfach starkes Album. Kein einziger Skip.

I’ve heard some of the songs before and I’ve already had the title track in my playlist for a while. I also watched the documentary and of course rap is my favorite genre so in all this album wasn’t as new to me as the other ones, but there were still a number of songs I hadn’t heard before. Definitely a great album I enjoyed most of the tracks and my favorite was probably 8 Ball or the title track.

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.

Мега-классика, но я не до конца понимаю, что в этой музыке может привлечь в 2024-ом году. Лучшая песня - Fuck Tha Police.

3/5

Equal parts brilliant and crude

Some great songs on this album. Also some very misogynistic and homophonic lyrics. Reflective of the time but meh to listen to.

A couple memorable ones but overall not enough for a 4

I know this is a canonical album, but I'm not exactly sure why (besides a series of future frontliners).

All-star cast, but some of the songs are rough

It's a classic. I guess half the album pretty good, but they could've left a fair few tracks off.

I like this album, but I Ain't Tha 1 and Dopeman are some of the worst songs I've ever heard.

Oof - the misogyny in this one is just too much. Rating: 2

This is a great album Will I listen to again: 100%

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 !

All ex

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.

Nope!

2/17 - 4/17 - 23/100

i can remember signing fuck the police as a teenager. I thought i was edgy cycling around Lincoln commuter villages on my mountain bike

Enjoyed it more than expected but not my particular taste

They really don't like bitches

close to a 4, but it’s lowkey repetitive and the songs are too long, looked up and i was only on the fourth song, felt like i’d been there for ages. stg

Pre-listening thoughts: guys the website was down and I thought I wasn’t gonna get to review this one today. Thank god it’s back up cause I’m a little excited for this lol Post/during listening thoughts: this is very well produced. It’s creative and has some great wordplay and lyricism. This is such a staple in rap. But. Christ almighty. For every amazing beat and verse on this album, there is a moment of rampant sexism. Just like Doggystyle, it takes me out of it when women are just so violently objectified. It’s like objectively good music but I cannot stand behind some of this! 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Fuck Tha Police, Express Yourself, Something 2 Dance 2 Least fav tracks: 8 Ball, Dopeman

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.

Despite hearing and reading plenty about this album when it came out, I'm pretty sure I never actually heard any of this album, even the notorious "F*** da police". Speaking of which, it's fascinating how much controversy that song created in the police community and in the press back when this album got released (in Seattle at least), and how much talk there was of preventing album sales to protect police community relations, especially given the explosion of Crips- and Bloods-related gangs all along the West Coast and elsewhere. Looking back in 2024, there's something innocent about the controversy and reaction to this album, but also depressing how little has changed in so many ways. I think it's safe to say that this album didn't stir the pot as much as show a mirror. (I will say, though, that the reputation of this album made me more nervous than I probably needed to be about going to an NFL game in LA's Coliseum in the early 1990s, as I vaguely and erroneously thought the Coliseum was either in Watts or Compton.) I had higher hopes for this album than what I experienced, but it's not a bad album; it's also not all that varied or insightful (although "Express yourself" has a nice almost-De-La-Soul-like vibe), and some songs are just embarrassingly vapid ("Parental discretion iz advised" and "I ain't tha 1" come to mind). I wish that this album was less glamorous-West-Coast-gang-vibe and more aligned with the likes of Public Enemy's searing lyrics, but it is what it was. Several of their members--especially Dr. Dre and Ice Cube--have certainly followed a much longer arc from their roots in NWA, and became more interesting musically as they went solo or on to other groups. (Although I also feel sad seeing Ice Cube's trajectory as he spins further down the conspiracy spiral.)

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.

The flow on this album is so sick, and the angst is so palpable, that I honestly see right past the misogyny. I really enjoyed this. I wish more artists still rapped at the top of their lungs like this.

Undeniably a majorly influential album. Could have been trimmed down a bit to not feel tired near the end. Still enjoyed it but its not an album I would come back to as a complete album. Better than "dude with a guitar" albums overall.

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

Groundbreaking in 1988, but to me doesn't stand the test of time. Pales in comparison to Dre's later virtuosic production

If you need me I'll be over here in the corner clutching my pearls.

This album is a perfect showcase of just about everything wrong with 80s and 90s hip-hop. Listen, I get the main message – the police are racist – but though it still holds true to this day, it's overshadowed by the rampant sexism in nearly every track, including the opener/title track: "I find a good piece o' pussy, I go up in it So if you're at a show in the front row I'ma call you a bitch or dirty-ass ho You'll probably get mad like a bitch is supposed to But that shows me, slut, you're composed to A crazy motherfucker from the street" ...and later in the same song: "So what about the bitch who got shot? Fuck her / You think I give a damn about a bitch? I ain't a sucker" ...Yeah. Pretty disgusting. The following track, Fuck Tha Police, has a near identical percussion section, tempo, and monotonous rapping style to the first track, albeit with a slightly more palatable subject matter. But the sound is bland, unmelodic, and repetitive. Like nearly all hip-hop music of the time, the lyrics here are littered with nods to the same small circle of other hip-hop artists, including Dre, Ice Cube, Ren, and so on. It's just... not enjoyable at all. Do people like listening to this? Track number 3, Gangsta Gangsta, shows that they're committed to being genuinely horrible people: "So we started lookin' for the bitches with the big butts Like her, but she keep cryin' "I got a boyfriend" bitch, stop lyin' Dumb-ass hooker ain't nothin' but a dyke" And just when you thought they were done: "We didn't get no play from the ladies With six nerds in a car are you crazy? She was scared, and it was showin' We all said "Fuck you, bitch!" and kept goin'" The rest of the album is very similar. There are some hip-hop albums on this list I've given 3s, 4s, and 5s to. This isn't one of them. N.W.A.'s Spotify description introduces the group as the "unapologetically violent and sexist pioneers of gangsta rap". If you're violent and sexist, and show it off like it's anywhere near a positive trait, nobody's going to take you seriously. 1/5 Key tracks: Express Yourself

Pretty good, not as good as rumours, but might listen to it more and form a better opinion, 7.5/10.

Some innovative stuff here, but I don’t love the style

No los conocía y no me perdía nada. No es mi estilo

Every song sounded the same to me but eventually it grew on me

Not really my bag.

I don’t really like rap but can still appreciate good rap, this just sucked. The lyrics were childish, basic, felt clunky, and just stupid. “If you can’t handle the D then parental discretion advised” or some shit like what the fuck was that? The whole thing just felt corny and the beats were nothing to drive home about, half of them were just annoying and grating and that’s coming from a Nine Inch Nails fan

Kept from the 5 star because god damn be normal about women for fucks sake

2.5 out of 5

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.

Actually better than I expected but still a 1 - a high 1 possibly for the sound which feels more authentic than some of the later hip hop I’ve listened to for the project, but the lyrics are just too mysogynistic.

Pořád dokola, old-school rap

Monotonous

Good album and some of Eazy Es lines are funny cause he died of aids

Al principio dije "Si me vuelve a salir un disco de rap me mato, ya no me los banco". Pero este tuvo un calibre que se sintió más como hip hop moderno... había pequeñas líneas melodías, samples, y beats genuinamente pegadizos... me pareció un disco sólido (algo largo, pero solido)

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

Straight bangers

Could be a 5 if it wasn’t so misogynist.

So many samples of so many good songs.

Not for me

I liked the beginning and I get it’s importance but it got boring about halfway through

Groundbreaking album, but not my style.

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

Hyped up explosive Dropping truth bombs with mad style Tight raps, tighter beats

Groupe inconnu. Mais dès les premières mesures j'ai su que je n'accrocherais pas ... Comme d'habitude pour ce style de musique (Hip Hop) les morceaux sont terriblement répétitifs et musicalement inintéressants. Après 3 morceaux j'ai arrêté. Et je pense que je vais arrêter d'attendre une révélation ... Après 14 albums découverts dans ce style et détestés, il va rejoindre mes pires styles avec la folk et la country. =>1/5

The album was definitely influential. There is no denying it, but I would argue it influenced hip hop for the worse. Did not enjoy the messaging and was bored by the production when it came out. People keeping saying it aged poorly, but it was always a collection of bad ideas that appealed to a group of listeners, not just black, that wanted to burn the world down. 2 stars for the influence, but you couldn't pay me to listen to this again. Irresponsible childish bullshit.

Generally not a fan of this genre... the posing, the violence (especially against women), the language. I'll give it two stars because there is certainly musical talent, but it's not something I'd want to listen to again.

It is good. a genre that i ventured into in the late 80s and early 90s but never really listened to NWA. a great listen. I would likely not buy the record, but I enjoyed it

Beats are good, flow is good. I just can’t get past some of the lyrics.

This stuff is alright! Really good beats and lyrics.

Gangsta rap was great back then but it shows its age.

Still. Fuck the police

Birth of the West Coast sound, birth of a whole new era, and it still sounds pretty fresh today!

Horrible

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.

Whatever genre this is, I like it

Not my genre usually! But really enjoyed the lyrics and the beats. I’ve heard a lot about this particular album from people who understand and love rap. Fun to listen to something you usually don’t hear and glad I did it.

First Gangstar Rap Album. VERY 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 !

Torn on this. On the one hand the album changed the face of rap, so is obviously and important release, and some of the songs actually work really well, it's a combination of rappers that work well with good beats and dj's who can produce good beats. On the other hand... it arguably brought in a wave of shite rap - most of the solo stuff that came after (except Dre) was terrible, and the legions of wannabe copycats were even worse. It's full of questionable lyrics with way too much mysoginy and machismo. And some of the songs are legit shite.

Memories of the boys on the bus!

Squeezing so many straight-up hip-hop bangers onto one album must've been exhausting.

Extremely influential rap album featuring some of the greatest of the golden era of hip hop. I've heard it many times and since I have some extra free time today I'm going to watch Straight Outta Compton to complement this listen.

I can see why it was so influential at the time. Unfortunately hasn't aged well in either lyrics and style. Even excluding the bonus tracks it goes on about 15 minutes longer than it needed to. Overall some great stuff mixed with some corny filler.

An important and seminal record that sounds just a bit too dated compared to what Dre would be producing 2-3 short years later.

Yo modafuka yo hip hop

2,5

Iconic! A genuine classic album, not just in hip-hop, but in music history. 5/5 ⭐️

Decent beats. About average rapping. I'd like it more if there was some singing. I'm not fond of the lyrical content. I Ain't Tha 1 and Dopeman were the worst songs.

Absolute classic! FTP!

im not a rap guy this shit slaps though

Love the production. Hasn't aged the best

Seminal gangsta rap album. Felt dated by now, but no denying it's foundational work I think. It's a 3 for me as none of these tracks made it in to any of my playlists.

It started off great with the first few songs but the momentum never came back. You're just left with a one-sided monotonous sound that doesn't really go anywhere. There are some really great tracks on here but I expected something more. On top of that you gotta deal with those corny ass lyrics. Very good but still a tad bit disappointing. Top 3 Fav: Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta, Gangsta, and Express Yourself Top 3 Worst: Dopeman - Remix, 8 Ball - Remix, and I Ain't Tha 1 3.50/5

Can’t listen to this!

No

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.

Not a fan of hip hop

5/10 Music listenable but repetitive. Lyrics are mostly problematic. Not for me. Highlight: F tha Police

Rating: 3.4

Not so bad

Production is crazy. Starts off strong. But pretty long and I got tired of the flow.

not digging it. 5/10

3/10 - Frisbee mentioned. Only songs I kind of enjoyed was express yourself. The rest were rap and unenjoyable.

Made me feel cool

I did not use a private session for Spotify. If you have read my previous reviews, and I can't imagine you have, you will know that I feel like an eavesdropper listening to music with a prolific use of the N word. This album definitely falls under that category, even if it didn't it wouldn't make it into my rotation, but I can appreciate what it is.

I understand the influence and importance of this album but it just ain’t for me. 2.5/5

one of the best opening 5 tracks in rap history, then followed with some ok tracks that drag on for too long. i aint tha 1 and dopeman remix had some crazy ass lines tho. 3/5

this has nothing to do with how i feel about the album but it is objectively funny to go from this to "are we there yet"

Classic. Like rating water

A classic that I’ve listened to many years ago

Ice Cube had a clumsy ass flow. West Coast rap sucks. There is no soul, no style, no rhythm, just a lot of angry posing. Fuck Tha Police is the best thing they ever did, and even that’s a mess. No poets here, certainly. Not much of anything worth listening to. Painfully amateurish. Totally disappointing. 2/5

Not really for me

Ok

The production is immaculate but 80’s hip hop is still corny.

This album comes out hot as hell with absolutely massive tracks. And, yet, soon thereafter, it loses steam due to thematic monotony and erratic production quality. Make no mistake, the themes of Straight Outta Compton are both visceral and poignant to the untold scores of people who "don't know, don't show, or don't care about what's going on in the hood." But a listener can become nearly numb to it in time, which is a disservice to the message. The inconsistent production is frustrating. At its best, this album sounds well ahead of its time, with the types of layered beats and samples that would soon become the norm. But others feel dated, elemental, and rudimentary. Traversing from one to the other is disappointing. Admittedly, time has not treated the lyrical content well. Violence and misogyny are constant, and occasionally glorified. (Eazy E doth protest too much, methinks). Anyone who wasn't around for the dawn of this generation of hip-hop will likely find this more offensive than it was upon its release. This could be a four star album if only they had tightened up and focused on the strongest tracks. Still, I struggle to make it less that 3.5. Even if you don't like the music or the lyrics, it is undoubtedly a document of it's time.

This is a good listen. Nice, simple, clean beats.

Production ✅ Flows ✅ Misogyny 🙅‍♂️ Homophobia 🙅‍♂️ Didn’t age well, I know why this is important - especially the political stances which are at once spine tingling when you hear the visceral tone and cheapened by the attitude to women. I wish it was the former that had lived on in hip hop instead of the latter

One of the best albums of its decade!!

Classic. Been in rotation for 20 years

I've tried to listen to this three times since 2024. The production is great, I like Ice Cube's rapping, but god I can't finish this album. Every song goes on for way too long, Easy E has some shit lines and it's so fucking misogynistic. The first parts of Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police and Gangsta Gangsta are good, and I actually really like Express Yourself, but I just can't.

Rap shizzle, wel lekker geluid, vrouwonvriendlijk tho. Goede muziek

I know this album is historically important, and it had some good tracks/beats, but overall, I didn’t really like it.

"Straight Outta Compton," the debut studio album by N.W.A., released in 1988, stands as a cornerstone of hip-hop and a defining moment in the genre's history. It brought gangsta rap into the mainstream and laid the foundation for West Coast hip-hop. The album is noted for its raw depiction of urban life, unflinching social commentary, and pioneering production techniques. Below is an in-depth review, focusing on the lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence of the album, along with an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics Lyrically, "Straight Outta Compton" is intense and unapologetic. The members of N.W.A.—Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella—delivered verses that painted a vivid, often controversial picture of life in Compton, California. The album’s lyrics are laced with aggressive language, violent imagery, and social commentary, reflecting the harsh realities of the streets. Tracks like the titular "Straight Outta Compton," "Gangsta Gangsta," and "Fuck tha Police" are emblematic of this style. 1. **"Straight Outta Compton"**: This opening track serves as a manifesto for the group. Ice Cube’s commanding voice introduces the listener to a world of violence and defiance. The track establishes the group’s identity and sets the tone for the rest of the album. The lyrics are powerful, with lines like “When I'm called off, I got a sawed off / Squeeze the trigger, and bodies are hauled off” demonstrating the unapologetically aggressive style that N.W.A. became known for. 2. **"Fuck tha Police"**: Perhaps the most controversial track on the album, "Fuck tha Police" is a scathing critique of police brutality and racial profiling. The song’s narrative structure, set up as a mock courtroom trial, indicts the police for systemic racism. Ice Cube and MC Ren's verses vividly describe encounters with law enforcement, and the hook, with its blunt and confrontational message, became a rallying cry against police misconduct. 3. **"Gangsta Gangsta"**: This track highlights the allure and dangers of the gangsta lifestyle. Ice Cube’s storytelling ability shines as he describes the adrenaline-fueled life of a gangsta, juxtaposing the excitement with the inevitable consequences. The lyrics capture the duality of living on the edge—thrilling yet perilous. Overall, the lyrical content is both a strength and a criticism point for the album. It’s lauded for its authenticity and raw power but criticized for glorifying violence and misogyny. ### Music and Production Dr. Dre’s production on "Straight Outta Compton" was groundbreaking. He utilized funk, soul, and R&B samples to create a hard-hitting, bass-heavy sound that became the blueprint for West Coast hip-hop. The beats are aggressive, complementing the intensity of the lyrics. 1. **Sampling**: Dre’s use of samples from artists like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic provided a gritty yet funky backdrop for the group’s hard-hitting lyrics. The use of breakbeats and looping techniques were innovative at the time, creating a raw, relentless sound that mirrored the harsh realities described in the lyrics. 2. **Instrumentation**: The production is characterized by heavy drum machines, booming 808s, and sharp snare hits. Tracks like "Dopeman" and "Express Yourself" showcase Dre’s ability to blend musicality with raw energy. “Express Yourself” is notable for its use of a clean beat and funk-influenced melody, contrasting with the rest of the album’s darker, more abrasive sound. 3. **Vocals**: Each member of N.W.A. brought a unique vocal style to the album. Ice Cube’s sharp delivery, MC Ren’s laid-back but forceful flow, and Eazy-E’s high-pitched, almost nasally voice provided a dynamic range of sounds. This vocal diversity contributed to the album's distinct identity. ### Themes The album explores several key themes, including racial injustice, police brutality, gang culture, and socio-economic struggles. These themes were not new to hip-hop, but N.W.A.’s unfiltered, confrontational approach was unprecedented. 1. **Police Brutality and Racial Profiling**: "Fuck tha Police" is the centerpiece in this regard, articulating a deep-seated anger and frustration towards law enforcement. This theme resonates throughout the album, reflecting the fraught relationship between the African American community and the police. 2. **Poverty and Desperation**: Songs like "Dopeman" and "8 Ball" delve into the world of drug dealing, portraying it as both a means of survival and a trap. The lyrics do not shy away from the consequences of this lifestyle, providing a grim view of the options available to young men in impoverished neighborhoods. 3. **Rebellion and Defiance**: The album’s tone is one of rebellion—against the police, societal norms, and even the music industry itself. This defiance is articulated through the explicit language and provocative content, challenging the listener to confront uncomfortable truths. 4. **Misogyny**: A significant criticism of the album is its portrayal of women. Tracks like “I Ain't tha 1” and “She Swallowed It” contain misogynistic lyrics that reflect a broader issue within the genre at the time. This aspect has been heavily criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and degrading women. ### Influence "Straight Outta Compton" had a profound impact on hip-hop and popular culture. It brought the realities of inner-city life to mainstream audiences and sparked a national conversation about freedom of expression and censorship in music. 1. **Pioneering Gangsta Rap**: The album is often credited with popularizing gangsta rap, influencing countless artists in the genre. It opened the door for other West Coast rappers and introduced a new sound and lyrical style that would dominate the 1990s. 2. **Social and Political Impact**: The album forced America to confront issues of police brutality and racial inequality. "Fuck tha Police" became an anthem for protest movements, and the FBI even sent a warning letter to the group, which only heightened their notoriety and influence. 3. **Censorship and Freedom of Speech**: The controversy surrounding the album led to debates over censorship and the limits of free speech in music. N.W.A.’s refusal to censor their lyrics set a precedent for artists to push boundaries and speak their truth, regardless of the consequences. 4. **Legacy and Longevity**: Decades after its release, "Straight Outta Compton" remains a seminal work in hip-hop. It has been reissued, sampled, and referenced in countless works. The 2015 biographical film of the same name further cemented its status as a cultural landmark. ### Pros 1. **Lyrical Authenticity**: The album’s lyrics are powerful and raw, providing an unfiltered look at the struggles and violence of inner-city life. The honesty and intensity of the lyrics have resonated with listeners across generations. 2. **Innovative Production**: Dr. Dre’s production laid the groundwork for the West Coast sound. His innovative use of samples, drum machines, and bass lines created a distinct musical identity that influenced the genre for years to come. 3. **Cultural Impact**: The album transcended music, impacting social and political discourse. It challenged censorship laws and brought attention to issues of police brutality and systemic racism. 4. **Diverse Voices**: Each member of N.W.A. brought a unique perspective and style, creating a dynamic and engaging listening experience. ### Cons 1. **Misogyny**: The album’s portrayal of women is problematic, with several tracks featuring lyrics that are overtly misogynistic. This has been a longstanding criticism of the album and detracts from its overall message. 2. **Glorification of Violence**: While the album is praised for its raw depiction of life in Compton, it has also been criticized for glorifying violence and criminal behavior. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on impressionable listeners. 3. **Lack of Musical Diversity**: While the production is groundbreaking, some critics argue that the album lacks musical diversity. The heavy reliance on similar beats and samples can make some tracks feel repetitive. 4. **Controversial Language and Content**: The explicit language and violent imagery may be off-putting to some listeners. While this is part of the album’s appeal to many, it also limits its accessibility and can overshadow its more meaningful messages. ### Conclusion "Straight Outta Compton" is a landmark album in hip-hop history. Its raw, unapologetic lyrics and groundbreaking production challenged the music industry and forced America to confront uncomfortable truths about race, violence, and systemic oppression. While it is not without its flaws—most notably its problematic portrayal of women and the potential glorification of violence—its cultural and musical impact is undeniable. The album remains a powerful testament to the power of music as a form of resistance and expression.

A solid album, pretty enjoyable even though it's not my preferred genre. Not as good as 36 Chambers though.

Same review as yesterday. Dr. Dre is a sack of shit.

Layered production. A little repetitive with the flow, as per most early Hip Hop records. Easy to see how ahead of its time it was though.

Stone cold classic with incredible raps and inventive production featuring nifty samples. Bags of humour too. Mandatory listening.

A classic that isn't aging well. I love the lack of skits and the anti police lyrics. But the sexism is just plain weird.

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.

++: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, If It Ain't Ruff, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, 8 Ball (Remix), Something Like That, Express Yourself, I Ain't Tha 1, Quiet on tha Set, Something 2 Dance 2 +: Compton's N the House (Remix), Dopeman (Remix) 9,7/10

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.

I like the beats but I can't with the lyrics.

Ég skil að þetta hafi hrist rosalega upp í tónlistarheiminum á sínum tíma og mörg af þessum lögum eru bara nokkuð góð þrátt fyrir að þau séu rapplög. Ég mun þó seint setja þetta aftur í spilun

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

Holds up. Nothing better. No notes.

Not really a fan of this one. Something about the backing tracks and the group dynamic were probably really cool when this came out, but just kinda sound dorky now. 2/5

# 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.

Cant listen to this one in front of the kids. Not becasue i dont like swearing, its just that I can be arsed to deal with being asked what a motherfucker is right now. Express yourself is the best track. Reminds me of quiggins in liverpool. The crazy old retro vintage department store. You had to go here to buy records and tee shirts like this before the internet. Dope album, for sure a cornerstone of rap music, but not really my thang...

5 - happy that I finally got to listen to this. There’s obviously the well known tracks, but it was a no skip album.

Some great songs but some forgettable stuff

Brilliant use of swearing.

No

I really enjoyed Fuck the police. Songs are a bit too long - I like the backing beats a lot but they get repetitive after a while. Overall didn't really stand out to me. 2.5 - but I can see the significance.

It's been a long while since I listened to anything off of this. I certainly witnessed the strength of street knowledge with this one. It's classic really but it could but it could be better.

I start off with this one thinking well I am so far from the target market but I am feeling the vibes, even overlooking the misogyny and other nonsense. And then it gets a bit monotonous and it just goes on and on and on. So many of these rapper just love the sound of their own voice. Comes with the territory I guess

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.

I liked a few songs but wouldn't actively listen to it. Feels like rap has moved on a lot!

I like the style, but not to sound like a prude, got tired of the constant profanity. I can see myself coming back to this album occasionally.

Not a genre I have any familiarity with. I see some of the appeal here but the lyrics are really tough, and that's driving the 1-star rating from me. I'll stay vigilant against dope man but I doubt I'll ever listen to this again.

Dr. Dre beats og sampling får det her album til aldrig at lyde ens. Dét er fedt. Resten af banditterne på slænget, sørger for at det lyder som om de hygger sig med at afbryde nummerne med deres eget værs. Teksterne er alt fra rå, ærlige, og fjollede.

Jeg begynder at kunne li’ Hip Hop mindre og mindre igennem det her projekt. Eller måske troede jeg egentligt at jeg kunne li’ Hip Hop bedre end jeg kan. Eller også er der meget lidt Hip Hop jeg kan li’. Og det skal gerne være i små doser. N.W.A. er langt fra det værste Hip Hop vi har haft. Titlenummeret og Fuck Da Police er klassikere. Men som album kan jeg ikke svinge mig op til mere end et meget lille 3 tal. Og det føler jeg endda er generøst. Jeg mistede fuldstændig interessen for albummet kort efter de sange var ovre.

Gangsta (c)rap

Another classic - nothing to add.

There were some cool funky beats to enjoy, but mostly I found this album to be quite boring. The lyrics were obviously pathetic.

I guess you gotta get deeper into these n**gga stories to fully appreciate it. Beats and samples and raps add up to 3 stars for me.

Classic

I'd say this is probably the top 10 culturally significant albums of the last 50 years. It has to be on this list. That being said it is so juvenile and just mostly rapping about rapping. Way less bitches and cop killing than I thought (although there is a lot). It's just a bunch of kids who were given the opportunity to speak and they were a bit overwhelmed I think. That being said what they did say became a complete institution. Glad I listened to it once. 2 for personal enjoyment, 5 for cultural relavencyy

Dated and doesn’t have the charm of something like De La Soul. Doesn’t speak to me personally.

What a pull. This first song is so good. It holds up. I’m concerned the rest of this may sound fairly dated/horrifyingly bigoted, but this first song is still great. The beat, every verse, the voices, the energy. Fantastic. Jesus. Back to back?? I thought this song was later. From teenage bravado to a takedown of police brutality that is still exists to this day. Angry, frank, the first f-slur. This truly is a special moment. The MC Ren verse is more lame actually. Generic violence bars. When I say generic, I have to consider that this was 87, 88. Literally nobody was doing this. Man. Three in a row. I came into this knowing three songs and they’re gone. I am heavily concerned. I’m starting to think life really isn’t more than “bitches and money.” God the beat is so good. More slurs! Comes with the territory. Man we loved exclusion. Beat switch is so good. Honestly, Ice Cube and Eazy-E should just take it from here. Is this G-Funk 6 years before Warren G and Nate Dogg flew gently into our rooms and hearts?? A LOT of MC Ren for this one. Oh no. This is repetitive and not in a great way. Were 9 volt batteries really that hype? Yo Ren. This song was also good. Why was it so cool to misspell words. Times have changed. Now you’d be laughed out of your record launch party. CAN ICE CUBE COME BACK???? MC ren has ONE flow. Not considered a prince because I’m a principal. This is word association. Yo uh I spin the globe not an earlobe uhhh. He’s back thank god. So many guitars on this album. The funk guitar samples versus the jazz/R&B is interesting. Easy-E discussing parental discretion for having sex with him. Stick to the over-18s Eazy. If that is your real name. Next “Rap a hole in my dick.” The lyrical crevasse is forming. That famous Kurtis Blow flow with slightly edgy lyrics. This one sucks. Ice Cube required. Beat is salvageable but it says it’s a remix. Damn these special editions. Boring cut and paste song the next time. Starting to feel like Milhouse asking “when are they going to get to the fireworks factory” with regards to our chilly compatriot, Ice Cube. Forgettable. "Express Yourself" was a point I was dreading. The pop samples can go either way and it’s usually off a cliff. We have certainly veered towards the precipice. Albeit slowly. Boringly. There was so much rage and energy in the first three songs. It has come down to a simmer. And now perhaps to a lull as I hate this song as much as I remember. Basic raps over a repetitive pop sample. FUNKY. It’s about time. Compton, along with people (x8) are in the house. The funk disappeared. This sounds like it would play while we waited for the headliner, Ice Cube, to come out. Turns out it’s a diss. Makes sense. This would be devastating to be even remotely compared to this. Oh no. The misogyny break. Why Cube, Why? I wanted you back. And now. Well. You ain’t tha 1. He just wants real love. I Spell girl with a B, while misogynistic, is funnier than anything MC Ren has ever said. Run DMC with gang lyrics. Run- NWA. Dopeman rules. Until it gets into weird sex stuff. Man I’m a broken record here, but I need to listen to more Ice Cube. He is LEAGUES ahead of these bums. Even when he’s corny, he has personality and there’s an urgency and importance to his delivery. This sounds like a poor man’s gangsta gangsta. I’m waiting to hear like old-timey slurs you hear in the sopranos. We’ve pretty much run the gamut with 80’s slurs. Forgettable. Something 2 dance 2 surely is a joke. Cameo making a cameo near the end of this seminal piece of gangsta rap. Man this thing is interesting. Lots of foundational ideas but lacking in energy and originality in pockets. The lyrical themes were new, but the musical ideas weren’t in many cases with a few notable exceptions. 2.5-3 HIGHLIGHTS: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta.

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.

Pioneers of late 80's/early 90's hip hop. Their experimentation with sounds and samples brought hip hop into the mainstream. I've never been able to fully enjoy the composition because the lyrical delivery has never clicked. Latest listen hasn't changed my opinion. Bad enough that a lot of the overly toxic masculine stuff is a large portion of the content of the album. The lyrical content is vapid, and while it portrays the stereotype of the view of uneducated people in poverty, I feel other artists showed the difficulty of poverty and problems with the black community and the police without all of the baggage. 2/5.

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.

It’s always nice to be generated an album that I’m already very familiar with. Admittedly, it doesn’t happen often, but today is a good day. NWA are fantastic at mixing funk into hip hop, and it feels such a shame to me that this rarely seems to happen any more (shout out to LNDN DRGS who do mix in funk with hip hop - a band I was only recently introduced to). My favourite here would have to be Express Yourself, but everything on this album absolutely slaps.

Basically all the stars are for Fuck The Police. I'm sure I'd give out more if y'all didn't hate women so much.

Interesting due to its historical significance, but I'm not going to regularly listen to it. Pretty over-the-top last track in terms of being offensive; I really didn't notice too much out of the ordinary before that point, but I also wasn't paying too close of attention.

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

всё ещё мало времени хотя кажется это не первая моя попытка в этот альбом. пока норм)

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.

A classic, the lyrical content still holds up after all this time, the beats are defo from the old school vibe. Would be interesting to hear what it would be like today if Dre re-produced it

Can’t believe I liked this. Don’t tell anyone.

Absolute classic hip hop record. This was such a pivotal moment for the culture, cementing Eazy’s and Cube’s place in the industry. A glimpse into the life of the scene in Compton, laid out in quality story fashion. Typical production style from this era that can be a bit rigid, with little swing, but still some quality beats. A lot of samples taken from this record that have been used for decades since. Happy to see this one on here. Oh, and FUCK THE POLICE.

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.

“Oh noes, this album is filled of misogyny and violence, how can anyone like this” If this is your criteria for rating music, I’m afraid of what kind of music we’d have if it were up to you. That being said, lyrics are doing the heavy lifting here, everything else is kind of meh by todays standards, a 3.5/5 is probably more accurate

We face here something of a German Tank Problem with respect to early West Coast gangsta rap: conditional on there being 1001 albums on this list, and having gotten now 3 in the first 111, how many should I expect to be on the list as a whole? If it's really 30 (as one might expect), I've half a mind to stop now, because they've all sucked so far. Mr. Dre (I refuse to employ his honorific, clearly undeserved) has himself appeared on two of these. Oddly, he doesn't appear to be one of the three best rappers in this group, which brings up the question of how he got to be such a big star. Relative to later hip hop (especially East Coast) this CD is pretty basic and raw. The rhymes are slower and more stilted, with less rhythmic variability in the delivery. The beats are extremely repetitive. And it's very, very crude (that's clearly part of their appeal). So the obvious conclusion is that this was chosen because it's influential, because later rappers took it as a template. But my general impression (not an expert) is that the good hip hop is from guys who left this kind of stuff in the dust, and that all the guys who went on to copy this style also kind of suck. I could not listen to "If It Ain't Ruff", there's some sub-sonic bass note they're getting on it that hurt my ears. Aside from this song, the first 1/3 of the CD is actually OK, if extremely crude. Starting with "8 Ball" the wheels just completely fall off. "Express Yourself" is OK, but solely on the basis of music that NWA did not themselves record. "Something 2 Dance 2" isn't unpleasant, but it's also largely just a beat. This isn't the worst thing I've ever heard, but I'm gonna give it a 1 anyway.

Argh

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.

No wonder Dr. Dre became a billionaire.

Definitivamente não é meu estilo. Álbum de rap e hip-hop dos anos 80. Me lembrou um pouco a música de abertura de "Um Maluco no Pedaço". Duas músicas achei OK: "Something 2 Dance 2" e "Dopeman - Remix", o resto não gostei.

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.

I saw the film on a plane and bought the CD soon after. People say a lot about political (in)correctness of the Gangsta Rap album (first of its kind?) but I think that's missing the point. This is definitely an album where it's not just about the tunes, but also about the context. I find this a very authentic album and culturally very important. Just for that it is definitely a Must Hear album. Does it sound good too? To me, yes (and I'm not a real rap fan).

Pioneros del gansta rap, N.W.A. accedieron a la fama con un rap violento y sexista, que celebraba en sus canciones la violencia y el hedonismo del mundillo criminal. A finales del 88 publicaron este disco obteniendo un gran éxito underground, sin el apoyo de radios, televisión y prensa musical. Sin atisbos de crítica social o siquiera reflexión sobre la vida del gángster, se limitan a hablar del acoso a mujeres, de conducir borracho o liarse a tiros con la policía, incluyendo un tema, "Fuck tha Police", que provocó que el FBI advirtiera a su discográfica. Hoy su pavoneo sobre una supuesta invencibilidad romantizada suena a una gran exageración y lo que se ha dado en llamar "postureo". Tienen, eso sí, un sentido del humor irreverente que los hizo algo diferentes dentro del rap duro.

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.

Many a review ago I mentioned that I'm able to tolerate misogyny/homophobia/various social ills from past days when the music is bumping. "It was a different time," I say to myself. "No need to get upset." I guess that's still true, but there is some startling shit on here. The way they write about women in particular is, uh, not awesome. The beats knock, the performances are charismatic, and I won't argue that this isn't a classic. But jeez, "Dopeman" in particular had me actually grimacing. Highlights: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Express Yourself, Something 2 Dance 2

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.

It’s a classic. Dips a tiny bit in the middle but it’s good, it was groundbreaking, and it still hit hard.

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

While I appreciate the importance of this album, I just don't care for it.

FUCK DA POLICE COMIN STRAIGHT FROM THE UNDERGROUND!!!

Hm

Meaningful lyrics, good beats, and a good vibe. I can see why this is considered a GOAT.

Legendary!!

classic eighties rap

Obviously hugely influential, but this is a bit of a chore to listen to these days. Express Yourself and Fuck The Polics still hit though 👍

Straight Outta Compton is the debut album from N.W.A. It is considered to be one of the greatest rap album of all times. This is the first successful gansta rap album - most of the lyrics are celebrations of violence and misogyny. The band "Fuck the Police" attracted the attention of the authorities in the 80s, and added to the notoriety of the album, and the band. Like much of the genre, there is less of the melodic that is typical of most genres. Most of this album is angry and violent - certainly justified, but does not create a listening experience that makes great music. There are some surprises on this album - "Express Yourself" sounds like the product of a different group.

Don't get the hype around this one. Mediocre tunes and too much profanity

Oof, dreadful. I hate rap, only managed a track and a half then tapped OUT (motherfucker)

BLESS UP I’ve been tired by some of the album picks and this is just solid slay show stopping amazing.

Lovely grooves...and then the misogyny begins.

great album but violence and sexism overshadows

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.

i think you can successfully argue that without this album, Snoop wouldn’t be commentating at the Olympics right now

Legends for a reason. I'm a huge Hip Hop fan, and therefore kinda embarrassed that I never listened to this whole album straight through before.

Good but kinda dated, I feel like a dick saying that

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.

Kinda funny kinda wholesome Singles slap I aint the one to get played like a poo-butt Samples go hard Very cali

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

Got this the day after Snoop’s first record. I like how political this is compared to that. But like most West Coast rap of this era there’s things that don’t age well - mainly the homophobia and over usage of the N-word.

Never choose this. ever.

Gangsta Rap in all of its glory I wasn't aware of them when this came out I was hooked on something else, but it's an amazing record, witness of its time and the struggles of the race. A must listen for everyone

I hate this putrid crap.

There’s not much I can say about this one, it’s an absolute classic in hip hop, and it definitely deserves its title as one and all the respect it is given. However, it’s far from the greatest of the genre. A great stepping stone, responsible for much of what hip hop has today, but definitely not perfect. A handful of instant classic songs alongside plenty of others that just don’t reach the same heights. I feel like I’m being a little too negative here, I don’t hate this album, not at all. I love so much here, and it’s definitely a worthwhile listen, but hip hop has grown and evolved so much since then.

4/5

"Parental Discretion Iz Advised" has a nice groove. Because of the Beastie Boys samples on "8 Ball (Remix)" this one is o.k. too. One of the better hip-hop albums but still not my prefered stuff. 2,5

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!

Classic

Classic

I'd give it an solid 8, it's everything I like about the OG rap scene, great samples, great story

Primer acercamiento a N.W.A. en formato LP. El primer álbum de estudio de la agrupación es sumamente relevante para entender el fenómeno del Gangsta Rap y el West Coast Hip Hop. Así, si hoy en día hablamos de mega artistas como Kendrick Lamar es gracias en parte al quinteto de Compton. Este trabajo tiene todo lo que necesita un álbum de rap: las rimas, los beats y la actitud. Las letras crudas y agresivas de Cube, y las juguetonas bases de Dre y Yella demuestran esa grandeza. No obstante, es este último elemento, creo yo, el más determinante del éxito del grupo. El álbum realmente se siente como si estos jóvenes de California se estén comiendo el mundo, lo cual finalmente hicieron con su resultado. Ahora, s bien no creo que sea un trabajo excelente, si es sorprendente que se trate de la antesala de lo que harían algunos de sus miembros por separado (como es el caso de The Chronic por Dr. Dre y Death Certificate por Ice Cube). Si tuviese que destacar algún elemento que no fue de mi agrado sería la duración: quizás haber recortado algunos temas habría sido ideal, pues lamentablemente no todas las canciones pegan como los primeros dos temas del LP. No obstante, ello no desmerece la importancia e influencia de este trabajo, el cual es una escucha segura para cualquier amante del hip hop. FAVTRAXS: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck Tha Police, Gangsta Gangsta, Parental Discretion Iz Advised, Express Yourself LEASTFAV: Compton N The House (Remix) 3.5/5

Fuck Da Police... How about Fuck This Shit?

I knew this album was good, but had never done a deep dive on it. Not a sleeper on the entire thing. Crazy good.

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

I can't...

Highlight: Express Yourself In a nutshell: no fucks given. Irreverent, hell raising, polarising. This is an important album... and it has not aged well (so many misogynistic references). Side note: One of my favourite stories in music history involves this album. Google "Triple J Express Yourself" to learn more. Overall: 4/10

Damn that shit was dope!

The first platinum Gangsta-Rap from 88.

It was okay.

Certainly an album that marked a turn for hip hop music. It is certainly aggressive and rough but some of the social issues it points to still apply. Fuck The Police was as true then as it is now and it's the best track on the 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!

The gangsterist of gangster rap, and the a random dance track at the end

Not for me. I appreciate the importance of this album. Rating reflects that.

a classic, pivotal for its time and music going forward