Amazon.com: A lone voice sneers "You are about to witness the strength of street knowledge," and with that warning the greatest-ever gangsta album begins. Then these Niggas with Attitude--wicked rhymes by Ice Cube, Easy E, and MC Ren; soulful production courtesy Dr. Dre; beats provided by DJ Yella--come barreling into your face, just daring you to ignore the streets of Compton (or any American city) even one day longer. From the anti-police brutality anthem "F**k Tha Police" to the angry, unflinching realism of "Gangsta Gangsta," to the pro-free speech "Express Yourself," this is slammin' and ruthless. --David Cantwell
Album Description: 2002 reissue of 1988 gangsta rap classic includes four bonus tracks, 'Express Yourself' (Extended Mix), 'Bonus Beats', 'Straight Outta Compton' (Extended Mix) & 'AB----12 AB----'. EMI.
Because living on the streets is all about "(female dogs) and money" Give me a break. That line is from the third track on here. People often say these guys had a word of what it's like to live in the ghetto, but when Ice Cube talks about getting into fights with random (N-words) and looking for girls, it sounds very appealing to the ignorant youth of today.
With a title like Straight Outta Compton, you might think the whole thing is about being from Compton and what an impact it has, how you should be thankful people these days don't have to deal what I do, basically, exploiting the horrors of Compton (indeed, a horrible place to live, kiddies). _______ that, it's all about how tough these f______ are, it's all image. So what if they say lines referring to some violent behaviors and that classic line from the title track at the beginning? Seriously, read the lyrics to these songs. The majority of this _______ on the songs hardly reach the depth of rap these days. Don't say that this is brilliant poetry from the streets about living in the Compton ghetto. It's as self indulgent as any bragging teenager with a small _______.
I'll be fair, there's some songs worth noting, for the beats and humor alone. 8-Ball is a hilarious day to day life of Eazy-E, a slacker idiot insulting mexicans for cutting them off (like that only happens IN COMPTON!) and puking in the parking lot after drinking. I love the beat on this one, which is one reason why it's fun to listen to. Great hard beat! Most play out like that.
Oh, and if your talking about shooting people, tell them why, like if their trying to take your life or something. Tell people it's for self defense please (same goes with nearly every other reference to murder) for the fear of your life.
In short, don't listen to these gansters, there just trying to make themselves look tougher than you.
5.5/10
The strength of street knowledge... Yeah. So they were violent, misogynistic, racist, and homophobic. So they seemed to celebrate everything from drug dealing to cop killing. Since when do we have to agree with an artist in order to like their art? No matter how odious their message, N.W.A. were a brilliant band because they could describe such an outlandish lifestyle with clarity and unflinching brutality. Straight Outta Compton is a masterpiece because it's uncompromising and raw and aggressive, and because it grabs the listener from its first few moments and refuses to let go until the very end, because its best songs are absolutely irresistible and unforgettable.
Take the title track for example. It's a statement of purpose the likes of which you've never heard. Over a background of thundering electrified funk, rappers Ice Cube, MC Ren, and Eazy-E unleash a flurry of great lines, ripping your ears open to make sure that you can hear every word they have to say. It's raw and loud and brilliant. Seriously, I still get a little burst of joy every time Ice Cube thunders "AK-47 is the tool/ Don't make me act a motherf***ing fool!" After that comes "F*** The Police," a pissed-off, brutal, and often hilarious rant against police brutality. "Gangsta Gangsta" is a stomping, darkly funny personal narrative with lines as immortal as "To a kid looking up to me/ Life ain't nothin' but bitches and money." "I Ain't Tha 1" is righteously furious, and "If It Ain't Ruff" is smooth as hell. "Compton's In The House" is classic everybody-on-the-mic jam session, and "Dopeman" is just plain cruel.
So, it's just plain freaking great. Anybody who wants to know anything about rap outta have this.
Classic album The rhymes feel a little 80s-style and the beats are minimalistic compared to what you'd hear today, but N.W.A. have a style and sense of humor that makes this album essential for hip-hop fans.
Classic gangsta hip hop. This is where it all began for Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. This album was pretty much what catapulted their careers into the future of Hip Hop music. This album was a right up in your face in every aspect. Dealing with everything from gang violence, the drug problem to the injustice's of law enforcement officials. This is a true Hip Hop classic to have in one's archives, especially if you came through that era.
Comin Straight Outta Compton! You can not understate how good this album really is. It changed hip hop forever, it brought so much aggression and intensity to the listener that you can not help but get hooked. Ice Cube, the angry and politically charged MC, Eazy E, the boy from tha hood, MC Ren, the slick and ruthless MC, Dr. Dre, the deep toned MC and slick producer and DJ Yella, the beat banger, are the foundation for gangsta rap, comin Straight Outta Compton!
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